The Seattle Seahawks plan to promote defensive backs coach Kris Richard as their next defensive coordinator.
Since February 2, a day after their Super Bowl loss, the Seattle Seahawks needed to start the search for a new defensive coordinator. Former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn accepted the head coaching position of the Atlanta Falcons.
It was rumored since the start of the search that Seattle’s defensive backs coach Kris Richard was one of the front-runners to fill the empty position. Now, it appears that it is almost set in stone, as the Seahawks reportedly will name Kris Richard the new defensive coordinator, according to a report from KING TV in Seattle.
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Richard is a former Seahawks cornerback, playing for the franchise between 2002 and 2005. He was hired as a defensive backs coach back in 2012. During his three years coaching the Seattle secondary, he’s helped them become arguably the best secondary in the league, and one of the best units in NFL history.
Normally you would see a defensive line coach get the promotion to defensive coordinator, but that’s how highly the Seahawks think of Kris Richard. The 35-year old is a tremendous leader and has a great mind for football. He would have certainly found a defensive coordinator position somewhere, so it’s a smart move by the Seahawks to give him his first shot and keep him on their sideline.
Cornerback Richard Sherman also believes that it was the right move for the Seahawks.
"Kris does a great job understanding who everyone is and not coaching everyone the same, understanding how people react to different things differently. But his attention to detail and the preparation of game planning is meticulous. He goes over basically every scenario you can be put in in a game and he prepares us for that. You’re rarely ever surprised going into a ballgame by a formation or a play that they’re going to run."
The Seahawks defensive players, especially the defensive backs, seem to be very fond of Kris Richard. So, it’s a smart move on Seattle’s part to keep Richard happy and give him the promotion that he deserves. In turn, it will keep the defense happy.
There’s always some turnover on personnel, both on the coaching staff and players, after every season; especially, when you make it to the Super Bowl. Seattle’s defense should look about the same though, with Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor all under contract for awhile. They will most likely need to make some tough decisions on the offensive side of the ball, but the Seahawks should still be one of the better teams in the NFL in 2015.
H/T to Bleacher Report for the information and quotes.
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