Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel may be in just his first NFL season in the position, yet he’s made an impression while rising through the coaching ranks and Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback spoke with him as part of a series looking into men with the potential to be head coaches.
MMQB’s Robert Klemko on Wednesday afternoon pumped out a recent question-and-answer session with Manuel, who coached Atlanta’s defensive backs for two years before head coach Dan Quinn elevated him this past offseason. Prior to that, he was an assistant in Seattle for three seasons after playing defensive back in the NFL for eight years.
Klemko polled 20 current and former NFL executives to come up with a list of future NFL coaches, and wrote that Marquand is "a surprise name on this list" because he arrived upon it so quickly. He's just 38, and merely six years removed from his playing days.
The story notes Manuel’s high energy levels (he sometimes can be seen running or drilling with players), and lays out some of his thoughts.
Klemko asked, What perspective gained from being a player helped you through the ranks in your coaching career?
MANUEL: "One of the things that really gave me an advantage, is never forgetting that you put it in. The years you sweated on the field — not taking away from [coaches] who didn't, I have high regard for those guys — but when you understand how to gravitate to a guy and meet him at the now. Most people have a philosophy and they're like, I'm gonna teach my philosophy. But your philosophy has to be different for every player.
Meet them at the now, which means, right where they are, take them as far as you can take them. When you understand that [safety] Ricardo Allen can pick up something faster than player X, how do I reach player X? You sat in Player X’s seat. You’re trying to engage with guys, and always ask guys not just, Do you understand, but, Why are we doing this? If you can also answer the why, player or coach, it helps you on the field. A lot of coaches told me to do something, not the how-to or the why.”
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