The official interview is expected today or tomorrow morning at the latest. The real talking, however, was done over the past month; Sunday night in particular. Steve Spagnuolo didn’t need to say a word; his defense’s success said it all.
Now the Redskins have a chance to hire the NFL’s hottest assistant — New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. He’s likely the last person Washington will interview.
But even if the Redskins want him, will he want them? Considering the team already has a staff in place, Spagnuolo could decide that he’s better served waiting another year.
Or, at 48, he might decide he’ll never be hotter. And this is a chance to guide what one person close to him describes as a “storied franchise.” One NFL source said the staffing situation might not be a big concern.
“Unless they were all bad coaches and that’s not the case,” the source said.
Of course, the Redskins could also look at a Super Bowl trend in which nine of the last 11 winners had been head coaches elsewhere. Which would favor Jim Fassel or Steve Mariucci.
“I don’t think he needs to be in that big a hurry to be a head coach,” said Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Bill Muir of Spagnuolo, “that you have no say in the staff. I want to be comfortable with that unless I’m desperate. What he’s putting on paper now says you don’t have to jump at the first thing that comes along.”
Spagnuolo, in his first year as a defensive coordinator after eight years as Philadelphia’s linebackers coach, likely would be the fan favorite. Some Web sites had multiple threads devoted to a desire to see him hired.
The Giants, naturally, want him back. Former Redskin Antonio Pierce said after the Giants 17-14 Super Bowl triumph, “We’re going to hijack him.”
Muir knows why. The Giants held Muir’s Bucs to 14 points and 271 total yards in a Wild Card round playoff victory.
“He brings a lot of excitement,” he said. “Players usually reflect the personality of a coach and you can watch his hyper activity on the sideline and that’s contagious. He has a good scheme; it’s not unique but it’s packaged well.”
In the playoffs, Spagnuolo’s defense held quarterbacks Jeff Garcia, Tony Romo, Brett Favre and Tom Brady to a combined 75.13 passer rating.
“A month ago I would have said it’s too early,” said one NFC East executive who knows Spagnuolo well. “Now it’s just a matter of time.
“I like the way he communicates and his energy. He’s fun to be around. … It’s hard for players to like and respect a coach, but he has a knack for getting them to do that.”
