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It appears the Bengals are keeping two of their top assistant coaches.
According to Jeremy Rauch of FOX 19, offensive line coach Frank Pollack and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons are expected to remain on staff. Rauch also adds that the fate of assistant coach Hue Jackson has yet to be decided.
Update on Hue Jackson: I’m told he’s meeting with #Bengals front office now, or just met.
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) January 11, 2019
Also told ST coordinator Darrin Simmons and OL coach Frank Pollack are expected to return by multiple sources. @FOX19
Simmons was one of the easiest calls for the Bengals to keep. His units recorded three top-10 finishes from 2012-16 in the special teams’ rankings produced annually by the Dallas Morning News.
Simmons’ units have produced a Pro Bowler in three of the last five seasons. In 2017, veteran long snapper Clark Harris earned his first nod.
This year, safety Clayton Fejedelem was voted a first alternate for special teams, while wide receiver Alex Erickson was voted a third alternate as a returner after the Bengals finished fifth in kickoff return average (24.9 yards per return). The Bengals also finished seventh in punt return average (10.7).
Cincinnati finished ninth in average punt return yards allowed (7.3) but 18th in kickoff return yards allowed (22.7).
As for Pollack, he was brought on to replace Paul Alexander in 2018. While the offensive line still left a lot to be desired, Pollack did an admirable job with a makeshift group that included Alex Redmond and Bobby Hart in the starting lineup, as well as a rookie center in Billy Price.
The Bengals also had issues throughout the year at left tackle with Cordy Glenn battling several injuries. Pollack deserves another chance to get this unit right with what will hopefully be a better group in 2019.