DC/OL wish list

[007BengalsFan]

(01-11-2025, 11:57 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Not at all.

"Eberflus would be a STEAL for the Bengals," an anonymous NFL coach said. "One of the most complex and difficult defenses to plan for. Exotic packages on third downs and passing situations was one of the best in Dallas and early on in Indy."

https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/news/would-be-a-steal-for-the-bengals-is-matt-eberflus-an-ideal-target-in-cincinnati-s-defensive-coordinator-search-01jhay4v6g6k

Didnt Lou have to simplify his defense because the young guys couldnt understand what they were supposed to do?  If Eberflus runs a complex defense too, is the Bengals personnel going to be able to execute it?

[J24]

(01-13-2025, 02:49 PM)jj22 Wrote: I'm (or was) a huge Zimmer fan. I say was because I hope he doesn't return. 10 years ago maybe. But time has passed him by. Hopefully the FO doesn't get lazy and content.

Why?

(01-13-2025, 04:32 PM)007BengalsFan Wrote: People complained about Lou having the #25 ranked scoring defense.  Zimmer was 6 spots behind Lou with the #31 ranked defense.  The only team worse than the Cowboys were the Panthers.  I appreciate what Zimmer did in his time with the Bengals but we need someone else.

His defense had multiple injuries particularly in the secondary and defensive line. You put him here and this defense will be significantly better. 
He is still one of the best at utilizing pressure packages on third downs in the whole NFL. By the way the Cowboys finished third in sacks last season and was 4th in pass rush grade according to pff.

[kevin]

Matt Eburflus is the word in a lot of Media. The ex Chicago Bears head coach was Defensive Coordinator for Indy Colts and is considered by NFL experts as a steal if Bengals can get him. Media says Bengals are NOT in a train now, win later mode. They need a top coach to step in and win now while Bengals have Burrow and Company. Besides Cincy Media, Sports Illustrated and others are talking Eberflus to Bengals is in the mix, and it would be a steal for Bengals.

GO BENGALS

[c766]

Analflutes seemed pretty incompetent here in Chicago.

[t3r3e3]

(01-13-2025, 09:18 PM)c766 Wrote: Analflutes seemed pretty incompetent here in Chicago.

The Bears Front Office is arguably the most incompetent front office in football. Them, the Jets, the Browns, and the Jags make Mike, Katie, and Troy look mildly competent by comparison. Eberflus would be a quality hire, period.

[Joelist]

(01-13-2025, 09:18 PM)c766 Wrote: Analflutes seemed pretty incompetent here in Chicago.

As HEAD coach yes he is incompetent. As a Defensive Coordinator he is upper tier. He has the type of DC track record we need. 

[BFritz21]

(01-13-2025, 10:38 PM)Joelist Wrote: As HEAD coach yes he is incompetent. As a Defensive Coordinator he is upper tier. He has the type of DC track record we need. 

Same thing I was thinking.

He's at the top of my list now and I think he could be good for us, but we'd need to bring in players to help him.

If I remember correctly, he doesn't bring many extra rushers and counts on his front four to get pressure, so we'd need guys like Ossai to step up, but I have liked the pressure Jenkins, Hill, and our other tackles have made, so it could work.

That would also give our DBs more help if they continue to be bad and we don't get any help via the draft or free agency.

[wanga]

(01-13-2025, 09:18 PM)c766 Wrote: Analflutes seemed pretty incompetent here in Chicago.

Are you 12?

[Bengalbug]

IMO, Eberflus would be a good get. He coaches with a high degree of intensity and focuses on fundamentals. He took a bears defense that was awful, and overhauled them to a top 8 unit the last 9 games of 23 and before his release in 24.

Matt Eberflus head coach record - 14-32
Dick Lebeau head coach record - 12-33
Steve Spagnuolo head coach record - 11-41
Josh Mcdaniels. 20-32

There are others.

Long story short, coordinators don’t always make great head coaches, but that HC experience can pay huge dividends as they can play the role of HC on the defensive side of the ball. Like Zac, his teams didn’t roll over on him, even when they were bad.

I’d love to see the work he could do with Wilson and Pratt especially.

[kevin]

(01-13-2025, 11:12 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Same thing I was thinking.

He's at the top of my list now and I think he could be good for us, but we'd need to bring in players to help him.

If I remember correctly, he doesn't bring many extra rushers and counts on his front four to get pressure, so we'd need guys like Ossai to step up, but I have liked the pressure Jenkins, Hill, and our other tackles have made, so it could work.

That would also give our DBs more help if they continue to be bad and we don't get any help via the draft or free agency.

