Increasingly likely that they'll lose defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to the Miami Dolphins (or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), the Cincinnati Bengals will have the sudden task with finding his replacement. Though it would seem historically accurate that the Bengals were once a reactive team, there's reasons to believe that Cincinnati has already developed a game-plan for what seems will become an eventuality.
Two names that continue to be circulated as the favorites are Bengals defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle and former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio. Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer initially projected both names, largely due to their connections to the team and Lewis himself.
Coyle has been an assistant coach with the Bengals for 11 seasons bringing some defensive coordinator experience at Fresno State, Maryland, Syracuse and Holy Cross. Del Rio was once a former defensive assistant under defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis on the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff. Del Rio's name has been mentioned several times as a favorite to replace Brian VanGorder in Atlanta.
That being said we won't know the full scope of whom Cincinnati could be considering until Zimmer leaves Cincinnati for the long-expected head coaching job we knew he'd one day have.
However no matter who it is, we figure it'll be the coach that Marvin Lewis wants, thanks to his negotiation last January that we suspect gave him increasing authority over his own coaching staff. And hopefully that coach is an aggressive play-caller, taking advantage of Cincinnati's quality defensive front.
0 recs | 66 comments
if not either of these 2
Splagnaro (sp) with our DL might be nice
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
How about Singletary
sofakingood - January 16, 2012
Your joking
Aren’t you?
BENGALS69 - January 16, 2012
Think of it this way
If Rey f**ks up he could bench him and play. Anyway Vikes are going to promote him to DC.
sofakingood - January 16, 2012
Good Choice
If we do lose Zimmer. Mr leather Coat would be my first option.
Then Mike Singletary.
77CincyRage - January 16, 2012
I like everything about Singletary except
the x’s and o’s
he makes a perfect token,give him 2 good coordinator’s
keithp - January 16, 2012
It'll be Coyle.
You don’t refuse permission to let your DB coach to interview for the Philly Defensive Coordinator spot unless you have a plan for him.
They have no real reason to make a system change on Defense, though I’d like to see someone get something more out of Maualuga and Rivers.
Coyle is apparently a highly respected coach in the locker room, and a very smart guy. The change should be seamless.
Skyhook - January 16, 2012
We all may be pleasantly surprised with Coyle.
Ben-GAL - January 16, 2012
they cant refuse to let him interview as a dcordinator can they?
I thought it was just for lateral moves.
JCompton41 - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Head coaching jobs
I think.
Loyal2aFault - January 16, 2012
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2011/2/11/1988683/report-bengals-refused-the-eagles-to-interview-db-coach-for-defensive
He’s under contract and the team can refuse anything it wants.
My impression at the time, and still to this day, was that it was a Jason Garrett type situation where they kept him with the understanding he’d be DC once Zimmer left.
Skyhook - January 16, 2012
That situation always sux
To me that says,your not good enough
keithp - January 16, 2012
maybe Coyle replaces Zimmer
and Del Rio replaces Coyle lol
AMAS85 - January 16, 2012
I've been working under the assumption that immer would leave...
And it hadn’t bothered me too much. I figured Del Rio was a good option, and maybe Marvin sees something in Coyle to make him a candidate. Good teams lose their coordinators all the time. It’s what happens when you have success.
But the one thing I hadn’t thought about until recently is how disastrous it will probably be for Maualuga. As freaked out as we all were about Dalton having to learn a new coordinator’s system after one year of starting at the QB spot, Rey would have to do the same thing if Zimmer leaves at the defensive QB spot. Does anyone on here think Rey Maualuga has a 10th of the brains as Andy Dalton? Even small changes in terminology, let alone a different scheme or playbook, could have Rey’s head spinning. It could mean a real problem at the MLB spot and would probably mean the end of his hold on the job by the end of the year…which is too bad because, even though he’s not the brightest guy, I really felt like once he got a handle on running Zim’s scheme and was able to just play at his natural position he could really blossom. With a new coordinator, that could mean another year or two of development, which we won’t pay for, and probably can’t afford.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
I don't think thats necessarly true
I think who ever comes in here has to go with Marvins scheme when it comes to defense. Marvin was a former DC and Im pretty sure he has a lot of say when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Thats why the other two DC didn’t last that long because they couldn’t translate their coaching styles into the scheme Marvin wanted.
So, I think Coyle maybe the best option because he has been under Marvin for so long and probably knows what Marvin really wants to get out of the D with the personell we have now.
AMAS85 - January 16, 2012
Coyle wasn't a Marvin hire...he's a Mike Brown guy
There’s a reason he didn’t get the job when Breshnahan got fired. And that move is all you need to look at to know two different coordinators can run two very different systems with similar players. Del Rio is the vetted candidate…we all know he has credentials as a DC. But he’s also not known for being a very player-friendly guy. I can’t see him and Rey hitting it off very well.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
but the fact that they blocked Coyle from speaking to the Eagles speaks volume
AMAS85 - January 16, 2012
AND
Coyle has worked with ZIm. I don’t think there would be a ton of changes.
