Mixing The Old With The New: A Look at The Jaguars 2009 Coaching Staff

After a disappointing 2008 season, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio had some tough decisions to make regarding his coaching staff.

The defense struggled under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, he was shown the door.

The special teams also performed poorly, leading to the exit of special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis.

New faces were brought in to improve the Jaguars performance on the field, while some old faces remain in Jacksonville.  Here is a look at the four most important decision makers roaming the Jaguars sidelines.

Jack Del Rio came to Jacksonville in 2003, becoming only the second head coach in franchise history.  Before becoming a head coach, Del Rio was both a successful player and coach in the NFL.  For 12 years he was a linebacker for various NFL teams before becoming a coach.  He was the linebacker coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 1999-2000, leading one of the most feared units in the league.  His stint with the Ravens brought him a Super Bowl ring, and his success led to a job as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. 

Del Rio carried his qualities as a football players over to his new job as a football coach.  He likes to play a physical style of football that starts with controlling the trenches.  Over he tenure as the Jaguars head coach, they have been most successful when they can run the football on offense and stop the run on defense.

In his first six seasons leading the Jaguars, they have made the playoffs twice with one playoff victory.  However, the Jaguars have not captured a division title under his command and the pressure to take this franchise to the next level is mounting.

The Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has been with the team since the 2007 season.  Koetter's job in Jacksonville is his first with an NFL franchise, as he spent a majority of his career at the college ranks.  Before joining the Jaguars coaching staff, Koetter had two successful stints as head coach of Boise State and Arizona State.  In his nine years as a college head coach, he was revered as a great offensive coach with a dangerous vertical passing attack.

Koetter was brought in by the Jaguars to help improve the teams offensive attack.  His first season was a success as he helped the Jaguars move into the top 10 in the league in offensive production, success the team parlayed into a playoff victory.

After a disappointing 2008 for the Jaguars offense, Koetter has some new weapons that should help him be able to open up his playbook in 2009 and take the offense back into the top 10.

In the five years the Jaguars defense was led by now Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith they were one of the most stubborn units in the league.  In one season under Gregg Williams the Jaguars defense statistically plummeted.  Enter new defense coordinator Mel Tucker.

Tucker, who was defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns last season, has had success in both the NFL and college.  His background as a college cornerback at Wisconsin has led his units to have solid numbers against the pass.  His unit last year ranked 14th in the league against the pass and was 3rd in the league in interceptions despite having minimal talent.  In coming to Jacksonville, Tucker inherits some talent in the defensive backfield including Rashean Mathis and Reggie Nelson.  Coach Jack Del Rio hopes that by strengthening the Jaguars pass defense, the unit will return to its stubborn form in 2009.

New Jaguars special teams coordinator Russ Purnell has had a long and distinguished career in the NFL.  He has two super bowl rings with both the Baltimore Ravens, where he coached with Jack Del Rio in 1999 and 2000, and the Indianapolis Colts.

Purnell was brought in after a dismal 2008 season in which the Jaguars finished near the bottom of the league in every special teams category.  Despite recent struggles by Purnell's squads with the Colts in the return game, he has a history of being very successful in keeping other teams return numbers in check.

The strength of the 2009 Jaguars will depend heavily on the ability of the coaches to work together and with their players to give them the put them in the best situations to succeed on game day.  The coaches will have to show some improvement, because a repeat of last year could lead to the demise of the Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville.