[Update x 3] UCLA Gets New DC: Redskins LB Coach Lou Spanos
by Gbek on Jan 17, 2012 3:50 PM PST
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Print-Bumped. BN Eds.
First post guys. Just saw this on LATimes.com. Our new DC is Lou Spanos from the Redskins.
Lou Spanos, linebacker coach for the Washington Redskins, is expected to be hired as UCLA's defensive coordinator, according to a person familiar with the situation who is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Spanos has been with the Redskins since 2009. Before that, he was an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1995-2009 and was part of three Super Bowl champion teams.
In 15 seasons in Pittsburgh, the Steelers were the NFL's No. 1 ranked defensive team four times and were among the top 10 times.
I don't know much about the guy except that he's the LB coach for the Redskins and was an Asst. with the Steelers for 15 years. I sure wouldn't mind having our own Steeler defense.
UPDATE (N): Here is Redskins' bio of Lou Spanos. He dials up interesting playcalls from the sidelines sometimes.
On a serious note though the Skins were pretty excited when they brought him on:
"Lou has been a vital part of a Steelers defense that has had an amazing run of success of the last 15 years, particularly from the linebacker position," Coach Mike Shanahan said in a statement released by the team. "He has familiarity working with Jim and he will be a tremendous asset to our staff."
The release notes that Spanos coached nine different linebackers who combined for 19 Pro Bowl appearances. As for Olivadotti, Orakpo is his first Pro Bowl player. Olivadotti also worked his way from quality control coach and is the longest-tenured member of the Redskins' coaching staff (he joined the team in 2000).
"K.O. has tremendous versatility and will be a tremendous help to our entire defensive staff, just as he has for the past 10 years here," Shanahan said. "He has made a quick impression on me and I am happy to be able to keep him with our team."
We will have to dig into the Redskins defense a bit. But for my cursory perspective here in DC, defense hasn't been the issue for Shanahan in DC. They have been fairly stout. The concern I have is the lack of a solid DL coach in our staff. I'd like to see someone with proven background in that area given the underachieving performance of our DL last season. GO BRUINS.
UPDATE II (N): The news is official per Jim Mora:
I'm pleased to welcome Lou Spanos to the coaching staff as Defensive Coordinator.
UPDATE III (P): Coach Mora's announcement of Coach Spanos's hire, via the official site.
"I am thrilled a coach with Lou's NFL background and defensive pedigree has agreed to join our staff. Now that our coaching staff is complete, I'd like to thank Dan Guerrero for his support as we sought to bring the finest coaches in football to UCLA," Mora said. "We have a collection of men that will not only be mentors to our student-athletes, but given their experience at the highest levels of football, will also be able to provide them a blueprint for competing and winning, and reaching their athletic potential."
Interesting note from the UCLA release looking at his early career. While he had a long tenure as a positional assistant in Pittsburgh before his move to coach the Redskins, the Steelers moved him along pretty quickly into a staff that typically does not have that much turnover. After finishing his playing career at Toledo, Spanos had just 1 year as a student assistant at his school, followed by 1 year as a scouting intern with the Steelers before he was promoted to the coaching staff. That seems like a pretty fast track into coaching for an NFL franchise; someone in that storied organization saw potential in him.
GO BRUINS.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Moving to 3-4 Defense
Along with having a DC and LB coach who are both extremely familiar with the 3-4 defense makes me feel better about it. In a 3-4, your 2 OLB’s are often playing on the line of scrimmage, so I’m quite confident that both Spanos and Ulbrich know how to coach D-linemen.
Also having Sal Alosi as S&C coach should have an impact as well.
just means
those 2 OLB will be hybrid players. Thats always a good thing.
totally agree, Billy the Sid [cool name btw]
[I posted this in another thread but it seems relevant here too :P]
DL concerns although completely valid, I think it’s a minor point at the moment.
Take a step back and see what Mora has done for UCLA in a short time. You can clearly see by looking at his hires that CJM understands his own weaknesses and has addressed them. To me, the three most important highlights are 1) hiring a proven and well-respected OC in Mazzone, 2) getting a Football only S&C for UCLA (and a good one in Alosi to boot!), and 3) getting hot-shot recruiters.
