Browns DC Mel Tucker to Interview With Jets
According to ProFootballTalk, the Jets will interview Mel Tucker, the Defensive Coordinator from the Browns for their head coaching vacancy. Here’s a little information on Tucker and his background from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Tucker, 36, took over as Browns defensive coordinator this season after Todd Grantham was let go following last season. Tucker, a Cleveland native, has been with the Browns four seasons, including his first three as defensive backs coach.
The Browns finished 26th in defense under Tucker, but 16th in scoring defense with 21.9 points allowed per game. They did so despite having young cornerbacks, key players lost for the season such Antwan Peek, Robaire Smith and Daven Holly and the lack of a consistent pass rusher.
Tucker has long been viewed as an up-and-coming talent in the NFL. Before joining the Browns, he served as defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator of the Ohio State Buckeyes under Jim Tressel.
Tucker is African American, so would allow the Jets to comply with the Rooney Rule for interviewing of coaching candidates. To learn more about Mel Tucker, check out his bio on the Browns’ website, and this post from SBNation’s DawgsByNature blog.
Thanks to BrooklynMutt.com‘s Peter Wade for the heads up.
29 Responses to Browns DC Mel Tucker to Interview With Jets
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STL says:
I might be giving the Jets a ton of credit here (which is dangerous) but I think this is a great move. They can interview an “up and comer” who fulfills the Rooney Rule without waiting for Frazier from Minny in the playoffs.
They’re not going to hire either one … just get the requirement out of the way.
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Alon says:
anyone watching the orange bowl? we need cincinnati’s punter, not mel tucker.
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clownpuncher says:
Affirmative action…. gotta love it.
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Fonz says:
How dlo you spell QUAGMIRE ?
Because this is what Farve worshipers have placed us in. ……NO QB… NO HEAD COACH
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I’m\ soooo pissed off, so digusted that I can’t even think straight.
All you fans, “experts’ that knew , were absolutely positive that this guy, the Lord and Savior, was so clearly going to “deliver us from evil” that he brought us into hell.
You knuckleheads, Farve Worshipers , still insist that he will deliver us from ev\il, that you can’t see the sorry ass state our franchise finds itself in.
We must cleanse ourselves of our lossers mindset.
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Igs says:
Here’s a thought:
Why wouldn’t the Jets interview a Black candidate because he’s a potentially good head coach and they’re really interested in him?
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LukeV says:
couldnt we just get mangini to re-interview for the job, his name sounds ethnic ,so it sounds like a minority… I must say, I miss his goofy gum chewing already, we might as well count the 09 season as a loss already, and I’m one of the few pesimests around here!
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correction- optimists… Duh
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Paul says:
Can we get a coach that has more than one year experience as a coordinator? Our last few have had a year or less.
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JP says:
Rooney Rule or not, forget him! Browns D was crap!
I would rather try Dennis Green who has experience even though he keeps getting thrown out wherever he goes.
Truthfully, too bad Singletary is in with 49ers – I wanted him to interview for here – like his no-nonsense attitude.
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Lou says:
@igs,
I think we all want someone who has HC experience, and established themselves. we don’t want somone who is gonna learn as they go, or doesn’t have and identity and commands respect.
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ridinmywave says:
I am still favoring rex ryan out of all these coordinators
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I agree Lou. Very much. But I also think that we should not make light of the Rooney rule or automatically write off minority candidates because of it. That’s called racism.
Should I assume that anyone that interviews Shanahan is interviewing him just because he’s white? Come on now…
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largebarge says:
Enough of this unproven coordinator crap!!! We need a proven, winning Head Coach, not some young, dumb, overated Defensive/Offensive Coordinator!!! The truth is we’re very close too something special here, and I don’t want some unexperianced guy that wants too show everyone he can be sucessful in this league!!! No Friggin’ Way!!! We need someone thats been there, and done that!!! Here’s my Wishlist for HC!!!
1. Bill Cowher: I know he says he’s not interested, SO MAKE HIM INTERESTED, $$$$$!!!
2.Mike Shannahan: He’s a proven winner that commands respect in this league!!!
3.Marty Schottenheimer: I know, I know I’m a moron, but players truly love too play for him, & maybe he can set his baby boy straight!!!
4.Brian Billick: He won a Super Bowl with “Trent Dilfer” at the healm!!! Need I say more!!!
