Bengals fire Lou Anarumo, Frank Pollack, James Bettcher and Marion Hobby

[Frank Booth]

(01-06-2025, 02:10 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Carman has played offensive snaps in just 1 game for the Dolphins this year and in that game he gave up a sack strip (and Dolphins articles have him as allowing another) and had two penalties. PFF has him at a 42.2 grade, 43.0 pass blocking/47.5 run blocking.

I am the furthest thing from a Volson defender, but I think Carman might just be a turd and quite possibly will be out of the NFL next year.


Step 1: Have a good enough of a defense that you can get INTO the playoffs. 

Lou couldn't get past that step either of the last two years to show off his playoff defense.

they werent doing anything with browning anyways. c'mon now

I'd rather have a playoff stud defense that is whatever in the regular season than the opposite

but it was TOO bad this year, I understand

[Nicomo Cosca]

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Relieved that the Bengals FO was not complacent. Was a bit scared that Lou might of done enough to stay.

Happy about this sad to say about Lou and even Bettcher, we had some good times in those big games with Lou's Defenses, but it was
definitely time to move on. Pollack has always been a bit of a disappointment with his O-line, he couldn't develop youth at all and even
proven vets declined once they got here, never a good sign.

Hobby was really bad and wanted him gone maybe the most. I am excited about these moves as this is what a true NFL org does.

[jfkbengals]

I guess we'll soon find out how much our under performing defensive draft picks are a product of coaching/scheme or just not NFL caliber players.

[Brownshoe]

(01-06-2025, 02:15 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Is Marvin Lewis available?  

On a serious note, they fired the coaches responsible for us not making the playoffs the last 2 years. Our tacking was atrocious (coaching) and our OL forced JB to have to get rid of the ball quickly, but as important, our running game has sucked for a long time.

Those who throw in Zac are silly. How many games in 2024 did Zac and the offense put us in position to win to have the defense give us the lead or kicker missed a field goal.

Zac's offense puts up over 30 points and we lose how any games.

Zac is a good young head football coach and like Shannahan teams would love to have as their HC.

Those who spent the day whining and saying Bengals would do nothing sure look stupid today.

ZT with new OL and DC coaches gives us the best chance to get back to the Super Bowl quickly.

I believe if you hire a DC and make him also the assistant head coach you can poach a DC from another team. If so, my choice would be Glenn from the Lions.

Is Zac the HC or OC? I'm going to judge him on what he does with the whole team, not just the offense. He always brings the team into the season unprepared and in a hole. He never can do anything with the defense apparently. We spend more than almost everyone in the league on defensive players and apparently he's a bad evaluater for those players as well. Sure, he does well with a top 2 QB and the best reciever in the league with another #1 along side him. I have no doubt that any coach could have the offense firing with those players. Zac has underperformed and underwhelmed since he got here.

[jfkbengals]

(01-06-2025, 01:27 PM)Speedy Thomas Wrote: In the past, 5 straight to end the season would have been enough to bring back everyone.  So credit to the FO for not falling for that fool's gold.  It wasn't the dead cat bounce, but close enough, and in the past it would have been enough to maintain status quo.

Also, don't underestimate Burrow's influence on the front office.  I suspect that he is quietly accomplishing what Palmer tried and failed at publicly.

Now in defense of Lou, he was handed a bucket of crap at the start of the year.  No Reader, no Bates, washed up Hubbard.  Then season ending injuries at every level -- back end, LB's, DL.  Defensive improvement came from rookies and young players developing -- Jenkins, Jackson, Ossai, Newton, Battle all got better as the season went on, and they all got better together.  Lou and defensive coaches deserve credit for that.

Regardless, it was time to change the defensive staff.  Past time to dump Pollack.

This is the only part I disagree with.  He got hurt very early, and it was only about a month ago that they stated it was a whole lot worse than anyone let on about, but he chose to try and play through it instead of missing the entire season.  If he can get healthy during the offseason, I think he still has a lot of tread left.

[WhoDeyK]

(01-06-2025, 01:25 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Pratt is absolutely fine in his old role: LB2, 75-80% snaps a game.

When Logan went down, he played those extra 10-15 snaps (all in coverage, basically) and he was exposed for being slowish and/or out of position. Logan plays those snaps, we see less bad Pratt and better defense on the whole from our LBs.

And I would agree that the D would be better with all those guys (who's Hall? You mean Hill?)



