Another new mysterious face to the Silver & Black, but a stand-out intelligent veteran to the league, Jason Simmons brings knowledge for the Secondary that could develop the right pieces to fit into the right place. The influence Simmons can bestow onto the Raiders’ Cornerbacks, Safeties, and other Coverage-heavy playmakers, can factor the potential improvements against the Passing-Game. To understand how Coach Simmons can factor in his teachings and expertise, we must first understand who Coach Simmons is. Let’s learn the history of Coach Simmons, from his days as a College Football Player to an NFL Player to now a full-time Football Coach. This text will also include statistics, schematics, and connections between other players and coaches plus football staff (if available). So, let’s learn who Jason Simmons is.
1995-98: The College Athlete
Jason Simmons attended Arizona State as a four-year letterman in Track and Football (no scholarships but earned to play at the varsity level each year). Simmons played 31 games for the Sun Devils, with an addition of 2 Bowl-Games (Losing against Ohio State 20-17 at the 1996 Rose Bowl ; Defeating Iowa 17-7 at the Sun Bowl), as the Defensive-Back. During Simmons’ time with the Sun Devils, he led the defensive-roster 2nd in most interceptions. During his senior year, Simmons was selected to be part of the 2nd-Team All-Pac-10. This was after Arizona State had 3 DBs result in at least 3 Interceptions each within the 1997-98 Season. This performance caused NFL Scouts to take notice of the Sun Devils secondary, leading to Franchise’s deciphering which specific players have the highest potential to give the best production in the NFL. Luckily for Simmons, he was the majority favorite within the Sun Devils’ DB Room.
1998-2007: An NFL Specialist
Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2002)
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jason Simmons became the 137th Overall Pick, picked within the 5th Round of the 1998 NFL Draft (Charles Woodson’s Draft-Class). Throughout Simmons tenure with the Steelers, his value was seen as a Special-Teamer. Many reasons for this would be due to Simmons’ size (5’9’’ ; 198lbs) and his playmaking ability as a Defensive Specialist. Whenever Simmons was given the chance to see the field as a DB, the Steelers would utilize the DB at the Strong-Safety and Slot-Corner positions. Out of the 49 Games Simmons has played for Pittsburgh, he has never started as a Defensive Back. Despite not seeing a lot of success as a Defensive Player, Pittsburgh still saw Simmons as a valuable player on Special-Teams.
Houston Texans (2002-07)
Despite the Steelers wanting Simmons to continue his career in Pittsburgh, Simmons signed with the Houston Texans (the Texans at this time are known as an expansion team ; this is their first year as a NFL franchise). Once Simmons landed in Houston, he saw more play time on-field as a Defensive-Back than he ever did with the Steelers. After spending 6 years as a Houston Texan, Simmons played 12/72 Games as a Starting DB, playing as a Cornerback, Free and Strong-Safety. Simmons still saw a lot of his time on-field as a Specialist, but the opportunity Simmons was given was still satisfying nonetheless. However, as many would know, the Houston Texans have never shown any promise since the birth of their franchise. Never resulting in a winning season until the franchise’s 8th NFL Season, but that was only the first of 8 total winning seasons in franchise history (with only 6 playoff appearances ; 4-6 playoff record).
Simmons still made a name for himself as a Houston Texan. Known as a leader, pure-effort, and generous athlete. An example can be found during the 2007 NFL Off-Season. The Texans signed 4x Pro-Bowl Runningback, Ahman Green. Green wanted to wear the #30 on his jersey, but that number had been assigned to Simmons since joining the Texans during the 2002 Off-Season. Green was willing to buy off the number from Simmons, but Simmons suggested that Green use the money on those in need. The plan was to have fans apply for a lottery exchange charity event. The one who is picked would be helped by Green, Simmons, and Houston Texans franchise owner Bob McNair. Regina Foster, a 37-year-old who is a single mother of a 7-year-old boy (Reggie Foster) who had been diagnosed with Autism, was picked to be helped. Jason Simmons, Ahmad Green, and Bob McNair donated $55K to Regina, who used the money to purchase a home for her and her son. The Texans also had businesses of the area make additional contributions, such as groceries, furniture, electricity, and phone/internet service.
By the time the 2007-08 NFL Season was starting, Simmons was placed on IR after Week 1, tearing his patella tendon on his left knee. What causes this situation to be even more struggling to endure, is how this was Simmons first time as a starter during the Season-Opener. The plan was to have Simmons start a full-season. Houston became anxious to find a way to replace one of their versatile key-pieces on the Defensive-side of the ball. Shortly after the incident, the Texans replaced Simmons with 4-Year Veteran Cornerback Von Hutchins, who was then replaced by former Seattle Seahawks Safety, Michael Boulware (traded to Houston for former 1st-Round Pick, Defensive-End, Jason Babin). Simmons sadly didn’t fully recover, causing an end to his career as a Football Player.
