Al Golden: What the Bengals are getting in their new LBs coach

The Cincinnati Bengals brought on new linebackers coach Al Golden this week, replacing Tem Lukabu.

Lukabu left to be the defensive coordinator at Boston College, leaving a vacancy. In steps Golden, the former Temple and Miami (Fla.) head coach who has spent time recently in the NFL on both sides of the ball.

It’s a curious resume, so we reached out to Jeff Risdon, managing editor of Lions Wire, for the inside scoop:

Al Golden spent four seasons with the Lions. The first two of those were spent as the TE coach, then he moved to LBs when Matt Patricia took over as head coach. It’s an odd move to go from offense to defense in the same organization and Golden’s mixed bag of outcomes reflects that.

At LB coach, his primary job was to develop former 1st-rounder Jarrad Davis and integrate the corps around him. Davis is a great athlete with poor instincts, and Golden probably shouldn’t be held accountable for Davis crashing the wrong gap or overrunning his contain responsibility. But most fans still wanted Golden to do more.

Golden’s coaching style is less animated than what fans might remember from his days as a college head coach. He did help guys like Christian Jones and Devon Kennard improve, notably as pass rushers. Rookie LB Jahlani Tavai also progressed well before getting injured.

Golden will now find himself tasked with grooming rookie Germaine Pratt. Otherwise, he’ll oversee a unit that could undergo massive overhaul this offseason pending free-agent decisions on guys like Nick Vigil, as well as potential additions via free agency and the draft.

Thanks to Risdon for the deep dive!