The offense cooked with Zac! Why are people not acknowledging that we had a phenomenal year on offense? Because we don't call trick plays? Because we have a terrible oline so we can't do a lot of things that look flashy on-screen? If we had a 20th ranked offense, you are all correct, but FFS, the logic here is just out the window.


3-3 against the North this year, potentially could've been 6-0.

2-4 last year, 3-3 in '22, 4-2 in '21. Looks pretty damn normal and .500 to me.

One score games mean a ton of things, have as much to do with coaching as they do 50 thousand other things.

Terrible post after terrible post.

The logic is simple. A team that wants to win never turns down an opportunity to improve. Maybe I should have said the offense can reach another level under Ben Johnson instead of cook. Still the offense did well this year more because of Joe, Jamar and company not Zac Taylor. Zac’s offensive scheme puts the most pressure possible on Joe and the offensive line and his play calling is predictable and often head scratching. Ben Johnson is innovative and helps his offense by play design. He elevates his talent. I can only imagine what he could do with Joe as his QB. But it’s a moot point now as Zac is staying, so I’m just hoping he can make adjustments and evolve.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-06-2025, 02:25 PM)Brownshoe Wrote: Is Zac the HC or OC? I'm going to judge him on what he does with the whole team, not just the offense. He always brings the team into the season unprepared and in a hole. He never can do anything with the defense apparently. We spend more than almost everyone in the league on defensive players and apparently he's a bad evaluater for those players as well. Sure, he does well with a top 2 QB and the best reciever in the league with another #1 along side him. I have no doubt that any coach could have the offense firing with those players. Zac has underperformed and underwhelmed since he got here.

I think Zac is on the hot seat big time after these firings. I agree with a lot of the bad you say about Zac here Brownshoe, the slow starts
have to stop, the predictability has to stop, we need to stop sabotaging our OL being in the Shotgun all the time. A lot of this has to be on 
the HC and that is Zac Taylor. He is without a doubt carried by Joe, Ja'Marr and Tee a lot of the time and this Offense has been this good in
spite of him a lot of the time pretty sure.

But one good thing I will say about Zac is that his team's fight late in the year more than any HC we have had. This is a very good thing and
we are continually one of the least penalized teams in the NFL. 

I am okay with keeping him around for one more year because of these points. We all knew Zac would be back didn't we?

I am just happy we weren't complacent and waited to fire these guys that needed to be fired.

(01-06-2025, 02:28 PM)jfkbengals Wrote: This is the only part I disagree with.  He got hurt very early, and it was only about a month ago that they stated it was a whole lot worse than anyone let on about, but he chose to try and play through it instead of missing the entire season.  If he can get healthy during the offseason, I think he still has a lot of tread left.

Yeah, Sam could very well get healthy and be a decent backup Edge for us. He works his ass off. You cannot say he is washed just because he
was injured this season. I didn't like him starting when hurt but this was on Lou pretty sure, not Sam.

[samhain]

(01-06-2025, 11:55 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I don't think that's an issue. A DC that really only has to field an above average defense to give this team 11 or 12 wins the way the offense plays, is a pretty good gig.

You're not totally wrong.  It's a potentially enticing job, no doubt.

To me, the issue will be personnel resources.  A new DC will want guys that know/fit his system.  Are there enough already in house to make a new vision work?  Will there be enough money left under the cap in FA to go out and get the right guys if need be?  How will draft picks be allocated between offense and defense?  

There are a lot of holes to fill on that side of the ball.  Potentially more than we know depending on the system that's coming down the pipe.  

[BrownAssClown]

Nice to see some accountability come from the front office. They should also let it be known to Zac Taylor that another slow start next season and he gets shit-canned before mid season. The slow starts under Zac Taylor is killing our chances. It seems that some here think Taylor is safe? Why? He has a losing record and the team has missed the playoffs two straight years. This front office, with firing Anarumo, seems to be sending a message. They, as well as us, expect results. Look at the investment the franchise has in Burrow. They know he's a once in a generation talent. They are about to drop a mint on Chase, Hendrickson and quite possible Tee Higgins. Zac Taylor should be on the hottest of hot seats. This team has way too much talent to miss the playoffs two years in a row.

[M.W.]

As much as I like Z. Taylor, I would like him fired as well. Every year his team comes out losing against weak opponents. We certainly need better play calling decisions and to stop putting absolutely everything on Burrow.

