Dolphins LB Coach Is Gators New Defensive Coordinator

by mlmintampa on Jan 7, 2010 10:35 PM EST in Florida Football

Two days after announcing the hiring of D.J. Durkin and Stan Drayton to his staff, Meyer has hired Miami Dolphins linebackers coach George Edwards as his defensive coordinator, a source has confirmed.

Edwards, who turns 43 next week, has coached in the NFL since 1998 and does not appear to have any direct ties with Meyer. Edwards joined the Dolphins in 2005 and was the lone coach to survive the transition from Nick Saban to Cam Cameron in 2007.

This seems like a surprise to me. I assumed, and I think a lot of people assumed, Meyer would hire from within. Of course, this is just a source. No one on record. But I don't see the Post running it unless it was a legit source. However, Edwards' name has popped up on message boards, which means it's BS or true. Also of note, the Orlando Sentinel's Jeremy Fowler had Chuck Heater as the top guy. Fowler and Volin are the top two Gator writers, so it's up to you on if you want to believe the current report.

Having a pro coach might provide an advantage of, "Hey kid, I can get you to the pros," but this is one where we have to wait for Meyer on the record to get a sense of this.

[Update] Now the Orlando Sentinel's Fowler picks it up, as "according to a team source." With Volin and Fowler, that is as good as confirmation until Meyer is on the record. Volin also mentioned on twitter how Edwards was a Spurrier guy, playing for him at Duke and coaching with the OBC at Florida.

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I did some quick googling. This is just a quick BIO.

http://www.miamidolphinstickets.com/News/2009/09/coach-profile-george-edwards-inside.html

When Edwards joined the ranks with the Miami Dolphins in 2005, he worked with Dolphins golden boy Zach Thomas who went for 166 tackles and earned a position in the Pro Bowl for his sixth time. Thomas was once again selected to the Pro Bowl team in 2006. Edwards also worked with Channing Crowder who had an impressive start to his NFL career with 90 tackles proving that he did have the potential Miami Dolphins recruiters saw. Crowder was also a big help for the team the following year when he recorded 104 tackles. In 2007, despite the team failing to come away with wins, Crowder led the team with 78 tackles even with missing five games of the season due to injury. Edwards has the ability to bring out intensity and consistency in his linebackers, a quality the team needs right now.

Before flying south for football season in 2005 to coach with the Dolphins, Edwards was the linebacker’s coach for one year with the Cleveland Browns in 2004. Just before that, the Washington Redskins is where he called home as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2003 and the assistant defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2002. Showing he has a knack for players making it to the pro bowl, two players from the 2003 Redskin’s team were selected including cornerback Champ Bailey and linebacker LaVar Arrington. Arrington worked closely with Edwards and put up big stats in 2002 with 107 tackles and 11 sacks, the best of his career. Edwards began his NFL coaching career in 1998 down in Texas with the Dallas Cowboys where he was the team’s linebacker tutor.

Edwards spent several years working at the collegiate level before jumping into the big dawgs with the NFL. He began work at the University of Florida followed by Appalachian State University, Duke University and the University of Georgia. Whether Edwards is coaching at the collegiate or NFL level, his experience and professionalism is valuable and the Miami Dolphins program is lucky to have him.

"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."

by Hook85 on Jan 7, 2010 8:28 PM EST reply actions

Maybe now, Meyer can take his leave of absence and whatever he needs to do to get his mind right.

"I meant to misspell that word, just observing who would correct me."

by Hook85 on Jan 7, 2010 8:37 PM EST reply actions

never heard of him but

if he’s a spurrier guy, he’s ok by me. a changeup could be good in the grand scheme of things. and can’t hurt to have a guy who hung around saban for awhile. let’s look forward to being the hunters next year. bama’s heads are going to get awfully big. and the gators my friends, are the only big boys that are left around. look at two decades of history. we shall be the bigger bully soon enough.

by quezzygreen on Jan 7, 2010 11:17 PM EST reply actions