12-09-2020, 10:33 AM
(12-08-2020, 06:50 PM)corpjet Wrote: My requirement is someone with HC experience and a quality list of assistant coaches ready to hire, neither of which we got with Zac.
This is the basis of my argument for Jay Gruden. He knows a lot of people around the NFL and would have no problem building a quality NFL staff. That point cannot be underemphasized.
I don't know how great a football mind ZT is or not, but I know he was given a squad of turds as his assistants. The best teams the Bengals have had recently were coached by really strong OC, DC, and of course, steady-eddy, Darrin Simmons.
I have thought about the idea of Simmons a lot as HC, and I am unsure how connected he is throughout the NFL, but I know he is very well respected.
Everyone on here is going to protest Simmons because he comes from "the old guard", although most were very happy he was retained when ZT was brought in. I would give Simmons a very long look as I feel he is a coach that has done the most with the least talent and I love his attention to detail. I view that as a very strong characteristic.
My other (and the one I prefer the most) choice is Jay Gruden. He may have been a bit immature early on, but I love the guy's personality and sense of humor. He is a no-nonsense guy when it comes to football and I believe he has a high football IQ. I would like to see Jay as HC, with an OC that is from the college ranks. Brady isn't ready to be a HC. He was only the "passing game coordinator" at LSU and has no head coaching experience. I think opening the wallet and giving Brady a longer contract with some significant dollars could lure him from Carolina. Plus, I think the guy loves Joe Burrow. I am more than puzzled on who I would want for DC. I would love to see a DC that was more aggressive with blitz schemes and tried to force an offense in to mistakes rather than taking punch after punch and try to stand your ground. We have the cover corners (when healthy) to maintain singled-up coverage and I would like to see them play much more aggressively than they have in recent years.