Jeff FitzGerald
During the Bengals' Wednesday press conference, The Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy had an interesting string of Tweets regarding the Bengals coaching staff. We all know that the Bengals are waiting on word from teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts (Zimmer has not interviewed with the Colts at this point) to make the announcement on who they will hire and the Miami Dolphins are interviewing Bengals secondary coach Kevin Coyle about the defensive coordinator job. What we don't know is what they will do with the other coaching positions. Reedy's Tweets may give us some clues.
@joereedy
Joe ReedyEven with Coyle interviewing in Miami, #bengals head coach Marvin Lewis says there is "one other staff opening" not related to Coyle ...
23 minutes ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@joereedy
Joe ReedyLewis did not say what the opening is, but all indicators point to LB coach Jeff FitzGerald's contract not being renewed ... 22 minutes ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@joereedy
Joe ReedyFitzGerald was believed to be gone last year but stayed on for one more season. And no, Jack Del Rio is not coming here as LBs coach 21 minutes ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
2011 was FitzGerald's fourth season as the Bengals' linebackers coach and while the defense found success and free agents Thomas Howard and Manny Lawson played well for the Bengals, middle linebacker Rey Maualuga often struggled. While he played well in some games, he was terrible in others and the Bengals need him to play at the highest level to help move the defense from good status to elite status.
Furthermore, even though outside linebacker Keith Rivers didn't play in 2011 due to a wrist injury suffered before the season started, the first round pick has really never come into his own and produced the way many thought and hoped he would. That could be blamed somewhat on FitzGerald as well.
As we hear more and more that Coyle is the front runner for the Dolphins defensive coordinator job, it's possible that we could see the Bengals bring in a new secondary and linebackers coach. If Zimmer gets hired, you can make that a new defensive coordinator too.
Things could get interesting in the coming months.
0 recs | 56 comments
Oh i hope they take coyle. Clean house baby. New team
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
I gotta ask, Why?
With the exception of even numbered years our D has played well.
Jason Blanton - January 25, 2012
Really? Wow one year since i can remember. Palmer always had to bail them out. If u want talk about the klinger days
That would be another post
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
The only defensive players Palmer has bailed out
are the opposing team’s defensive backs, hitting them in the numbers.
Oregonbengalsfan - January 25, 2012
Trust me guy im not a palmer at all. In 05 playoffs the only reason we were then was because of the of
I want to have a def like shitsburg and balti. When teams c our name on the schedule they crap themselves. Look at our divison. 3rd place gets u to the playoffs
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
you are aware you are talking about 6 years ago, no?
Bengals D has been in the top half the past three years. 09 and 11 in the top ten. it’s certainly not perfect but why clean house when you are on the fringe of an elite D
BeWarned - January 25, 2012
Wow the top half!!! Thats why marvin was brought in. Def coaching
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
lol it took marvin hiring zimmer
before we had anything resembling a Defense
Bengalsfan024 - January 25, 2012
Agree and thats why people r sayin zimmer for Headcoach I as well We give marvin one more year
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
Marvin was hired to be Head Coach not DC
We hired Marvin to coach the whole team, not be a defensive specialist. Anyway the D has ranked 4th, 12th & 7th in the last 3 years. We have one the best coaches in the NFL. And we have one of the better staffs as well. That’s why every year members of our staff are up for promotions to other teams. Zimmer, Coyle & Zampese have been hotly pursued for some time now. There are obstacles to coaching in Cincy. FOr one you are hampered like any small market team is financially. But also, Lewis has had to first change the culture in the locker room and roster. And then it took several more years and is still a work in process changing the culture in the front office, from the HC position. You just can’t set aside that he took over a franchise in one of the deepest ruts ever witnessed in the NFL.
Matt Windle - February 1, 2012
+1
ticalcaldwell - January 25, 2012
Because the LBers we bring in play well enough
But the ones we draft are really developing into anything special.. = New LB coach…
And Jack Del Rio is probly a bronco
Bengalsfan024 - January 25, 2012
+1
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
Man doesnt a certian D coordinator have a son thats a LBer coach?
maybe its the bonus zimmer needs to stay another contract =)
or mike brown getting a hostage (j/k)
Bengalsfan024 - January 25, 2012
Good point
biggie22 - January 25, 2012
do you think?
What would cleaning out the defensive side of the ball do? I’m fine with Fitzgerald going but Coyle and Hayes need to stay here for as long as possible simply for the work our DLine and Secondary put in.
Doc Scratch - January 25, 2012
We have the talent. We been drafting llbers like crazy over the years. Hall and jjoe were great but safties we a joke
These coaches r paid to win and be the best U dont win u get fired. As easy as that. The ball started with Brat. Keep it rollin
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
Interesting, very, very interesting....
pemci - January 25, 2012
Ray Lewis - LB coach for the bengals?
