As Time Passes, Cincinnati may opt for Experience Over Promise at DC

With more and more candidates turning down the Bengals defensive coordinator position, Cincinnati may be forced to choose actual defensive coordinator experience over potential.

Jack Del Rio. Todd Grantham. Dom Capers.

Each day that passes into February, it seems the number of candidates who turn down the chance to become the next defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals grows. Understandably, many candidates have concerns about joining a staff headed by a thirty-five-year-old, as well as inheriting a defense that was one of the leagues worst a season ago.

There seem really to be only a few candidates left in the running. Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant and former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel are the two front-runners to land the job after the recent round of rejections.

While Pleasant obviously comes in with a cleaner slate, as well as knowing Zac Taylor from coaching together in Los Angeles, I would not be surprised to see Cincinnati opt for somebody who has defensive coordinator experience. There will be enough “firsts” this year already for Cincinnati’s coaching staff, adding another rookie to the coaching staff is something that the team probably isn’t considering.

However, Cincinnati may also decide that Pleasant should be given a chance to prove his worth in the same way that Taylor was given his shot. Unfortunately, owner and general manager Mike Brown has proven to be amongst the leagues most risk-averse and likely would prefer the candidate with the most experience. While I hope that Cincinnati opts for taking a risk and potentially finding another gem amongst the coaching carousel of 2019, I believe that the team’s history, as well as its leadership, point in another direction.

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