PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Hard to find anyone, even with as disagreeable as social media can be, that believes Brian Flores was a bad hire as the Steelers Senior Defensive Assistant and Linebackers Coach. The 40-year-old Flores is exactly what critics said was missing from Mike Tomlin's coaching hires. A well-known name with coordinator and head coaching experience coming from a great coaching tree.
You are adding the intel from a decade and a half of Flores working with Bill Belichick. Some would argue the NFL's greatest coach and now the Steelers get a glimpse into how Belichick ran his team and his ideas on defense through the eyes of Flores.
Now it's time to follow up this hire with another 'slam dunk', 'home run'. If adding ideas to a defensive coaching staff already with a pair of experienced coordinators in Teryl Austin and Mike Tomlin is a great idea. Here's another one.
Add a Senior OFFENSIVE Assistant.
Given the lack of play-calling experience from the other offensive coaches, why not bring in another voice to help Matt Canada? He is in just his second year as a NFL offensive coordinator, spend some money and bring in help for Canada.
There are some good offensive minds who are looking for work. If bringing in an unemployed defensive mind fits the staff. How about a couple of coaches looking for work?
Jim Caldwell
· Detroit won 36 games in four years under Caldwell and made the playoffs twice-that is statue worthy
· Fired as the Colts head coach because Peyton Manning suffered a neck injury
· Assistant head coach under Tony Dungy
· He's coached since 1977, there is nothing he hasn't seen
John DeFilippo
· Won a Super Bowl with the Eagles as the quarterbacks coach under offensive mind Doug Pederson.
· Coached under Tom Coughlin, Lane Kiffin, Rex Ryan and had several short stays with other teams due to his bosses getting fired.
· Coached Mark Sanchez to multiple playoff wins as a rookie.
· Worked with Justin Fields in Chicago who threw for over 200 yards in three of his last four games and rushed for 280 yards in his last five games.
Jason Garrett
· Fired by the Giants mid-season last year but was he the reason the Giants offense stunk?
· Head coaching experience in one of the most pressure situations in all of sports.
· Was a coveted offensive coordinator candidate who previously coached under Nick Saban.
These are just a few names, they may not even be interested. There are others not named who would love the opportunity.
Point of this is, if you are going to upgrade the defense by adding Flores expertise, hire a senior advisor, or whatever you want to call it, for the offense.
You're not taking play calling duties away from Canada, you are supporting him. Better said, the goal is to improve the team, not feed his ego.
Now that you kept the door open for an extra assistant on defense, time to create a new position on offense.
