(01-17-2025, 08:05 PM)M.W. Wrote: Now - cheapest guys available please step to the front of the line!

I actually find that line of thought interesting. If you can believe the numbers that have been put out there, there was only 1 playoff team this year (Todd Bowles with TB) with a HC that makes less than Zac does, who is allegedly in a 4-way tie for 17th at $4.5m/yr.

It's going to be hard to ever lure a good coach here without being willing to open up the pocketbooks. $4.5m/yr would be tied for the 47th highest paid college football HC and there's 12 college HCs making at least twice that much.

Heck, Al Golden as DC of Notre Dame allegedly makes $2.0m/yr. That means he'd probably need a decent amount more to come to the NFL.


- - - - - - -
(I know once we start talking coach salaries it becomes a bit iffy on reliability as it's not quite as open as players since they don't need to be accounted for under the cap, but this is all going off the best I could find.)

(01-17-2025, 08:26 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I actually find that line of thought interesting. If you can believe the numbers that have been put out there, there was only 1 playoff team this year (Todd Bowles with TB) with a HC that makes less than Zac does, who is allegedly in a 4-way tie for 17th at $4.5m/yr.

It's going to be hard to ever lure a good coach here without being willing to open up the pocketbooks. $4.5m/yr would be tied for the 47th highest paid college football HC and there's 12 college HCs making at least twice that much.

Heck, Al Golden as DC of Notre Dame allegedly makes $2.0m/yr. That means he'd probably need a decent amount more to come to the NFL.


- - - - - - -
(I know once we start talking coach salaries it becomes a bit iffy on reliability as it's not quite as open as players since they don't need to be accounted for under the cap, but this is all going off the best I could find.)

I wouldn't be shocked if he had a buyout.

(01-17-2025, 04:09 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Lol, I like the guy, but he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Especially after all those concussions...


Well, couldn't make too big of a change if we want to win the Super Bowl in the next couple of years. If we went from a 4-3/5-2 to a 3-4
it would probably take a couple of years before it started to work. With Golden, it would still be a 4-3/5-2 and he knows the scheme but he
could freshen it up which seems to be needed big time. Tackling and the fundamentals is what this Defense has been missing.

The Tackling and fundamentals of the Irish seems pretty great to me this year.

But yeah, Eberflus would of been a big change without making too big of a change and he has a good resume' with the 4-3 in the NFL.


Great points as usual. Yeah, the man coverage against those Buckeye Receivers specifically Jeremiah Smith could be a big problem for 
Golden and the Irish Defense. They will have to adapt and split coverage as you say. This will tell a lot about the guy.


Exactly, that is why I think it could be smoother if it is Golden.


Valid concern, but the Defense was shitty under Freeman before Golden got there...

I talk regularly with some guys that coach a few pretty good high school programs,  and they all point to Golden. I guess we'll see if he's hired.

(01-17-2025, 04:09 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Valid concern, but the Defense was shitty under Freeman before Golden got there...

Freeman was only there for 1 year without Golden and they were the 15th scoring defense in the nation.

The year before, for Freeman's last year at UC before going to ND, the Bearcats had the 8th scoring defense in the nation.

(01-17-2025, 06:02 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yeah, but they aren't good at it like Watt and Highsmith are. Trey likes his hand on the ground in a 4-3 and you need a true Nose Tackle like
Heyward to take up multiple OL to run a 3-4. We don't have this until a guy like McKinnley Jackson grows into one. I am not against being in 
the 3-4 at times if it causes confusion for Offenses but a 5-2 and a 3-4 are way different. You have 3 DT's in the middle usually in a 5-2.

I think McKinnley and Jenkins will grow into a fearsome Middle

(01-17-2025, 09:09 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: I think McKinnley and Jenkins will grow into a fearsome Middle

I agree.

(01-17-2025, 08:26 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I actually find that line of thought interesting. If you can believe the numbers that have been put out there, there was only 1 playoff team this year (Todd Bowles with TB) with a HC that makes less than Zac does, who is allegedly in a 4-way tie for 17th at $4.5m/yr.

