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There’s been a clear theme to the beginning of the Bengals’ search for a new head coach: the thirst for offense is real. Their latest requested interview only proves that point more.
Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, The Bengals have requested to interview Todd Monken, who is the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers.
Bengals have requested permission to interview Bucs OC Todd Monken, per source. No firm date set. He's also interviewing with Jets. Bucs third in total offense in 2018.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 3, 2019
The timing of this request coincides with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels turning down the Bengals’ request for an interview with him. McDaniels would have been a fine candidate, but so would Monken.
Before spending the last three year’s as the Buccaneers’ play caller, Monken spent 23 of his 27 previous coaching years in the college game and eventually worked his way up to become the head coach of Southern Mississippi for three years. His work there lead to him jumping back into the NFL with Tampa Bay, where he’s constructed a top-10 offense in back-to-back seasons with quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Monken is in a similar position to Bill Lazor. He’s an offensive coordinator on a team that’s without a head coach, only Tampa Bay didn’t want to interview Monken for their head coach vacancy like the Bengals did Lazor.
Monken also has an interview set with the Jets and hasn’t accepted the Bengals’ request as of yet, but it’s clear what direction the Bengals want to go in 2019.