Technique and discipline are kind of the name of the game when it comes to this level of defense. Yeah, some players are going to be freaks of nature when it comes to levels of athleticism, but you can’t coach that. If you want a defensive lineman to get into the backfield faster, you can coach that.
Defensive Line: La’Roi Glover
He spent 13 years (1996-2008) as a defensive tackle in the NFL:
4x All-Pro
6x Pro Bowler
NFL Sack Leader in 2000
2000-2010 All-Decade Team
Saints Hall of Fame
He was undersized for his position and he was a great player. I like the idea of an undersized player being a coach because that means he knows how to be unconventionally effective. If you can coach big guys to do the things you did as a smaller guy, you have the potential to have a DANGEROUS defensive line. I love that.
He’s a guy who’s spent his career in the NFL, in some capacity.
In 2008 he was a St. Louis Ram (he was actually the Rams’ Walter Payton Man of The Year that year) with the Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht, and Glover went on to be the Rams’ Director of Player Engagement until they left for LA. What this means to me is that:
1. He likes the city.
2. Players like him.
After his time in St. Louis, he went on to be a defensive line assistant coach for the Jets and the Chargers.
The Battlehawks got a guy with strong ties to St. Louis, a great pedigree as a player, and good experience as a coach.
An all-around great hire.
Linebackers: Dave Steckel
Dave Steckel is a name that could maybe sound familiar to you because he was a coach for Mizzou for a cool 14 years.
“14 years Jake? He spent his whole career at Mizzou?”
Oh, you soiled fool. 14 years is a cup of coffee for him. He’s been a football coach for 40 years.
He understands football, but more importantly here, he understands defense. He’s spent 30 of those 40 years as a defensive coach in some capacity, but the majority are as a linebackers coach. Love it.
As much of a football guy as Pat Perles is, Dave Steckel might give him a run for his money.
I rate this hire as, “You’d be dumb not to.”