Coach Mel Tucker (Jaguars def. coord.)

[Ballard4Heisman]

ESPN.com: Grantham's defense might have cost Browns a playoff berth

Grantham's replacement has yet to be named, but one candidate likely will be Browns' secondary coach Mel Tucker. Cleveland surrendered 29 touchdown passes in 2007, but Tucker is credited for upgrading the overall play of the unit and improving the performances of some of the secondary's young starters.

[Buckskin86]

Browns promote Mel Tucker to defensive coordinator, replaces Grantham
By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer

Published on Saturday Jan 12, 2008

Mel Tucker, Cleveland's defensive backs coach the past three seasons, is the club's new defensive coordinator, replacing Todd Grantham, who was fired by the Browns on Friday.

Tucker also received a two-year contract extension through the 2010 season.

"We are excited to have Mel as our defensive coordinator," coach Romeo said in a statement released by the team. "He has a football plan, life plan, coaches the fundamentals and relates well with the players. I believe he will be successful in this new role."

Ohio.com - AP

[osugrad21]

Dispatch
Notebook
Browns name Tucker defensive coordinator

Sunday, January 13, 2008 3:10 AM



From staff and wire reports
Mel Tucker


The Browns didn't take long or look far to replace fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. They promoted secondary coach Mel Tucker to the job yesterday. Tucker, a Cleveland native and former Ohio State assistant, did well coaching a young secondary. In three seasons, he helped develop safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, and cornerbacks Leigh Bodden, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald.



Cont..

[osugrad21]

CPD

New Cleveland Browns coordinator Mel Tucker must restore trust lost under Todd Grantham


Sunday, January 13, 2008Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter
The Browns hope that promoting Mel Tucker to defensive coordinator will restore some of the confidence and trust in the position that was lost under Todd Grantham, sources close to the situation said Saturday.
Grantham was fired Friday after many players and some assistant coaches went to head coach Romeo Crennel with their concerns, insiders said. Some negative things also had gotten back to Crennel from colleagues in the league and he lost trust in Grantham.
Grantham was fired after the Browns had given him a three-year extension in June through 2009.




Cont...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Tucker settling into new role

Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
01.22.2008

MOBILE, Ala. -- Mel Tucker has already made his first on-the-fly adjustment as Browns defensive coordinator.
And he made it on himself.
It happened Monday, as Tucker settled into his seat at the South team's Senior Bowl practice and locked in on the defensive backs.
"I kind of laughed at myself," he said. "I looked around to see if anyone else caught me, then I got up and kind of casually walked over towards the defensive linemen. I have to broaden my scope a little bit."
What he's used watching is now changing, and he's now in charge of changing the Browns' defensive struggles of the past few years into areas of strength. After three years as the team's defensive backs coach, Tucker was promoted to defensive coordinator on Jan. 12.

Continued.....

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Tucker believes he can shore up Browns defense

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:18 AM
By James Walker


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

BEREA, Ohio -- First-year defensive coordinator Mel Tucker says he's ready for the challenge of fixing a Cleveland Browns defense ranked 30th in the NFL. The former defensive backs coach cites his experience at Ohio State from 2001 to 2004 as a major reason he'll be able handle the increased pressure and responsibility.
"The best part about being in Columbus is that we were able to win, and we were able to win a championship," Tucker said yesterday. "Once you're able to do that, we kind of see what it takes to be the best and stand at the top of the mountain. And at a place like Ohio State where you're expected to win every game, to be able to perform under those conditions is invaluable."
Tucker, a Cleveland native, met with the media for the first time since being promoted Jan. 12 to replace Todd Grantham, who was fired.




Cont...

[Buckskin86]

Playing for high stakes
New Browns defensive coordinator praised for his people skills

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008

In the spring of 1995, a serious case of chicken pox ended Mel Tucker's playing career not long after he signed with the Canadian Football League.

While trying to find another goal to pursue just as passionately, the future Browns defensive coordinator paid the bills by selling steaks door to door.

''Mel would talk often that he picked up his recruiting persistence and organization and effort from his experience selling steaks,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. ''If you can sell steaks door to door, you can sell Ohio State.''

Ohio.com - Playing for high stakes

[osugrad21]

CPD

Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi has a Q & A with Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker


Wednesday, May 21, 2008Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter
Mel Tucker takes over as Browns defensive coordinator at a time when the team's offense is ready to win.
Tucker's job is to improve a defense that ranked 16th, 27th and 30th overall in three seasons under former coordinator Todd Grantham.
As the team's defensive secondary coach those years, Tucker was credited with developing young defensive backs such as Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, Leigh Bodden, Daven Holly, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald. But the Browns' ranking against the pass also slipped every season (from fourth in 2005 to 24th last season), and they gave up more touchdown passes each season - 19th, 20th and 29th.


Cont...

[Buckskin86]

Browns: Tucker steps up
His first coordinator job is daunting: revamp defense
Sunday, August 17, 2008 3:32 AM
By Ethan Ramsey
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


Tracy Boulian The Plain Dealer
Mel Tucker took on a big challenge when he accepted the position as Browns defensive coordinator. Cleveland's defense was third worst in yards allowed in the NFL last season.

BEREA, Ohio -- Mel Tucker avoids talking about specific players or certain strategies. For the Browns defensive coordinator, the key to success lies in executing the most basic of management principles: earning respect, building character, maximizing effort, paying attention to detail.

Sounds boring, but in football boring often wins. Consider New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, just two degrees of separation from Tucker.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel, who was a defensive coordinator under Belichick, promoted the 36-year-old ex-Ohio State assistant to his first-ever coordinator position in January.

Tucker's response: "The opportunity presented itself, and I was asked to do this job. It's an honor and a pleasure and it's a great challenge for me."

The Columbus Dispatch : Browns: Tucker steps up

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Mel Tucker, a former Ohio State assistant who is the Browns' defensive coordinator, had a tough first game, his unit giving up 487 yards to Dallas. In the Cowboys locker room, his predecessor, Todd Grantham, was smiling.
This had nothing to do with Tucker; Grantham knew that his Browns defense allowed 886 yards in the first two games last season, but limited opponents to an average of 347.6 yards in the next 14 games. He still lost his job.
Grantham had another reason to smile. After three years with the Browns, he doubtless helped the Cowboys prepare for the Cleveland defense.

[Buckskin86]

By National Football Post
Posted January 21, 2009

Jags Close To Hiring Tucker
The National Football Post has just been informed that the Jacksonville Jaguars are very close to naming Mel Tucker as their new defensive coordinator. Tucker would be taking the spot that was formerly held by Gregg Williams, who left last week to become the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints.

Tucker spent the previous four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in January of 2008.

The National Football Post | Sources: Jags Close To Hiring Tucker

[Buckskin86]

Tucker a Jag: Former Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker officially signed with the Jaguars Thursday night for the same position there.

Tucker, who was replaced here by former Raiders coordinator Rob Ryan, spent four seasons with the Browns, including one as coordinator. In 2008, the Browns defense finished 26th overall, but second in the NFL with 23 interceptions. Only the Ravens had more with 26.

Tucker's defense also finished 16th in the NFL with 21.9 points allowed. The Browns finished second to last with 17 sacks, ahead of only the Chiefs, who had 10. For comparison's sake, the Cowboys finished first with 59.

Tucker takes over a Jaguars defense that finished 17th overall last season.

Staff writer Mary Kay Cabot contributed to this report

Browns officially name quintet of assistants; Tucker named Jaguars coordinator - Cleveland Browns football NFL News - cleveland.com

[Buckskin86]

Jags Tucker clears static, clings to hard work
Former Cleveland coordinator dismisses criticism of his hiring.
By Michael C. Wright
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009


MARK DUNCAN/Associated Press
Mel Tucker watches practice at the Cleveland Browns' football training camp on July 24, 2008, in Berea, Ohio.
Mark Duncan

PROFILE

Mel Tucker

Age: 37; Born: Cleveland.

NFL coaching career: Browns defensive coordinator in 2008; Browns defensive backs coach from 2005-07.

College coaching career: Ohio State defensive backs/co-defensive coordinator from 2001-04; LSU defensive backs coach in 2000; Miami (Ohio) defensive backs coach in 1999; Michigan State graduate assistant from 1997-98.

Family: Wife Jo-Ellyn; sons Joseph, 6, and Christian, 4.

SEASON IN REVIEW

How the Cleveland Browns fared under defensive coordinator Mel Tucker in 2008:

Yards per game 356.5 26th in NFL

Points per game 21.9 Tie-16th

Rushing defense 151 yards per game 28th

Passing defense 204.6 yards per game 14th

Sacks 17 Tie-30th

Third-down stops 46 percent 30th
Mel Tucker hadn't yet touched down to interview last month before a barrage of insults crash-landed onto the message boards of every Jaguars fan site on the Web.


"If Mel Tucker gets the [defensive coordinator] job it's because no one else worth a darn would take it," said one fan on the team's official Web site.


Another asked, "Are you bleeping kidding me?"


