One pressing question for every new NFL defensive play caller in 2024

The musical chairs of the NFL offseason weren’t restricted to head coach firings and hirings and player activity on the free-agent market.

Seventeen of the league’s 32 teams made changes at defensive coordinator this offseason. Now those coordinators are in the process of installing their new systems with their players as offseason practices continue.

Here’s one pressing question facing every new defensive play caller as the season approaches. (Note: The Chicago Bears have a new defensive coordinator in Eric Washington, but coach Matt Eberflus is expected to retain play-calling duties for his defense, so they are excluded below.) We addressed questions for new offensive play callers on Tuesday.

Can his rookies learn quickly enough to address the unit’s biggest weakness?

Lake, who followed new head coach Raheem Morris to Atlanta from the Rams, will work to bolster a unit that ranked 11th in total defense and 18th in scoring. An ability to generate a higher number of disruptive plays in the trenches will go a long way toward helping the Falcons accomplish this goal. That’s why Atlanta spent three draft picks on interior defensive linemen Ruke Orhorhoro (second round), Brandon Dorlus (fourth round) and Zion Logue (sixth round). The Falcons also added edge rusher Bralen Trice (third round). If Lake can get this quartet up to speed promptly, Atlanta has a chance to field an aggressive unit.

Can he pick up where Mike Macdonald left off?

The impressive, young Macdonald (he turns 37 on June 26) developed the Ravens’ defense into the league’s best. But Macdonald is now head coach of the Seahawks, and Baltimore also lost talented defensive assistants Anthony Weaver and Dennard Wilson to coordinator jobs with the Dolphins and Titans, respectively.

Orr, promoted from inside linebackers coach, must find a new impactful complement to Roquan Smith after Patrick Queen’s departure for Pittsburgh in free agency. Orr has a deeper secondary than Baltimore fielded a year ago thanks to draft picks spent on cornerbacks Nate Wiggins (first round) and T.J. Tampa (fourth round) and safety Sanoussi Kane (seventh round). He also has a promising linebacker in third-round pick Adisa Isaac. Delivering a defense that complements Lamar Jackson’s offense and positions the Ravens for a Super Bowl run is priority No. 1 for the rookie coordinator.

Bobby Babich, working with Bills cornerback Taron Johnson in 2022, has a number of rookies to incorporate into the defense. (Shawn Dowd / USA Today)

Can the rising assistant help elevate a revamped unit despite subtractions?

The Bills’ defense has consistently ranked among the NFL’s better units under head coach Sean McDermott’s watch, but it has undergone a good deal of change this offseason following the departures of safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre’Davious White. The Bills used draft picks on safety Cole Bishop (second round), defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (third round), linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, defensive end Javon Solomon and cornerback Daequan Hardy. So Babich must work to integrate these prospects, and he must help solve a big question at pass rusher, where the aging Von Miller went without a sack last season opposite of A.J. Epenesa (6 1/2 sacks). Babich’s unit could endure some growing pains in 2024.

Can he help deliver another Super Bowl in his return to Dallas?

Gone is the talented Dan Quinn (now head coach in Washington). Back for his second stint as Dallas defensive coordinator is Zimmer, who helped the team win Super Bowl XXX as defensive backs coach in 1995. Zimmer hasn’t coached in the NFL since getting fired following Minnesota’s disappointing 2021 campaign. Zimmer returns at a time when pressure is at an all-time high for Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott, as Jerry Jones’ desire for a Super Bowl grows stronger with each offseason collapse. Zimmer has talent to work with (Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland lead the way), so Dallas has a high ceiling on defense if Zimmer can develop more consistent contributors around his best players.

Can the former Boston College coach thrive in his first NFL coordinator role?

Hafley replaces Joe Barry, who got a decent amount out of a 2023 Packers team plagued by injuries. Some of Green Bay’s key defensive leaders regressed, however, and Matt LaFleur decided a new voice was needed. Hafley comes to Green Bay from Boston College, where he was head coach for four seasons, but does have have NFL position coach experience. Those jobs featured teaching responsibilities, and he’ll draw on that to help groom young members of the defense to step into key roles while also hopefully energizing veterans. The Packers have the talent to rank among the top 10 units. Hafley must figure out the best way to maximize what his players have to offer.

GO DEEPER

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Will a collection of new faces translate into growth?

Nielsen inherits a Jacksonville defense that boasted plenty of talent last season but fell short of expectations under the now-fired Mike Caldwell. Jaguars brass further bolstered the talent this offseason by acquiring defensive lineman Arik Armstead and defensive backs Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage. Nielsen, who did well in his stint as Falcons DC last season, just has to figure out how to fit all of the pieces together. If he does, the reinforcements could position pass rusher Josh Allen (17 1/2 sacks last season) for an even greater impact.

Can he figure out how to get this talented unit to deliver on its potential?

Minter, who followed Jim Harbaugh to L.A. from Michigan, inherits a unit that boasts dynamic pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, three-time Pro Bowl safety Derwin James and a handful of talented young players. Yet Minter is here in part because another bright defensive mind, Brandon Staley, could never figure out how to get this unit to dominate like its talent suggests it should. Minter will have to install a different, more aggressive mindset and tactics to help transform the defense into a difference-maker.

Los Angeles Rams: Chris Shula

Can he and his players fill the big shoes left behind?

For the first time in 10 years, the Rams will not have Aaron Donald as the cornerstone of their defense. And for the first time in three years, they will not have Raheem Morris directing the defense. Those two played pivotal roles in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory, but now, Donald is retired and Morris is in Atlanta. Shula held various defensive assistant positions with the Rams from 2017 to 2023. Now he’s running his own unit and must blend prospects like rookie defensive lineman Jared Verse with returning pass rusher Kobie Turner (nine sacks last season) and defensive backs Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams, both added via free agency. The Rams and their rookie coordinator might experience growing pains this year.

