(Yesterday, 07:21 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I am on board with Eberflus as DC. I am not on board with Eberflus as HC. 

I'm actually not sure there's really many guys available I would want as DC that I would also be okay with being my HC. For instance Martindale is another name mentioned and I wouldn't want him as HC, and obviously not the two guys we interviewed first. Al Golden was a college HC back in 2010 and was .500 while going 0-3 in bowl games and has never been above a LB Coach in the NFL.

Besides I don't like the idea of preemptively poisoning the well by either making it known, inferring, or even not denying that the DC I hire could be HC this year or next. Doesn't seem like a healthy way to have him respect and work under Zac's leadership, like replacing a broken chair leg with a half-broken chair leg, you're kind of setting the chair up to just break again, so you either need to fully fix it or just get a new chair. Being half-in on a HC is how you get that weird unhealthy McCarthy/Cowboys situation that has finally ended after seemingly being on the chopping block for 4 straight years.

All great points. I know who you wanted for HC and the Pats snatched him up. Vrabel was never really in the cards for us cause he would
of had to of been DC first, but he would of been ideal to toughen our asses up to match the rest of the AFC North.

(Yesterday, 06:52 PM)wanga Wrote: You’d think with the timing of it all there’s got to be someone still involved in their season. Surely the only viable reason for the delay.

If someone is still in the playoffs, they are looking to promote a position coach so who among the assistance look promising.   Unless of course they are waiting for Al Golden.  Yeah, ND is a prestigious job but most college coordinators want to be either HC or in the NFL

Some interesting names for OL Coach. Equally important pick for Zac as DC.

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/1/13/24340520/cincinnati-bengals-offensive-line-coach

Quote:Heading that list is probably former Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone. Marrone, who played offensive tackle in the NFL for six years, has seven years of experience as an offensive line coach in college and another 12 years in the pro ranks

Dan Roushar is another name that should be under consideration.


Roushar, who is currently the offensive line coach at Tulane University, was not too long ago considered as one of the top offensive line coaches in the NFL. Roushar coached the position for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 through 2020 and has an additional 12 years of collegiate experience.


Another name to keep an eye on is former Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive line coach James Cregg. Cregg broke into the league as an assistant offensive line coach for the Raiders in 2007 and finally got the head position this past season. Although his line finished at No. 26, it overcame multiple injuries to finish strong. After allowing 19 sacks through the first nine games, the line let up just nine in the final eight games.

Quote:There is a long list of college coaches who deserve consideration, with names such as Joe Rudolph of Notre Dame, Nic Cardwell of Cincinnati, and Utah’s Jim Harding leading the way.

(Yesterday, 07:44 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: All great points. I know who you wanted for HC and the Pats snatched him up. Vrabel was never really in the cards for us cause he would
of had to of been DC first, but he would of been ideal to toughen our asses up to match the rest of the AFC North.

He was my #1 preference (barring Belichick because there's no way he and Mike Brown could co-exist). I would have still been quite happy with Pete Carroll. Also would be intrigued by one of those young college HCs like Marcus Freeman or Dan Lanning.

Since we're rolling with Zac again, now the Bengals just need to prop him up with enough support that he isn't looked at like a lame duck candidate to work under.

It's gotta be Al Golden. Clues:

Not announced yet

Zac said "must know AFC North"

It won't be a minority as the team checked that block early.

(Yesterday, 08:46 PM)bfine32 Wrote: It's gotta be Al Golden. Clues:

Not announced yet

Zac said "must know AFC North"

It won't be a minority as the team checked that block early.

So the worst choice then; zero pedigree as an NFL defensive coordinator.

This team sure does prioritize familiarity (if it’s indeed Golden). Just once I’d love to see them take a big swing during the Burrow era.

(Yesterday, 08:21 PM)pally Wrote: If someone is still in the playoffs, they are looking to promote a position coach so who among the assistance look promising.   Unless of course they are waiting for Al Golden.  Yeah, ND is a prestigious job but most college coordinators want to be either HC or in the NFL

Far from my field of expertise unfortunately, judging potential DC candidates from other places. Seems a pretty result driven industry and Lou’s number came up finally. Not sure who would be, or has been good in similar areas before though. 
Al Golden does seem to tick a lot of ‘Bengals boxes’. As Nico said a swing at a young candidate with potential would be awesome for a change. 
I think the franchise is moving forward in its thinking but it’s pretty slow in doing so and it’s coming from a long long way back. 

(Yesterday, 08:46 PM)bfine32 Wrote: It's gotta be Al Golden. Clues:

Not announced yet

Zac said "must know AFC North"

It won't be a minority as the team checked that block early.

Looks that way. 

(Yesterday, 08:46 PM)bfine32 Wrote: It's gotta be Al Golden. Clues:

Not announced yet

Zac said "must know AFC North"

It won't be a minority as the team checked that block early.

Yeah, looking at the clues Golden is the most likely for sure.

(Yesterday, 08:55 PM)Joelist Wrote: So the worst choice then; zero pedigree as an NFL defensive coordinator.