Jason Simmons Career Statistics 1998-2007 (121 Games ; 12 Starts):
- Tackles: 186
- Solo Tackles: 138
- Sacks: 3
- Forced Fumbles: 3
- Pass-Breakups: 10
- Interceptions: 2
- Special-Team Stops: 96
It is unknown what had happened to Jason Simmons for the next few years. Only general information known was Simmons’ desire to return to the Football Realm several years later.
2011-Present-Day: An NFL Coach
Green Bay Packers (2011-20)
Jason Simmons applied to the Green Bay Packers Organization as an intern during the 2011 NFL Off-Season. Simmons got accepted and was placed on the Coaching Administration (Present-Day Raiders Coaches on this team was WR Coach Edger Bennett and former DL Coach Mike Trgovac). After spending 3 years with Green Bay as an Admin., Simmons was promoted to the Assistant Coaching job for both Defense and Special Teams. While Simmons was assigned to both of those areas of the Coaching Staff, Simmons was more dedicated to the defensive aspects when it came to the Special-Teams.
Green Bay Packers’ Special-Teams’ Statistics (2014-18):
- Total Kicks-Offs: 342
- Kick-Off Yardage: 21,369 (62.5/Kick-Off)
- Touchbacks: 164 (48% of Total Kick-Offs)
- Total Punts: 259
- Return Yardage Allowed: 680
- Touchbacks: 16 (6.2% of Total Punts)
- Placed Opposing Teams Under the 20-Yard Line: 70 (27% of Total Punts)
- Total Kicks Blocked by Green Bay: 3
Throughout Simmons career as an Assistant Special-Teams Coach, Green Bay’s Special-Teams were ranked at the top for the overall time period. During this same time period, Simmons saw success within almost every aspect of the Special-Teams. In 2015, Green Bay Kicker, Mason Crosby, surpassed Ryan Longwell for the #1 All-Time Franchise Scoring Statistics. Meanwhile, Punter Tim Masthay set a franchise record of 40.3 Net-Average-Punt-Yardage in 1 Season (This is for those who have punted at least 78 times ; 15 Punters have punted this many times). On the Defensive aspect of the Special-Teams, Simmons helped Receiver Jeff Janis (15 Tackles) and Safety Chris Banjo (21 Tackles) post career high single-season tackles as Specialists.
In 2016, Mason Crosby produced his 10th-Consecutive 100pts+ and his 4th-Consecutive Season registering 80%+ in Field Goals/Attempts. In 2017, Simmons tutored Rookie Punter, Justin Vogel. Vogel ranked 7th in the NFL in Net-Average-Punt-Yardage (41.6). Simmons also helped Green Bay excel in Punt Coverage for the 2017-18 Regular Season. The Packers had finished the 6th best in Average-Punt-Return-Yardage Allowed (5.7/Punt-Return). From 2014-2018, the Packers ranked #1 in the NFL Average-Punt-Return-Yardage Allowed (5.7/Punt-Return).
Massive changes of the Coaching Staff were occuring due to the downfall of the Mike McCarthy era in Green Bay. This led to Coach Simmons’ promotion as the next Coach of the Packers Secondary (This is the same time Patrick Graham joined Green Bay as their next Linebacker Coach and Run-Game Coordinator). At this time, the Packers Defensive Pass-Game was sometimes at best, average. However, thanks to Simmons’ influence on the young Defensive-Backs, the Packers Secondary had massive improvements for the 2018-19 NFL Season. After the 2017-18 Season, the Packers were ranked 23rd in Least Passing Yards Allowed (236.8/Game). After the 2018-19 Season, the Packers had been ranked as the 12th best in Least Passing Yards Allowed (234.5/Game).
This would also be the same season where Jaire Alexander was making a name for himself as an NFL-Rookie-Cornerback, being placed on the 2019 All-Rookie Team by the NFL’s PFWA (Professional Football Writers of America). The Secondary only got better after having Coach Simmons in control for another year.
