Dolphins hire Nolan
Posted by Mike Florio on January 19, 2010 2:07 PM ET
Yesterday at this time, Mike Nolan was the defensive coordinator of the Broncos.

Today, he's the defensive coordinator of the Dolphins.

Jay Glazer of FOX reports that the deal is done.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/19/dolphins-hire-nolan/



Let the poo flow.

The one and, really, the only question whether Nolan would land in Miami or not was his meeting with head coach Tony Sparano and how the two would get along. I'm told by a source that Nolan wanted to feel a comfort level with his new boss.

He apparently didn't feel that in Denver with Josh McDaniels. Although both wanted to run a 3-4 defense and both were agreed initially how to do that, as the season wore on, the two young men sort of grated on each other, I'm told by a source close to Nolan.

Thus Nolan and McDaniels agreed to part ways when other opportunities presented themselves for each.

Obviously, since Sparano offered the job and Nolan accepted, the two men believe they are on the same page.

Nolan helped the Broncos trim 7.8 points a game off a defense that surrendered 28 points a game in 2008. After getting fired as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2008, Nolan tried his hand in broadcasting but found himself wanting to return to coaching.

Nolan did much of his work with Dolphins castoffs. He took Andre' Goodman, Renaldo Hill and added Brian Dawkins to form a solid secondary along with anchor Champ Bailey.

Although the details still have to be worked out, Nolan is expected to be with the Dolphins staff in Mobile, Ala. next week when they coach in the Senior Bowl.

I'm confident .. we have a decent defense with a lot of upside

Don't let Rich read that lol

Side note: McClain PLEASE!

I am happy that we are going to continue running a 34 as I prefer that defense over the 43. We better patch up those LBs and NT though.

Mike Nolan has been named defensive coordinator by the Miami Dolphins.

One of the most veteran defensive coordinators in the NFL, Nolan has 12 years of experience in that capacity with five different teams: Denver (2009), Baltimore (2002-04), the New York Jets (2000), Washington (1997-99) and the New York Giants (1993-96).

Nolan joins Miami after spending last season as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. Under his tutelage in 2009, Denver’s team defense improved to seventh overall in the NFL after a 29th place finish in 2008. Denver’s passing defense was equally impressive, finishing third overall in the NFL, allowing 186.3 yards per game. Prior to joining the Broncos’ staff, Nolan served as the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach from 2005-08, following in the footsteps of his father, Dick, who coached that club for eight seasons from 1968-75 and had an 11-year NFL head coaching career.

...

Prior to San Francisco, Nolan served three years as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator from 2002-04, Nolan’s group tied for the NFL lead in takeaways (106) while ranking fifth in the league in both points per game allowed (18.8) and third down percentage (34.7). Five Baltimore defenders earned a total of nine trips to the Pro Bowl, and Nolan instructed back-to-back AP NFL Defensive Players of the Year in Ray Lewis (2003) and Ed Reed (2004). After spending his first year (2001) in Baltimore as wide receivers coach, Nolan replaced Marvin Lewis as the club’s defensive coordinator in 2002. He coached one of the league’s youngest defenses in 2002, helping the Ravens post a franchise record and an AFC-high 25 interceptions while placing sixth in the league in opponent passer rating (73.4).

This doesn't solve our defensive woes. But it's a start and this was as good a hire as they likely could have made.

Just don't screw him on personnel.

Agreed. I dont know about needing a change of pants but this is definitely an upgrade no matter how you look at it. Now lets worry about getting some players

Speaking of getting Nolan some players. There is a good chance that Karlos Dansby will be available. He's going to want to get paid though, but he'd be an instant, and huge upgrade over Crowder & Ayodele.

Isn't he a MLB in 4-3?

I don't think that'd be as tough a transition as, say, a DE in a 4-3 to OLB or DE in a 3-4.

MLB and ILB are pretty similar I think.

Arizona ran a 34 last year and Dansby certainly has the size to play ILB in a 34.

On a side-note, I sat next to Karlos Dansby's Dad at the 2008 Phins v. Cardinals game, we chatted almost the entire game.

Yeah I wouldn't have been paying too much attention to that game either, what a mess

Haha! It was rough, not only were we getting the crap kicked out of us, but I was literally seated in the middle of all of the Cards players families and friends. I went with my best friend, who used to work for the sports agency Octagon that represents several Cards (and Joey Porter), and he got our seats through the agency....

So i had the Dansbys to my right, Travis LaBoy's family in front of me, Rodgers-Cromartie's crew to my left, and Anquan's Dad and Uncle right behind me with the other Cards families surrounding them in every direction. They were all going nuts, but treated me well even though I'm a Fins fan.

After the game they invited me to go with them to the locker room or whatever area it was where the AZ players were celebrating...... I respectfully declined.

I'm sure they felt awfule for you and us, we looked like a colossal joke at that point in time

Said the man named tonelaxn