Post by aggiejazz on May 29, 2008 9:50:04 GMT -5
Rattlers to split defensive coordinator duties
By St. Clair Murraine • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER • May 29, 2008
Earl Holmes and Tim Edwards will share the role of defensive coordinator for FAMU's football team, a move that coach Joe Taylor confirmed Wednesday.
Taylor said he decided to make coordinating the defense a two-man job after Orlando Mitjans unexpectedly had to leave the position. Holmes and Edwards will work under the supervision of assistant head coach George Small. Mitjans decided to relinquish the position so that he could focus on a franchise business in Tennessee, Taylor said.
Taylor praised the work that Mitjans did before he left after the spring football game in April, calling his effort a solid start for the program. Mitjans came from Eastern Kentucky to be a part of Taylor's staff after he took over the program in December.
Mitjans and his wife recently added a second Quizno's sandwich shop, which made operations too demanding for his wife alone, Taylor said.
"It's win-win for him and win-win for us," Taylor said. "We will continue to build on the foundation that we laid at spring football."
As part of the rearrangement of the defensive staff, Holmes will coordinate the pass defense and Edwards will be responsible for the team's scheme against the run.
"Those two guys are really talented," Taylor said. "We're going to continue to do the same (and) I feel confident it's a situation that they can handle."
Graduate assistant Jimmie Tyson's role will be upgraded to being safeties coach, Taylor said.
Both Holmes and Edwards are familiar with the MEAC. Holmes played at FAMU before his 10-year career in the NFL. Edwards is in his second stint with Taylor, having spent five years on his staff at Hampton University.
Edwards, who also played in the NFL, said he and Holmes are prepared to put their expertise to work.
"Football is football, and to get a guy who is going to bring something to the table is like talking with smart people when you're smart," Edwards said. "The only thing it does is it makes you smarter."
The timing of the move gives him and Holmes a chance to evaluate what will work best for the team well ahead of the Aug. 30 season opener, Edwards said.
"The earlier you get a chance, the more chances you have to focus on your ideas instead of getting things and scrambling late," he said. "We've got a chance to install some things during the spring. We've got an idea of what the (players) can and can't do. We will come back and take some things out and put some things in."
By St. Clair Murraine • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER • May 29, 2008
Earl Holmes and Tim Edwards will share the role of defensive coordinator for FAMU's football team, a move that coach Joe Taylor confirmed Wednesday.
Taylor said he decided to make coordinating the defense a two-man job after Orlando Mitjans unexpectedly had to leave the position. Holmes and Edwards will work under the supervision of assistant head coach George Small. Mitjans decided to relinquish the position so that he could focus on a franchise business in Tennessee, Taylor said.
Taylor praised the work that Mitjans did before he left after the spring football game in April, calling his effort a solid start for the program. Mitjans came from Eastern Kentucky to be a part of Taylor's staff after he took over the program in December.
Mitjans and his wife recently added a second Quizno's sandwich shop, which made operations too demanding for his wife alone, Taylor said.
"It's win-win for him and win-win for us," Taylor said. "We will continue to build on the foundation that we laid at spring football."
As part of the rearrangement of the defensive staff, Holmes will coordinate the pass defense and Edwards will be responsible for the team's scheme against the run.
"Those two guys are really talented," Taylor said. "We're going to continue to do the same (and) I feel confident it's a situation that they can handle."
Graduate assistant Jimmie Tyson's role will be upgraded to being safeties coach, Taylor said.
Both Holmes and Edwards are familiar with the MEAC. Holmes played at FAMU before his 10-year career in the NFL. Edwards is in his second stint with Taylor, having spent five years on his staff at Hampton University.
Edwards, who also played in the NFL, said he and Holmes are prepared to put their expertise to work.
"Football is football, and to get a guy who is going to bring something to the table is like talking with smart people when you're smart," Edwards said. "The only thing it does is it makes you smarter."
The timing of the move gives him and Holmes a chance to evaluate what will work best for the team well ahead of the Aug. 30 season opener, Edwards said.
"The earlier you get a chance, the more chances you have to focus on your ideas instead of getting things and scrambling late," he said. "We've got a chance to install some things during the spring. We've got an idea of what the (players) can and can't do. We will come back and take some things out and put some things in."
