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Packers Name Nunn, Washington To Defensive Staff
posted 01/23/2006
Moving to fill two important vacancies on his defensive staff, Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy Monday hired Robert Nunn and Lionel Washington. Nunn will work with the defensive line and Washington will work with the secondary. Their exact titles and responsibilities will be determined once the full coaching staff is in place.
Nunn, 40, coached the Packers' defensive tackles in 2005, taking essentially the same personnel from 2004, when the club finished 25th overall defensively, and turning them into the anchor of a defensive unit that ranked seventh in 2005. Under Nunn, defensive tackle Grady Jackson started all 16 games for only the second time and responded with career bests in tackles (72) and passes defensed (4). And, promising nondrafted players Cullen Jenkins and Colin Cole also flourished under Nunn's stewardship.
A 17-year coaching veteran, Nunn has five seasons of NFL experience. He broke into the league as a defensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2000, then served as Miami's assistant defensive line/quality control coach for the 2001-02 campaigns, during which he worked with Pro Bowler Jason Taylor. The coach also worked the 2004 season for the Dolphins as a special assistant, beginning in August with a variety of off-the-field projects, and then assisted with the linebackers after Jim Bates was elevated to interim head coach for the final seven games. In 2003, Nunn headed up the Washington Redskins' defensive line and coached Bruce Smith when the defensive end broke Reggie White's all-time NFL sacks record.
Nunn's college coaching experience was highlighted by nine years at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga. After one season as defensive coordinator, the school promoted him to head coach and athletic director in 1992. In his eight seasons holding that position, Nunn was 66-19 (.776). He had launched his coaching career at Northeastern Oklahoma in 1988, heading up the defensive line. He then tutored defensive ends at the University of Tennessee for two seasons (1989-90). A former linebacker at Oklahoma State, Nunn served as team captain in 1987.
Washington, 45, enters his 23rd season in the NFL. In 2005, his seventh campaign as an NFL coach, he headed up the Packers' nickel package and cornerbacks. Not coincidentally, no other defense in the league allowed fewer passing yards per game (167.5) or passing first downs (143). Equipped with 15 years of NFL experience as a defensive back, Washington has helped CB Al Harris to surface as a dominant force on defense. The veteran turned in his best career season in 2005, leading the NFL's top-ranked passing defense with 18 passes defensed. Washington helped Harris adjust to a new role, covering the slot receiver in passing situations, and Harris didn't allow a touchdown pass until the season's 13th game. Working with Harris the year before, in 2004, Washington's teaching helped the player set the franchise record with 28 passes defensed.
Green Bay's assistant defensive backs coach from 1999-2004, Washington contributed to a secondary that in 2003 held opponents to a 69.0 passer rating, the fifth lowest in the league. Working primarily with cornerbacks in 1999, Washington helped three rookies, Mike McKenzie, Antuan Edwards and Fred Vinson, provide 12 picks in a very non-rookie-like fashion.
Originally a fourth-round selection of the then-St. Louis Cardinals in the 1983 NFL Draft out of Tulane, Washington enjoyed one of the longest playing careers for a defensive back in pro football history, appearing in 205 games with 165 starts for the Cardinals, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos. He snared 37 career interceptions, returning four for touchdowns. In his career, Washington intercepted at least one pass in 13 of his 15 seasons, with at least three in each of five different campaigns, including a career-high eight in his rookie, 1983 season. After playing four years with the Cardinals (1983-86), Washington was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 and played for the Silver and Black through the 1994 season. In 1995, he signed with Denver and spent two years with the Broncos before returning to the Raiders in 1997 for one final season. |
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