Frazier: Dungy a great coach and a great man
January 13th, 2009 – 2:37 PM by Judd ZulgadIt’s interesting that as Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier gets closer to his goal of becoming an NFL head coach that another former Vikings defensive coordinator, Tony Dungy, has decided to step down from his head coaching position with the Colts.
Frazier worked for Dungy in 2005 and 2006 with the Colts and the two men are very similar in the approach they take on and off the field. Both are men of deep faith and while neither likes to raise his voice both command respect from their players.
Dungy’s influence on Frazier was clear when I did a story on the latter before his first season as the Vikings d-coordinator in 2007. Frazier joined the Colts coaching staff in 2005 as a defensive backs coach and special assistant to the head coach after two seasons as the coordinator in Cincinnati under Marvin Lewis. Frazier had been dismissed from the Bengals job and clearly felt it was a valuable learning experience. The most valuable lesson Frazier learned: “Don’t just blindly say it’s going to work out.”
Frazier was very candid in saying of Lewis that “my personality is a lot different than that head coach’s was.”
That wasn’t the case when it came to Dungy. Dungy thought so highly of Frazier that he created a coaching position for him and admitted he thought Frazier would probably get hired as a coordinator after one season.
Frazier, through a Vikings spokesperson, gave the following statement on Dungy’s decision to step away from coaching Monday: “Tony is a great coach and a great man. The NFL loses a great leader today and a man who had great vision beyond the football field. He served with a higher purpose and that will be greatly missed. He has meant so much to me personally as a friend, a brother, a mentor and at times a father figure. Our friendship will live on forever, but I’m sad to see him go. I’m saddened today for the loss to our game, but at the same time I’m happy for him.”
26 Responses to "Frazier: Dungy a great coach and a great man"
I have nothing to say.
From last post:
I still say that Alex Mack is the first round pick that gives us the most bang for our buck. To restate my opinion:
By letting go of Birk, whos play diminished greatly this season, the Vikes are pretty much guaranteed a compensation pick in the 4th or 5th round. This would also allow the Vikes to trim some cpa space, as Birk will demand a substantial amount.
By drafting Alex Mack, basically a Birk 2.0, we would go back to having one of the top 3 centers in size, intelligence, and skill. Projected to be a 10 year starter, and a perennial pro-bowler at half the price.
Now I know a lot of people don’t like this notion of picking a center (boring position) in the first round, especially with Sullivan waiting in the wings. But consider this, if Sullivan is coming along as well as the Vikings say he is, then that means he would make a heck of a backup guard and center.
So basically, if we let Birk go and draft Mack, we are trading Birk and a 1st rounder for:
- One of the best young centers in the league.
-The ability to solidify backup center and guard needs.
-A 4th or 5th round compensation pick that could be used on a guy like, say, Graham Harrell or Ramses Barden.
-A smaller amount of cap space used up.
To me, this makes more sense than anything, even though it is tempting to draft a flashy player first like a wideout or cornerback. But no wideout or cornerback will be the best player at their position int he draft by #22, much less possibly the best player int heir position in the NFL like Mack has the potential to be… from his first snap.
I like Mack. But center is not the Vikings main area of concern. And how do you know He would be cheaper than Birk would be if they re-signed him? Rookies are getting more and more money every year, especially in the first round. Not to mention drafting rookies is kind of 50/50. You never truly know what you’re going to get. But with that all said, I wouldn’t be upset if the Vikings drafted Mack in the first round.
Who they really should draft… Brian Cushing, OLB from USC. Let’s look at the Vikings Defense for a second. They have the best front 4 in the league. A stud at MLB who should be coming back at full strength next year. A bright young star in Greenway. Madieu Williams and Sharper at safety (and while sharper may not be coming back, there is a rookie ready to take is place.) and one of the corners is a pro-bowler while the other one has stepped his game up in the last half of the season and is on his way to becoming a pro-bowler. The only thing that defense is missing is another OLB. I know Leber is there, and he’s not bad. But he is making a lot of money. Now insert Cushing. The Vikings front 7 would be the best in the league, with a secondary that doesn’t have any huge holes in it. That defense would rival that of the steelers and Ravens. It would be a fun thing to watch.
Good thinking, guys.
But the Vike are drafting #22 which is the perfect position to play Oher or Unger
Purple, Mack would come at a much cheaper price than Birk for 4 to 5 years. After that, provided he’s as good as he’s projected, then yes, he’d cost a lot to re-sign. Rookies are not really 50/50 when they play a position like center. The skill set needed is more defined, and mack has them all.
Cushing is a reach at #22 (thanks lost, I forgot) as I could very well see him falling to us all the way in the second round. Cushing is over rated because he plays for USC, but he’s slow in the hips, which makes him an even bigger liability in coverage than our linebackers already are.
Leber is one of the most under rated linebackers in the league. He played a huge part in filling in for Henderson. Plus, how often did you see him get penalized, or badly burned, or having a terrible missed tackle. He may not be the flashiest player around, but he plays a solid game with very minimal mistakes.
Tyrell looked good at FS, but terrible at SS. If we let Sharper go, that means that Frampton is slated as the backup at both positions… and that’s not good. I’d say safety is pretty darn important, and should be high on their list of things to fix.
Also, Winfield is aging and it’s insane to think that Griffen is a pro bowl caliber guy. Cornerback deserves a look before Linebacker as well.