[ERIC1]

(01-06-2025, 01:52 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Well it’s ridiculously obvious the offense supports Zac and the Brown family. No way Zac survives without the support of Burrow and Karras and others. Brown talks to the players everyday. He’s there all day.

We are passionate fans and we sometimes add color and make stories up to make something fit our narrative..You absolutely have no idea what mike brown does all day or the interactions he has with players...the changes that have taken place were not overnight decisions..they were the correct ones

[Soonerpeace]

(01-06-2025, 02:37 PM)BrownAssClown Wrote: Nice to see some accountability come from the front office. They should also let it be known to Zac Taylor that another slow start next season and he gets shit-canned before mid season. The slow starts under Zac Taylor is killing our chances. It seems that some here think Taylor is safe? Why? He has a losing record and the team has missed the playoffs two straight years. This front office, with firing Anarumo, seems to be sending a message. They, as well as us, expect results. Look at the investment the franchise has in Burrow. They know he's a once in a generation talent. They are about to drop a mint on Chase, Hendrickson and quite possible Tee Higgins. Zac Taylor should be on the hottest of hot seats. This team has way too much talent to miss the playoffs two years in a row.

No excuses this year but came within one game of the playoffs  with Browning replacing Burrow for most of the season. So that actually helped him. Injuries matter as I don’t think Kyle Shanahan is getting fired. He’s .500 vs Zac as is Andy Reid.But yes he’s got less freedom. 

[*ochocincos*]

(01-06-2025, 02:28 PM)jfkbengals Wrote: This is the only part I disagree with.  He got hurt very early, and it was only about a month ago that they stated it was a whole lot worse than anyone let on about, but he chose to try and play through it instead of missing the entire season.  If he can get healthy during the offseason, I think he still has a lot of tread left.

Hubbard still doesn't help the pass rush much, as he's never had 7+ sacks in a season since 2021.
On top of that, he turns 30 this Summer.

He might end up being a 2-down base DE for another season or two, but no one should be thinking he should be a full-time starting DE for a team who needs pass rush help.

Teams like the Browns and Steelers were so good rushing the passer because they had guys who could contribute outside of Garrett/Watt.
Bengals need an actual pass rush threat opposite Hendrickson and/or inside.
This defense could really be boosted if they could get some actual other pass rushers.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(01-06-2025, 12:33 PM)Mickeypoo Wrote: Glad to see the FO doing something!!

If we underschieve next year, Duke and ZT are gone, too. 

[ERIC1]

(01-06-2025, 02:38 PM)M.W. Wrote: As much as I like Z. Taylor, I would like him fired as well. Every year his team comes out losing against weak opponents. We certainly need better play calling decisions and to stop putting absolutely everything on Burrow.

There really is not a weak opponent in week one..most teams are just beginning to gel...but taylor does have to do a better job..frankly this years debacle was not any coaches fault..it squarely rests on those people like Tobin that finalize scouting and player decisions

[ERIC1]

(01-06-2025, 02:44 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: If we underschieve next year, Duke and ZT are gone, too. 

And you know this how..please share

[samhain]

(01-06-2025, 02:38 PM)M.W. Wrote: As much as I like Z. Taylor, I would like him fired as well.  Every year his team comes out losing against weak opponents. We certainly need better play calling decisions and to stop putting absolutely everything on Burrow.

I'm mostly with you.  I back off a little considering what he had to deal with in terms of the early season and the front office.  He can't do a damn thing about Ja'marr or Tee's contract status, yet he most definitely had to cope with the fallout.  Ja'marr, IMO hung Zac out to dry a few times.  The entire issue was avoidable if it was handled correctly by ownership.  

That's a more cumulative issue here, IMO.  I'm glad they are making semi aggressive changes quickly, but does the FO understand that they played a role in the failures of this season as well?  If so, what will they do to make sure it doesn't happen again?  Acknowledging that fact is the biggest key to this offseason.

[Soonerpeace]

(01-06-2025, 02:42 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: We are passionate fans and we sometimes add color and make stories up to make something fit our narrative..You absolutely have no idea what mike brown does all day or the interactions he has with players...the changes that have taken place were not overnight decisions..they were the correct ones

I don’t know if he had any discussions with players but I absolutely know he’s at practice everyday and one of the first in the office. But you should know that. But I think it’s very imaginable he has discussions about the team with certain players. 

[Soonerpeace]

(01-06-2025, 02:46 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: And you know this how..please share

Just his opinion. Of course he doesn’t know.