Miami Dolphins: Anthony Weaver

Can he give Mike McDaniel the championship-caliber defense he craves?

McDaniel has delivered some truly prolific offensive performances in two seasons as head coach, but finding a defense capable of complementing that high-powered attack has proved challenging. McDaniel this offseason hired his third defensive coordinator in Weaver, a former Baltimore assistant. Last year’s hire, Vic Fangio, was supposed to be the cure for the inconsistencies that plagued the Dolphins on Josh Boyer’s watch. But Fangio’s unit also underachieved, thanks in part to injuries. McDaniel also had some philosophical clashes with Fangio, so after one season, he parted ways with the well-respected coach.

Weaver has been a defensive line coach for five different teams but now gets his first crack at a coordinator role. The Dolphins worked to upgrade at edge rusher, linebacker and defensive back this offseason. Weaver must deliver an aggressive attack capable of slowing the Chiefs, Bills, Bengals and Ravens to give Miami a chance of making a deep playoff run.

How will he help the Patriots generate more takeaways?

New England’s defense was one of the more underrated units last season, and new head coach Jerod Mayo and Covington (promoted from defensive line coach) have many key players returning. The Patriots need their defense to provide as much support as possible if No. 3 pick Drake Maye eventually leapfrogs Jacoby Brissett to become the starting quarterback. One way they can do this is by forcing turnovers and setting the offense up with favorable field position. The Patriots recorded just 10 interceptions last season and ranked 24th in total takeaways. Covington and Mayo must help a group of young defensive backs develop quickly to improve on this front.

How will he mask rampant deficiencies in the secondary?

Bowen, formerly the Titans’ defensive coordinator, inherits a defense that — like the Giants’ roster as a whole — had plenty of areas of weakness in 2023. The talented young Kayvon Thibodeaux was one of the few bright spots on the unit. The fifth pick in 2022 led the team with 11 1/2 sacks last season and could take another leap forward thanks to the acquisition of fellow pass rusher Brian Burns. Bowen’s unit has plenty of holes in the secondary, however, so he will have to lean heavily on his edge rushers to ease pressure on the Giants’ young, still-developing defensive backs, including second-round safety Tyler Nubin and third-round cornerback Andru Phillips.

Vic Fangio has veteran and rookie talent to work with as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. (Bill Streicher / USA Today)

Can he help get this retooling unit back on track?

The Eagles’ defense went from dominant to passive overnight, and neither Sean Desai nor Matt Patricia could figure out how to fix things last season. Enter Fangio, one of the most respected minds in the game. Fangio takes over a unit that features two talented linemen in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Offseason additions include veteran linebackers Bryce Huff and Devin White and rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Fangio’s task is figuring out how to blend all of this talent together, and developing and positioning his charges for success.

Can he lead this talented squad to championship-level results?

The 49ers have endured change at defensive coordinator multiple times during Kyle Shanahan’s seven seasons as head coach. The latest move: Sorensen’s promotion from pass-game coordinator/defensive backs coach to replace Steve Wilks, whose philosophies never fully aligned with Shanahan’s. Sorensen’s time in San Francisco predated Wilks’, so he should have a better grasp of the type of attack Shanahan wants.

Sorensen inherits a unit that features tone-setting linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and new faces in Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott and De’Vondre Campbell. The defense fell one overtime goal-line stop shy of a Super Bowl victory in February. Can Sorensen make the necessary tweaks to further elevate the 49ers?

Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald

Can the rookie head coach produce a quick turnaround in Seattle like he did in Baltimore?

Macdonald needed just two seasons to turn the Ravens’ defense into a juggernaut. Now, he’s Seattle’s head coach largely because the Seahawks’ defense regressed and underperformed under Pete Carroll. Seattle ranked among the worst in the league in most major statistical categories, including third downs. Macdonald (along with defensive coordinator Aden Durde) will have to look for ways to get his defense off the field on those money downs and improve against the pass, where opponents carved the Seahawks up. From a talent standpoint, the Seahawks already seem improved. They added veteran linebackers Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson in the offseason and drafted promising rookies in defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, linebacker Tyrice Knight and cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James.

Dennard Wilson (left) and head coach Brian Callahan have big tasks in Year 1 with the Titans. (Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA Today)

Tennessee Titans: Dennard Wilson

What will he do to generate a pass rush?

The Titans scored two big additions to their secondary in cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie. But they lost pass rusher Denico Autry (team-high 11 1/2 sacks) to free agency and didn’t really find a top-level replacement for him. So their struggles to get to the quarterback could continue unless Wilson — formerly the Ravens’ defensive backs coach — can come up with creative ways to generate pressure.

Can he and Dan Quinn get so many new pieces on the same page?

Quinn brought Whitt with him from Dallas and said his top assistant will call plays for the defense, which has been overhauled a bit. Defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne return, but Quinn brought in linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu and defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency. The Commanders also drafted defensive lineman Johnny Newton, nickel Mike Sainristil, linebacker Jordan Magee, safety Dominique Hampton and defensive lineman Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Wagner has familiarity with Quinn from their time in Seattle, and Fowler played for him in Dallas, but Whitt will have to teach a new system to the majority of his charges and hope chemistry can develop quickly.

(Photo illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; photos of Jeff Hafley, DeMarcus Covington and Mike Macdonald: Bryan Bennett, Chris Unger, Steph Chambers / Getty Images)