5.Bill Parcells: I’m more likely too win the Mega-Millions before this happens, but “Hey, You Never Know”!!!
Well there it is folks!!! My wishlist for HC!!! Now, if we can’t lure anyone from this list, I would consider only 2 of the coordinator prospects!!!
1.Stevie Spags: Based solely on his adjustments he made this year!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!
2.Rex Ryan: He clearly is a defensive genius, and this guy does’nt take crap from anyone!!! i.e., Media, Players, Anyone!!!
GO JETS!!!!!!!!!
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largebarge, i appreciate your list. I second.
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TOON2388 says:
if we interview a Jew or Asian-American I assume that meets the Rooney requirement as African-Americans encompass a higher % of the population than the former 2 groups. If it does not, someone needs to call Websters and re-define the word “minority.”
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Its amazing how one player can in fact ruin a whole season’s worth of effort in the final stretch. Its mindboggling!!!
One player who thinks HE is ABOVE THE TEAM!!!
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Jdogsofla says:
Hey lgs,
I think Someone would interview Mike Shanahan not because he’s white, but because he’s Irish… -
Only the Jets can make a mess of the Rooney Rule. They interview a guy that had one of the worst defenses in 2008….lol. We should just interview B Cox and then hire the coach we really want. This Rooney Rule is becomong a joke.
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dade county jets fan says:
This guys history sounds familiar…..defensive backs coach behind romeo crenel then one year defensive coordinator, a bright up and coming coach. sounds exactly like mangini did coming from the patriots. Maybe woody thinks he made a mistake firing mangini and this is as close he can come to bringing him back.
I think the best option for the Jets is rex ryan. Let him bring in a DC and let him make the defensive play calls. I hate to say it but give schotty one more year to prove himself without favre changing his playbook around and without mangini interfering with the plays he can call.
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BigKatFan says:
largebarge, I like the looks of your list, but I think Art Shell should be in the running.
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Bent says: Re: Toon’s question – I don’t think that has ever been tested. It has been the subject of much debate. If the Jets were to interview Norm Chow, Jim Schwartz or “Janine” for the head coaching job, would the NFL accept that the Rooney Rule has been complied with in each case?
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sorry jdog, but as Ireland is part of Europe, and Europeans dominate the American population, not to mention coaching jobs, corporate power, wealth, etc., I’d say that Shanahan is not a minority.
So again, lets not make light of the Rooney rule and why it exists.
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zenlaw says:
I would keep Schott for another year at least. I have faith in his schemes. The defense coordinator must be replaced.
I appreciate lgs’ list though in reality, most of those candidates are not likely to sign with the Jets.
I wonder whether the Jets would be better off with an experienced HC such as Shanny or whether they are better off with an up-and-comer like Spags.
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EssentialEducator says:
Lgs,
I agree the Rooney Rule needs to be respected and not taken lightly, but who are the legitimate minority candidates? Tucker needs to develop a track record before I would consider him a viable option. Jerry Gray always intrigues me because hes a former Longhorn, but Gray has had an inconsistent track record coaching in the NFL.
I like Frazier, but because of all the vacancies this year, the Jets have to move quickly. Tucker definitely seems like an arbitrary interview just in case the Jets do want to hire a candidate quickly. Hopefully, the Vikings will lose this weekend and the Jets can interview Frazier who is a legitimate candidate, imo. I respect the origins and purpose of the Rooney rule, but in a competitive market like the NFL, sometimes affirmative action rules are not followed in the most altruistic manners.
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bozzie22 says:
Apparently the Jets are not going to interview Mel Tucker…he is in New York to interview for the Brown’s coaching vacancy and according to profootballtalk.com, they assumed it was for the Jet’s head coaching position.
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Essential
I think the point is that, when the NFL starts to address the lack of minority coaches then there will not be a deficit viable candidates when a team begins to look for a head coach.
Think about the question you just contemplated. Why exactly is there such a small pool of qualified minority coaching candidates? There’s plenty of minority players…
Finally I’d just reiterate my point that we shouldn’t ass-ume that a minority candidate is being interviewed just because he fulfills the Rooney rule.
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Pingback: Clarification: Tucker Not to Interview With Jets | JetsVine
NO.NO.NO. His credentials mean nothing. The browns’ D sucked this year. If you consider Antwan Peek a key player, then you’ve never seen a football before. Forget about him, and focus on actual coaching candidates.