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I’ve mulled this over a while now.
Positives to Spagnuolo hire:
- Regarded as a great teacher of both tactics and technique. He is sound in his defensive philosophy which does allow his teams to make “adjustments” as players are usually well versed in assignment football.
- Has extensive knowledge/experience coaching defensive backs and linebackers. These position groups need the most work on the Chiefs roster. No more blown coverages at the goal line on game winning plays.
- Spagnuolo’s scheme will be SIMPLER for players and verbiage will not be cumbersome. Players’ skill sets will be catered to, and this defense will attack more with 1gap responsibilities for the front 7 and less read/react tendencies we saw from Sutton.
- Spagnuolo’s experience as a HC gives him better insight into personnel and I would suggest he might have more influence in the draft/free agency than the brass will ever let on. Spagnuolo is well-regarded by players and organizational personnel at all levels. He is connected, and can have a say into how he envisions this defense taking shape.
- Trust. Reid will trust Spagnuolo to get the job done. He’s been in the league a long time and knows how to coach.
Negatives to the Spagnuolo hire:
- The conversion to a 4-3 Under scheme will cause the Chiefs to have a difficult offseason. Hard decisions on players like Ford, Houston, Ragland, the secondary, and an ailing Eric Berry will mean a lot of turnover. I worry more about culture “buy-in” than scheme/execution. A lot of nrw faces will mean some growing pains.
- Time out of the league. Spagnuolo will not forget how to coach, but I am curious if he used his year out of the league to sharpen the saw, or rather, take a break. Is he hungry? Or is he just happy to be employed again? I think working with a contender with the league MVP should be motivation enough.
- While a new voice in the defensive locker room should be inspiring and motivating, the fact that players seem to love “Spags” is arguably an eventual downfall of his too. He has been accused of being too loyal to his players in the face of a need for discipline/accountability.
- Statistical record of work. Mediocrity might be the operative word. Maybe at this point, the Chiefs and their fanbase gladly accept mediocrity.
All in all, I think this hire can ultimately bear fruit. I think Spagnuolo is better equipped to know how to play complementary football, and his tenure and experience in the league can be an asset to Veach and Reid in bringing in the right type of players to make this defense respectable again.
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