Rome is not built in a day, so to have one concern left over seems fine to me. Perhaps it was a savvy move to help with continuity. We just don’t know. On the other hand, I am not technically informed to comment on how important DL is as a whole.
It feels great to be a Bruin again!
by UCLA_beer&mathematics on Jan 18, 2012 1:10 PM PST up reply actions
Don't think I saw this one coming
Having that Steeler’s experience makes me want to like this hire but as with any pre-season moves it’s too early to tell.
I'm neutral on this hire but.....
His bio states that in the 15 years hewas with the Steelers, he went from Quality Control Coach to Assistant Linebackers Coach. Seems like a slow learning curve to me. Maybe that’s normal. I’m looking forward to learning more about him.
As am I... I am neutral and think it may even be a reach
NFL experience a plus. But its a little foggy about his actual contributions to the defense. I want detais and exactly what his responsibilities were. It seems he may be a bit of a reach with some learning to do on the job. I am sick of on the job learning (with little or no experience) on our FB staff.
by seasidebruin on Jan 17, 2012 4:54 PM PST up reply actions
Some details I dug up
Was a part of the Steelers staff for 15 years, most of the time serving as Assistant Linebackers Coach (let’s hope it wasn’t Assistant to the Linebackers Coach). As Asst. LB coach, he coached great Steelers LB’s such as Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene, Porter, Harrison and Kirkland. Got a bump up to Linebackers coach at Washington.
Steelers ran the 3-4 defense his whole time there, and some reports indicate that’s why Shanahan wanted Spanos brought over to the Redskins.
According to the always reputable Bleacherreport.com, Spanos is “very comfortable” with the 3-4 defense, although no citation or real explanation is given for this other than he coached the Steelers.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/325642-long-time-assistant-lou-spanos-washington-bound
Interesting Redskins thread about Spanos hiring by the Redskins.
http://www.bgobsession.com/showthread.php?t=11469
According to a bio pasted on that site (couldn’t find the original link), Spanos was actually Asst. LB Coach for 15 years, and only quality control coach for one year.
Lastly, here’s a video of him making an… interesting play call.
http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-redskins/2011/11/20/2575975/video-lou-spanos-dials-up-fang-play
I like the Pittsburgh pedigree
I don’t know much about Spanos, but he is well thought of by the fans in DC. There are some indications that he was a viable NFL DC candidate, so that makes me optimistic.
I still want to see a dedicated DL coach. McClure may be able to take care of it, but I’d like to see someone who really knows the position a la Wayne Nunnely, who may be looking to get back to Southern California and back into the college game.
Formerly AllHailMightyBruins
3-4 switch is for real.
Or so it would seem. Very interesting.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
In the short-run
It seems a slight mis-fit considering the depth at DL and relative lack of depth at LB. What do you think IEAngel, am I off here?
In a 3-4, I can see Olaniyan and Owa being absolute terrors coming off the edge, whether or not their hands are in the dirt.
The immediate returning LB depth is a little worrying for sure.
But there are some obvious position switches that would help: The two you mentioned and I think Barr could be a nice fit at OLB as well.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if Mora and that staff have a LB or 2 up there sleeve in the recruiting process either.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
LB turned elite NFL safety turned great DB coach
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 18, 2012 12:38 AM PST up reply actions
Lake was speedy athletic type who played OLB
Barr moving to OLB reminds me of Lake in a lot of ways
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Can't wait to see it!
Barr always seemed out of place at F-back aka the guy in the Pistol who runs around aimlessly looking to hit somebody or catch a badly thrown pass
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 18, 2012 2:19 PM PST up reply actions
Don't like what I see from Barr...
so far.
But, I suppose that could change.
Doesn’t seem to have that crazy linebacker mentality of wanting to hit somebody…
Seemed to run away from the correct block the times I saw him. Makes me wonder…
by Geronimo21 on Jan 18, 2012 2:01 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
You must not have been watching that closely or just seen something different than I did.
I thought he was the best blocking WR/F-Back/TE/ (or whatever the hell they tried to make him) on the squad.
He was a little banged up later in the year; but he was a guy I saw get after it when he got on the field.
