01-05-2018, 10:48 PM
(01-05-2018, 03:42 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Everyone who knows me knows I’m a YUGE fan of what Jack Del Rio has done in his career as a defensive coordinator and as a linebacker coach. Does the name Ray Lewis ring a bell? He might be the best linebacker I ever saw* and Jack was his position coach in Baltimore under the best defensive coordinator I ever saw: Marvin Lewis. As defensive coordinator Jack turned both the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos into defensive powerhouses. We also know Marvin and Jack have been friends for decades and I can slam-dunk guarantee you those two have been texting and talking ever since the Son of Al unceremoniously fired Jack.
Here’s the thing: Jack Del Rio sees himself as a head coach. That’s both good and bad. Jack, however, isn’t an effective head coach and I say that with respect. Yes, he had some good years in Jacksonville and a stellar 12-4 season in Oakland in 2016 but he’s actually won less than Marvin as a head coach. Jack is a defensive coordinator, period...
...which means Mike Brown will have to open his wallet and make Jack an offer he can’t refuse. Marvin will have to sweeten the pot a little by guaranteeing Jack hiring power over defensive free agents, a seat at the table for the draft with significant input, and maybe even offer him the “assistant head coach” position now that Paul Alexander is, ahem, finally poop-canned.
Jack Del Rio is waiting for the phone to ring to head coach interviews. I don’t think they will materialize.
Finally, Mike and Marvin need to convince Jack that the defensive coordinator job in Cincinnati is a great job. Look at all the talent the Bengals have on defense! Jack could mold Vontaze Burfict into a non-homicidal version of Ray Lewis. He could turn George Iloka into a gigantic twice as mean version of Ed Reed. Who wouldn’t want to have the chance to develop great players like Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, and the soon to have his own “island,” William Jackson III?
*Vontaze Burfict might turn out to be better. We’ll see.
Who knows, he may look at our division and see that Ben is retiring, Balt is not the same and Cleveland is well Cleveland, even though I think Cleveland is going to be a very good team soon. I think we really missed the perfect window to really clean house Marvin included, but Jack would get me feeling a little better about the current situation.
On the flip side he may still get HC offers with all the options out there, maybe Detroit, Indy or Chicago. He may not want to deal with a Burfict, Pac Man Mike Brown etc. who knows. I would definitely be doing everything possible to get him here if I was Marvin.
