Bowles Named Assistant Coach Of The Year

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Todd Bowles Named Assistant Coach of the Year

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TJ Brennan

Reporter









PFWA Presents Award to Jets' New Head Coach for His Work as Arizona's D-Coordinator




It’s been a big week for new Jets head coach Todd Bowles.

Bowles today was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America for his work as Arizona's defensive coordinator in 2014, becoming the first Cardinals assistant to win the award since its inception in 1993.

Bowles was instrumental in leading a defense that was able to overcome injuries, a suspension and the departure of four starters from their 2013 front seven and improve to fifth in scoring defense this season. The Cardinals also had 25 total takeaways (18 interceptions, 7 fumble recoveries), leading to a plus-8 turnover margin, the fifth best mark in the NFL.

Despite defensive players missing 61 total games this season, Arizona remained tough, especially in the red zone, holding opponents to a third-best 43.9% touchdown percentage.

“He doesn’t do a lot of yelling and screaming like a typical coach,” Cardinals defensive end Frostee Rucker said during the season on azcardinals.com. “He’s an educator. They always say it trickles down, and the captain, the quarterback of our defense, is Todd. He can dial the game up and make sure we are technically sound, and before you know it, we’re right where we need to be.”



Two Cardinals defensive players picked up PFWA honors, with S Deone Bucannon being named to the All-Rookie Team and DE Calais Campbell being named to the All-NFC Team.

Despite those defensive injuries, the unit helped carry the Cardinals to an 11-5 season and a playoff berth after they lost QBs Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton to injuries.

Known for his ability to make second-half adjustments, Bowles’ defense pitched four second-half shutouts in 2014 and earned praise from one of the game’s best defenders.

“You’re the best D-coordinator I’ve seen,” Seahawks CB Richard Sherman said to Bowles during a postgame handshake after a Seahawks win, as caught by KNXV-TV in Phoenix. Sherman knows a thing or two about defense, having been a part of the game’s No. 1-ranked unit over the last two
 
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Looks like maybe they got the right guy instead of Quinn after all
 
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New Jets head coach Todd Bowles named assistant coach of year by Pro Football Writers of America




New Jets head coach Todd Bowles has been named assistant coach of the year by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Bowles did admirable work as Arizona's defensive coordinator this season, despite a rash of injuries to his unit.

This was his second year as the Cardinals' coordinator. They made the playoffs on the strength of Bowles' defense, and in spite of those injuries.

In 2013, the Cardinals ranked sixth in the NFL in yards allowed, first in rushing yards allowed, 14th in passing yards allowed and seventh in points allowed.

In 2014, the Cardinals ranked fifth in the league in points allowed. The Cardinals' defense was 24th in yards, 13th in rushing and 29th in passing, but Arizona was stingy in the red zone -- third-best in the NFL.

Maybe Bowles can help fix the Jets' red-zone defense. It ranked 25th in the NFL this season, after ranking fourth in 2013.

According to the Jets, Bowles will be formally introduced as their new head coach at a press conference next week, sometime after Monday, along with new general manager Mike Maccagnan.

The Pro Football Writers of America also named Arizona head coach Bruce Arians its head coach of the year. This is the sixth time that the writers' assistant coach and head coach of the year have come from the same team.

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
 

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I didn't expect him to win anything THIS soon. The more I hear and read about him, the more I think the Jets scored with this hire.
 
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