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While most fans are ecstatic to be in the post-Marvin Lewis era, some have been critical of their top choice Zac Taylor.
Lewis has been the safe option for Mike Brown’s team for years, but Bengals fans are sick of mediocrity, and Brown got the message. In order to have a break through, they have to take risks. Taylor is the pinnacle of risks, whereas with some other candidates come with more seasoned experiences.
The Los Angeles Rams’ previous head coach was a man associated so much with mediocrity, that many have dubbed August 8th (8-8) as Jeff Fisher day. Replacing him with McVay changed all that overnight for the Rams and the Bengals are hoping that the McVay-disciple, Taylor, does the same for them.
But McVay has not reached the promised land yet. The true gold standard (at least for the next few weeks) of modern head coach hirings has to be Doug Pederson. Pederson was not a popular hire at the time which just goes to show, we really don’t know. Without being in the room, it is difficult to see what assistant coaches do and who can translate best to a head coaching position.
If you are angry with the potential hire of Zac Taylor, take a look at these reactions to the hiring of Doug Pederson less than two years before he would bring a Lombardi trophy to Philadelphia.
My first impression of Doug Pederson is I wonder who the Eagles will hire as head coach in 2017.
— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) January 20, 2016
Eagles fans reaction to Doug Pederson being named the next head coach:https://t.co/GAl0sEZ0Jb
— Life of a Philly Fan (@PhillyFanLife) January 14, 2016
I have no take. I wish it was someone more exciting but it is what it is. Hope it works.
— Kyle (@IgglesNest) January 14, 2016
What if I told you that Doug Pederson would be the head coach for 9 games before Donovan McNabb took over? You down with that?
— Pat Gallen (@PatGallenCBS3) January 14, 2016
So glad the Eagles interviewed every possible candidate before picking the guy no one else had any interest in. #Pederson
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) January 14, 2016
“ESPN ranks Doug Pederson as NFL’s worst coaching hire” (January 2016)https://t.co/92f9O5SN6U pic.twitter.com/F2lVddApdI
— Freezing Cold Takes (@OldTakesExposed) January 17, 2018
A year later, McVay was hired by the Rams and got the same reception as Pederson did. Just read the thread of this tweet:
BREAKING: Rams announce that they have hired Sean McVay as head coach pic.twitter.com/Fm4yb56FeW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2017
Future outlooks of head coaches are even harder to predict than draft picks. Most people can decipher whether or not a player is good at football, but they just see the results of a coaches work and don’t know the intricacies of how it came to pass, or the full responsibilities of assistant coaches. It’s not a slight, it’s simply the truth.
You’re welcome to feel skeptical about the idea of making Zac Taylor the Bengals’ next head coach, but be prepared to have your receipts be put on display if you’re skepticism is misplaced.
Predicting the future is hard, predicting the future of head coaches is even harder.