Marvez: candidates for first-year head coaches.

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 11, 2008 11:00 PM EST in Analysis

For the sake of argument (if Marvin Lewis is fired), Alex Marvez lists his first-year head coaching candidates -- the most likely scenario the Bengals follow because of obvious reasons (uh-hum, cheap). They are:

Eagles QB Coach Pat Shurmur
Bucs secondary coach Reheem Morris
Dolphins assistant head coach/secondary coach Todd Bowles
Ravens QB coach Hue Jackson.

Yep, our old "head-locked-by-scrawny-Chad-Johnson" buddy, Jackson. The point is raised after the surprising success of first-year coaches John Harbaugh (Ravens), Mike Smith (Falcons), Tony Sparano (Dolphins) and Jim Zorn (Redskins).

I'm not suggesting anything here, fellas. But let's point some things out. Some wonder if he had taken Chad Johnson down a notch early in his tenure, some of the trivial off-season crap we saw of him earlier this year (maybe) could have been avoided. In other words, taking control immediately (ala Mike Singletary). There's a guerilla-like presence in the room that Lewis might have lost favor with Mike Brown after going 8-17 since 2007 -- aka, Chris Henry re-signing. Then again, who's Mike Brown to lose favor to anyone for poor performances? Some (mostly non-fans that have quick one-sentence points to make) even point to Lewis for the questionable acquisition of character-lacking players. The Bengals have one winning season while in his sixth season.

At the same time, I believe that Lewis is in a no-win scenario. He's not getting the players he wants, trumped by the Henry signing -- is getting trumped in the draft room and in the free agency wars? He inherited an offensive coordinator that's stale, outdated, predictable and, well, just terrible. There's little "youth movement" while the team hangs onto aging players that greatly suffers the salary cap (and they did get rid of aging players in Willie Anderson, Rudi Johnson and Dexter Jackson).

I can't be certain that someone else will run the ship better than Lewis. I can't be certain that the Bengals will find someone that will improve the team. However, I'm certain that firing Lewis is, in fact, no solution at all. It's opening the door for another major front office decision and that's the biggest problem of all.

(sigh) To be a Bengals fan.

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Comments

I hate to say it, because I used to think the world of him, but Marvin Lewis might be an overrated coach. Just like Brian Billick got the most supremely talented offensive players to win his “offensive guru” title, Marvin Lewis had one of the most ridiculous collections of defensive talent in Baltimore to earn his name. He could call just about whatever he wanted with that lineup. He left the Ravens to coach the Redskins in 2002, and while the Ravens defense got much worse, that might have more to do with losing their entire roster to turnover. The defense was again excellent in 2003. The Redskins Marvin Lewis went to coach went from 10th to 5th in yards but from 13th to 21st in points allowed. When he left, however, the Redskins defense absolutely sucked in 2003. But, he’s had plenty of time to build a defense with the Bengals, and never has. However, neither could Dick LeBeau so maybe I’m just full of crap.

Out of curiousity, what do you know about Marcus Maxwell. I read he was last sighted as a Bengal and now he just signed with the Ravens.

by math_geek on Nov 12, 2008 12:27 AM EST reply actions

Overrated?

I don’t think he’s overrated…I just think Marvin has been presented with the Kobyashi Maru of circumstances and it just hasn’t been working. I agree that the mere presence of Marvin hasn’t been the answer, but firing him wouldn’t be, either…and just about anything that results in a major decision by the front office isn’t good.

We finally got a defensive coordinator who seems to be improving that side of the ball in a substantive manner (there was a brief “honeymoon” period with Chuck, what with all the interceptions that year, but we see how that worked out long-term) so let’s look on the offensive side and perhaps see if bringing Hue back, not as head coach but as a coordinator, might provide another spark next season.

by TheWalrus1971 on Nov 12, 2008 10:05 AM EST reply actions

Overrated?

Not to crash your discussion here but I was just doing some advance scouting and stumbled on this. I think Marvin is a great coach. Whether he is a great head coach or not is TBD. It would appear from an outsiders perspective that Cincy wasn’t a good fit. That leaves unresolved whether Marvin is one of those great coordinators who, for whatever reason, can not function effectively at the head coaching level (see – Richie Petibon, Rich Kotite, Buddy Ryan – okay I’m dating myself here – Wade Philips, Greg Williams, Romeo Cranell – and the list goes on). At this point he has been undermined by management and that has likely left him with much less credibility in the locker room. That probably means it is time to move on.

I’m curious though, the hip name for the next big first year head coach in the league these days seems to be Steve Spagnolo (D-Coordinator, Giants). Any reason he wasn’t on your list?

by Wilbert Montgomery on Nov 13, 2008 7:55 AM EST reply actions