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.
In the meantime, Tucker has immersed himself with the rest of the Jaguars' staff in self-evaluation mode. In addition to his role in evaluating the upcoming free-agent class, Tucker said the club is going through defensive cutups of every game of 2008 "with a fine- toothed comb."
Tucker spent four seasons in Cleveland -- last season as defensive coordinator, and 2005-07 as defensive backs coach -- after stints at Ohio State (2001-04 as defensive backs coach/ co-defensive coordinator), LSU (2000), Miami of Ohio (1999) and Michigan State (1997-98).
Although Tucker's four years in the NFL is limited to working in a 3-4 defensive system, he's spent most of his career heading up secondaries that play out of the 4-3.
"I'm equally comfortable in both schemes,"
Tucker said.
"Sometimes, there's really not that much difference in the two."
Especially when you look at particular fronts, it's just a matter of whether a guy is in a three-point stance or if he's standing up.
That's not a major issue. The majority of the football I've learned has been in a 4-3. Just the past four years with [former Browns coach] Romeo [Crennel] have been in a 3-4." In Cleveland, the Browns defense finished 26th last season in yards allowed with Tucker as coordinator and 16th in scoring defense, allowing 21.9 points per game. Such output immediately cast doubt from Jags fans about Tucker's pedigree when he was hired as the successor to Gregg Williams, who bolted for New Orleans.
Accustomed to fielding one of the league's most dominant defenses, the Jaguars finished last season ranked 17th. So how could Tucker be the man counted upon to assist Del Rio in bringing about a defensive renaissance?
"I don't think any of [what happened in Cleveland] has any bearing on this team,"
Tucker said. "This is a different team. This is a different year. One thing we strived to do in Cleveland last year is make improvement in areas, particularly in turnovers [the Browns ranked second in interceptions last season]. We were able to increase turnovers drastically. We wanted to get better in the points we allowed. We were able to do that. We went from being 22nd in points scored against our defense to 11. That's improvement, and that was our goal there. Here, our goals will be similar, to improve in several areas."
Del Rio seems confident in Tucker's ability to help make that happen. Del Rio noted Tucker's expertise in leading the secondary, his ability to develop younger players and his communication skills, which could go a long way in helping the club alleviate some of the chemistry issues that plagued the locker room in 2008.
"Mel is a quality guy, a bright guy,"
Del Rio said last month.
"He communicates well."
Tucker has already sat down with Rashean Mathis to discuss small tweaks the cornerback can make to further develop his game.
Throughout the offseason, Tucker plans to hold one-on-one meetings with every player on the defense. Based on Tucker's approach, it's unacceptable to allow small issues to fester into performance- hindering matters similar to the way chemistry problems last year hindered the product on the field for the Jaguars.
So no matter the player, Tucker will focus being brutally honest with them c no matter their contract status c in addition to fostering a family atmosphere in which everyone communicates and everyone is held accountable.
"On our defense, we need a c c as our coordinator. We need someone that will be blunt and truthful,"
defensive tackle Derek Landri said. "If guys aren't playing well, they need someone to be blunt with them and tell them. Everything needs to be out in the open and everyone needs to know where they stand. No more of this buddy-buddy stuff. Like [running back] Fred [Taylor] says, 'Coaches coach and players play.' "
Tucker will implement Del Rio's 4-3 defensive system without changing any of the terminology already in place.
Tucker says he's followed Del Rio and the Jaguars' defense closely since meeting the coach, newly promoted general manager Gene Smith, former defensive coordinator Mike Smith, and former vice president of player personnel James "Shack"
Harris back in 2003, when the group visited Ohio State to scout former Buckeyes defensive back Chris Gamble. After that initial meeting, Tucker developed a casual relationship with Del Rio and Gene Smith, and they spoke briefly at various NFL events once Tucker entered the league in 2005.
Over the years, Tucker's relationship with Gene Smith grew. "Mel is someone I have the utmost respect for as a person," Smith said.
"He's a sound fundamental teacher who I think is an ascending coach within the profession. Mel is an energetic, even-keel guy who connects well with his players."
In fact, it was Smith who contacted Tucker about the possibility of coming to Jacksonville.
A four-year letterman as a defensive back at Wisconsin (1992-95), where he was part of Barry Alvarez's first recruiting class, Tucker soaked up knowledge as a player from former Badgers assistants Brad Childress (now Minnesota's head coach) and Bill Callahan (Jets assistant head coach), before learning under Saban and Ohio State's Jim Tressel and later Crennel at Cleveland.
So the opportunity to coach under Del Rio seemed a no-brainer.
"There's no such thing as job security in this business. That's the first thing you have to understand as a coach and a player,"
Tucker said. "I'm not thinking about whether I'll be fired. If I do what I know I'm capable of doing, I'll be a benefit to the organization. When I look at Jack [Del Rio], I see an accomplished coach who has a lot to offer. When coaches decide to make moves, they do what's in the best interest of the team and I respect coaches who aren't afraid to make tough decisions. I see Jack as one of those people."
Sources within the organization say Del Rio will actually run the defense next season, with an eye toward allowing Tucker to grow into the position and eventually take over. Tucker doesn't offer a timetable for when he'll actually be given the reins.
To Tucker, that's not what's important.
"Only time will tell how that dynamic plays out, but it's important to have a collaborative approach when you take on something like this. If your head coach has expertise in a particular area, it's to your benefit to use it,"
Tucker said. "It's amazing what you can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit."
