When Will Zac Taylor Bring the Accountability?
Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
This week, the Cincinnati Bengals faced scrutiny for being involved in a back-and-forth game that ultimately ended up not going the Bengals’ way. Going into the week, the team thought that the game’s competitive nature would give the team a fiery edge; rather, it did nothing to improve the team’s morale.
But enough about ping pong. Let’s get to the defense.
The Bengals’ defense has been a disaster in 2024. Only the Carolina Panthers have allowed more points. Only the Atlanta Falcons have totaled fewer sacks. Despite what Shannon Sharpe will tell you, they have been the primary reason for a season that has gone horribly awry. They got burned again, this time by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 44-38 loss.
The Bengals lead the NFL with 30.3 points per game against teams .500 or better this season.
They are 0-7 in those games. https://t.co/Iwo4717rsI
— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) December 1, 2024
But as he’s done after each of Cincinnati’s eight (and counting) losses, instead of holding his defense accountable, coach Zac Taylor commended their effort and gave reporters another helping of “We’ve got to find ways.”
“I don’t question the effort,” Taylor said. “We’ve just got to get guys on the ground. There were great examples at times of guys hitting and making tackles.”
In fairness to Taylor, he did say that his team’s tackling and consistency weren’t good enough. The team had 12 missed tackles, which accounted for exactly one-sixth of the missed tackles that they’ve accumulated all season. That was a clear issue on Sunday, unless you ask Germaine Pratt.
“Missed tackles? Not that much. (Russell Wilson) just got the ball out quick.” Germaine Pratt on Bengals tacking in a game that featured 514 yards of Pittsburgh offense. pic.twitter.com/cnWavsErlR
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 1, 2024
It wasn’t just missed tackles, either; Cincinnati was uncharacteristically sloppy when it came to penalties. The Bengals got flagged a total of 13 times yesterday (seven coming on defense) — far and away a season-high for the team. Together, the hyphenated last name duo of Akeem Davis-Gaither and Cam Taylor-Britt were responsible for five of them.
Akeem Davis-Gaither committing the *most* pass interference pic.twitter.com/S5DixbytC5
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 1, 2024
But even after all that, Taylor still professes belief in his players and an emphasis on not breaking the positive culture and mindset of the team. He repeatedly said the team can turn the season around and hit a winning streak. He’s attempted to put such notions as “We can still turn this thing around” and “We are still a playoff team” into the ether.
However, ZT’s comment about his players’ effort plays into his beloved weekly tradition of finding the good in a season that is all but loss. Every week, press conferences seem to be a rinse and repeat of “We’ve got to be better,” while he vaguely states where the team is struggling.
Lou Anarumo, on the other hand, held himself fully accountable.
“All of this starts and ends with me,” Anarumo said. “How we play is certainly my responsibility. The players have done a fantastic job of preparing, practicing with energy, [giving] us our best. Proud of the way we’ve gone about that. I need to do a better job of making sure it shows up on Sundays.”
It’s been a frustrating year, to say the least. Watching Taylor simply hope for the best in each and every press conference instead of channeling his inner Dennis Green has seemed to result in a despondent and hopeless team, at least in 2024.
The coaching staff has a responsibility to hold both the players and themselves accountable and change how they go about things. While Taylor commends their effort, the players know that tough conversations need to be had.
“It’s definitely necessary,” Davis-Gaither said. “If guys want to survive in this league, if you want to be successful, they’ve got to be able to have that tough skin… If we want to be successful as a defense, guys have got to understand that you’re going to be told things you don’t like. That’s just a part of life.”
A coach’s responsibility to be the leader amongst leaders and lead players on the correct path. However, Taylor has placed more of an emphasis on patting players on the back and being largely non-confrontational towards a defense that allowed 38 points to a Steelers offense that has won two games this season without scoring a single touchdown. Cincinnati’s offense is as good as it’s been in the Joe Burrow era, but the defense has put pressure on the offense to score on every possession just to give the team a chance to win.
Frustration with the coaching staff has escalated amidst the Bengals’ second three-game losing streak of the season. Players and fans alike have made it clear that something needs to change and people need to be held accountable. It begins with the coaching staff having tough but necessary conversations with its players.
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