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

[Nicomo Cosca]

Duke has been here since 1999. Dude is practically a member of the family. He isn’t going anywhere. They could at least give more help though.

[phil413]

(01-05-2025, 11:17 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Orlando was having his best season before the injury. Karras has been good at least in pass protection. The problem is they had 2 of the worst guards in the entire league.

Those guards really showcase two equally bad types of moves.  With Volson they dug into their 90s bag and knighted an untested rookie what wasn't ready. This is the "good enough" logic where they know they see other good teams starting cheap rookies so let's "make" him one. Cody or another vet should have had the opportunity to beat him out. 

I liked Cappa's resume but without athleticism he wasn't a good fit (like Rankins on defense) and it was more like ok let's throw someone in there and make him fit.  

[Boomer Anderson]

Regarding Pollack who I think should be gone, do we not run the ball because of Zac’s play calling or poor scheme on the offensive line? Just curious because we don’t pass block worth a damn either.

I remember Mixon being happy when Bengals brought Pollack back but I just don’t see his glass eater expertise.

[Bengal Dude]

(01-06-2025, 12:38 AM)phil413 Wrote: Those guards really showcase two equally bad types of moves.  With Volson they dug into their 90s bag and knighted an untested rookie what wasn't ready. This is the "good enough" logic where they know they see other good teams starting cheap rookies so let's "make" him one. Cody or another vet should have had the opportunity to beat him out. 

I liked Cappa's resume but without athleticism he wasn't a good fit (like Rankins on defense) and it was more like ok let's throw someone in there and make him fit.  

From what some of the reporters have said, Cappa's fall off seems to be because of his body breaking down. Cappa has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but he always plays through them. He was pretty good his first year here with us.

I think we move on from Cappa during free agency. I also don't think it'll be too long before he decides to hang it up.

[pulses]

(01-06-2025, 01:36 AM)Bengal Dude Wrote: From what some of the reporters have said, Cappa's fall off seems to be because of his body breaking down. Cappa has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but he always plays through them. He was pretty good his first year here with us.

I think we move on from Cappa during free agency. I also don't think it'll be too long before he decides to hang it up.

If we cut Cappa and we should. I think he's probably done now. He won a title he's got nothing left to prove.

[*Synric*]

(01-05-2025, 11:27 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Rapien does have some connections inside the organization, so I believe it's at least being talked about.

The top 3 that need to be looked at are:
- Marion Hobby (poor DL performance as a whole aside from Hendrickson)
- Lou Anarumo (he used to be good with DBs at least, now that seems shaky)
- Frank Pollack (Burrow sacked 48 times - tied 10th most in league)

Pollack may have saved himself with two things - Chase Brown emerging and so many injuries on the OL to excuse the sacks/pressures.

Hobby has to be the first to go, IMO.
You can't blame the lack of pass rush on missing Rankins, Cam Sample, and a hobbled Hubbard.
Your 1st round draft pick in his 2nd year with the team ended with 0.0 sacks in 13 games played this season.

The secondary coaches Charles Burks and Jordan Kovacs should be on that list. They have been given the most and most premium draft picks since 2022 and it's been a mixed bag at best... not to mention the Dax Hill situation.


Any new DC should be allowed to bring in their own staff.

[*pally*]

(01-05-2025, 10:08 PM)Synric Wrote: Exit interviews this week for everyone.

With the weather they probably aren’t happening until tomorrow but we could be surprised

[Mickeypoo]

It's Monday morning and we are sitting home yet again watching actual good teams go to the playoffs.  Fun times living in Bills Country watching Allen and the Bills win their 5th straight division title in Allen's 7 seasons while our inept FO and coaching staff waste another season of Burrow, Chase and Higgins.  

Can't wait to see what this world class FO does today.  What big changes will be made?  A restructured, modernized FO?  I real GM hired?  More scouts?  Coaches getting fired and legit winners brought in?  Nah, nothing will change.  Rinse, lather, repeat.  Lucy pulls the football again and the fans are Charlie Brown.....year after year after year after year.

8 months to wait around before Bengals football again.  Maybe we can go 0-4 to start next season and crush everyone's hopes before the season even gets going again.  It seems like a lifetime  ago that the Bengals were heading to the playoffs.

Can't wait to see what world beaters our first class scouting department finds with the 17th pick.  Can't wait to see how much money this dumpster fire FO lost by not getting Chase signed last season.  All those extra millions could have been used on other players.

Oh well, after 34 seasons I would have thought I'd be used to complete failure, but this season was definitely the most disappointing season I have ever watched.  I honestly don't expect anything different next year.  

I will change my tune if major FO and coaching changes are made, otherwise I expect the same results next year.  After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

[*ochocincos*]

(01-06-2025, 12:42 AM)Boomer Anderson Wrote: Regarding Pollack who I think should be gone, do we not run the ball because of Zac’s play calling or poor scheme on the offensive line? Just curious because we don’t pass block worth a damn either.

I remember Mixon being happy when Bengals brought Pollack back but I just don’t see his glass eater expertise.

After seeing guys like Volson just get trucked over game after game, that's not on scheme or playcalling. That's lack of technique, anchor, etc. That's all on the player.
You also don't really see the OL stonewall defenders in their tracks, nor do you see them drive off the LOS in the run game.
That might be scheme, but I'd have to think at least a decent amount of it is talent.

