(01-16-2025, 06:41 PM)samhain Wrote: I don't necessarily despise the Golden hire. I'm just not convinced that it's the hire that makes this a championship defense.

Also don't love that it plays into the idea Willie Anderson spoke of when it comes to coaches and hiring staff; ie most of the time these guys just hire their friends. Familiarity means more than just about anything, especially here.

Golden has a fine defense at ND. He also has a roster with talent. Even in a down year, ND is going to have the horses to go up against just about anyone outside of the elite. He's not getting that here. The scheme and the execution will have to make up for a likely talent deficiency. They aren't going to have the cap for major retooling. There are only so many draft picks that will be day 1 starters.

On top of talent, it sure seems like there was a culture issue on defense last year. Poor discipline and lack of communication were pretty apparent. Being out of shape and unfocused are issues that go beyond just the talent deficit. Is bringing in a guy that worked under the guy that lost the culture going to change it for the better? Also no idea, but I think the question is fair.

(01-06-2025, 09:46 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: We definitely need some nastiness on both sides of the ball, but especially on Defense.

(01-16-2025, 05:28 PM)J24 Wrote: Why fire Lou to just hire is understudy? Doesn't make much sense to me but who knows what this organization is thinking?

(01-16-2025, 06:57 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I'd much prefer someone with a track record as an NFL DC. Saleh, Allen, and Eberflus were my top 3. 

Golden is a bit above meh. 

Then again, we don't need s championship level D. Just stop being toothless.

(01-16-2025, 06:31 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Hey, I am not for Golden either as my top pick, but our Linebackers were much better with him here and he actually has been great at ND.

Better resume' than Lou had before he came here.

(01-16-2025, 07:09 PM)jj22 Wrote: Have to hope for Golden then. FO just doesn't know how to aspire any confidence in a fanbase.

This smells of not wanting to pay for a proven DC.

Graham has never helped a team to a winning record. I'd rather chance it that Golden can do better even though we have nothing to go by.

I've lost all hope in a Oline coach hire that would move the needle. We'd probably get one from a fired coaching staff off a team with a bad oline.

(01-16-2025, 06:52 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: Wow..I did not realize that it was necessary to be a " We"..stick to the issue at hand...why would al golden be a bad choice....thanks....me

(01-16-2025, 06:41 PM)samhain Wrote: I don't necessarily despise the Golden hire.  I'm just not convinced that it's the hire that makes this a championship defense.  

Also don't love that it plays into the idea Willie Anderson spoke of when it comes to coaches and hiring staff; ie most of the time these guys just hire their friends. Familiarity means more than just about anything, especially here.  

Golden has a fine defense at ND. He also has a roster with talent.  Even in a down year, ND is going to have the horses to go up against just about anyone outside of the  elite.  He's not getting that here.  The scheme and the execution will have to make up for a likely talent deficiency.  They aren't going to have the cap for major retooling.  There are only so many draft picks that will be day 1 starters.  

On top of talent, it sure seems like there was a culture issue on defense last year.  Poor discipline and lack of communication were pretty apparent.  Being out of shape and unfocused are issues that go beyond just the talent deficit. Is bringing in a guy that worked under the guy that lost the culture going to change it for the better?  Also no idea, but I think the question is fair.

(01-16-2025, 07:30 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I don't hate the guy, he's plenty experienced. Two stints as a HC at the college level, two stints as a DC at the college level, 5 years of position coaching in the NFL. I think that he would have been a great selection around the time Lou was hired. Now that we're trying to rejuvenate the defense to take advantage of Burrow's prime years, I guess I'm just looking for someone whose made more of a splash at the highest level of the game than 3 short stints as a position coach.

(01-16-2025, 02:38 PM)Joelist Wrote: So down to the two worst candidates. Zero successful NFL DC experience. Probably someone with an actual successful track record in the NFL was out of their preferred price range. Leave it to the Bengals...

(01-16-2025, 10:03 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: And why does that matter, we see many NFL DCs flame out with experience, Golden has tons of experience and was a successful LB coach while here and is one of the top college DC in the country.  How did it work out this year with Chargers hiring Minter from Michigan, he had never been a NFL DC either... i don;t see $$ as a problem, the Bengals as i have indicated have paid their coaches better than a majority of the teams

(01-16-2025, 10:36 PM)bfine32 Wrote: I applaud them

(01-16-2025, 11:02 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: We know.

(01-17-2025, 02:14 AM)Bengal Dude Wrote: I figured Golden would be the top choice. When Lou was up for the AZ job, I pondered if Golden would be the guy to replace him. Lou had mentioned that Golden helped come up with the 3rd down packages and calls when he was here.

The only downside I see happening is Ohio State destroying the ND defense on Monday, and people are suddenly down on the hire because of one game.

(01-17-2025, 10:20 AM)Au165 Wrote: Saban used to say often that in college great players make great teams. The OSU offense is an elite unit with NFL talent all over. I think the two outcomes are if Golden can slow it down he did a great job, if he can't that's when better players win out. ND runs a lot of man coverage and I am not sure they will get away with that on Jeremiah Smith, I could see them running split coverage with man opposite and then a zone scheme with zone matching to smiths side.