Mike Shanahan believes Bob Slowik will give linebackers a boost Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan expects Bob Slowik to make a smooth transition from defensive backs coach to linebackers coach and believes the 18-year veteran can help bolster Washington's deepest position. Redskins' safety Reed Doughty, left, talks with then-defensive backs coach Bob Slowik, right, during Redskins training camp last August. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post) Slowik, who worked for Shanahan in Denver from 2005 to 2008, coached Washington's defensive backs the last two seasons. But with the hiring of Raheem Morris as coach of the secondary, and the departure of Lou Spanos (who accepted the defensive coordinator job at UCLA), Shanahan moved Slowik to linebackers coach. "It's always tough to lose a coach, but I think we have a guy that's going to fit in great," Shanahan said. Bob's a guy that's coached linebackers. He was the linebacker's coach when he was the coordinator for the Bears (from 1993-98). And I thought that was a good fit. He's got the knowledge in the four-man fronts and the three-man fronts and some of the run fits and things we didn't do as well as we wanted to last year. And I think our players will relate well to him. Slowik said he's excited about the move because it gives him the opportunity to work with a talented group led by starters Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, London Fletcher and Perry Riley. "I love coaching linebackers," said Slowik, who was Shanahan's defensive coordinator in 2008. I had them for two years that I was the coordinator in Chicago and it was a great time. So I'm looking forward to the group we have there in Washington. I'd say we've got a real good group to work with - guys who are familiar with the system, it's not new, so it's all positive.