According to FoxSports.com NFL Reporter Alex Marvez, current Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Ted Monachino is a strong candidate to become the Indianapolis Colts next defensive coordinator:
I'm hearing @Ravens LBs coach Ted Monachino will be strong candidate to become @Colts new DC. Worked with Chuck Pagano in BAL @NFLonFOX
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 6, 2016
Earlier Tuesday, the Colts fired former defensive coordinator Greg Manusky after 4 seasons with the team.
It’s worth noting that Monachino has been the Ravens linebackers coach since 2010, having worked both alongside and under Colts head coach Chuck Pagano when the latter was Baltimore’s defensive coordinator in 2011. Needless to say, there’s some great familiarity between the two parties.
The 49 year old linebackers coach has also been a defensive line coach/assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2006-09, and also held defensive coaching positions collegiately with Arizona State (2001-05), Boise State (2000), Southwest Missouri State (1999), James Madison (1998), and Texas Christian (1996-97).
Monachino’s been credited with some of the recent development of the Ravens’ 2014 1st round pick C.J. Mosley, who made the Pro Bowl in 2014 and is highly regarded as one of the league’s top young linebackers.
He appears to be one of the better linebackers coaches in football–having also successfully coached the likes of Ravens greats such as Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs at linebacker, as well as sackmaster Elvis Dumervil.
It would make sense that Pagano would once again go with a familiar comfort zone and someone he trusts in Monachino to fill the Colts defensive coordinator opening.
While the Baltimore Ravens defense wasn’t their usual stingy ‘selves this season–surrendering 25.1 ppg, which is 24th best and just one spot ahead of the Colts at 25.5 pppg, Monachino still appears to be one of the better linebackers coaches in football and seems like a viable candidate for the Colts vacant defensive coordinator position.
Of course, the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec speculates that Monachino may not be the only Ravens defensive coach that Pagano may try to “pluck” away from his former team:
Fair to wonder w/Colts now needing d coordinator and other def. assistants, whether Chuck Pagano could pluck some Ravens assistants.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 6, 2016
Ravens OLB coach Ted Monachino and DL coach Clarence Brooks highly thought of around league. Both close with Pagano, too.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 6, 2016