10-30-2024, 11:16 AM
(10-30-2024, 11:00 AM)PhilHos Wrote: Goose, you seem like an insightful individual that knows a thing or two about football. How much difference, in your opinion, would it make if we had someone else calling plays on defense? Whether that's firing Lou and promoting within or bringing in an outside replacement?
Also, what if Lou was replaced with someone mid-season as our new DC (not interim) and they tried to implement their schemes each week and during the bye week but by-and-large keeping Lou's system? How much, if any, positive/negative effect do you think any of the potential replacement options would make?
I don't think it would make much difference in the short-term. Defensive schemes are complex and coaches have their own preferences & terminologies that really can't be implemented mid-season. So, hiring a new DC would force them to work within Lou's infrastructure for the rest of the season. This was a big point against hiring someone like Saleh as a DC. You'd have to bring him in as an analyst or a consultant like GB did. As far as calling plays, I think the answer would largely be the same. You'd see some differences if you got a guy in that was more aggressive as he may be more prone to call blitzes and attempt to pressure the QB but that doesn't necessarily mean "good", right? The defensive line is just unable to generate any consistent pressure outside of Trey. Blitzing may actually make it worse because you're taking a player out of coverage to rush. If the blitz isn't working, you can end up making life easier on the QB.
Defense, in my opinion, is a bit more straightforward than offense. If you have a receiver that isn't the greatest route runner you can throw him screens or hand him the ball out of the backfield. You can run plays where he doesn't have to run an option route. You can be more creative. On defense, if you have pass rushers that can't pass rush or corners that can't cover, what can you do? There's not really a way to mask that. I don't think Cincinnati's DBs are an issue outside of the safety room but the defensive line just isn't getting it done and those guys are the foundation.
