I didn't see this one coming, but the Detroit Lions have made official the hiring of Ravens secondary coach Teryl Austin as their new defensive coordinator. Austin has not served as a defensive coordinator in the NFL, but did so at the University of Florida in 2010.
Wow. Nice move for Teryl Austin… but perhaps unexpected at best by the Ravens.
But still waters run deep, and obviously Austin was quite responsive to the Ravens' former OC Jim Caldwell, who just landed the Lions' head coaching gig.
"He's a guy, obviously, that is extremely bright," Caldwell told WDFN in Detroit on Friday morning. "He's a guy that has, without question, a great balance in terms of overall experience. [He's] energetic and really has an outstanding feel for defensive football…..outstanding communicator as well."
Here's a look at what Austin has done in the past and what his defense could look like.
Caldwell also has some of the other staff ready to go.
Bill Sheridan, who was Tampa Bay's defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013, has been hired as the team's linebackers coach. Sheridan is a Detroit native who spent time on both the Michigan and Michigan State staffs in the past coaching linebackers. He also coached linebackers at Miami from 2010 to 2011.
So far those are the only two new coaches Caldwell has brought in, although he has chosen to retain a lot of members of the staff.
Offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn will return, along with assistant offensive line coach Terry Heffernan. Tight ends coach Bobby Johnson is also back, but Dave Birkett from the Detroit Free Press is reporting it is as an offensive line assistant.
Jim Washburn (assistant defensive line), Kris Kocurek (defensive line) and Curtis Modkins (running backs) were also retained, although it is not clear if all will remain in their same roles.
As reported Thursday, special teams coach John Bonamego will also return.
This means defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, linebackers coach Matt Burke and secondary coach Marcus Robertson were also not being brought back. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, wide receivers coach Tim Lappano, assistant wide receivers coach Kyle Valero and quarterbacks coach Todd Downing were previously announced as not retained.
The biggest holes left to fill for Caldwell now are offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach and defensive backs coach, although Austin has extensive experience coaching the secondary.
So the Ravens now have a major Detroit City connection… Funny how things work out after an 8-8 season…
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