[Fan_in_Kettering]

Will we see any pink slips on Black Monday? We should…

[Destro]

(01-06-2025, 10:20 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Will we see any pink slips on Black Monday?  We should…

How care they fire any of these coaches? These coaches took us to two AFC Championship games? We have a winning record. How dare you, sir?!?




Maybe some get fired. More than likely some lower levels, as if that matters. Fire/Don't fire. What matters is what is next after that, because some things are not changing.

[wadirumm]

(01-06-2025, 09:54 AM)Mickeypoo Wrote: It's Monday morning and we are sitting home yet again watching actual good teams go to the playoffs.  Fun times living in Bills Country watching Allen and the Bills win their 5th straight division title in Allen's 7 seasons while our inept FO and coaching staff waste another season of Burrow, Chase and Higgins.  

Can't wait to see what this world class FO does today.  What big changes will be made?  A restructured, modernized FO?  I real GM hired?  More scouts?  Coaches getting fired and legit winners brought in?  Nah, nothing will change.  Rinse, lather, repeat.  Lucy pulls the football again and the fans are Charlie Brown.....year after year after year after year.

8 months to wait around before Bengals football again.  Maybe we can go 0-4 to start next season and crush everyone's hopes before the season even gets going again.  It seems like a lifetime  ago that the Bengals were heading to the playoffs.

Can't wait to see what world beaters our first class scouting department finds with the 17th pick.  Can't wait to see how much money this dumpster fire FO lost by not getting Chase signed last season.  All those extra millions could have been used on other players.

Oh well, after 34 seasons I would have thought I'd be used to complete failure, but this season was definitely the most disappointing season I have ever watched.  I honestly don't expect anything different next year.  

I will change my tune if major FO and coaching changes are made, otherwise I expect the same results next year.  After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

The only thing we fans can do is not to patronize the team:  don't attend games, don't buy merch;  don't give any money to the Brown family.  If money is burning a hole in your pocket go to the Cincinnati Symphony or Ballet where you will see a world class performance.  I still follow the team but don't buy anything. I go to the sports bar and for $10  at least enjoy a meal.  I think the only think Mike worries about is money; maybe embarrsement if the stadium isn't full or if it's full of the enemy fans not rerally sure.  

[Millhouse]

(01-06-2025, 10:27 AM)Destro Wrote: How care they fire any of these coaches? These coaches took us to two AFC Championship games? We have a winning record. How dare you, sir?!?




Maybe some get fired. More than likely some lower levels, as if that matters. Fire/Don't fire. What matters is what is next after that, because some things are not changing.

Jags just fired Doug Pederson, who won the Super Bowl back with Eagles as HC. They missed playoffs two years in row now.

[Fan_in_Kettering]

(01-06-2025, 10:27 AM)Destro Wrote: How care they fire any of these coaches? These coaches took us to two AFC Championship games? We have a winning record. How dare you, sir?!?

I would be signing some pink slips and scheduling some exit interviews this morning. Coaching a team led by Joe Burrow — who had a career year — and missing the playoffs is borderline unforgivable.

[Fan_in_Kettering]

(01-06-2025, 10:32 AM)Millhouse Wrote: Jags just fired Doug Pederson, who won the Super Bowl back with Eagles as HC. They missed playoffs two years in row now.

This is what accountability looks like.

[Destro]

(01-06-2025, 10:32 AM)Millhouse Wrote: Jags just fired Doug Pederson, who won the Super Bowl back with Eagles as HC. They missed playoffs two years in row now.

I have mentioned Doug Pederson before on here, as an example. Note that he has a ring with Wentz and Nick Floes as QB.

[Millhouse]

(01-06-2025, 10:36 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: This is what accountability looks like.

Yeah they lost like 10 games this year in 1-score games too, so it wasn't like they were getting blown out a lot. Regardless, Pederson and Zac Taylor both have failed to take their teams to the playoffs two years in a row now. I don't think Taylor will get fired in the near decade, but for **** sake they have to make changes elsewhere though. 

Missing playoffs with a healthy Burrow is criminal, and people need to be held accountable for it. Otherwise The Family either doesn't care about Super Bowls, or they don't want to change their Family ways of 30+ ways to become a winner.

[Fan_in_Kettering]

"This blows my mind. The Bengals currently have the NFL leader in pass yards, receiving yards, and sacks. A team with all three of those should never miss the playoffs."

- JJ Watt

[Mickeypoo]

(01-06-2025, 10:43 AM)Millhouse Wrote: Yeah they lost like 10 games this year in 1-score games too, so it wasn't like they were getting blown out a lot. Regardless, Pederson and Zac Taylor both have failed to take their teams to the playoffs two years in a row now. I don't think Taylor will get fired in the near decade, but for **** sake they have to make changes elsewhere though. 

Missing playoffs with a healthy Burrow is criminal, and people need to be held accountable for it. Otherwise The Family either doesn't care about Super Bowls, or they don't want to change their Family ways of 30+ ways to become a winner.

After 34 seasons of watching this FO operate I truly, genuinely believe they in fact do not care about SB's and they most certainly do not want to change their ways and become a winner.  

I can't wait to see how many millions they lost by not getting Chase signed.  Those are millions that could have gone to other players and made the team better.

[BigRed75]

If Lou is let go and he should be, the Bengals need to look at bringing Al Golden back. I’m the furthest thing from being a Notre Dame fan but I love the way that defense plays.