Ben-GAL - January 16, 2012
That was before marvin gained control i Think.
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
I dont think thats true
If Marvin had that much of a hand in the defense,why did it only pick up steam when Zimmer got here
keithp - January 16, 2012
I don't think Ray Lewis is the Enstein of
The ILB world, do you? Rey will figure it out.
But maybe Rey doesnt stay at ILB under a new DC. Maybe he’s moved back to the outside if the draft produces some one better.
BENGALS69 - January 16, 2012
Maybe he is.
He’ll go into the HOF as one of the best ILB to ever play the game. I dont’ know why people assume he’s dumb. He sniffs out plays as well as anyone ever.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
He's a great player
That doesn’t seem to be a particularly beyond average intelligence……just like our Rey. It’s more about physical talent, experience, teammates etc than brains. I’d say our Rey would be more “instinctive” if he had Ngata and mount Cody in front of him.
BENGALS69 - January 16, 2012
Plus, I think Ed Reed is the guy who lines up that defense anyway
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
bengals should already be interviewing
why wait for zimmer to leave
palewook - January 16, 2012
Who says they aren't?
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
who wants to interview for a position thats not available yet?
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
Anyone who wants the inside track on getting the job if it becomes available?
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
yeah but i have never heard of it in the NFL
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
You don't tend to hear about coordinator interviews
You hear about HC interviews because they’re big news, plus you’re never really waiting to know if you have a HC opening. It’s usually because you fired the last guy.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
the lack of reports on anyone flying into town
would suggest spags, del rio, singletary, etc haven’t been interviewed by the bengals
palewook - January 16, 2012
I think sometimes we over-estimate the reach fo ESPN
They don’t have guys stationed at every airport. When you hear those reports, it’s usually because the people they’re reporting on give them the information. I’m not saying we ARE interviewing anyone, i’m just saying it wouldn’t at all surprise me if we were at least making phone calls.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
screw espn =)
i use google and newswire. spiders on twitter make it hard to keep anything hidden in this day and age.
palewook - January 16, 2012
OK 2012 coaching change wish list...
If zimmer leaves
New D coordinator = Colye
Means we need a new DB Coachs
Regaurdless…
New OL Coach… Munoz
Lippencott Replacement (while it will take more than one guy to fill these shorts why havent we talked about this replacement?)
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
If Munoz wanted to coach don't you think he would have done it by now?
Coaching isn’t a very glamorous job. Especially being an assistant. Insanely long hours, not great money. Unless you really have the bug to want to coach, it’s not something you do because you’re bored. Munoz seems perfectly fine doing furniture commercials.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
not if the only team he wanted to coach for hadnt offered him a job
hes such a big bengals guy i dont think he would coach for another team lol…
Maybe that Steelers C that came to vist. Someone that could improve our OL and not talk about nasty nate and how not awful he is
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
New TE Coach
not sure who would be good for this but we really need one
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
I'm not sold on coyle. We made a lot of changes this year for the better. Let's keep that rolling Mikey
njbengalstat - January 16, 2012
Let Coyle leave and hire Rod Woodson as DB coach.
sofakingood - January 16, 2012
this +1
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
Raiders fired him
Raiders take our trash, we don’t take theirs. ;-)
Just kidding, I wouldn’t mind bringing him in.
emeybee - January 16, 2012
Isn't Paul Alexander's contract up?
pemci - January 16, 2012
Get rid of this turd. Hire Dermontti Dawson, a guy who played at the highest level and is respected by players and coaches.
sofakingood - January 16, 2012
I don't think anyone outside Mike Brown likes him....
pemci - January 16, 2012
marvin has that control now...
dermontti is who i would hire then Munoz as the quality control coach
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
Jack Del Rio
I really like the guy if for no other reason than he took on the NFL and it’s asinine licencing policy.
A few years ago, I guess he got tired of coaches showing up for games like they just got out of bed (ahem…New England) and he decided that he was going to actually “dress up” for a game, like they did in the old days, when the coaches graced the sidelines with respect and class.
Anyway, he showed up on the sidelines in a nice suit & tie, but i don’t recall if the NFL fined him because he was wearing something for the game which was not NFL licensed apparel. I think there was a discussion along those lines.
ephram - January 16, 2012
RE:
If memory serves, the suits that he and Mike Nolan wore a few years back were actually endorsed by the NFL and made by Reebok. I don’t know that Del Rio “challenged” the system, he probably brought something to the League’s attention that he and/or Nolan felt were an issue and were the poster children for the idea. It never caught on though.
