Golden. Al Golden. Rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight may soon be using that name for the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator.
Knight was asked about his defensive coordinator and had quite the comparison for him: legendary book and movie character James Bond. “He’s a calm, cool, and collected James Bond-type of guy,” Knight told Bengals’ radio voice Dan Hoard. “A silent assassin. I love him.”
Now alongside Logan Wilson in the middle of the defense, Knight is already set for a key role on the Bengals‘ defense. And if there’s a defensive coach that can help bring out the best in young players and develop them, it’s Golden, who did just that at Notre Dame, making them one of the better defenses in the nation. Golden is now tasked with doing so with the host of young players on the Bengals’ defense at all three levels.
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Golden has been quiet and laid back, perhaps keeping himself and the Bengals’ defense under the radar. There’s plenty of questions, no doubt, but Golden is working behind the scenes to get this unit back to a respectable position.
Golden can consider opposing offenses Mads Mikkelsen and this season as the story of Casino Royale.
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