It’s Time For Lou Anamaro To Reward the Bengals’ Faith In Him
Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Lou Anarumo isn’t a household name but Cincinnati Bengals fans not only know him, but have all eyes on him entering this season. Anarumo was hired as the defensive coordinator in 2019 when Zac Taylor was named the head coach. He faced a tough task, inheriting a defense that was dead last in yards surrendered and 30th in points allowed. It was also the first time he was a full-time defensive coordinator, with his only other experience in the position coming in 2015 on an interim basis with the Miami Dolphins.
The defense showed slight improvement during his first two seasons, but they were still among the worst in the NFL. They finished near the bottom in just about every major statistic and struggled in key moments. That’s why Jay Morrison of The Athletic says he was on the hot seat in 2021 — and most coaches would have let him go. Taylor wasn’t like most coaches, however, as he stayed loyal to Anarumo, whom he believed had the makings of an excellent coach.
“It seemed pretty clear most of the staff wouldn’t survive another season with double-digit losses. That meant if Taylor wanted to keep his job beyond 2021, he needed to either bring in a new defensive coordinator or have as much confidence in Anarumo as he did in himself.” — Morrison, The Athletic
The Bengals’ defense made huge strides, rewarding Taylor for his patience. They improved from 26th in yards surrendered to 18th. They also improved to 17th in scoring defense. These stats didn’t put them in the elite category, but with Joe Burrow leading the offense, they don’t have to be the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. They just have to be competent, which is what they were. They were also confident, which was evidenced by their performance in the postseason.
Cincinnati held the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans under 20 points in the first two rounds of the playoffs. They then went into Arrowhead Stadium and fought back from a 21-10 deficit. Anarumo devised a second-half plan that limited Patrick Mahomes and the explosive Kansas City Chiefs offense to just three points in the second half. Their gutsy effort gave Burrow the opening to tie the game and upset the home team in overtime.
They fell short in the Super Bowl, 23-20 but the defense again gave them a chance. They sacked Matthew Stafford twice and intercepted two passes. However, the offense was 3-of-14 on third-down conversions and 1-of-3 on fourth downs, ultimately leading to the loss.
The tone surrounding Anarumo changed following that season. He entered 2022 with more confidence than ever and it didn’t hurt that they added Trey Hendrickson to their defensive line. A consistent pass-rusher led to their best finish since 2015 when they went 12-4 thanks in large part to a defense that was second in scoring. It’s no coincidence they again found themselves in the AFC Championship Game after holding the Ravens to 17 points and the Buffalo Bills to just 10. Their luck ran out in the re-match with the Chiefs, who pulled off a 23-20 victory. Still, Anarumo held his head high as his unit gave up just 50 points to three of the most dominant offenses — and quarterbacks — in the game.
2023 was a setback for the entire team, Anarumo and his defense included. With Joe Burrow missing seven games, they still found a way to go 9-8, but it wasn’t easy. The defense especially had issues in pass coverage, finishing 28th in yards allowed.
Not all was bad for the defense though. Hendrickson went off with 17.5 sacks and they were in the top-10 with 17 interceptions. They gave their offense a chance and if Burrow had stayed healthy, they likely would be on the heels of a third season with double-digit wins.
Burrow’s durability is the primary storyline for this year, and much has been made of this. He’s an elite quarterback and as long as he’s under center, this is a franchise that can make noise in the playoffs. But as is the case with most teams, they need their defense to do its part. Look to the Chiefs as proof of this. Even with Mahomes lacking a No. 1 wideout, they won their third Super Bowl in the past five seasons. The reason? Their defense was second in yardage and points allowed.
Cincinnati doesn’t have to be in that same category, especially with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins out on the field with Burrow. But if they want to unseat the champs, the key is going to be Anarumo getting the most out of his guys once again.
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