It's going to be hard to ever lure a good coach here without being willing to open up the pocketbooks. $4.5m/yr would be tied for the 47th highest paid college football HC and there's 12 college HCs making at least twice that much.

Heck, Al Golden as DC of Notre Dame allegedly makes $2.0m/yr. That means he'd probably need a decent amount more to come to the NFL.


- - - - - - -
(I know once we start talking coach salaries it becomes a bit iffy on reliability as it's not quite as open as players since they don't need to be accounted for under the cap, but this is all going off the best I could find.)

Well we were paying Lou 1.5 million which was tied for 10th, so i could see the Bengals offering 2.5 m maybe tied with incentives , Zimmer was making 4 million though I doubt we were really considering him anyway

I think the issue is less about Golden or Graham personally and more about the small number of interviews.

3 reasons for this:

1. The historical weight of this offseason.

2. Culture issues on defense and the need for a new voice.

3. The Bengals, unlike in past years, should have pick of the DC litter.

What DC wouldn't want come here at this point? Any candidate with confidence in his system should be salivating at the chance to run a defense opposite one of the elite offenses in the league. Even mediocrity would bring cumulative success in terms of wins and losses. Not sucking alone will make you a hero in a city that just witnessed 3 elite individual performances flushed down the toilet due to subpar defensive play.

(01-17-2025, 06:57 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I think that at his floor he'll at least be similar to Domata Peko, and that isn't a bad thing. If he keeps his weight under control and focuses on athleticism, who knows what his ceiling may be.

I think Jackson was the most pleasant surprise of the season.  It's hard to scout that position.  A lot of people on here thought that the team was just grabbing a big DT in the draft because he was the one that was left.  Maybe they were, but this time it seems like the dart-throw was in bullseye range.  

Idk about Peko comparisons.  It would take a long time for me to say that.  One attribute that Peko had in spades was durability.  That guy almost never missed games.  If we get that from Jackson, then we're fortunate.  He's already been banged up enough to miss time.

I know many are speculating that the delay in DC movement is likely due our target or targets still in playing situations with their teams, but what I wonder is if it is the same situation with the lack of movement in the OL hiring status? If so, who would that point to potentially?

(01-18-2025, 12:02 PM)samhain Wrote: I think Jackson was the most pleasant surprise of the season.  It's hard to scout that position.  A lot of people on here thought that the team was just grabbing a big DT in the draft because he was the one that was left.  Maybe they were, but this time it seems like the dart-throw was in bullseye range.  

Idk about Peko comparisons.  It would take a long time for me to say that.  One attribute that Peko had in spades was durability.  That guy almost never missed games.  If we get that from Jackson, then we're fortunate.  He's already been banged up enough to miss time.

Anytime a team selects a player in the top 10 at their position, the expectation should be that you're getting a quality guy. The question should be is he the guy that fits how you want to use him? I'd say that the team did well with both Jenkins and Jackson. We're just gotten used to so many DL taken in the first 3 rounds turning up as busts that unfortunately that is now our perceived expectation.

Good point about Domata's durability, I had forgotten just how reliable he was. But then again, he had no problem finding a new team when the Bengals sent him down the road.

(01-18-2025, 11:37 AM)samhain Wrote: I think the issue is less about Golden or Graham personally and more about the small number of interviews.

3 reasons for this:

1. The historical weight of this offseason.

2. Culture issues on defense and the need for a new voice.

3. The Bengals, unlike in past years, should have pick of the DC litter.

What DC wouldn't want come here at this point? Any candidate with confidence in his system should be salivating at the chance to run a defense opposite one of the elite offenses in the league. Even mediocrity would bring cumulative success in terms of wins and losses. Not sucking alone will make you a hero in a city that just witnessed 3 elite individual performances flushed down the toilet due to subpar defensive play.

I mean our front office would have to be utter toxic and/or cheap if that’s the only thing stopping an Eberflus from coming aboard.

I like the idea of Golden. He seems to improve the Defenses he’s been coaching.

(01-18-2025, 12:57 PM)Stewy Wrote: I know many are speculating that the delay in DC movement is likely due our target or targets still in playing situations with their teams, but what I wonder is if it is the same situation with the lack of movement in the OL hiring status?  If so, who would that point to potentially?