Less than two weeks on the job as the Jaguars' defensive coordinator, Tucker listened to all the knocks Friday - his inexperience, Cleveland's struggles during his tenure as Browns' defensive coordinator, his 3-4 background despite Jacksonville's 4-3 system, and the notion he's merely a puppet of head coach Jack Del Rio - and calmly dismissed them, choosing to focus on the task at hand.


That seemingly effortless composure in the face of criticism, in addition to a refreshingly contemplative approach might make Tucker the ideal point man to assist Del Rio in an attempt to revitalize the Jaguars' ailing defense. At least that's the sense you get from the 37-year-old Tucker, considered one of the league's up-and-coming young coaches.


"You earn the opportunities you get in this business," Tucker said at lunchtime, taking off his glasses to rub from his eyes the last remnants of film study from the night before that lasted past 1 a.m. "Nobody is trying to do anybody any favors. So I feel confident in what I can do as a coach. I just know when people choose to work with me, it tells me they have confidence in me to get the job done. So [none of the criticism] factors into my thinking."


For Tucker, Monday will mark his 14th day in Jacksonville since leaving Cleveland. Living out of a suitcase in a temporary condominium, Tucker finds his way to the club's facility every morning by using GPS navigation. Tucker reports most days before 8 a.m. and routinely leaves after dark. His wife Jo-Ellyn, an attorney, and two sons Joseph and Christian, born two years apart on Feb. 18, won't arrive in Jacksonville until March 1.

Jags Tucker clears static, clings to hard work | Jacksonville.com

[GrizzlyBuck]

Hopefully Mel can do a good job helping the Jags turn around their team. He always seemed to me like one of the good guys, as well as a heck of a coach.

[Buckskin86]

Q&A with Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker
Submitted by Michael Wright on Mon, 02/09/2009

The Wright On Jags blog didn?t die. The author just went on vacation to play stay-at-home dad to a beautiful five-month old boy while decompressing from a long football season.

Anyway, the blog is back up and ready to roll for what should be an interesting offseason for the Jaguars. So be sure to hit me up with questions and your thoughts about how the club should proceed headed into free agency and the draft. Also, I?ll be at the NFL Combine in a couple of weeks to give you the lowdown on all things happening in Indianapolis.

While you?re here, take the time to check out this Q&A with new Jags defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. In addition, you can check Jacksonville.com and Sunday?s editions of the Times-Union for a story on one of Jacksonville?s newest additions.

Coaches usually don?t hire people out of the blue. So how did you and Jack Del Rio meet and spark up a relationship? I met Jack when I was coaching at Ohio State. They came in scouting - Gene [Smith] and Jack, [James] Shack [Harris], [former defensive coordinator Mike] Smitty and all those guys came in. I was coaching [former Buckeyes cornerback] Chris Gamble at the time and that was 2002, 2003, around that time. They came in to look at him for our pro day and that?s when I first met Jack.

We?d see each other from time to time once I came into the NFL. I?d see him at the combine and stuff like that. We had a casual relationship. I?ve had a little more of a relationship with Gene [Smith] over the years. Gene and I, our relationship has grown over the years. Ohio State was one of his schools in scouting. So we got to know each other. Once it became apparent that I might be available from Cleveland, Gene asked permission to talk and it was granted. Then he started talking to me, asking if I?d be interested in coming here and working with Jack. I told him I had a lot of respect for both of those guys since my Ohio State years. I followed Jack and the Jags and the defense closely, especially once I came to the league. I thought it would be a good opportunity. So we got together, talked about it and were able to work it out.

What do you bring to the table in terms of skills and expertise for this job? In a coordinator?s role, leadership is important. I think I bring solid leadership for coaches and for players. My interpersonal skills have gotten me pretty far in my coaching career. Because this is the ultimate team sport, [I feel that I?m] able to get people to buy in, to try to get on the same page to work for a common goal, feel good about it, feel like they have ownership about what they?re doing ? players and coaches ? and cultivating those relationships. I think that?s another thing I bring to the table, the ability to get that done in a very high-stakes environment.

From a coaching standpoint, my expertise ? where I cut my teeth was with [Alabama coach] Nick Saban. I worked with and under Nick for three years [at Michigan State and LSU] and really started off with a very good feel for coverage and things like that in his 4-3 scheme. Being a back-end guy, you have to know the fronts. Over the years I?ve really learned how to tie fronts in with coverages in base defenses and in pressures. That?s something that?s very important to be able to do and to understand how slight nuances and changes in fronts affect the coverage or how the coverage may affect the front. So a combination of leadership, interpersonal skills, my football background, working with guys like Saban, four years with [Ohio State coach] Jim Tressel, four years with guys like [former Cleveland coach] Romeo Crennel, you learn a lot and get a diverse background.

Q&A with Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker | Jacksonville.com