I expect big things from him with a finite position and new coaches.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
Redskins blogs
All indicate that this was a major blow to their D, apparently this guy was a pretty good asset. I’d love to see the 3-4 in action, along with a needed culture change at UCLA, a schematic change is a necessity. Maybe this will create an “identity” that our defense has been missing all along. Mora’s seemed to have made all the right moves so far, so I’ll try and give him the benefit of doubt on this hire. Only time will tell
I didn't see this one
coming. He is a highly respected coach and the Steeler and Redskins pedigree is stellar. He is an easy coast guy, so I cannot help but see recruiting intensifying in that football happy region. There is a huge, 5 star 3-4 nose type player in DC still not committed. Coincidence? A huge nose guard with Datone and Ellis book ending, with revamped secondary and linebacking? I’m drooling…
by 4everBruin on Jan 17, 2012 2:02 PM PST via mobile reply actions
This might've been what swayed McCarthy, along with Tosh
He’ll wreak absolute havoc playing 3-4 end, I think it’s the ideal spot for him
As noted above,
Some Redskins fans rue his loss by saying they wanted him to be their next DC. 15 years with the Steelers and three Superbowl teams. Coached up young linebackers at Washington to perform at a high level. Perhaps an improvement over what we had, ya’ think?
+1
Hard to tell, right? Sad. I liked Tresey’s personal story and he talked a tough game, but I think the whole soft culture at UCLA under CRN was intractable. OTH I don’t know if it was CRN or Tresey who insisted on 9 yard cushions on almost every play.
+2 We won't know about Tresey until he gets another gig.
So hard to tell how good someone is at their job when everything around them is so dysfunctional. He and CRN really should not have even been here this last year. What a waste of everyone’s time and talent. Let’s thank DG one more time!
+3
Chuck Bullough should not have been there after year 1. Let’s thank DG once more after that
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 17, 2012 4:35 PM PST up reply actions
this is nice and all but..
what about Tresey???
It's official
Jim Mora @UCLACoachMora
I’m pleased to welcome Lou Spanos to the coaching staff as Defensive Coordinator.
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
"If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
On campus
recruiting coordinator? Angus is an excellent recruiter and he won’t count against the 9 coach maximum. A DL coach is less important in the 3-4 defense. The 3-4 defense actually makes more sense against the sophisticated, spread out passing attacks we face in the Pac 12.
The DL might be the most important position in a 3-4 actually.
You have to have a stable of guys that are big enough to occupy multiple blockers and disciplined enough to never lose gap responsibility. In a 3-4, if you have DL running too far up the field, you will get gashed on the ground by bad rushing attacks.
That was the biggest issue with the defense last year, IMO. So you have to have a coach that can teach that.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
Has no merit on whether he can coach or not but
the UCLA coaching staff now has more than 90 years of NFL experience, whether as a coach or player.
I thought that was kinda cool to see.
No one on the D
except Martin has significant experience against the spread. I’m a little worried about that. Maybe it isn’t that tricky to scheme against…. here’s hoping.
The SPread
Guy has never defended the spread. Thats a concern. Look at Monty, took him 2 years to figure out how to slow it down. With Richrod, Oregon, Wazzu, Cal, all running spread, we’d better hope this guy can adapt quick…
Defending the spread
is all about controlling the line of scrimmage (maintaining gap discipline, and not over-pursuing), DB’s getting off blocks quickly, and making open-field tackles. It’s how Auburn shut down Oregon in the BCS Championship game.
Let's not forget Mora is a offensive coach
So this may be more if a glorified assistant. Same way Harbaugh’s offensive coordinators at Stanford and in SF were essentially assisting Harbaugh.
lolol
I was like… was there something that I didn’t know or misread for the past couple of months?
But
Mora has little to no experience with the spread either…
Do pro coaches teach fundamentals?
I really want to know this.
It seems to me that players don’t make it to the pro’s unless they are sound fundamentally. It was like me teaching grad students; I didn’t have to worry about whether my students could read or had basic analytic skills. The kids who didn’t, didn’t make it into law school.
So, I want to know: Will this staff be able to teach our talented but fundamentally flawed kids how to do things like tackle? Will they instill discipline?
And, who will coach our D line?
Do we have a dedicated special teams coach? We were terrible last year.
I take comfort that some of you are really excited — but, how do we know these guys are good teachers?
sjh
I have met some NFL coaches and gone to clinics..they are big fans about basics. One of the problems is managing student athletes. Also, in the NFL there is ton of talent so basics are key.
