...being the HC and the DC. that's a lot of extra work. Based on comments he made I get the sense he doesn't want to do both any longer than he has to.

He didn't specify a timeline which is good but will he have the patience to bring Howell along (if he's convinced Nick is the long-term solution) and putting in more time helping develop him to be a good DC? I think Howell showed some good things coaching the DB's in 2012 but needs time to learn before taking on the full responsibility of coordinating the defense.

That's a quick progression (1 yr OLB coach, 2 yrs DB coach) to being a DC for a guy who never played the game in college and wasn't successful in limited exp at the high school level.