12-05-2018, 04:13 PM
(12-04-2018, 07:09 PM)XsandOs Wrote: A few points to consider:
1) Lewis is the first HC hire for PB Jr., who has won here. It allowed him to buy back the last 30% share and take sole control. So that loyalty is hard to break.
2) Lewis is no longer a HC in the sense that we are discussing here. He is not a game planner/caller, like Reid, Payton, Pederson, Reich, McVay (who is actually a glorified OC). Lewis is a Team/Personnel Manager. And that has its place in NFL too.
3) Lewis succeeds when he has capable OC and DC (Gruden, Zimmer, Jackson).
So, if you fire Lewis, who do you bring in as HC, and more importantly, why?
If it is for more offense, then who and why? We already run a WC and were the first Team to run an innovative RPO regularly. Majority of Teams run a version of WC. So what is the difference? If you bring in Chip Kelley, what does he bring beyond his mesh concept?
If it is for more defense, who do you bring in and why? The rules changes and WC/RPO wrinkles requires defenses to adapt. Zones are no longer effective because RPOs overload on one side and overwhelm the zone. No one has shown to be able to counter them. Belichek and Phillips could not stop Reid, Phillips Man couldn't counter Payton's 21 (Kamara on a LB and TE running a stick).
If you use Marinelli as an example of who can stop Payton, remember that Dallas has familiarity with Payton's schemes from his days in Dallas. Marinelli is no genius.
We have two advanced offensive minds on our staff, and there is no viable defensive mind out there that guarantees success against the current schemes.
So again, if Lewis is fired, who do you suggest as replacement. And why?
Good post and some good questions brother.
I'll start with RPO. You sound like you think the rise of the RPO in the NFL is more than just a fad that will eventually pass or be scaled back in it's usage, and instead think it's here to stay and will continue to be a part of more and more offenses? I'm just not convinced of that. There are also some coaches, NFL and college, that don't think so either. I read a couple of really good articles about that awhile back. They talk a lot about things like extra exposure for QB's and incorporating it into an overall offensive philosophy. I'll post them when I find them again.
Anyway, when looking for a new head coach, specifically the Bengals...it has to be someone who is willing to wear different hats and be able to work closely with Mike, Katie and Duke. That's what they were used to with Marvin, and I'm sure they will be looking for the same in whoever the next head coach is, especially if they go outside. As it relates to players and approach...I think you need someone who is respected and the players can genuinely get excited about, someone who you feel understands and can adapt the an ever changing NFL, and someone that you feel comfortable building around and investing in...because the Bengals do not like moving on from head coaches.
Some of the guys I think they should look at (if Marvin were to leave or get fired) would be coordinators or Asst HC's like LaFleur, Dan Campbell, Bettcher, Flores, DeFilippo, Kris Richard...and a couple of older ones in Fangio and Toub. On the college level, I really like Matt Campbell (Iowa St). I like all these guys for different reasons and think they're all interesting options. One guy on the staff that that's intriguing is Alex Van Pelt.