The answer to your questions can be answered in so many LONG answers. Remember that they are inheriting players that may not be what they want. Some players may pan out some wont.
Tackling Fundamentals...
Because our tackling has been so bad the past few years I starting watching the tackling in the NFL and noticed that it’s consistently good throughout the league and probably due to the coaching. The offensive players are so athletic and powerful in the NFL that you simply have to hit and wrap up.
But did the tacklers learn it in the NFL
or in college?
Hard to believe you’d get drafted if your couldn’t tackle.
Which leads me to wonder whether our “pro” coaching staff will be prepared to step back and teach fundamentals.
sjh
What about Tyler Honeycutt?
GMs are always drafting on fundamentals. Insanely athletic kids are drafted all the time based on potential and not their fundamentals.
Law School analogy: You’ll take the kid with a 178 LSAT despite his 2.9 GPA.
I've seen a lot of guys trying the shoulder blast tackle rather than the wrap your arms around him tackle in the pros.
I don’t think there’s a lot of fundamentals taught anywhere.
Contrary to popular belief, it has always been that way.
Seeing Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary highlights are the only reason people remember it differently.
Ronnie Lott, for example, no one ever thinks he was a bad tackler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVKVHvMJKT8
Almost all shoulder tackles.
Fundamentals are only taught at the lowest levels of football nowadays. Once kids hit high school, it’s self-taught.
Just my opinion though
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
I'd like the coaches to teach the players how to be professional
CBH seems to have taught that so well people go pro after a year…. fortunately our FB players won’t be able to do that…
I know
Like that’s going to make me think otherwise about guerreror..
by Trueblue'09 on Jan 17, 2012 4:26 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Mora is Playing this Perfectly
What’s he supposed to do? Call Dan a fucking buffoon?
Mora will build his power base, win fan support AND if he is the real deal — he’ll start to make demands.
However, it’s not Mora’s job to get rid of Strap On. it’s ours. We must continue to pressure Block and find new ways to expose DG and demand his ouster.
We can’t expect Mora to participate. Like CRN, he needed this job and did not come into it with much bargaining power or strength. I think that’s one reason he was hired. DG feared the strong coaches. They would have pushed to get rid of him, immediately.
So, praising DG does not bother me — I think it’s “damning him with faint praise.”
sjh
LOL
I bet DG is kicking himself everyday for that strap on comment
LOL
Chianti is just a walking comedy schtick. The dumb clown routine masquerading as an AD act needs to go.
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 17, 2012 8:45 PM PST up reply actions
Couldn't he
just put the hard-work on instead of strapping it on? impotence on all levels sheesh
Fundamentals drills
are a part of practice in pro football. Also, many pro coaches take part in football camps, teaching young players football fundamentals. Just because you’re a pro, it doesn’t mean that your fundamentals cannot be improved. In fact, most pro breakdowns involve poor fundamentals, especially footwork, handwork and tackling. The coaching expertise is there.
It had better be
We’ve had great recruiting classes and great recruits before. That’s why for all the hype we’re hearing now, it’s hard for me to really get into it. Let’s get them in the weight room with Sal and see if our new coaches are true teachers of the game in the Spring. Then we’ll have a lot more justification for optimism.
You did a better job of expressing my concern
Great recruits are of no value if they are not developed and deployed properly. I worry that the development of a high school kid is different than a college graduate.
I also agree that the proof will be on the field and that, until then, worrying does not good. Our lot is cast.
Actually, I am optimistic. I like what Mora is doing.
sjh
But I think the question is
Are they good teachers? For example, there are some professors at UCLA that are absolutely brilliant at what they do best. However, their ability to pass on their knowledge to the students may be lacking. Teaching is skill not everyone has.
There is a big difference
between a brilliant professor and a great football coach. Unlike your brilliant professor example, a coach actually has to have measurable success (wins) teaching his players what it takes to win or he is out of a job.
so true
UCLA football has been the closes thing to tenure seen in the CFB world by hiring so incestuously
by UCLA_beer&mathematics on Jan 17, 2012 6:06 PM PST up reply actions
well
I suppose I’m equating wins (coach) to successful/meaningful research (tenured professors) in terms of measurable success.
