Ed Donatell Hired as Secondary Coach

Originally posted by Kolohe:
Solid hire, actually I think this hire is probably even better than the Fangio hire. I wonder who the LB coach will be??

All this excitement and the season doesn't start for another 6 months.

I'm going to be depressed. we can't even sign anyone till cba is done. Hope the season at least starts on time.

Best db coach the 49ers have hired since Ray Rhodes coached the secondary.

i have to change my underwear

Originally posted by 49ersVic:
As you've read on Twitter, the 49ers have finally secured Stanford defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to run their 3-4 defense (first reported by Matt Maiocco on CSNBA, and needlessly confirmed by my team sources).

Fangio is a fourth-time NFL defensive coordinator, but he isn't alone in that experience department.

The 49ers have also landed Broncos assistant Ed Donatell to coach their secondary, according to a league source. He was a defensive coordinator in Green Bay (2000-03) and Atlanta (2004-06) and was the secondary coach in Denver's Super Bowl repeat in the 90s.

Consider Donatell the first step, and a major step at that, toward addressing the NFL's 24th-ranked defense.

Donatell walked into Denver last season and turned an overturned roster into the NFL's third-ranked pass defense. His Packers led the NFL in takeaways from 2001-03.

Coaching up the secondary is Donatell's specialty. He's coached the likes of Champ Bailey, Ty Law and Steve Atwater. Look for him to get more out of safety Dashon Goldson and help develop Taylor Mays into starter's material, as well as whatever cornerback the 49ers decide to draft -- and you better believe they're going to draft one up high.

Harbaugh is clearly the man in charge in San Francisco, but by hiring two experienced NFL defensive coordinators, he's showing a willingness to put the defensive side of the team into the hands of far more qualified people. Given the last head coach's knack for wandering out of his personal wheelhouse, this can only be a good thing.

I won't believe a noob, especially one telling me what to believe, for all I know it's all make believe.

Maybe he can also help Nate Clements get back to a Pro-Bowl level?

Originally posted by SWAGG-ER:

Originally posted by 49ersVic:


Donatell walked into Denver last season and turned an overturned roster into the NFL's third-ranked pass defense.

Umm, Denver had one of the worst PASS DEFENSES in the NFL this year. Perhaps the credit from 2009 should go to Mike Nolan, not Donatell.

This year Denver gave up the 25th most Passing YPG and the 30th highest QB rating against. Oh and their secondary only created 10 int's (2nd fewest in the NFL). Yikes. Not impressive.

Originally posted by SWAGG-ER:

Originally posted by 49ersVic:


Donatell walked into Denver last season and turned an overturned roster into the NFL's third-ranked pass defense.

Umm, Denver had one of the worst PASS DEFENSES in the NFL this year. Perhaps the credit from 2009 should go to Mike Nolan, not Donatell.

This year Denver gave up the 25th most Passing YPG and the 30th highest QB rating against. Oh and their secondary only created 10 int's (2nd fewest in the NFL). Yikes. Not impressive.

First of all, that original comment was regarding the Broncos' 2009 season. Second, maybe you guys should look at Ed Donatell's track record as a coach before you judge him on the basis of one bad season? Look at the success he had with the Atlanta Falcons AND the Green Bay Packers. Personally, I like this choice. I think Dontell is exactly what our DBs need!

Originally posted by 49ersVic:
As you've read on Twitter, the 49ers have finally secured Stanford defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to run their 3-4 defense (first reported by Matt Maiocco on CSNBA, and needlessly confirmed by my team sources).

Fangio is a fourth-time NFL defensive coordinator, but he isn't alone in that experience department.

The 49ers have also landed Broncos assistant Ed Donatell to coach their secondary, according to a league source. He was a defensive coordinator in Green Bay (2000-03) and Atlanta (2004-06) and was the secondary coach in Denver's Super Bowl repeat in the 90s.

Consider Donatell the first step, and a major step at that, toward addressing the NFL's 24th-ranked defense.

Donatell walked into Denver last season and turned an overturned roster into the NFL's third-ranked pass defense. His Packers led the NFL in takeaways from 2001-03.

Coaching up the secondary is Donatell's specialty. He's coached the likes of Champ Bailey, Ty Law and Steve Atwater. Look for him to get more out of safety Dashon Goldson and help develop Taylor Mays into starter's material, as well as whatever cornerback the 49ers decide to draft -- and you better believe they're going to draft one up high.

Harbaugh is clearly the man in charge in San Francisco, but by hiring two experienced NFL defensive coordinators, he's showing a willingness to put the defensive side of the team into the hands of far more qualified people. Given the last head coach's knack for wandering out of his personal wheelhouse, this can only be a good thing.