No if a OLB like Curry falls to us somehow, then i’d consider it a move worth while. But Cushing only had like 45 tackles this season, only a couple sacks, and his health has been a concern. Not first round worthy.
Lost, I’d love it if Oher fell to us, but i don’t see it happening. And Unger is versatil, which is awesome, but his strength and technique make him more of a 2nd or 3rd round pick. His lack of strength is the biggest concern, and if/when unger works out at the combine, this flaw will show, and his stock will take a hit.
Oher is not falling to 22nd. I like both Cushing and Mack but I think our need is more of a RT or CB???? Also throw in WR and QB. If we don’t keep Sharper, we have a depth problem there unless you think Abdulla and Frampton are the answers. Just my two cents.
Go Cards
I think we should move up and pick LaRon Landry.
I guess if Dungy needs help adjusting he can call Jared Alen.
If we move up for Landry, we might as well go a little more and get C Johnson.
Can never have too many Johnsons on your team.
The rumor is that the beloved purple are sending 1st and 2nd round picks to NE for M.C. We will not have to worry who we are drafting if that happens.
Go Cards
ak
refresh my mem on the comp picks…why one for Birk? (short version)
ak, it is the belief of this blogger that you need to get a woman or something. You know way way too much about the draft already.
Krug-Short version if you lose alot more FA’s than you gain, the NFL has some system that will award you draft picks, 3rd rounders and lower. The Vikes rarely get these picks as we always sign as many as we lose. I would not count on any comp picks.
IMO.
Go Cards
Sorry guys, had to take a break for lunch.
John is right. Basically, the NFL has a formula that weighs the contracts of players lost to free agency to the free agents contracts that your team hands out. Given the amount that Birk, Sharper and Saucer get paid, it is reasonable to assume that the vikes will get one or two picks. That is if they don’t go crazy during free agency, which I don’t see them doing.
Hairy, luckily I have a beautiful fiance who loves football almost as much as me. The “knowing way too much about the draft” part comes from the fact that Alaska winters are just really, really, really long and cold. Plus I’m in a sports management program with an emphasis on scouting… but I’m just as full of $hit as the next guy.
john, i agree that WR, CB, RT, and QB are bigger needs than center. I just feel like Mack is the best bang for the buck at #22. The draft is very deep at tackle, corner, and wide out. And I doubt a QB is available (worth drafting) at #22.
All of this, of course, happens after free agency, so a lot can and will change between now and draft time. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I feel like the vikes brought LeCharles Bentley in for a visit for a reason last year.
Here’s some bad tape of Ramses Barden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSIhHsa8otc&feature=related
He’s my sleeper pick of the year. Although, after the combine he may not be a sleeper anymore. At 6′ 6″, 220 lbs, this guy is blazing fast with about 4.5 40 speed. It’s been awhile since a rookie prospect has conjured up so many memories of Randy Moss. Playing at small school Cal-Poly has allowed him to stay out of the mainstream, but he’s got all the talent and build of a pro reciever. I hope our coaches go out and get this guy. 150 yards and a TD in every game of his senior season, minimum.
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This team will improve to the extent that the offensive line improves. It IS our number one area of weakness. An improved line will even help the QB situatiion, and make AP even better. Maybe its personnel, maybe its scheme, but it needs to improve somehow.
Watch the games and see who wins, and tell me if it isn’t almost always the team whose offensive line plays better. All football games at all levels are won on the line. Our offensive line is not dominating its opponents, either in the run or passing game.
AP’s yards? How many of them are the extra 15-30 due to his speed and moves? When he rushes 20 times a game, and only two go for more than 4 yards, that means our line is getting beat.
And yes - wide receiver is a close second as an area of team weakness.
Well said, coach.
There are several very good OT FA’s this year.
ak, maybe go pan for gold, it may pay better than studying the NFL draft!
Kinda hard to pan for gold with 8 feet of ice… otherwise I’d be out there. One of my favorite things to do.
There are wuite a few good tackles due to become free agents. But many of them are old and had health problems this year like Tauscher, Marvel Smith, and Jon Runyan. Jordan Gross is the best, and very young, but he will doubtless be back in Carolina.
Jeff Otah is taking over in Carolina so wouldn’t be 100% sure on Jordan Gross
Otah is very, very good. But so is Gross and he’s young, too. Otah is a right tackle, currently. And the fact that they had such solid tackles were a big reason for their success on the ground. After getting a taste of that success, I think it’s going to be hard for them to endanger it in any way.
That being said, if the Panthers are not able to extend Gross or Peppers in the coming weeks, then they will have to decide which one is worth the franchise tag, and which is going to be allowed to walk. My guess is they get them both back, one way or another.
AK, I have to disagree about Cushing. I believe, after watching all USC games, that he was under-rated on that defense. But you are right about Leber being a decent LB. The only problem I have with him is that he’s making a lot of money. The money he’s getting paid is about 4 million last year, which would be the 7th highest paid player at that position. Leber may be good, but he’s not the 7th best OLB!
I really hope the Vikings front office structured Allen’s, Berrian’s and Madieu’s contracts well. All 3 of them are getting Paid a lot of money, which could present some cap problems for this year and years to come.
While Mack would be a good center, I think better picks at 22 would be a RT (either Okung or Oher)or Maybe even Percy Harvin. And there’s always a chance Vontae Davis (CB from Illinois) or maybe even Mathew Stafford, (but I doubt he’d slip that far.)
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