Is This The Year Lou Anarumo Coaches Himself Into An HC Job?
Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Cincinnati Bengals had one of the most porous defenses in the NFL in 2023. They gave up the second-most total yards in the NFL (6368), the fifth-most passing yards (4223), the seventh-most rushing yards (2145), the second-most 20-plus-yard passing plays (65), and the third-most 20-plus-yard rushing plays (17). The only thing you can say to that is: Woof.
Despite the struggles, the Bengals’ defensive coordinator is still among the most respected in the NFL.
"Tony Romo said on the CBS broadcast, 'Lou Anarumo, you are gonna be a head coach next year'…and he's right. He probably should have been one this year. That's okay. The D is clicking and @Bengals fans are just fine with him in Cincinnati. "
– @PSchrags pic.twitter.com/FOdqsREyX6— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) October 30, 2023
Lou Anarumo has been a frequent name brought up by NFL circles as a head coaching candidate whenever an opening appears. For good reason, considering the Bengals’ defense improved in each of his first four seasons as defensive coordinator (2019-2022). When his offensive counterpart Brian Callahan left Cincinnati to get the head gig in Tennessee, there were several rumors that Anarumo could be on his way to a promotion as well, as well.
In fact, in the offseason prior, Amarumo was considered a prime candidate to become the Arizona Cardinals head coach; the job was ultimately given to Jonathan Gannon, whose previous gig was impersonating Murr from “Impractical Jokers.”
But despite his status as a perennial head coaching candidate over the last two seasons, he’s currently tied with Kansas City’s Steve Spagnuolo for being the NFL’s longest-tenured defensive coordinator. Now entering his sixth season as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator, Anarumo’s sole focus is putting his team’s struggles from 2023 behind him.
“We are well aware,” Anarumo said. “These are the things that caused us to be inconsistent last year. It starts with that, the explosive plays and chunk plays you just can’t give up. Letting everybody see it, let everybody know. This is why. Can we play it better? Can we adjust something from a scheme standpoint? We put all those things together, the players were shown it and we came out of the spring feeling good about where we are at.”
Many of the defensive struggles were no fault of Anarumo’s, but rather due to a lot of hard luck. D.J. Reader went down with a quad injury late in the year. Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell, the leaders of the secondary, departed for other teams in free agency. Perhaps worst of all, this guy made the roster:
Nothing personal against him as a man, but Nick Scott has been such an unbelievably awful signing.
— Michael (@FloridaBengals) November 13, 2023
On the defensive line, Cincinnati lost Reader, the run-stuffing defensive tackle, to free agency. To make up for Reader’s departure, they signed Sheldon Rankins and drafted Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson. While Rankins is more adept as a pass rusher, Jenkins and Jackson are better known for their ability to stop the run.
One of the most important answers the Bengals need to figure out this summer is how ready Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson (currently dealing with an injury) are to contribute as run defenders.
Where the Bengals are at at nose tackle. pic.twitter.com/6KeuxQmcKI
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) August 8, 2024
In the secondary, Nick Scott and Dax Hill were largely inconsistent in their roles as starters. Communication was a large issue in the secondary, and with the communication issues came the Bengals allowing the most chunk yardage plays in the NFL in 2023.
“We give up big plays,” Anarumo said. “That’s never been a trademark of us, but it is for this year. Youth has something to do with it, but it’s not the only thing. We’ve got to get it fixed for sure.”
The Bengals went about fixing their safety issues this offseason. Hill was moved to a cornerback role, they brought back Vonn Bell, poached Geno Stone from the Baltimore Ravens, and Scott signed with the Panthers, who are basically the NFL’s equivalent of “Last Chance U.”
With players new and old joining Anarumo’s secondary, he’s already noticed a difference.
Lou Anarumo on Bell and Stone inserted as veteran safeties this camp: “Communication has improved 10-fold.” pic.twitter.com/4E9g84VbSq
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) July 30, 2024
He even spoke of the impact that the veteran safeties have had on second-year player (and potential starter) Jordan Battle.
“The best thing that happened to Jordan Battle was Vonn Bell and Geno Stone,” Anarumo said. “You have two guys that have been through everything in the league. They are both effective. They both go about their jobs the right way. For any young player it’s a great road map of what to do and not to do. I’m happy for him, I’m happy we brought these two guys in because it will affect his career in a positive way going forward.”
Cincinnati’s ineffective defense was likely a catalyst in Anarumo not landing a head coaching job this past offseason. However, many significant improvements were made in areas of weakness, which should come with better results. If that comes to fruition and makes Cincinnati’s defense a force to be reckoned with, then the highly respected Anarumo may finally land that head coaching gig.
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