The Detroit Lions have lost another assistant coach, this time their longest-tenured assistant on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek has agreed to become defensive line coach of the Miami Dolphins, his wife Amy confirmed Wednesday on Facebook. Kocurek joined the Lions as assistant defensive line coach in 2009 under Jim Schwartz, and was promoted to head defensive line coach a season later. In Miami, he'll reunite with former Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and work under his old colleague with the Lions, Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Detroit Free Press
ALSO HIRE Dolphins hired ex-Broncos RBs coach Eric Studesville as RBs coach and run-game coordinator. Studesville was fired from his post as the Broncos' RBs coach and interviewed for the Giants' head-coaching gig shortly after. He was never thought to be a serious candidate. In Miami, Studesville will rejoin coach Adam Gase after the two worked together in Denver. Kenyan Drake is Studesville's next project. Rotoworld
Suh was s BEAST in Detroit and it’s safe to say Kocurek was one of the reasons he was so sought out in FA. I’m optimistic this will be good for us
Truthfully have little of a clue about the new staff additions, Definite need and just grateful that the FO also was able to see the need and actually do something about it. Fingers crossed that they are not finished yet... Only time will really tell but it does sound like creditable moves..
Decent hire but Im not for keeping Suh beyond his current contract I dont think he can live up to what he will want next contract. We should trade him after next year
I'm iffy on it. Suh was great, but a lot of that could just be his talent. Detroit has had some problems harnessing Zeke Ansah and others. They have gotten a fair amount out of Haloti Ngata the last few years though. I wouldn't pan this move at all, but it doesn't get me super excited either. Need to see it on the field.
Typically a new head coach will turn over his staff as the guys he 1st wanted may have not been available and as they see "fit" within the schemes that they want to run. That's all I think were seeing. Especially with Stud's.
RB coach and DL coach both good hires. This DL coach the first with no former ties to Gase to be hired? So now we just have a DB coach vacancy right? the RB coach was in line for HC before the dolphins allowed VJ to interview... and has high praise from other NFL coaches.
Also assistants will be iffy on moving sideways to join a 1st time HC because they will be worried about stability. It’s easier for an established HC to recruit assistants than a rookie HC. So in so e ways this can be seen as a vote of confidence in Gase by other coaches in the league.
I like that Gase is looking to improve BOTH players and coaches. I hope these moves work out. Getting some veteran coaches is a good sign that Gase is respected around the league and as a "good bet" to be coaching in Miami for a while.
