11-13-2016, 12:09 AM
Regardless of the reality of the situation let's just say that the Bengals are looking for a new HC at the end of the season. How attractive do you think the Bengals would be to a coach who is looking for a HC gig? Some argue that we have no talent but I disagree there. Between the players and the fact that the ownership is gonna give you a real chance to build a team (Meaning you won't be canned after the first bad season.) I think this would be a mouth watering situation for a fresh HC.
One, 100% attractive because it’s one of 32. There are 64 coordinators who would take the job + XX number of other position coaches + however many of other college coaches and those former coaches who are unemployed.
I love Hue J. but he went to Cleveland rather than sticking it out another year to see what else opened up. I think that’s says all you need to know about how desirable any head coaching job is.
Now, let’s talk reality: That coach would have to be OK with the very unique personnel set up here. Duke Tobin isn’t the standard GM. The family still has say. Same with the unique scouting situation.
Would the front office just grant the trust off the jump re: the personnel influence Marvin earned? I don’t know. Also, so many position coaches were just hired this year. They’re not going to just let a new HC whack everyone and hire an entire new staff. That’s also something some coaches wouldn’t be good with.
Then again, to your point – this organization is going to give you time. That’s the trade off.
Now, to the roster: Something has happened on the defensive side of the ball this year and perhaps some of the older guys have gotten old, fast. But Dansby will be gone anyway, as will Peko. Maybe Kirkpatrick. But Iloka, Williams, Jones and Rey were just re-upped. The other guys like Dunlap, Atkins and Johnson have years left on their deals. There is enough there to think this could improve with a good drat and another free agent move or two.
But any coach would look at Andy Dalton, who is still ascending, and say this is the best possible job out there (unless some other crazy opening happened, like in Green Bay). Any coach would look for the franchise QB. That sets you up for success. Then of course you’ve got A.J. Green locked up, a desire by the franchise to keep Eifert but at the very least he’s there for 2017 and 2018 (if you count the franchise tag). I’d think there would be some concern on the o-line, but Dalton is proving he can work around that.
He knows Zeitler is a free agent and, likely, gone – the Bengals won’t pay a guard $9-10 million annually
On this subject. Why won't the Bengals pay Zeitler the money?.
Look - they may. Once they get to that point in the offseason they may determine, well, that’s the market and Zeitler deserves it. But if you’re Zeitler and see DeCastro making $10 million – it’s not wrong to say you want around $9. So if the Bengals don’t offer that, you’ll want to get to 4 p.m. and see what the market bears. Then, of course, anything can happen.
But that opens a couple possibilities. What if Whit says I’ll move inside for $7 for the next two years? What if Whit and the team agree to keep him, and pay him to stay outside but they feel Fisher a better fit inside? Unanswerable questions until that time. So the team has some leverage, as does the player.
I also say that because if you’re talking about $9 million annually, when you look at the way the team spends that kind of money, they do it on the marquee positions. Currently four players make that annually – the left tackle, the quarterback, the wide receiver and the All-Pro pass rushing d-tackle.
What if they decide to pay Kirkpatrick? That’s also the time of year the team would decide on whether or not to extend Jeremy Hill and Vontaze Burfict. Both are free agents after 2017. Not saying they’d run out of cap room – they never will – but they do budget.
And if you’re talking $9 million annually for four years – that creeps into the period when you need to think about extending (or not) Atkins and Dunlap and Ogbuehi – who could be your franchise left tackle at that point. Who knows what the market would like for all of those players should they get there at Pro Bowl levels.
So while I believe the team will give Zeitler an offer, I don’t think if he can get $9-10 on the open market they’ll go that high. But say Kirkpatrick doesn’t extend or re-sign, say Whit gets a huge deal elsewhere, say Hill says no, I’ll gamble on myself…well, then that could change things. At that point in the year, so much can happen.
One, 100% attractive because it’s one of 32. There are 64 coordinators who would take the job + XX number of other position coaches + however many of other college coaches and those former coaches who are unemployed.
I love Hue J. but he went to Cleveland rather than sticking it out another year to see what else opened up. I think that’s says all you need to know about how desirable any head coaching job is.
Now, let’s talk reality: That coach would have to be OK with the very unique personnel set up here. Duke Tobin isn’t the standard GM. The family still has say. Same with the unique scouting situation.
Would the front office just grant the trust off the jump re: the personnel influence Marvin earned? I don’t know. Also, so many position coaches were just hired this year. They’re not going to just let a new HC whack everyone and hire an entire new staff. That’s also something some coaches wouldn’t be good with.
Then again, to your point – this organization is going to give you time. That’s the trade off.
Now, to the roster: Something has happened on the defensive side of the ball this year and perhaps some of the older guys have gotten old, fast. But Dansby will be gone anyway, as will Peko. Maybe Kirkpatrick. But Iloka, Williams, Jones and Rey were just re-upped. The other guys like Dunlap, Atkins and Johnson have years left on their deals. There is enough there to think this could improve with a good drat and another free agent move or two.
But any coach would look at Andy Dalton, who is still ascending, and say this is the best possible job out there (unless some other crazy opening happened, like in Green Bay). Any coach would look for the franchise QB. That sets you up for success. Then of course you’ve got A.J. Green locked up, a desire by the franchise to keep Eifert but at the very least he’s there for 2017 and 2018 (if you count the franchise tag). I’d think there would be some concern on the o-line, but Dalton is proving he can work around that.
He knows Zeitler is a free agent and, likely, gone – the Bengals won’t pay a guard $9-10 million annually
On this subject. Why won't the Bengals pay Zeitler the money?.
Look - they may. Once they get to that point in the offseason they may determine, well, that’s the market and Zeitler deserves it. But if you’re Zeitler and see DeCastro making $10 million – it’s not wrong to say you want around $9. So if the Bengals don’t offer that, you’ll want to get to 4 p.m. and see what the market bears. Then, of course, anything can happen.
But that opens a couple possibilities. What if Whit says I’ll move inside for $7 for the next two years? What if Whit and the team agree to keep him, and pay him to stay outside but they feel Fisher a better fit inside? Unanswerable questions until that time. So the team has some leverage, as does the player.
I also say that because if you’re talking about $9 million annually, when you look at the way the team spends that kind of money, they do it on the marquee positions. Currently four players make that annually – the left tackle, the quarterback, the wide receiver and the All-Pro pass rushing d-tackle.
What if they decide to pay Kirkpatrick? That’s also the time of year the team would decide on whether or not to extend Jeremy Hill and Vontaze Burfict. Both are free agents after 2017. Not saying they’d run out of cap room – they never will – but they do budget.
And if you’re talking $9 million annually for four years – that creeps into the period when you need to think about extending (or not) Atkins and Dunlap and Ogbuehi – who could be your franchise left tackle at that point. Who knows what the market would like for all of those players should they get there at Pro Bowl levels.
So while I believe the team will give Zeitler an offer, I don’t think if he can get $9-10 on the open market they’ll go that high. But say Kirkpatrick doesn’t extend or re-sign, say Whit gets a huge deal elsewhere, say Hill says no, I’ll gamble on myself…well, then that could change things. At that point in the year, so much can happen.
Beat writer for Cincinnati.com & The Enquirer. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Periscope.
