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Breaking down Michigan's possible defensive coordinators
Here's a list of possibilities for replacing Scott Shafer as Michigan's defensive coordinator (in alphabetical order):
West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel
Casteel turned down joining Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez last year to keep his family is from West Virginia. Although Casteel has a good relationship with Rodriguez, he probably won't leave Morgantown, W. Va., this year, either.
But West Virginia didn't have the best of seasons under first-year coach Bill Stewart, so Casteel may look toward greener pastures.
Casteel, rivals.com's 2007 Defensive Coordinator of the Year, is an expert in the 3-3-5 set Rodriguez supposedly wants to run.
Former Tennessee associate head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach John Chavis
Chavis is a free agent after new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin hired his father, Monte Kiffin, as the Volunteers' defensive coordinator.
His ability to be hired right away is a plus, but other teams have taken interest, too. Clemson and Louisiana State are reportedly courting Chavis.
The 2006 American Football Coaches Association's Division I-A Assistant Coach of the Year is an expert tactician, but Rodriguez may be leery of hiring another outsider.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Corwin Brown
Brown, who played at Michigan from 1989-92, has coached in college and the NFL.
But Rodriguez doesn't seem like the type who will hire someone just because of their Michigan ties. Brown would be just another outsider to him.
Brown is a good recruiter, but he hasn't lived up to the fast-track-to-being-an-NFL-defensive coordinator hype he had when he took the Notre Dame job.
Michigan linebackers coach Jay Hopson
Rodriguez hired Hopson before Shafer and considered giving the defensive coordinator job to him. Hopson has the huge benefit of being a Rodriguez guy and a proponent of the 3-3-5.
Hopson was Southern Mississippi's defensive coordinator for three years before coming to Ann Arbor, and the Golden Eagles led Conference USA in scoring defense each of those years. He was named the All-American Football Foundation Top Assistant Coach in 2007.
On the downside, the Wolverines' linebackers struggled with positioning at times this year. Then again, they had similar troubles last year under a different coach.
Auburn defensive coordinator and secondary coach Paul Rhoads
Rhoades's status with the Tigers is up in the air after Gene Chizik took over at Auburn, but he's probably on the way out.
He has a strong reputation for his defenses' play on the field and for his recruiting prowess.
Rhoades was Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator when the Panthers upset West Virginia, 13-9, to keep the Mountaineers out of the title game last year.
But many speculate Shafer was hired, in large part, because of Standford's upset of Southern Cal last year. Would Rodriguez go for a coach whose reputation is staked so much on a single game again, even if he saw it firsthand?
East Carolonia assistant head coach defensive backs coach Rick Smith
Smith was the defensive coordinator at Tulane when Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator there. That staff was very close, and Rodriguez would probably be comfortable with Smith on a personal level.
Since splitting up after the Green Wave's 12-0 season in 1998, Smith has found success. Before the season, CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd named him one of the nation's six best secondary coaches.
