(01-11-2025, 09:15 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I would give him game film of every defensive snap in 2024.

Then tell him to review the film.

1. Identify 10 bad defensive play calls and explain why. Was it scheme or poor player execution?

2.Identify the poor tacklers. What techniques would you teach them to improve?

3. Would you run more 4-3 base or 3-4 with our personnel. Who were the weakest links on the 2024 team? Why? How would you take our current roster and use them in a 3-4 defense? Who would you replace and why.

4. What would be your goal in year 1 for allowing average running YPG? Passing YPG?

5. What defensive scheme fits best in the AFCN?

6. If the FO and ZT gave you the opportunity to choose 1 defensive player available to start your reign, who would it be and why?

I am no expert, but I would want to see how the DC candidate prepped for the interview based on my requests.

Excellent questions

I would add…
1. What do you look for in a coaching staff? What do you see as the
roles and responsibilities of the position coaches? How do you hold them accountable for the performance of their groups.

2). Do you believe in scheming to your personnel or forcing your personnel into your scheme

3). This team is notorious for slow starts…how would you change that?

(01-11-2025, 09:03 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If guys don't have the skills and motivation, they don't belong in the NFL, regardless of scheme.

Or they should be 2nd and 3rd stringers rather than starting

(01-11-2025, 10:37 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Obviously he’s a coach and has access to video of the team. I would ask what are the strengths of the defense? What are the weaknesses of the defense? What would be your first order of business?

That's exactly what should be asked. 

"We have had ten draft picks between the first, second, and third rounds over the past three drafts. Of those, we have spent eight on our defense. The return on investment for us has not been there. Is there a problem with talent evaluation during the draft process, be it our selections lacking talent or being poor fits in the previous defense? Of those eight players, which, if any, do you see as cornerstones of your defense?"

"How would you beat Kansas City Chiefs?"

I'm not sure how I would phrase the question, but I'd want the candidate to speak to the balance of creating a professional boundary with the players while also developing a positive rapport with the players to secure buy in for the defensive scheme and the such.

(01-11-2025, 10:37 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Obviously he’s a coach and has access to video of the team. I would ask what are the strengths of the defense? What are the weaknesses of the defense? What would be your first order of business?

That is very similar to what I am thinking.  What do you think about the current talent on defense, what positions do you think we would need to improve for the defense to be effective under your system.  How would you want to go about improving it.

(01-11-2025, 05:45 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: And you are asking the questions for the potential DC candidates to answer. What is the question that you'd most like to be answered about an area of concern that is important to YOU?

I'll get it started. Q: In this day and age of limited hours of contact between coaches and players due to stipulations in the NFL CBA, how do you address the issue of draft picks that were very good players in college, yet are failing to be developed into solid players by the team that drafted them?

Q: Let's say you have a veteran defensive end who is not very good at rushing the passer, and he is currently suffering through some injuries that are preventing him from being very effective against the run either. Let's say you admire him not only for for playing through injury instead of getting surgery to repair the issue, but also for his contributions to the team over the years. Let's also say that you have a young first round pick that plays the same position that is also coming off of injury. They are very young and have not shown all that much so far in their careers, but they have had flashes of brilliance when given the chance to play. What percentage of snaps at RDE would you give to these two players?

I would ask the following for the DC, DL Coach, and OL coach...

DC:
- Given the players the Bengals currently have under contract, what would you change or implement to bolster the pass rush and improve the run defense?
- What would you look to request from Zac/ownership to help you implement your strategy and scheme when it comes to free agency and the draft?

DL Coach:
- What are your top 3 things you coach your DL to always do or don't do?
- If given the opportunity to assess our current players by watching last year's tape, what are one or two things you could point out that they need to improve and how would you coach them to improve it?

OL Coach:
- What are your top 3 things you coach your OL to always do or don't do?
- If given the opportunity to assess our current players by watching last year's tape, what are one or two things you could point out that they need to improve and how would you coach them to improve it?

Scheme, personnel and fit are the main areas of discernment in these interviews.

Questions related to scheme are about how his mind works in terms of broadly defending current offensive philosophies and outliers like Jackson, Mahomes, Allen, etc.

Questions related to personnel are a review of the current roster and wish list. Also, what relationship and recruitment levers he can pull to round out the coaching structure on defense. Can he relate to the the players, motivate, develop and squeeze every ounce of juice from each player?

The fit part of it is related to cohesion within the overall planning with offense and ST - more importantly, can he still put a solid gameplan even if he disagrees with the offensive approach. Will he pull a Buddy Ryan move and punch the OC? Can he get along with the front office, other coaches and players.

Ultimately, credentials and street cred matter. Hiring ex-HCs as DC has worked previously for other Teams. Maybe it will work for us too.

