Eric Mangini made a name for himself in the NFL as a defensive coach, particularly with the New England Patriots. For six seasons he was defensive backs coach or the offensive coordinator for head coach Bill Belichick.
That paid off in a couple of head coaching opportunities that didn’t end well, with the Jets and Browns.
That’s when Mangini took a big turn in his career, moving to offense with the 49ers. In 2013 he was an offensive consultant for head coach Jim Harbaugh. Last year, he was tight ends coach.
Now Mangini has returned to defense as the coordinator on Jim Tomsula’s new staff. And judging by what Mangini said recently, his time on offense could prove valuable to the Niners’ defensive scheme in 2015.
In a long interview with Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback, Mangini said he learned a lot about defense the past two seasons while analyzing film and studying opposing defenses.
Mangini told Vrentas that he hadn’t realized as a defensive coach how very subtle things – such as how a defensive lineman sets up (slightly inside or outside) opposite an offensive lineman – can cause concern to offensive planning.
“It’s really interesting to hear what a big deal it is to you on offense,” said Mangini. “Thinking back to those meetings, I was making sure, when I go back to defense, that we create those conversations for opposing coaches.”
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Already, that line of thinking seems to be apparent to the players now being directed by Mangini. Mangini long has been known as a strong defensive coach with innovative ideas. But now he has fresh perspective.
Recently, veteran 49ers safety Antoine Bethea noted that Mangini’s style defensively is to create confusion for offenses – a style and theory no doubt enhanced by what Mangini learned in those two seasons game planning for the 49ers offense.
“Coach Mangini’s thing is that we’re going to cause confusion,” Bethea told reporters. “The opposing offense won’t know what we’re going to do each down. That could be bringing pressure or dropping eight in coverage, but it’s all about keeping the offense on their heels.”