His high resume as Defensive Coordinator is due to his years with Indy Colts.  Does that mean he had some training under Tony Dungy ?  If so, that would be an extra, because Tony Dungy turned both awful Tampa and Indy into Defensive Powers.  Dungy on taking over both teams said he needed to draft and bring in more speed on Defense. Dungy hated slow players. He wanted super fast defenses from front line to Db's.  So if this coach had any experience as a coach for Defensive Guru Tony Dungy, that would be a huge plus on his resume.  That would mean if hired, we would see a much Faster Bengals Defense flying to the football.  Slow Bengals D Players would be shown the door.  Dungy always had a bell cow DT such as drafting Warren Sapp, at Tampa and a good DT at Indy.  Big guys on the run that could also get to the QB the way Geno Atkins use to.  You need a player like that up the gut on the D Line, but finding Dt's like Mean Joe Greene not easy.  I thought Tim Krumrie was awesome before Super Bowl leg injury, for a DT, he made tackles sideline to sideline like a middle linebacker.  If this coach came up under Tony Dungy, he will want Bengals to get a Big and Quick DT up the gut, and he will tell Bengals without that, any chance for a good defense is hopeless. 

[Bengalbug]

(Yesterday, 02:08 AM)kevin Wrote: His high resume as Defensive Coordinator is due to his years with Indy Colts.  Does that mean he had some training under Tony Dungy ?  If so, that would be an extra, because Tony Dungy turned both awful Tampa and Indy into Defensive Powers.  Dungy on taking over both teams said he needed to draft and bring in more speed on Defense. Dungy hated slow players. He wanted super fast defenses from front line to Db's.  So if this coach had any experience as a coach for Defensive Guru Tony Dungy, that would be a huge plus on his resume.  That would mean if hired, we would see a much Faster Bengals Defense flying to the football.  Slow Bengals D Players would be shown the door. 

No, they were separated by about 15 years lol.

He worked under rob ryan earlier in Cleveland and Dallas. He also was under monte kiffin in Dallas after rob ryan and Kiffin was the DC under Tony dungy. So in a roundabout way, maybe he learned a thing or two about the Tampa 2 style defense, but that was short lived for a few years.

But he has worked with successful defensive coaches

Eric Mangini
Rob Ryan
Monte Kiffin

In 2016, after being sought after for various defensive coordinator positions around the league, the Cowboys were able to keep Eberflus in house and made him the team's Defensive Passing Game Coordinator in addition to his linebacker coaching duties. Eberflus helped the Cowboys defense boast the NFL's No. 1 overall rushing defense (83.5 yards per game) in 2016, and the No. 5 ranked scoring defense. Sean Lee led the defense with 175 tackles (120 solo) and 12.0 tackles for loss, both career highs, and was named First Team All-Pro and selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.

Inheriting a defense (Colts) that finished No. 30 in the NFL in both scoring defense (25.2 points allowed per game) and total defense (367.1 yards allowed per game) in 2017, Eberflus turned the defense around in just one season, to rank No. 10 in scoring defense (21.5 points allowed per game) and No. 11 in total defense (339.4 yards allowed per game) in 2018.

[kevin]

(Yesterday, 02:12 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: No, they were separated by about 15 years lol.

That's why I said I wasn't sure.  OK, so he wasn't trained under the great Tony Dungy.  Most media says this guy would be a steal for Bengals, because he has had great defenses in his career. 

[BFritz21]

(Yesterday, 02:08 AM)kevin Wrote: His high resume as Defensive Coordinator is due to his years with Indy Colts.  Does that mean he had some training under Tony Dungy ?  If so, that would be an extra, because Tony Dungy turned both awful Tampa and Indy into Defensive Powers.  Dungy on taking over both teams said he needed to draft and bring in more speed on Defense. Dungy hated slow players. He wanted super fast defenses from front line to Db's.  So if this coach had any experience as a coach for Defensive Guru Tony Dungy, that would be a huge plus on his resume.  That would mean if hired, we would see a much Faster Bengals Defense flying to the football.  Slow Bengals D Players would be shown the door.  Dungy always had a bell cow DT such as drafting Warren Sapp, at Tampa and a good DT at Indy.  Big guys on the run that could also get to the QB the way Geno Atkins use to.  You need a player like that up the gut on the D Line, but finding Dt's like Mean Joe Greene not easy.  I thought Tim Krumrie was awesome before Super Bowl leg injury, for a DT, he made tackles sideline to sideline like a middle linebacker.  If this coach came up under Tony Dungy, he will want Bengals to get a Big and Quick DT up the gut, and he will tell Bengals without that, any chance for a good defense is hopeless. 