But I still like the secondary coach from Eagles. Our offensive philosophy needs and complimentary scheme like the cover-2 Fangio defense that he would run.

Just doing DC, or it would turn into some massively long post!

What scheme you you want to primarily employ here?

What are the biggest hole that need plugged to implement said scheme?

What players need to be sent packing, free agents brought in, and roles filled in the draft given that likily 2 out of the first 3 picks will end up being on the defensive side of the ball?

Midway through the third, up by 17, do you make any adjustments to your defense? If so, what?

Same question, but the fourth quarter, up by 14?

What are some of the most glaring mistakes made by the DC who was recently fired, that can be corrected day one by hiring you?

(01-13-2025, 07:09 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: Just doing DC, or it would turn into some massively long post!

What scheme you you want to primarily employ here?

What are the biggest hole that need plugged to implement said scheme?

What players need to be sent packing, free agents brought in, and roles filled in the draft given that likily 2 out of the first 3 picks will end up being on the defensive side of the ball?

Midway through the third, up by 17, do you make any adjustments to your defense? If so, what?

Same question, but the fourth quarter, up by 14?

What are some of the most glaring mistakes made by the DC who was recently fired, that can be corrected day one by hiring you?

So are you saying that if you were part of the Bengals executive interviewing panel that you would be open to another defensive roster overhaul?

(01-14-2025, 01:57 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: So are you saying that if you were part of the Bengals executive interviewing panel that you would be open to another defensive roster overhaul?

Depends on how much they are blowing it up, and how successful they can be year one. It would not take much improvement to have placed the Bengals into the playoffs, so I have to think even a rebuilding defense would be at least slightly better than.

I could see the Bengals having two new starters on the d-line, another one, potentially two at linebacker, a new safety,  and bringing in a vet corner to compete for a starting spot. At least one of the new d-line starters is already on the roster, Jenkins, which leaves at worst picking up five starter quality players in free agency and/or the draft. That is fairly doable, if we are to believe the offense only needs two interior offensive linemen, and a potential replacement for Tee Higgins (not a fan of re-signing him).

Regardless, I would want to know up front the coaches plans, why those players need to go, and others brought it so excuses are eliminated ahead of time.

(01-11-2025, 05:45 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: And you are asking the questions for the potential DC candidates to answer. What is the question that you'd most like to be answered about an area of concern that is important to YOU?

I'll get it started. Q: In this day and age of limited hours of contact between coaches and players due to stipulations in the NFL CBA, how do you address the issue of draft picks that were very good players in college, yet are failing to be developed into solid players by the team that drafted them?

Nice thread Sunset. The first area I would ask about would be personnel and do they fit the scheme that he runs for the most part? If not, could 
we add the type of players without breaking the bank to implement his scheme? Tackling is a huge issue with this team as well as communication.

Need to ask how he would plan on fixing these issues...

(01-14-2025, 05:00 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Nice thread Sunset. The first area I would ask about would be personnel and do they fit the scheme that he runs for the most part? If not, could 
we add the type of players without breaking the bank to implement his scheme? Tackling is a huge issue with this team as well as communication.

Need to ask how he would plan on fixing these issues...

It seems like many of us are leaning toward another free agency makeover on defense, which I agree with to a degree. First and foremost, I feel like any good coach or coordinator should customize his scheme to maximize the ability of the players that he has available to him. Now, some facets carry over to all defensive schemes, things like stopping the run and rushing the passer. DL and LB should be the position groups under the most scrutinization with regard to stopping the run and rushing the passer.

Secondly, while some free agency upgrades are in order for the defensive side of the ball, I just don't know that they'll have the money to spend on upgrading potentially 4-6 spots. The Front Office definitely needs to be going into this offseason with a specific plan to get extensions and re-signings done as soon as possible, so that they can see what is left for free agent wheeling and dealing. While the secondary should experience a little self healing, by getting starters lost to injury back, not much money should be earmarked to that position group. Maybe sign Hilton to a 1-2 year deal? 

LBs are a little different story. They'll need to take a hard look at Pratt and decide if his poor tackling issues can be remedied and if he's still worth his contract. Having Wilson back will be huge boost to the unit. Most of the reserves are at or near the end of their rookie deals, so they may just use a mid-late round pick or UDFA selections to restock the reserve LB/STs guys. 

DL is where most of the focus should be on remedying what's been wrong with the Bengals defense. They need to keep Trey happy, give him a 2 year extension. It's time to make a hard decision on Hubbard and cut him for the cap savings. That money plus a little extra could land a solid veteran while they determine if Murphy is going to sink or swim. I still think that they need to draft another DE, in addition to replacing Hubbard, as I have little faith in any of the other reserves stepping up. DT, they likely need to re-sign BJ Hill for another year or two, cut Rankins and reinvest that money, as well as continue to invest early draft picks to the interior. While Jenkins and Jackson looked like they could turn into starting players, they'll still need quality guys to rotate with.