Personal favs would be a couple assist. o-line coaches

Steve Oliver (DET)

Corey Matthaei (KC)



Not a personal fav, but knows AFC North:

Former Bengal Great Travelle Wharton (BAL)
Travelle Wharton

Travelle Wharton

(01-18-2025, 02:47 PM)SladeX Wrote: I mean our front office would have to be utter toxic and/or cheap if that’s the only thing stopping an Eberflus from coming aboard.

I like the idea of Golden. He seems to improve the Defenses he’s been coaching.

If by toxic and cheap, you mean painfully frugal to a fault, then yes. That would be them. If Habitat for Humanity Restore were an NFL franchise, they'd be the Cincinnati Bengals. 

(01-18-2025, 02:55 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Personal favs would be a couple assist. o-line coaches

Steve Oliver (DET)

Corey Matthaei (KC)



Not a personal fav, but knows AFC North:

Former Bengal Great Travelle Wharton (BAL)
Travelle Wharton

Travelle Wharton

Welp, Oliver is available to interview

(01-17-2025, 08:42 PM)Wyche Wrote: I talk regularly with some guys that coach a few pretty good high school programs,  and they all point to Golden. I guess we'll see if he's hired.

Sounds likely. We will see.

(01-17-2025, 08:51 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Freeman was only there for 1 year without Golden and they were the 15th scoring defense in the nation.

The year before, for Freeman's last year at UC before going to ND, the Bearcats had the 8th scoring defense in the nation.

Surprised, thanks TLL. I watched the Irish Defense get lit up one game Freeman's first year before Golden got there. Guess that stuck with me.

(01-17-2025, 09:09 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: I think McKinnley and Jenkins will grow into a fearsome Middle

I think the same. We all knew Jenkins was talented but McKinnley actually flashed more talent than I expected as a rookie.

He is one big, fast dude with one heck of a motor.

(Yesterday, 01:11 AM)bfine32 Wrote: Welp, Oliver is available to interview

Bring him in. 

Poor Lions fans, felt bad for them last night. That Washington team was playing with house money and no pressure, rough for the Lions
as they probably won't make it back unless they get a couple new great Coordinators on both sides of the ball after Johnson and Glenn 
leave for HC jobs.

Goff had probably the worst game of his career yesterday. He plays his normal game and the Commanders lose. And TBH the only reason the Commanders got past Tampa was two unforced screwups by the Bucs on the snap exchange on consecutive fourth quarter drives. That said the odds currently favor the Commanders because the Eagles are highly inconsistent.

(Yesterday, 09:58 PM)Joelist Wrote: Goff had probably the worst game of his career yesterday. He plays his normal game and the Commanders lose. And TBH the only reason the Commanders got past Tampa was two unforced screwups by the Bucs on the snap exchange on consecutive fourth quarter drives. That said the odds currently favor the Commanders because the Eagles are highly inconsistent.

It wasn't even the worst game of his season. He had a 5 INT game earlier this year.

He has had less of them lately because of being surrounded by so much talent so he did well in the 2023 playoffs, but he will just poop himself some games and also normally in the playoffs. That IS his normal and is why the Rams moved on from him.


(Speaking of pooping himself in the playoffs, Ravens down 10-21.)

(Yesterday, 10:14 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: It wasn't even the worst game of his season. He had a 5 INT game earlier this year.

He has had less of them lately because of being surrounded by so much talent so he did well in the 2023 playoffs, but he will just poop himself some games and also normally in the playoffs. That IS his normal and is why the Rams moved on from him.


(Speaking of pooping himself in the playoffs, Ravens down 10-21.)

Coaching staff seems to have learned, Baltimore just crammed it down Buffalo's throat. 

(Yesterday, 10:14 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: It wasn't even the worst game of his season. He had a 5 INT game earlier this year.

He has had less of them lately because of being surrounded by so much talent so he did well in the 2023 playoffs, but he will just poop himself some games and also normally in the playoffs. That IS his normal and is why the Rams moved on from him.


(Speaking of pooping himself in the playoffs, Ravens down 10-21.)

He had more picks in the 5 INT game but in this game he was totally out of sync with his own offense.