re: Clancy Pendergast - Defensive Records - updated with his Professional Rankings

As per Pro Football Reference.com, Pendergast's 4-3 defense averaged 15th in the NFL across 16 separate statistical measures over the 5 years (04 - 08) that he was the Cardinal's DC.

The Card's offense averaged 17th in the NFL.

Over that 5 year period, the Cardinal D averaged 16 in interceptions, 9 in fumbles recovered, 13 in drives ending in a score, 12 in drives ending in a turnover, 9 in drive time of possession, 12 in plays run per drive, 13 in yards allowed per drive and 19 in points allowed per drive.

Pendergast's record across the 16 statistical records over the 5 year period did not produce any pronounced trend, one way or the other, but fluctuated across all measures, from year to year.

His 2008 Cardinals defense won division and conference championships, before losing the Super Bowl to the Steelers.

CP has the following going for him:

- College and Pro experience
- Respect from both college and Pro coaches
- Has coached at a high level in college. Pac 12
- Has coached at a high level in the Pros. Super Bowl
- Still in coaching as a consultant
- Has seen spread, pass spread, power football, and so on offenses
- Has experience success and failure at all levels. Guy is obviously learning. If he was all a success, then he would be unattainable. His last stint with USC was a huge plus. Converted the defense to a 3-4 under and improved it tremendously in just one year.
- Known as a film room junkie
- Young

A lot of this sounds like a Saban type coach. That worked out well for us last time.

Knocks:

- Been fired on several occasions. Can this guy compromise? Can he alter his system to fit the situation?

Some what mitigated by Saban himself. They guy has no problem hiring coaches that have been fired.

- 3-4 type guy.

Mitigated by his use of a 4-3 in the Pros. Plus, he ran a 3-4 under type defense with Cal and USC. Similar to what Pete Carroll used at USC and the Seahawks (though Pete still uses a base 4-3 under).

- Recruiting. Does not know the South? Track record?

Again, I am fine with CP. It would be a good hire and probably an upgrade. Face it, Aggies are the only team in the pass three years we had any consistent success beating. Auburn, Bama, Ark, Miss. St are all run based teams. We need the change as Chavis 4-3 over concepts (Miami 4-3) were not getting the job done. Adding, Coach O would make it just about perfect, at least on paper.

mytigger, So now I'm hearing Mike Stoops is being interviewed. Are we getting better or worse?