Only 3 simple questions are necessary.

1. What is your defensive philosophy?
2. What players currently under contract fit that scheme?
3. What type of players need to be brought in to impliment it?

(01-14-2025, 05:24 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: It seems like many of us are leaning toward another free agency makeover on defense, which I agree with to a degree. First and foremost, I feel like any good coach or coordinator should customize his scheme to maximize the ability of the players that he has available to him. Now, some facets carry over to all defensive schemes, things like stopping the run and rushing the passer. DL and LB should be the position groups under the most scrutinization with regard to stopping the run and rushing the passer.

Secondly, while some free agency upgrades are in order for the defensive side of the ball, I just don't know that they'll have the money to spend on upgrading potentially 4-6 spots. The Front Office definitely needs to be going into this offseason with a specific plan to get extensions and re-signings done as soon as possible, so that they can see what is left for free agent wheeling and dealing. While the secondary should experience a little self healing, by getting starters lost to injury back, not much money should be earmarked to that position group. Maybe sign Hilton to a 1-2 year deal? 

LBs are a little different story. They'll need to take a hard look at Pratt and decide if his poor tackling issues can be remedied and if he's still worth his contract. Having Wilson back will be huge boost to the unit. Most of the reserves are at or near the end of their rookie deals, so they may just use a mid-late round pick or UDFA selections to restock the reserve LB/STs guys. 

DL is where most of the focus should be on remedying what's been wrong with the Bengals defense. They need to keep Trey happy, give him a 2 year extension. It's time to make a hard decision on Hubbard and cut him for the cap savings. That money plus a little extra could land a solid veteran while they determine if Murphy is going to sink or swim. I still think that they need to draft another DE, in addition to replacing Hubbard, as I have little faith in any of the other reserves stepping up. DT, they likely need to re-sign BJ Hill for another year or two, cut Rankins and reinvest that money, as well as continue to invest early draft picks to the interior. While Jenkins and Jackson looked like they could turn into starting players, they'll still need quality guys to rotate with.

Yes the DC should be a 4-3 guy as that is our personnel.

Well said, I think bringing back Mike Hilton and BJ Hill is essential as there are no players that will be cheaper that would be an upgrade at 
this point in this FA. Now with the wastes in roster spots in Rankins and Stone, those are easy cuts, maybe Cappa as well and that will free 
up a lot of dough which we will need anyways for others as well as the Chase and Trey extensions. I know you are not for bringing back Tee, 
but I think that it will happen through a Burrow restructure of some sort.

Have to cut Hubbard's contract and if we bring him back cheaper as a backup, so be it. Honestly, this isn't that bad of a roster as long as we
make some nice moves and have a good Draft. Like Rex Ryan said, whoever we bring in should be chomping at the bit. With Burrow, Chase
and Trey we have 3 of the best players in the NFL to build around for another SB run.

How does the Offense fix their short yardage running problem?
Same question for the defense.
Should the Bengals defense be built to play Baltimore or Buffalo/Kansas City?
How does a better running offense improve the Bengals passing game?
Who are some under-valued defensive players around the league and why?

My primary line of questioning would revolve around scheme and flexibility.

1) what is the preference for scheme
2) in what ways can it be modified to work with the skill sets of the players
3) how flexible is the scheme to cover deficiencies in personnel
4) how flexible is the scheme to account for personnel due to injury
5) can you scheme pash rush when the players are ineffective
6) how aggressive are you with regards to play calling
7) are you flexible in your beliefs to modify the system if it is not working

(01-11-2025, 05:45 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: And you are asking the questions for the potential DC candidates to answer. What is the question that you'd most like to be answered about an area of concern that is important to YOU?

I'll get it started. Q: In this day and age of limited hours of contact between coaches and players due to stipulations in the NFL CBA, how do you address the issue of draft picks that were very good players in college, yet are failing to be developed into solid players by the team that drafted them?

Your question is maybe phrased a little weird and not something on a DC's plate..... But I see the root of what you're asking.


Maybe something like: Tell me about how you develop younger players, draft picks, etc & get them up to speed where they can contribute?


- I would also show him film and ask for a 1-5 rank evaluation on players and position groups.


- How do you handle players not staying on their assignment in the confines of the defense?


- Tell me about your teaching methods and how you take something from the classroom onto the practice field and then onto game day?


- How do you like install a defense during mini and then training camps?


- Tell me about game week and your preparation methods?


- In our division, how do you attack these 3 teams?


Spoiler: I'm asking Martindale these questions as the ink on the contract is drying.