Seattle Seahawks: 3 coaches who need to replace Ken Norton, Jr.
By Lee Vowell
Mike Pellegrino
Mike Pellegrino might offer a few things. First, he is 28 years old and will be an NFL coach for a very long time and, if successful with the Seahawks, could take the place of Pete Carroll as head coach. Pellegrino also brings a defensive scheme that would rival the younger offensive-minded coaches of the NFC West.
He would be more creative in stopping Kyler Murray, Sean McVay and company. And Pellegrino will have learned from Bill Belichick on how to scheme for each game, not an overall design that doesn’t change much from week to week.
Pellegrino has been the cornerbacks coach for the Patriots since 2019. New England was second in the NFL in QBR-allowed in 2021 (73.3) and was second in interceptions (23). 10 of those came from CBs. In 2020, the Patriots were third in interception with 18 and was ninth in QBR-allowed. In Pellegrino’s first season (2019), New England led the NFL in interceptions with 25 and 12 of those came from CBs.
While the Patriots have had good players like J.C. Jackson and Stephon Gilmore, those players are made better by the coaching of Pellegrino. Seattle still needs a true shutdown corner, but bringing Pellegrino in as defensive coordinator will make whatever corners are on the Seahawks roster better.