GREAT analysis!

The bell cow DT would be beneficial as the middle of our D has been weak and we need to draft/sign players to fly around to the ball and cause chaos on defense.

Let's hope we bring him in and get him what he needs!

[kevin]

OK, I'm 70, so he wasn't with Tony Dungy.

So I do my homework. Eberflus in college coached for Toledo and Missouri. In NFL he was with Rob Ryan in Cleveland and those two went to Dallas. Here is the stand out part. He went to Indy Colts who were ranked 30th in Defense. In one season he had them ranked 10th in Defense. So he has turned around low ranked Defenses before. The Bengals have been ranked near the bottom in defense two seasons in a row. If Eberflus could get Bengals into top 10 in defense as he did Indy, that would be great.

So I have no idea how he turned Colts from an awful Defense to a good Defense in a few months, all I know is he did it. If he did it for Indy, maybe he could do it for Cincy.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

I got a feeling it's gonna be Al Golden.

[kevin]

(Yesterday, 05:04 AM)Wyche Wrote: I got a feeling it's gonna be Al Golden.

Yes, another name being mentioned.  He worked under Joe Paterno who was a Defensive Guru.  He was with Bengals in 2021 Super Bowl Season.  He then took Notre Dame job, which is a Top Job.  He is known for having good Defenses.  

So Eberflus and Golden are being mentioned by sports media, not just on here.  Now Eberflus is looking for a job.  Golden may be happy at Notre Dame.  Two good possible choices right there.  Internet has a news story from 2022, Bengals losing good coach in Golden to Notre Dame.  Problem is, he might be happy at Notre Dame, most coaches would be. 


Bengals have interviewed Patrick Graham who was a D Coach for Patriots and D Coordinator for Dolphins, Giants and Raiders.   Bengals have also interviewed DeMarcus Covington who has been D Coach and D Coordinator for Patriots.  

Here is the thing.  It's not always who Bengals want.  I've seen many top coaches not want to come to Cincinnati.  So the idea that the Oregon Coach or the Notre Dame Coach are coming is wild.  Some of these coaches may be very happy where they are at, and Cincinnati isn't even on their radar.  

The Bengals have indeed interviewed two Patriots defensive coaches, and Bengals seem to be leaning to having a New England Patriots type Defense as Patriots had over the years.  It really comes down to who is looking for a job and willing to come to Cincinnati.  I don't think Bengals are going to steal away a coach on a good job already.  I've seen Bengals in years of Coach hunting, and a lot of top coaches say NO to Cincinnati in the past.  

So have Eberflus or Golden even been in for an interview ?  The 2 coaches of Patriots backgrounds have, Graham and Covington.  OK, if Bengals could have a Patriots type defense, that sounds good also. 

Now, why is Lou fired ?  I'm hearing Bengals Front Office not happy that they drafted top picks and Lou didn't play them.  When the front office goes out and gets players they expect to start, Lou not playing them didn't sit well, especially with the bad start to season and often bad defense,  Front office got upset the top players they brought in, Lou wasn't playing.  One internet report was Bengals said they didn't draft this player early to sit on the bench.  If that's true, then Bengals front office and Lou were not on the same page.  Bengals will want a coach who actually plays top draft picks and more on same page with Taylor, Tobin and front office. 

On a coach now needing a job, I go back to Eberflus.   Also Zimmer, but he is getting pretty old, but you never know.  Jaguars are considering Patrick as head coach. It's not always who you want, it's who you can get. and the media talk is that might be Eberflus.  He did great with Colts Defense. 

[QueenCity]

The longer this plays out the more I think they have a deal with Golden.

If it was Eberflus you'd think a deal would be done by the end of week at the latest.

[c766]

(Yesterday, 11:08 AM)QueenCity Wrote: The longer this plays out the more I think they have a deal with Golden.

If it was Eberflus you'd think a deal would be done by the end of week at the latest.

Golden would be a fantastic hire, IMO.   Its easy to forget he was with the Bengals, with Zac and core,  only 3 short years ago. 

[jj22]

Golden would bring a more aggressive defense (for better or for worse) than Eb.

[TecmoBengals]

I've never given much attention as to how long the hiring timeline works for an NFL coordinator. A few thoughts posed as questions:

- Are interviews still ongoing?
- Is it possible ownership won't pay the salary a leading candidate is expecting? Will we see a Mike Brown is cheap narrative emerge?
- Is it possible Zac wants to interview a coach who is still actively coaching for a playoff team?

I'm a fan, so naturally I can't wait to see who Zac hires.