We’re through the midway point of the season. It’s time to starting thinking about the future.
The Cincinnati Bengals, along with the other 31 teams in the NFL, are through the season’s midway point. The playoff picture, at least for most teams, is beginning to become clear, and many analysts are looking to the future.
Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr compiled a comprehensive piece in which he ranked potential head coach hires for this coming offseason. He made lists of offensive and defensive coaches and Bengals rookie offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher made Orr’s top-27 best potential head coach hires.
“We put Dan Pitcher on the radar list last year, noting that he would eventually take the reins from Bengals OC Brian Callahan if Callahan were to land a head coaching job,” he wrote. “Pitcher, in his first year as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator, is leading a unit that has top-10 rankings in points, yards, and touchdowns.”
The Bengals’ struggles through the first half of the season, which led to a 4-6 record, didn’t have much to do with the offense. Joe Burrow and company have scored 270 points so far this season, which is third most in the AFC, behind the Ravens and Bills. Unfortunately, Lou Anarumo’s defense has allowed 262 points, the second most in the conference, only ahead of the Jaguars.
If the Bengals are able to salvage something from the disastrous start to the season, it will have to be Pitcher, Burrow, and the offense that puts the team on their shoulders to lead the way. If that happens, Pitcher’s stay in Cincinnati as coordinator would be pretty short.