Al Golden is thrilled to return to the NFL and to Cincinnati, but there won’t be any honeymoon phase, as the Bengals’ new defensive coordinator intends to dive right into his new position.
To play quickly during the season, you must challenge yourself in the offseason. “The OTAs and minicamps will be essential,” Golden stated. “I’m a strong proponent of not arriving on Tuesday and producing something.” “Instead, drawing from the reservoir.”
Golden has a significant amount of work to do, and he clearly recognizes this reality. Cincinnati’s defense struggled last season, preventing the team from achieving its full potential or making it to the postseason.
That’s the reason Lou Anarumo was dismissed after six seasons, and why Golden was hired. The Bengals are clearly in win-now mode with quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense performing at an exceptional level, thus the pressure will be on Golden right away. Zac Taylor, also, because he chose Golden himself.
Al Golden intends to unleash the ‘BEST’ from Cincinnati’s defense.
What exactly will Golden implement to improve Cincinnati’s defense? Permit him to clarify using an acronym.
“It begins with the abbreviation BEST, correct?” Golden mentioned this through the Bengals. “First is Ball disruption.” Value that highly. Our top priority is to back up our quarterback, and some might wonder what that entails. We need to obtain the ball. That is our top priority. Provide him with chances.
E stands for Effort. Complete. And afterwards, situational experts. Simply excelling in the red zone, performing exceptionally on third down, and grasping the execution of a two-minute drill. “Next, Team Tackling.”
It may be a somewhat awkward acronym, but the essential ideas are present: Create turnovers, exert the necessary effort, play intelligent situational football, and complete plays by tackling. It looks impressive in theory, and if the Bengals can truly implement the acronym during games, the team may significantly advance in 2025.
Bringing in a new leader could greatly improve the defense. At least, that’s the expectation. However, the Bengals will also have to improve the roster. Cincinnati is largely anticipated to select a defender with its first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and a significant portion of the team’s cap space in free agency is expected to be allocated to defense. The unit requires enhancements at every level, from the defensive line to the linebackers to the secondary.
The Bengals will require some of the younger players on the team to rise to the occasion and prove themselves as formidable defenders. Players such as Myles Murphy, Kris Jenkins Jr., and Maema Njongmeta may all have more chances to shine under Golden.
We’ll need to wait some time to observe how the product performs on the field; however, this offseason is crucial in Cincinnati for enhancing the defense with a new coordinator after several years.