Well, he has been a very good DC for Notre Dame this year. Just hope it doesn't take long to be decent.

I wasn't impressed with his D at ND his first season there.

(Yesterday, 09:12 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: This team sure does prioritize familiarity (if it’s indeed Golden). Just once I’d love to see them take a big swing during the Burrow era.

For sure, we will see if it works out this time. Still am for a gamble once in a while to shake things up.

Familiarity has not been working clearly.

(Yesterday, 09:37 PM)wanga Wrote: Looks that way. 

Sure does.

Im not sure about Golden. I would want someone with a history of being a good DC at the NFL level. Golden doesnt have that background. He has been the DC for 3 years at Notre Dame which is one of the easiest places to recruit and bring in talent. He could end up being a good NFL DC but he is not proven and I think the Bengals would be taking a chance with that hire. The Bengals organization cant afford to botch this next DC hire. The time to play for championships is now.

(Yesterday, 08:55 PM)Joelist Wrote: So the worst choice then; zero pedigree as an NFL defensive coordinator.

Notre Dame has a great defense….one of the best opinions college football

They need a proven NFL DC. There are several available. Anything else is a failure, and will likely cost Zac his job in the end. Not to mention wasting more years of Burrow’s prime.

(Yesterday, 11:27 PM)pally Wrote: Notre Dame has a great defense….one of the best opinions college football

They also have Marcus Freeman.  He's a pretty sharp defensive mind.  Some might say brilliant.  Golden pre Freeman was a nice linebackers coach.  Now he's suddenly a candidate to coordinate a defense for a team that believes it has SB aspirations?  

I hope so, I guess?

The thing that made Golden elite ain't coming with him to Cincinnati if he's the guy.

(Yesterday, 11:35 PM)samhain Wrote: They also have Marcus Freeman.  He's a pretty sharp defensive mind.  Some might say brilliant.  Golden pre Freeman was a nice linebackers coach.  Now he's suddenly a candidate to coordinate a defense for a team that believes it has SB aspirations?  

I hope so, I guess?

The thing that made Golden elite ain't coming with him to Cincinnati if he's the guy.

I think you maybe, just maybe be over-selling Freeman's pedigree. he's never coached jack at the NFL level. Is it possible that Golden contributes to Freman's success more than Freeman contributes to Golden's?

(Yesterday, 06:52 PM)wanga Wrote: You’d think with the timing of it all there’s got to be someone still involved in their season. Surely the only viable reason for the delay.

One delay could be The Bengals interviewed Patrick Graham, but then Jaguars interviewed him to be their head coach.  Graham is good and was a D Coach in Patriots Super Bowl years and was D Coordinator at Dolphins, Raiders.   Bengals interviewed him for a reason, but Jaguars considering him as their head Coach changes things.  If Jaguars hire a different Head Coach, Graham who Bengals interviewed is back in play.  

Here's one more thing Fans need to know about a slow process in hiring coaches.  Over the decades I've seen many coaches turn down coming to Cincinnati.  Fans think this is the #1 team to be on in football.  I'm not so sure the D Coordinators at Notre Dame or Oregon want to leave and come to Cincinnati and they might be looking for a Head Coaching offer somewhere to leave such top jobs they already have.  

This is why Fans shouldn't look down on the Bears Head Coach fired.  He needs a job, and the man turned the Colts defense around in a few months, so he has proved he is a good D Coordinator.  The big thing is he is out of work and available.  Again, I doubt that Golden wants to leave Notre Dame unless it's a Head Coaching job.   If he is a D Coordinator at Notre Dame, why take the same job in Cincy.  Same goes for the Oregon D Coordinator. 

The Bengals did interview Patrick Graham fast, but Jaguars then interviewed him for a Head Coach job, so that right there slows things down. 

Golden feels like the backup plan.

(11 hours ago)jj22 Wrote: Golden feels like the backup plan.

You think so? 

He seems like Plan A to me. 

We might not like Plan A, but there's a chance he's who they've had their eye on since they parted ways w/ Lou. 

Maybe you know some folks who have turned them down 

(Yesterday, 10:49 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: Im not sure about Golden.  I would want someone with a history of being a good DC at the NFL level.  Golden doesnt have that background.  He has been the DC for 3 years at Notre Dame which is one of the easiest places to recruit and bring in talent.  He could end up being a good NFL DC but he is not proven and I think the Bengals would be taking a chance with that hire.   The Bengals organization cant afford to botch this next DC hire.  The time to play for championships is now.

Notre Dame is a "top tier" program but it's probably the hardest to recruit for out of that tier. Notre Dame is an academic school and even the athletes are expected to be real students with real majors not "sports management" like you see at alot of programs like Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State etc. You can't just be good at football to get into schools like Notre Dame and Standford. 

(Yesterday, 08:34 PM)jj22 Wrote: Some interesting names for OL Coach. Equally important pick for Zac as DC.

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/1/13/24340520/cincinnati-bengals-offensive-line-coach

Bob Bostad would be a good choice as well.