Jay Gruden: 10 Ways He Will Improve the Cincinnati Bengals' Offense
After a disappointing 2010 NFL football season, the Cincinnati Bengals are making moves once again.
Just one day after firing longtime offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, the Bengals called on Jay Gruden to take over the offensive coaching duties in Cincinnati.
Gruden, who is the younger brother of current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, was an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008 while his brother was the head coach. He has spent the past two years serving as a head coach in the United Football League, or better known as the UFL.
The bottom line here is that the Bengals have been an underachieving franchise for the past 20 years and they needed to get a fresh start somewhere. Hopefully, for their sake, hiring Gruden to take over this offense is just the spark that this team needs.
Let's take an inside look at this hire and break down 10 different ways that the hiring of Gruden will help improve the Bengals' offense in 2011.
10. Focus on Building the Offensive Line
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Gruden is an offensive-minded coach who knows exactly what it takes to be successful on the offensive end. He is well aware that if you want to have a successful running game and the time to stand in the pocket and make good throws, you need a good, strong offensive line.
The Bengals have good skill positions on offense, that is no secret. With guys like Cedric Benson, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, this team is loaded with offensive firepower that could break out at any given moment. But if Benson is going to get back to his old form, and if Owens and Ochocinco are going to make big plays in the passing game, you have to focus on building the line.
Who knows if Carson Palmer is going to be back in 2011? If not, and the Bengals decide to bring in a young, new quarterback, it needs to be someone who can feel comfortable being put in that position.
Gruden knows that a successful offense starts and ends with a good offensive line and he will do whatever he can to address that issue.
9. New Blood Is Good Blood
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Well, this very well could be the most creepy headline of all time, but when you look at it from a football coaching standpoint, it really is the truth.
The Bengals have not been a good football team over the past two decades. This group of players has talent, but the results just weren't showing up on Sundays. Therefore, they needed to make a change and get some new coaching pieces in there.
Gruden is a guy who has had success as both a player and coach. He clearly knows what he is doing and has a vision of where he believes this offense can be. Now the only question is, when will we see the results on the field?
8. Build Through the Draft
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The Cincinnati Bengals have the No. 4 pick in this April's NFL draft, and all signs point to them taking one of the many dominant defensive linemen with that pick.
But, the Bengals also have a top pick in the second round, which very well could be used on an offensive tackle, a second running back, or maybe even a quarterback if any of the good ones happen to slip. Chances are that if the Bengals do go defense with that first round pick, Gruden will try to convince the organization to go offense with that second round selection.
The best thing for a team that is in rebuilding mode is to bring in young pieces and build through the NFL draft. This is a pretty deep class coming out, so chances are that Gruden will push to get a guy who can make an impact right away.
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7. Get Young Players More Involved
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With the lack of success that the Bengals have had over the past couple of years has come some nice, young players that they have selected through the draft.
Guys like Jermaine Gresham, Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby are all young players who have not even began to touch the surface on how good they can be in this league. Gresham was the best tight end in college football before he suffered an injury that forced him to sit out his senior season. He showed signs of greatness last year, but the Bengals did not utilize his talents as much as they should have. Both Shipley and Cosby were talented receivers out of Texas who both have good hands and elite speed. They were also held back at times in 2010 because of the Bengals' inconsistency on the offensive end.
When Gruden took this position, you can bet any amount of money that he knew about these guys and had some ideas floating around in his head that will get them more involved in the offensive system. If that can happen, look out for the Bengals' offense in 2011.
6. Re-Sign Terrell Owens
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We all know that with Owens comes a whole lot of baggage. But when you are a struggling team that fails to find any type of consistency on the offensive end, you need to surround your quarterback with as many playmakers as possible.
T.O. is getting up there in age, but he still managed to haul in 72 catches for just under 1,000 yards in 2010. He led the team with nine touchdown receptions, and when you look at those stats compared to other NFL receivers, those are some darn good numbers for the 37-year-old wideout.
It has yet to be determined which way Gruden swings on the idea of re-signing Owens. But if he wants to create a high-powered offense in 2011, he will make sure it is a top priority.
5. He Is a Great Quarterback Mentor
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For those of you who do not know Gruden's background well, he was a former quarterback at Louisville, throwing for more than 7,000 yards and 44 touchdowns from 1985 to 1988. He also played quarterback in the AFL, leading the Tampa Bay Storm to four titles between 1991 and 1996. In fact, during the AFL's 20th anniversary ceremony, Gruden was named No. 4 on the AFL's list of its top 20 greatest players.
If the Bengals do make the move to get rid of Carson Palmer and bring in a young signal caller, nothing is better for the development of a young quarterback than to work firsthand with a guy who played quarterback himself.
Gruden's presence should instantly help out the Bengals quarterback situation, whoever they decide to go with at that position.
4. Trade Carson Palmer
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Although this isn't a decision that is going to be solely made by Gruden himself, he will have an influence, and all signs point to the Bengals moving on from Palmer.
Palmer has all the skills and intangibles to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. He had some great years with Cincinnati and could very well have some more good years ahead of him, but it needs to be with another organization.
What's best for the Bengals right now is to go with a quarterback through a trade or free agency. They might also look at drafting one in the second round and taking time to groom him with a veteran option they can bring in this season. Either way, pack your bags Carson, and don't let the door hit you on your way out.
3. It's All in the Family
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Gruden comes from a football family and is the brother of former Tampa Bay coach John Gruden.
There have been the Ryan brothers, Rex and Rob. There are the Harbaugh brothers in Jim and John. And now, the next Gruden brother is attempting to make a name for himself as a successful NFL coach.
When you have the type of bloodline that Jay does, chances are he knows his stuff and he has the tools to be successful in his new position as the Bengals' offensive coordinator. In 11 seasons as an NFL head coach, John posted a record of 95-81.
If Jay can post that type of winning percentage during his time as an offensive coordinator, he very well might be following in his brothers footsteps and get a head coaching gig in no time.
2. Bring Back the Run Game
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The Bengals had one of their best seasons in franchise history in 2009 when they finished with a 10-6 record and clinched an AFC playoff birth.
One of the primary reasons that the Bengals had so much success during that season was because they dedicated themselves to a successful ground game. Starting running back Cedric Benson rushed for a career-high 1,251 yards to go along with six rushing touchdowns. He was the staple in the Bengals' offense, which put up huge numbers throughout the year.
This past season, the Bengals got away from the run, which in return, hurt their record on the year. A lot of that has to do with the fact that they were playing from behind so often, but that can not be the case in 2011.
Gruden knows how to run a successful offense and he knows that you have to have balance, which starts with establishing the run game. Look for Gruden and the Bengals to focus more on the run in 2011.
1. He Is a Winner
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It might not have all been in the NFL, but Jay Gruden has had success coaching football, and plenty of it at that.
As an AFL head coach, Gruden posted a record of 93–61, including an 11–7 mark in the playoffs. From 2002 to 2008 he served as an offensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Bucs, where the team posted a 57-55 record, including winning Super Bowl XXXVII in his first season coaching the organization.
Not only did Gruden get it done as a coach, but he also posted a winning record during his playing years. As a senior quarterback at Louisville, he led the Cardinals to an 8-3 mark. He then went on to play in the AFL, where he won four Arena Bowl titles between 1991-1996.
The Bengals need to get back to winning football games, and with the resume that Gruden brings with him into Cincinnati, they look to be well on their way.
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