Green Bay Packers’ Secondary Coverage-Statistics 2018-19 vs 2019-20:
What makes these improvements on every level more extraordinary is how Defensive Coordinator, Mike Pettine, runs his Defensive Coverages. In a 3-4 base formation, half of the Secondary will be positioned in Man-Coverage, while the other half is positioned in Zone-Coverage. This is what’s known as a Pseudo-Cover-3 (or a Cover-3-Skate), causing confusions against opposing Offenses, not knowing if the ball-placements in the pass-game will be effective while also not knowing which player is blitzing at all-times. Notable Players that had a Breakout-Season within their 2nd-Year inside this Defensive System were 2nd-Year CB Jaire Alexander, 3rd-Year CB Kevin King, and 13-Year Veteran DB Tramon Williams (Brokeout within this specifically Defense ; was already known as a Great NFL DB).
This took heavy notice by the entire league when the NFL Playoffs began. Green Bay finished 13-3 as the #1 seed in the NFC Conference. The Secondary alone can be ranked as one of the top Defenses in the League.
Notable Defensive Rankings for Green Bay’s Defensive Pass-Game:
- Lowest Completion % Allowed: 3rd out of 32
- Least Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 5th out of 32
- Most Pass-Breakups: 4th out of 32
- Most Interceptions Produced: 3rd out of 32
- Lowest Passer-Rating Allowed: 6th out of 32
- Overall Defensive Passing-Game Ranking: 4th out of 32
After spending a year with the Matt LaFleur Coaching System, Coach Simmons decided to part-ways with Green Bay for the foreseeable future. After spending multiple roles on the defensive side of the ball, the Packers produced 146 Interceptions, that would be the 4th most Interceptions in the span of 9 NFL Seasons (2011-20).
Carolina Panthers (2020-22)
Coach Simmons joined the Matt Rhule led Carolina Panthers as their next Secondary Coach, but also their Defensive Passing-Game Coordinator. The Carolina Panthers had been struggling for several years, especially on defense. However, after Simmons joined the Panthers’ and was given the keys to influence their Secondary, the Panthers Coverage abilities improved massively. But, it did not improve immediately. At first, it was a work in progress.
Carolina Panthers’ Secondary Coverage-Statistics 2019-20 vs 2020-21:
While the overall Secondary did not reach hopeful expectations, Simmons was able to produce standout DBs such as S Jeremy Chin. The Rookie was named into the 2021 All-Rookie Team after leading all NFL Rookies in Tackles (116) and being the first Panther in Franchise history to be named Defensive Rookie of the Month twice. More successes that had been present during the season were how the Panthers were able to force MVP Aaron Rodgers into passing a season-low yardage of 143 passing yards. With luck in favor of Coach Simmons, the Passing-Game would jump into the higher rankings the following season.
Carolina Panthers 2021-22 Defensive Pass-Game Statistic Rankings:
(Disclaimer: The Carolina Panthers were ranked 2nd in Fewest Pass-Attempts & 4th in Fewest Pass-Completions against their Defense)
This performance is more significant than some would think. The Defensive Pass-Game would only allow 192.1 Passing Yards per Game, marking it the fewest Pass-Yardage Allowed since 2009. The Panthers also produced 6/9 of their Interceptions from 3 Defensive Players (Stephon Gilmore, Donte Jackson, & Shaq Thompson), these players allowed a combined average Passer-Rating of 78.2. After experiencing another overall failure of a season with the Panthers, Coach Simmons decided to leave the Carolina Football Franchise, and head west to work with familiar faces for the unforeseeable future.
Las Vegas Raiders (2022-Present-Day)
Coach Simmons joined the Las Vegas Raiders as their new Defensive Pass-Game Coordinator and their Co-Defensive-Backs Coach, sharing the workload with Co-DB Coach Chris Ash. Coach Simmons would also be working with former Co-Coach Patrick Graham. Everyone knows how the Passing-Game turned out. Players like Nate Hobbs, Anthony Averett, and Rock Ya-Sin were placed on IR at some points throughout the season. UDFAs such as Sam Webb being placed as starters. Raiders Ranked as the #1 worst Defensive Pass-Game according to the Passer-Rating allowed (98.8 ; League’s Worst Teams Season Passer-Rating Allowed). We can go on how perplexing and horrible the season was on the defensive-side of the ball.
However, this is now Coach Simmons biggest test yet. Can he help fix the Raiders Defensive Pass-Game? Their Secondary? Their overall Defense? There is skepticism and there is hope from many sides of Raider Nation. With hope that Tre’Von Moehrig makes a comeback, Nate Hobbs has a breakout season, and the Depth-Room within the Secondary pays off, Jason Simmons has a workload like he’s never seen before. With the additions of Rookie CB Jakorian Bennett, Rookie S Christopher Smith II, plus Veteran CBs Duke Shelley and Brandon Facyson (with legitimate rumors on Marcus Peters possibly signing with Las Vegas)… there is hope for this team to pan out midway through the season.
What do you think?
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