Greg

Manusky

Manusky, who coordinated the Washington defense from 2017-2019, joins several other coaches in signing on with the Broncos officially today. The Vikings had just let Manusky go five days ago as Brian Flores re-shaped the defensive coaching staff in his image. It doesn’t seem like Manusky will have a major position of power under Vance Joseph, but he’s an accomplished defensive coach and is a good get for them.

Newcomer defensive coordinator Brian Flores appears to be grooming his defensive coaching staff with the move. Manusky has over 20 years of experience coaching the defensive side of the ball, including multiple stints as defensive coordinator during his coaching career. He should draw interest on the open market from teams looking for a new face in their coaching ranks.

Washington not so quietly courted several other candidates this month including Gregg Williams and Todd Bowles, but they struck out on their top targets. Manusky’s defense actually took a step forward in 2018, but they were still just a middle-of-the-pack unit.

Gus Bradley, Mike Pettine and Rob Ryan also interviewed for the position. Manusky has nine years of coordinating experience including a four-year stint as the Colts’ DC from 2012-15. None of those defenses in Indianapolis were anything special and the Redskins will likely stay with the 3-4 scheme they used under Joe Barry. It represents a bland hire for a Redskins’ coaching staff that lost both of its top coordinators from 2016.

Manusky has nine years of experience coordinating an NFL defense, most recently with the Colts from 2012-15. His defenses have been middling at best, and the wheels fell off his last year in Indianapolis. Manusky would not be an exciting hire, but Washington has yet to interview any better in their search.

Manusky has experience in both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses but will stand pat with the scheme used under last year’s DC Joe Barry. ESPN’s John Keim notes that the Redskins only used their base defense on about 20-30 percent of their snaps last year. The rest of the time they opted for a four-man front as part of a nickel package. In addition to promoting Manusky, the Redskins also added former 49ers coach Jim Tomsula to their staff as a defensive line coach.

That will fix things. Manusky had been with the Colts since Chuck Pagano was hired in 2012. Manusky’s defenses provided rollercoaster play for the entirety of his tenure, but his firing doesn’t solve the main problem of lack of talent. GM Ryan Grigson simply hasn’t given his team the necessary horses on the defensive side of the ball. Perhaps Pagano will take on a bigger role on defense after saving his job on Monday. Manusky has been coordinating NFL defenses since 2007.

A case can be made that Manusky’s Colts defenses played above expectation considering their talent deficiencies. Manusky was fired as the scapegoat for the Colts’ season, however, while coach Chuck Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson received surprising extensions. Manusky began his coaching career with the Redskins and will oversee the development of promising OLB Preston Smith.