AMAS85 - January 25, 2012
Except, Ray ain't retiring....
pemci - January 25, 2012
i think he will have to think long and hard if he really wants to come back as a player.
that injury seemed to linger a little to long
AMAS85 - January 25, 2012
Yes it did...and will Ed Reed also come back? They
may be going a rebuild on the defense there in Baltimore and would Ray want to go through something like that….
pemci - January 25, 2012
not just BMore
Steelers will start next year 28 million over the cap.. = pay cuts or player cuts. = new faces on the D
Bengalsfan024 - January 25, 2012
wow thats a lot over the cap.... good luck with that. They may need to just cut big ben lol
AMAS85 - January 25, 2012
oh yeah and bens not happy about aarons being fired (forced retired)
Bengalsfan024 - January 25, 2012
I would NOT be disapointed if the let him go
But I’d be even happier if it turned out to be Alexander that they we talking about!!!
biggie22 - January 25, 2012
its not
Alexander agreed to a three-year deal re-up contract in 2010.
palewook - January 25, 2012
Doesn't mean it can't be terminated
Come on Man, I’m trying for wishful thinking here:) Part of Jay Gruden agreeing to extend his deal with the Bengals meant he got to bring in a new o-line coach
biggie22 - January 25, 2012
+1
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
coaches arent like players (where teams get out of paying players by terminating the contract)
if the bengals fire alexander, they will still have to pay him for 2012 and 2013
palewook - January 25, 2012
Hire Munoz as the Quality Control Coach...
Bengalsfan024 - January 25, 2012
jack del rio will get a DC job
if not… he’d make a great LB coach.
palewook - January 25, 2012
The Denver DC job maybe
Bengalsfan024 - January 25, 2012
Who wants a loser
Only Mike Brown. Is not Andy Dalton the worst pick ever? Win 9 is Andy Dalton. Dalton is the brain of the persons who consider the worth of the QB Position! Where is the Fear Factor! Can Dalton Bring Fear! Dalton cant Spin the Ball! Why is Dalton so Weak? Can the Bengals Improve the QB Position is the Question!? Will Dalton Ever Be The ARM that will bring Defenes to their knees? Did Gruden goof? Is Gruden a Coach that is a happen in? My take is that the Bengals want to play for today! Pitt gave up today to build a Future. Hand to mouth is the Pitt Team who went to the Next lEVEL!!!!! What is the missing! Are the Bengals of today .Do they a Team that will do the Ronney Plan?!
Chili Dog - January 25, 2012
Man. It's almost like you're turning into a character.
Cry - January 25, 2012
cincy jungle's own kralnor
palewook - January 25, 2012
he's
gotta be doing this on purpose, just to get the recognition, I have 2 kids, when my youngest was born, the older one got into all kinds of trouble just to get attention, I believe this is Chili’s issue, he needs attention…at least I hope, for his sake.
joeb69 - January 25, 2012
Lets hope. Who doesnt like dalton's Spiral?!!
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
I just skip over these anymore
Oregonbengalsfan - January 25, 2012
Translation:
Who wants a loser?
Only Mike Brown. Isn’t Andy Dalton the worst pick ever? Andy Dalton wins 9 games and everybody loves him. If Dalton is the brains behind the center, where is the fear factor? Can Dalton Bring the Fear to defenses. Dalton doesn’t throw lasers. I don’t understand why he has a weak arm and in the NFL. The questions still remain, can the bengals upgrade the QB position. Will Daltons arm ever pick apart defenses? Or is it Grudens fault? Is Gruden the right coach for Andy’s mentorship?
My take, the bengals want to win now! Pitt knows how to build for the futre. My hat goes off to Pittsburgh organization who understands how to take it to the next level. I wonder what we are missing to with our bengals today to build towards the future. I wonder if Brown will ever follow the Ronney Plan?!
Your welcome everybody!
AMAS85 - January 25, 2012
impressive AMA
didn’t know you spoke chilineese fluently
joeb69 - January 25, 2012
yes, im a quarter Chilineese lol
AMAS85 - January 25, 2012
Lol
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
not sure
I’d admit that online bro, once it’s typed you can’t take it back
joeb69 - January 25, 2012
Obligatory Chilli nonsense
Helmsy - January 25, 2012
cocaine is a hell of a drug
ticalcaldwell - January 25, 2012
+1
Boomer Lion - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Yes hes back!!!!
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
Ive missed u chili
njbengalstat - January 25, 2012
+1
biggie22 - January 25, 2012
Mike Singletary as LB Coach so he can Transform our LB's into Willis THANKS!!
Touhue Cha - January 25, 2012
he's
the Vikings LB coach at the moment
joeb69 - January 25, 2012
can we interview him??
Touhue Cha - January 25, 2012
like Coyle
we can ask permission, but, ultimately up to the Vikings
joeb69 - January 25, 2012
OKAY we can try
Touhue Cha - January 25, 2012
I don't like him.
He irritated most of his players and was a terrible HC. And he didn’t make Willis Willis, that kid was born with those talents. Singletary is just.. a good player. Nothing more. And I didn’t see the Vikings LBers blowing up or anything.
Cry - January 26, 2012
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