Matt Rhule: “Forward-thinking” after staff overhaul

“It’s always been very constructive about, ‘Hey, what’s the next step? What do we have to get done moving forward, to make that same jump on offense that we made last year on defense, and to make sure we maintain that or improve that on defense as we have our next iteration.'”

The biggest change this offseason has been on the offensive coaching staff. After last year’s midseason coordinator change, Rhule brought in former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo as offensive coordinator. He also added new offensive line (longtime Packers assistant James Campen), receivers (Joe Dailey), and tight ends (Kevin Gilbride) coaches as well. Coupled with veteran college head coach Paul Pasqualoni coaching the defensive line, and former Panthers defensive coordinator and Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks returning to coach the secondary, this is a much more experienced staff.

Rhule said that the goal was to ensure “we have guys who are aligned, and all have the same vision.”

“I can’t go back. I’m forward-thinking,” Rhule said when asked if he wished he’d have changed the makeup of his staff earlier. “I think any time you, after each year you say I learned this, I learned that. I’ve learned a lot in two years. I would not underestimate the value of having some really good young coaches on your staff and some veteran coaches.

“One thing I say to our coaches is I don’t want 10, 15, 20 of the same guy. So in that D-line room, we’ll have Paul Pasqualoni, who’s been doing it a long time and coached J.J. Watt, and then we’re going to have Terrance Knighton, who’s a really young budding star of a coach.”