Jim McNally Returns

[membengal]

Per a bunch of tweets I just received. He will be consulting.

Sure cant hurt.

[HoosierCat]

We'll see. From Hob's writeup, he'll mostly be watching film. Certainly useful for the upcoming draft, since the desperately need good o-lineman and McNally always had a great eye.

[membengal]

Not sure what you mean by "we'll see". I stated he was coming back as a consultant. What is "we'll see" about that?

[HoosierCat]

We'll see if it makes any difference. It strikes me as a PR move.

Basically, he's been hired to watch film and maybe hang around camp a few days.

For anyone who believes that better coaching is needed on the o-line, this is just window dressing.

[membengal]

It must be your extra-cynical time of the year.

When, if ever, has Mike Brown done anything for window dressing? That's not really his style. He's more the f**koffIdon'tcare type of owner when it comes to PR.

In any event, shulasteak's nemesis seems pumped about it, and references his happiness at being working with his mentor, even if in a consulting capacity. frankly, I don't get the need to mushmouth this.

[Spor_tees]

The can't hurt at all. The guy has an eye for talent and has seemed to find more diamonds in the rough than any guy I've ever heard of. Now if he could only have a kid that could come in and take Paul Alexander's spot.

[HoosierCat]

frankly, I don't get the need to mushmouth this.

There's nothing to mushmouth. McNally's not going to be coaching. He's going to be watching film in Buffalo and making a camp appearance or two.

[membengal]

Which, "can't hurt". Which you for some reason took issue with.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Maybe he can teach Alexander how to coach, scout, draft and develop players...but I doubt it. And yes, I agree it's window dressing, Brown isn't going to fire a guy who deserves it and has been hanging around too long, because, you know, he's "loyal" like that.

As always, I would love to see the amount of lineman Alexander has produced over his entire career here, which I believe is approaching 15 years now, that have gone on to either a Pro Bowl, or have become solid-to-very-good every day starters here or elsewhere after his "tutelage" here. OR, players that fall into any of those categories that were drafted outside of the 1st or high 2nd round. (he didn't draft Willie, who along with Levi, Steinbach, and to a lesser extent, Whit, were "can't miss" types as NFL o-lineman). And Braham was a grizzled veteran before he came back here as well. Who has he developed that's worth a damn at Center since? Cook is mostly garbage.

Again, 5 position players he's responsible for, in addition to a running/blocking game and scheme, the asst head coach, and he has what, Goff, Levi, Steinbach and Whitworth to show for 15 years of coaching 5 positions????

He still hasn't filled or settled the RT position since Willie left, despite multiple draft picks.

I'd like to know anyone in the league with that tenure who has a more absymal, sorry track record than that.

But, I guess they can draft another 1st or 2nd round RB and WR to cover it up again.

[COB]

Agree with everything in Shula's post. The proof is in the job offers he's gotten to go elsewhere. None, at least none that I'm aware of. If you're a good coach in the NFL it's not that hard to move up. Guys do it all the time. Our new OC puts in one season, and he's getting looks as head coaching material.

To paraphrase one of the all-time great sigs on this board, "Game recognize game, and Jim Alexander lookin' kind of weak."

[HoosierCat]

Cook is not garbage, and the numbers at PFF bear that out.

Smith's improvement this year, when he could finally stay on the field, works in Alexander's favor. He was hardly a "can't miss" guy.

Agreed he can't be credited with much on the Whit or Bobbie fronts.

Choosing Livings over Mathis was flat-out stupid and a firing offense IMO.

Collins would be a success story if they'd ever play him. He'll be starting for some other team next season. (Another firing offense IMO.)

[derekshank]

How about Stacy Andrews?

He came to the Bengals with no idea how to play football. After just 4 seasons, Alexander made him look good enough that Philly gave him a mammoth contract, despite having a torn ACL.

Andrews went on to a very lackluster career outside of Cincy... and that speaks favorably to how much Alexander got out of a guy who didn't really know how to play.

[HoosierCat]

How about Stacy Andrews?

He came to the Bengals with no idea how to play football. After just 4 seasons, Alexander made him look good enough that Philly gave him a mammoth contract, despite having a torn ACL.

Andrews went on to a very lackluster career outside of Cincy... and that speaks favorably to how much Alexander got out of a guy who didn't really know how to play.

Stacy is an interesting case, I think. You're right, he was raw raw raw. Played basically nothing in college, was a track & field guy. He was what, a 4th round flyer? And he did start.

OTOH, he wasn't very good. I remember taking endless heat when I supported franchising him (not because he was a franchise player but because they had jack divided by sh*t at RT). And once he left Cincy he was garbage, though how much his injury played into that is an open question.