The thing is, Spanos is coming from teaching adults to teenagers/early twenties guys. I think a different teaching approach needs to be taken because the student pool is different. A person with teaching skills can make that transition easily. That’s what I’m saying.
hi mathbruin
who was your fav prof?
by UCLA_beer&mathematics on Jan 17, 2012 6:04 PM PST up reply actions
rad!
im a Elman fanboy since i took his 110h series
by UCLA_beer&mathematics on Jan 17, 2012 7:26 PM PST up reply actions
Klemm 8 CLAP!
Adrian Klemm @IAMKLEMM
8 CLAP!!!!… The Italian Stallion snatches a big one!
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
"If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
Is Mazzone the Italian Stallion?
I assume this is Millweard?
by Kenneth Powers on Jan 17, 2012 4:57 PM PST up reply actions
Millweard per Biggins
Sounds like QB T.J Millweard has found a new home in Westwood
by Kenneth Powers on Jan 17, 2012 4:58 PM PST up reply actions
goddamn!
Klemm must love his job hahaha, he’s sweating the 8-clap out!
This has me Worried
I’d like to thank Dan Guerrero for his support as we sought to bring the finest coaches in football to UCLA
How well will the Moron Center capitalize on this stuff to the boosters? …and cover up of Donut’s incompetence? (i wonder if in hiring Mora, Donut required him to say nice things about him?)
"Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time"
~ John Wooden
My thought exactly
It sure seems (and feels) that way.
It feels forced to me and leaves me feeling uneasy.
by Geronimo21 on Jan 18, 2012 1:55 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Why worry?
Mora knows how to play Ivory Tower politics. That should be comforting. As far as QB Hundley goes, it means he now has some real competition and needs to step it up or sit on the pine and watch.
Not to worry
Mora isn’t going to go out and bad mouth his new boss. This is just political posturing
I can't wait till Spring honestly
Thus far, I’m liking / loving everything I see from Mora – despite the total possibility that everything could’ve gone the opposite direction. All it boils down to now is seeing these coaches work up chemistry and putting their experiences onto these kids.
It don't mean nothin'
until the team starts posting those W’s over the strong and the weak.
by 4everBruin on Jan 17, 2012 7:40 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
+1000
My buddy called us the paper All-Americans. On paper, we looked poised to post 10-11 win seasons (well maybe not) during some yrs of the Neuheisel regime. Alas, the game is not played on paper, but on the field and fieldturf.
Dump Dan!
by bruinclassof10 on Jan 17, 2012 8:47 PM PST up reply actions
Keep in mind
we will get five 4 star players and a 5 star QB back from injuries suffered this season. S&C coach Alosi will have a solid 8 months to get them strong and healthy for next year. Coach Neu could recruit; let’s see if Coach Mora and staff can get them to perform at their highest level.
I agree with you.
But refresh the memory on exactly who those people are.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
I hate to look ignorant
but who was our injured 5* QB?
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
I know RB was unanimously a 4* guy and a top 10 QB
Hundley was a 5* or a 4* but he redshirted, he wasn’t injured.
Crissman was a 4*, but actually was healthy all year.
Prince was a 3* and was hurt/not hurt/banged up the whole year.
Bell was a JC.
Neuheisal was a 2* I believe.
I know I’m not missing anyone.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
wanna go back further?
Olson’s and a couple front line if I remember correctly…
Hundley was a Scouts 5* recruit
who had to have knee surgery at the end of July, 2011 for a torn meniscus.
looking at the schedule....
no oregon no washington no luck at stanford… can anyone say BCS? or at least rose bowl? ok ok don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch… but it always starts with talent… and then putting that talent in the best position to win! i like what i am seeing and it just keeps getting better!
GO BRUINS!
I feel ya
but after the euphoria died down, I’m optimistically looking forward to spring first
u$C is being touted in the top 5 next year.
I’d sure like to see us interfere with that.
by BrendonBruin on Jan 18, 2012 4:30 AM PST up reply actions
+1
Easier to beat someone when they are down but better to beat them while they have such high expectation. Can you say McNeal! Go Bruins!
by BruinArts on Jan 18, 2012 7:17 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I just wanna SH*T
all over barkley’s parade
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