It’s finally been confirmed that Mike Singletary will be the Vikings new linebacker coach. Singletary told ESPN Chicago that he’ll be the Vikes Linebackers Coach as well as an Assistant Head Coach, which is a title I’ve never really understood; when there can be multiple Assistant Head Coaches, does the label really mean anything?
Whatever.
Singletary is certainly creating excitement among fans but the players themselves are pretty psyched. The Star Tribune‘s Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins quote Jasper Brinkley in their coverage:
“It’s definitely exciting. He’s a Hall of Fame player. He’s one of those guys that as a young player you want to try and pick his brain because he has a lot of knowledge of the game. I know he’s one of those tough coaches, a rah-rah kind of coach, so you definitely have to come to work for him every day. I’m excited about that.”
You have to wonder how much the prospect of being able to learn from one of the best linebackers to play the game will factor into Chad Greenway‘s willingness to re-up with the Vikings rather than leave through free agency.
WATCH highlights from Mike Singletary’s playing career.
MIKE PRIEFER
The Strib guys also report that former Denver Broncos special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will replace Brian Murphy in that role, who left for the Carolina Panthers.
Priefer attended Navy and flew helicopters as a Naval officer after his graduation, which is awesome, helicopters being like among the coolest things on the face of the earth.
BILL MUSGRAVE
When Josh McDaniels took the Offensive Coordinator position with the Rams, that left the Vikings still in need of their own offensive coordinator. That may turn out to be Bill Musgrave, who will interview for the position today, 1500ESPN.com’s Tom Pelissaro reports.
Musgrave played quarterback for Mike Shanahan when he was offensive coordinator with the 49ers and then went with Shanahan to Denver to be his quarterback for the Broncos. Musgrave, then, has experience in the West Coast system.
He also has offensive coordinating experience, having held that position with the Philadelphia Eagles (1998), Carolina Panthers (2000), University of Virginia (2001-02) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-04).
Leslie Frazier may very well like what Musgrave has done to develop Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, whom Frazier has cited as an example of the type of quarterback he likes. Musgrave has served as Falcons quarterbacks coach since 2006.
The PiPress‘ Jeremy Fowler points to Ryan’s ascendancy as one of the best young quarterbacks in the game under Musgrave and the fact that Texans QB Matt Schaub was a record-breaking player at Virginia under Musgrave.
Fowler also highlights the fact that Falcons running back Michael Turner lead the league in carries this season, which should make Frazier happy, considering he’s put the focus of the offense squarely on Adrian Peterson.