No doubt that Alexander loved him, tho. And I find myself more inclined to believe Mathis' assertion that Paul plays favorites on he o-line.

In the end, I think Alexander did a decent job with Stacy, I'm just not sure there was a lot to work with there and the injury throws all the calculations to hell.

[Spor_tees]

How about Stacy Andrews?

He came to the Bengals with no idea how to play football. After just 4 seasons, Alexander made him look good enough that Philly gave him a mammoth contract, despite having a torn ACL.

Andrews went on to a very lackluster career outside of Cincy... and that speaks favorably to how much Alexander got out of a guy who didn't really know how to play.

Stacy is an interesting case, I think. You're right, he was raw raw raw. Played basically nothing in college, was a track & field guy. He was what, a 4th round flyer? And he did start.

OTOH, he wasn't very good. I remember taking endless heat when I supported franchising him (not because he was a franchise player but because they had jack divided by sh*t at RT). And once he left Cincy he was garbage, though how much his injury played into that is an open question.

No doubt that Alexander loved him, tho. And I find myself more inclined to believe Mathis' assertion that Paul plays favorites on he o-line.

In the end, I think Alexander did a decent job with Stacy, I'm just not sure there was a lot to work with there and the injury throws all the calculations to hell.

Andrews was an All-American caliber shot putter in college. He had great size, strength, and good foot work. Alexander had a lot to work with. But like the saying goes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.

[Kazkal]

Only if he would replace Alexander.

"

He came to the Bengals with no idea how to play football. After just 4 seasons, Alexander made him look good enough that Philly gave him a mammoth contract, despite having a torn ACL.

"

Philly has made some bad decesions about FA,Alexander said one best tackles in football when we franchised him Really???

"Choosing Livings over Mathis was flat-out stupid and a firing offense IMO."

That move always Irked me Mathis was actually top 5 or 6 Guards when he started for us.

[ArmyBengal]

They took Smith with a top 10 pick. I hardly think they were relying on Alexander to make him the "serviceable" RT he has become today. There was an expectation he was going to be an absolute monster that would get his act together sooner rather than later and injury derailed that.

People forget that a month or two before the combine and the f*cking goatrope that happened at there that Smith was widely considered as being the top pick in the draft that season. I simply don't think the Bengals were hoping against hope that Alexander was NEEDED to make him better.

I would love to see Alexander shown the door...

[Scottishbengal]

Basically, he's been hired to watch film and maybe hang around camp a few days.

For how long have the Bengals had the leanest scouting in the League?? Anything that can help the cause I'm good with.

[derekshank]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/02/23/ranking-the-2011-offensive-lines-part-2/

For anyone interested... PFF ranked the Bengals O-Line at 13th in the NFL overall. That's 6th in the NFL is pass blocking, 18th in run blocking, and 30th in penalties.

Notes for those who don't want to click:

- Whit struggled in run blocking after a mid-season knee injury... but remained one of the best pass-blocking LTs in the NFL (different article... but Andre was also a top 20 pass blocking OT).

- Boling/McGlynn struggled when asked to fill Bobbie Williams shoes.

- Livings played well at times... but was mostly garbage.

My take: The Bengals are pretty set at OT and C. Upgrade both OG positions (one in FA, one in the draft), and the Bengals instantly have a top-10 O-Line.

[Sea Ray]

My take: The Bengals are pretty set at OT and C. Upgrade both OG positions (one in FA, one in the draft), and the Bengals instantly have a top-10 O-Line.

I agree with you 100%. 18th in run blocking doesn't cut it. I'd also argue that Dalton had to get rid of the ball quickly often. Does the pass blocking take into account time in the pocket? That's a key stat. Tom Brady often has all kinds of time in the pocket

[derekshank]

Does the pass blocking take into account time in the pocket? That's a key stat.

Well. Here is how they determine an individual player's pass blocking efficiency:

We weigh hits and hurries as worth 75% of sacks, add the three forms of pressure up, divide it by the number of times they pass blocked at a certain position and you’re left with your PBE number. For the mathematically inclined, it looks a little like this:

(1– ((Sacks + (0.75*(Hits + Hurries))/ Pass Blocking Snaps))*100 = PBE Rating

In other words... if Livings whiffed on a block and Dalton had to throw it with a man in his face... that negatively effects his rating, almost as much as a sack does.

According to their article... they took how each individual lineman graded out in three different categories: pass blocking, run blocking (including screen blocking) and penalties. They added each team's linemen scores together... and the result is the list you see.