Did you write this or plagiarize it? Because, unless I'm missing something, whoever wrote it has some facts seriously wrong. I'm not saying Donatell won't do a good job, but I don't know where the statistics come from.

Denver was the NFL's 3rd ranked pass defense? Not even close, and anyone who watched any Broncos games this year should've immediately done a double take on that stat. Try 25th ranked pass D (just behind our Niners).

And the Niners were the 24th ranked defense? Try 13th. Not great, but a whole lot better than 24th. (maybe 24th ranked pass D is what was meant, but if so, that is what should be said).

I'm all for looking at the positives of the Donatell hiring, but there's no need to make things up.

Originally posted by PTulini:
Maybe he can also help Nate Clements get back to a Pro-Bowl level?

Nah, man. I wish that would happen, but I doubt it. nate's problems go further than coaching. He's slow, doesn't have good ball skills, and gets beat too much on double moves.

I still think that in the correct scheme, he could be a good corner. And by correct scheme I mean a bump and run.

Originally posted by niner4life21:

Originally posted by PTulini:
Maybe he can also help Nate Clements get back to a Pro-Bowl level?

Nah, man. I wish that would happen, but I doubt it. nate's problems go further than coaching. He's slow, doesn't have good ball skills, and gets beat too much on double moves.

I still think that in the correct scheme, he could be a good corner. And by correct scheme I mean a bump and run.

i disagree, Nate is still by far our best Corner. Spencer is good, but the rest are meh.

And everyone gets beat when you have a crappy pass rush and you play 10 yards of the freaking wr cause there told to do it like that.

Stupid Sing and Manusky,

Im down with keeping clements at around 8M this yr, he has earned his money, but is not the best CB in the NFL, but still a damn good one. Better than alot of CBs in the NFL.

As much as I would love to, I doubt we land Asomugha. I want him but not likely, i hope im wrong.

Originally posted by AB83Rules:

Originally posted by niner4life21:

Originally posted by PTulini:
Maybe he can also help Nate Clements get back to a Pro-Bowl level?

Nah, man. I wish that would happen, but I doubt it. nate's problems go further than coaching. He's slow, doesn't have good ball skills, and gets beat too much on double moves.

I still think that in the correct scheme, he could be a good corner. And by correct scheme I mean a bump and run.

i disagree, Nate is still by far our best Corner. Spencer is good, but the rest are meh.

And everyone gets beat when you have a crappy pass rush and you play 10 yards of the freaking wr cause there told to do it like that.

Stupid Sing and Manusky,

Im down with keeping clements at around 8M this yr, he has earned his money, but is not the best CB in the NFL, but still a damn good one. Better than alot of CBs in the NFL.

As much as I would love to, I doubt we land Asomugha. I want him but not likely, i hope im wrong.

I like Nate too. I might've worded my post wrong. I think that overall, he is a pretty good corner. However, he is somewhat inconsistent, but that has a bit to do with the lack of pass rush.

I just keep remembering games like Carolina, where he got burned by guys like Brandon LaFell and David Gettis, two rookies. Ever heard of em?

Yeah...me neither.

8 million? No way. 5 million would be perfect, maybe even 6.

Originally posted by Genius1310:
Welcome to the 49ers!

Wasnt' Leonardo the blue one though, and Donatello was purple?

Originally posted by niner4life21:

Originally posted by PTulini:
Maybe he can also help Nate Clements get back to a Pro-Bowl level?

Nah, man. I wish that would happen, but I doubt it. nate's problems go further than coaching. He's slow, doesn't have good ball skills, and gets beat too much on double moves.

I still think that in the correct scheme, he could be a good corner. And by correct scheme I mean a bump and run.

Okay Niner4life you been around long enough to not say dumb things so I'm going to call you out on it. I usually leave the nub comments alone but no ball skills? I mean hes not a receiver but has 33 career interceptions. Who around the league has more.

1. Darren Sharper (35) 63 1997-2010 3TM
2. Ed Reed (32) 54 2002-2010 rav
3. Champ Bailey (32) 48 1999-2010 2TM
4. Charles Woodson (34) 47 1998-2010 2TM
5. Asante Samuel (29) 42 2003-2010 2TM
6. Ronde Barber (35) 40 1997-2010 tam
7. Brian Dawkins (37) 37 1996-2010 2TM
8. Nate Clements (31) 33 2001-2010 2TM

I don't know dude. He is kinda slow and I believe he's the best around the Line of scrimmage. But I don't get how you say he has no ball skills.

Originally posted by Kenyonsdad:

Originally posted by Genius1310:
Welcome to the 49ers!

Wasnt' Leonardo the blue one though, and Donatello was purple?

I guess that is supposed to be purple? And this is the Donatello that I grew up watching...