Gus Bradley hired as new Jacksonville Jaguars head coach
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley as head coach Thursday, the latest move in the team's rebuilding project.
He joins general manager David Caldwell, who led the coaching search after being hired last week.
Bradley spent the last four seasons in Seattle, where his defense improved each of the last three years and finished in the top 10 in points and yards the last two. This season, the Seahawks ranked first in the NFL in points allowed (15.3), fourth in yards (306.2) and tied for fourth in takeaways (31).
The Jaguars were 30th in the league in total defense in 2012.
CBSSports.com's Josh Katzowitz notes that Bradley is the first defensive-minded coach to be hired as a head coach this season.
"Though the Jaguars were woeful on offense this season, there's little question that Jacksonville's defense, the 30th-ranked squad in the league, also needs major help," Katzowitz writes.
Bradley began his NFL coaching career with Tampa Bay as a defensive quality control coach in 2006. He was the Buccaneers' linebackers coach the next two seasons before going to Seattle. Bradley coached in college from 1990-2005, including two stints at his alma mater, North Dakota State, and four years at Fort Lewis College (1992-95).
But his rise through the NFL ranks had him on several teams' radar. He also interviewed for the head job in Philadelphia this week.
"He's got a brilliant football mind," Seahawks coach Peter Carroll said this week. "He's got a way of reaching people and touching people and getting the best out of them, coaches and players alike. He's got everything that you're looking for."
The Jaguars interviewed defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden before striking a deal with Bradley.
Bradley replaces Mike Mularkey, who went 2-14 in his only season in Jacksonville. Mularkey replaced fired coach Jack Del Rio last January and failed to make the team any better in his first season.
Owner Shad Khan fired general manager Gene Smith, the architect of the roster the last four years, and charged Caldwell with turning around one of the league's worst franchises. Caldwell's first move was ousting Mularkey, saying the team "needed a fresh start."
"I'm looking for a co-builder of our team," Caldwell said last week. "I felt like it was an atmosphere of change. I felt like that to do that, you've got to have a fresh start across the board."
Many believed Caldwell would target close friend and college roommate Greg Roman, San Francisco's offensive coordinator.
Instead, Caldwell and Bradley will team up in hope of getting the Jaguars back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Jacksonville has missed the postseason 11 times in the last 13 years.
"The relationship between the general manager and the coach is vital," Khan said last week. "It has to be a symbiotic relationship and they have to grow together and the coach has to be somebody that it's very, very important to win and very, very important for Jacksonville."
Bradley inherits a team with few playmakers on either side of the ball.
The Jaguars have running back Maurice Jones-Drew under contract for another year and have young and talented receivers Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts III. But the offensive line was a mess in 2012, adding to the team's quarterback woes.
Jacksonville traded up to draft Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick in 2010, but the former Missouri standout has made little progress in 24 starts. Gabbert completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,662 yards this season, with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He also was sacked 22 times in 10 games.
Gabbert was benched in favor of Chad Henne in mid-November. Henne started the final six games, finishing with 2,084 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was sacked 28 times.
Neither quarterback had the benefit of having Jones-Drew for the entire season. Nonetheless, it was clear that neither was the answer.
Caldwell said he had "others in mind" to compete for the starting job.
Defensively, the Jaguars could lose linebacker Daryl Smith, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and cornerbacks Derek Cox and Rashean Mathis to free agency. The more pressing issue will be how to generate more consistent pass rush.
The Jaguars had a league-low 20 sacks this season. Philadelphia Eagles cast-off Jason Babin helped down the stretch, but the Jaguars are likely to use the No. 2 pick in April's NFL draft to find a pass rusher.
Bradley helped develop rookie defensive end Bruce Irvin this season. Irvin, the 15th overall pick, led all rookies with eight sacks. His defense had other young stars, too.
Linebacker Bobby Wagner, a second-round draft pick, ranked second among rookies in tackles with 140 and fourth with three interceptions. Safety Earl Thomas was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Second-year cornerback Richard Sherman led the team with eight interceptions, and defensive end Chris Clemons has a career-high 11 ½ sacks.