Anthony Cosenza - January 16, 2012
personally, i don't see the point of the HC wearing a suit
kinda of like the HC of a baseball team wearing a uniform. Coaches don’t play nor do they get involved with front office stuff. So, i think the side line gear works because you still wanna be confortable with a organized team look.
AMAS85 - January 16, 2012
from what i recall
Nolan & Del Rio wanted to wear suits that season, but the NFL said, “heck no. we have a license w/Reebok.”
But then after some grumbling from various outlets, the NFL relented and let them wear suits for that season instead of the Reebok gear.
But I think the NFL only allowed it for that season, and the coaches didn’t bother to fight it with the NFL any further. I know at one time the initial word was that JDR was going to get fined for wearing the suit, but I don’t think that ever actually happened.
ephram - January 16, 2012
I would not mind Jack Del Rio...
His problems at Jax were mostly on the offensive side, they always seem to have a good defense. Am I wrong on that assesment?
pemci - January 16, 2012
Jags finnished 6th in Defense. Bengals finnished 7th. Suggestion sounds like a winner to me.
sofakingood - January 16, 2012
J'ville's defensive rankings
From 2004~2007 they had a very good defense.
But their drafting was pretty lousy, and the offense got worse….which both led to the defense getting worse from 2008~2010
Although they definately got better in 2011.
2011 … 11th
2010 … 27th
2009 … 24th
2008 … 21st
2007 … 10th
2006 … 4th
2005 … 6th
2004 … 7th
ephram - January 16, 2012
Guy had to deal with the colts and manning
x2 a year for a long time.. he should have learned a thing or 2
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
what really hurt their defense was terrible drafts
2011 taking no defensive players until late round 4
2010 reaching for Tyson Alulu at #10 overall in 2010, whe he was projected to fall to the 2nd round
2010 the next 3 players drafted after Alulu were all D-Line but they only combined for 14 tackles and 1 sack in 2011…..ouch!
2009 drafted 2 players (both round 3) and that was it in 9 picks
2008 traded up to draft Derrick Harvey (DE) in round 1, and drafted Quinten Groves in round 2. Neither is w/the team any more.
2007 drafted 3 defensive guys in the first 5 rounds (none are on their team)
round 1 – Reggie Nelson is on the Bengals
round 2 – Justin Durant is on the Lions
round 4 – Brian Smith never made the team
Moral of the story:
He’s a good defensive coach, but i don’t want him anywhere near the draft room come draft day when they are drafting defensive players. And after taking guys like Gabbert & Matt Jones & Reggie Williams with 1st round picks, i don’t want him near the draft room when they pick offensive players either!
ephram - January 16, 2012
+1
pemci - January 16, 2012
Eh...I don't blame him for Gabbert
At the time Gabbert was a legit top 5 prospect…he was on every draft board out there as the 2nd best QB. In retrospect, yeah he shouldn’t have been ranked that highly. But in retrospect, Dalton should have gone in his place.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
cutting their starting QB right before the preseason was
his downfall
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
Yeah that was pretty retarded...
But the fact that no other team even looked at Garrard despite an insane amount of QB injuries throughout the season is pretty telling.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
Yup, however, knowing what we know now of Garrard...
about him needing back surgery, I wonder….
pemci - January 16, 2012
I think at one point maybe Seattle wanted to talk to him?
And it was clear that he would just be a rental or potential backup and he refused to even meet with them.
My guess is he was being such a pain during training camp about having his obvious replacement on the roster that they didn’t want him to be a negative influence on their 21 year old new QB. In the grand scheme of things, that’s probably actually a smart move. Clearly they weren’t going to be winning many games this year anyway. As bad as Gabbert was, imagine if he had had some Donovan McNabb type poisoning the locker room against him the whole time. Gabbert’s only 22. He has a lot of time to improve.
eric nyc - January 16, 2012
+1
There were a lot of rumors that the other players hated Garrard as well.
emeybee - January 16, 2012
Yes, this scares me.
We have drafted so well the past few years, I don’t want anyone coming in here and messing it up. I have high hopes for this team, and the direction it is going, and the foundation can only get stronger with good drafts like we have had. This is not to say I don’t think he could come in here and do a good job.
Ben-GAL - January 16, 2012
How much draft control did he actually have, though?
I’ve seen a lot of Jags fan criticize their front office; I got the impression that he didn’t have a ton of control over their drafts.
Big Sky Bengal - January 16, 2012
That could be true.
If that is the case then maybe he is better than people think in that department.
Ben-GAL - January 16, 2012
The Jags had a great defense under DC Mike Smith
once he left to be HC of the Falcons, the Jags D went into the toilet. They were pretty darn good this year, but the 3 prior years they blew.
indesignkat - January 16, 2012
Wassup with Spaggs?
Del Rio was my first choice,but him and Coyle having history with Marvin worries me
Spaggs could bring something fresh
keithp - January 16, 2012
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