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

[Sled21]

(01-07-2025, 10:40 AM)Whatever Wrote: That's why Hobby and Betcher also got the axe.  Pollack, too.  

I'm quite disturbed the DB's coaching room has not been listed yet. Of all the position coaches that need to go, that would be the room I cleared out first.

[ERIC1]

(01-07-2025, 06:38 AM)BurrowTheGoat Wrote: This.  Lou's system works great when you have some elite players but its overly complicated and it showed this year.  Weaker personnel and his system suddenly made us the worst defense we've had probably since the 90s.  This team needs an average defense and a coach like Robert Saleh can deliver that in year 1 with some decent FA signings and a high draft pick or 2.  Also, back to Lou, he was too loyal to old washed up vets like Sam Hubbard and Vonn Bell.  He refused to play the younger guys who we spent big draft capital on until we were in a deep hole.  We had some good times Lou and ill always like you but the fit just wasn't working anymore.  

Frank Pollack on the other hand, I will NOT miss you and I do not like you.  Good riddance. 

please stop with the systems stuff..Lou had a ton of injuries and in fact did play younger players starting in early season..Robert Saleh may or not be a better coach

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(01-07-2025, 02:36 AM)SladeX Wrote: I would rather have a excellent guard and/or center.
Joe will thank the FO later…

We can easily have both. The math is not difficult. 

[*ochocincos*]

(01-07-2025, 10:40 AM)Whatever Wrote: That's why Hobby and Betcher also got the axe.  Pollack, too.  

Why not the DB coach though?
We've seen a regression in CTB.

Maybe they liked what they saw from Newton and Ivey over time?

[Sled21]

(01-07-2025, 10:48 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: please stop with the systems stuff..Lou had a ton of injuries and in fact did play younger players starting in early season..Robert Saleh may or not be a better coach

I don't want Saleh anywhere near our stadium.

[Millhouse]

(01-07-2025, 10:38 AM)Whatever Wrote: I respect Lou, and he did accomplish some good things.  He should be fondly remembered for helping to break the playoffs streak and the SB run.

But it was just time. Heads had to roll after missing the playoffs with the seasons Joe, Chase, and Trey had.  How many games would we have won of we could get a couple more stops.  You could tell Zac lost confidence with his 4th down calls and offensive guys being vocal in the media about feelingsl pressure to score every possession.

Pollack is straight trash, though.

I think there are like 4 playoff defenses right now that flipped things around from last season with a new DC. And a couple more defenses that flipped it such as the Eagles in just an season. 

So I completely agree it was time for a new look at the DC spot. Also as LLeap showed above, Lou's defense hasn't exactly been stellar stat-wise since being here, just mid-tier at best (with opportune moments in Super Bowl run tho). 

But yeah, imo the best chance to flip this defense around is a new DC. At worst, hopefully he gets the defense back to mid-tier levels to force more stops and punts. And at best, he flips this defense completely around like those other few.

[Stewy]

(01-07-2025, 10:33 AM)ochocincos Wrote: For all the frustrations Anarumo's defense has had in the regular season throughout his Bengals tenure, everyone should admit they've come up clutch in 2021-2022 playoffs.

How much of the development of the drafted players and bad tackling are on the DC specifically?
I would think that falls (much) more on the position coaches to properly teach the individuals whereas the DC is in charge of scheme and playcalling, right?

Tackling is a base fundamental.  A systematic lack thereof is 100% on coaching.  No ifs ands or buts.

[*ochocincos*]

(01-07-2025, 11:56 AM)Stewy Wrote: Tackling is a base fundamental.  A systematic lack thereof is 100% on coaching.  No ifs ands or buts.

That's been my view too.
I guess my question is...is a coordinator responsible for actual coaching or not?

[Sled21]

(01-07-2025, 12:00 PM)ochocincos Wrote: That's been my view too.
I guess my question is...is a coordinator responsible for actual coaching or not?

That's actually on position coaches. 

[Clark W Griswold]

(01-07-2025, 12:03 PM)Sled21 Wrote: That's actually on position coaches. 

I think a lot of this is on the players (or the FO for drafting them) and injuries - especially at CB.
You are in the NFL so the coaches should not have to teach you how tackle. Now if you don’t have the desire then the coach needs to find someone else to play so that could be on Lou.

I think it was time for changes so I support what they did but how can you blame Lou for Pratt forgetting how to tackle? I’m sure Lou was not instructing him to miss tackles.
With Wilson out he did not even have the option of replacing him. It was time for Lou to go but a lot of this is on the players.

[Soonerpeace]

Lou… he’s struggled without Bates & Bell. Bell this year not the same. What role Lou played in the drafts and FA is unknown but it’s not been good the last 3 years. But scoring defense is your magnifying glass. 19.6 ‘22 …22.6 ‘23 …25.5 ‘24.

My guess is that Zac has his guy and he has a DL & LB coach in hand.

[Millhouse]

(01-07-2025, 10:33 AM)ochocincos Wrote: For all the frustrations Anarumo's defense has had in the regular season throughout his Bengals tenure, everyone should admit they've come up clutch in 2021-2022 playoffs.

How much of the development of the drafted players and bad tackling are on the DC specifically?
I would think that falls (much) more on the position coaches to properly teach the individuals whereas the DC is in charge of scheme and playcalling, right?

I don't think anyone truly knows that outside of the Bengals in regards to Lou specifically. 

Generally speaking it does ultimately fall on the chain of command above the positional coaches like any other profession. If the job isn't getting done like it should, keep finding new people going up the chain until it gets righted.

[jj22]

The thing about Lou you can’t take from him is he told all that would listen what losing Bates, Bell, and Reader would do to the defense…..

And no one in the FO listened.

[Whatever]

(01-07-2025, 10:52 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Why not the DB coach though?
We've seen a regression in CTB.

Maybe they liked what they saw from Newton and Ivey over time?

Newton, Ivy, Battle, Hill looked good at CB and Turner showed strides.  

CTB is more of the outlier, when you account for injury.

[Second Down]

(01-07-2025, 12:17 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Lou… he’s struggled without Bates & Bell. Bell this year not the same. What role Lou played in the drafts and FA is unknown but it’s not been good the last 3 years. But scoring defense is your magnifying glass. 19.6 ‘22 …22.6 ‘23 …25.5 ‘24.

My guess is that Zac has his guy and he has a DL & LB coach in hand.

I sure hope so!

[Whatever]

(01-07-2025, 12:42 PM)jj22 Wrote: The thing about Lou you can’t take from him is he told all that would listen what losing Bates, Bell, and Reader would do to the defense…..

And no one in the FO listened.

If your entire scheme is dependent on two guys being healthy, then you need to adapt your scheme.  Lou was stubbornly slow to do so.

[Soonerpeace]

(01-07-2025, 12:42 PM)jj22 Wrote: The thing about Lou you can’t take from him is he told all that would listen what losing Bates, Bell, and Reader would do to the defense…..

And no one in the FO listened.

The FO has impacted the success of the team more than Zac or Lou. But… Zac can’t escape the slow starts and Lou the defense regression. I’m pretty sure Lou has had a huge say in the secondary drafts & free agency. Pollack good grief every watcher of the Bengals knows he sucked. My guess is that the Brown’s and Zac knew Burrow’s dissatisfaction there. JMHO. I heard it was more about his teaching and technique

[BigRed75]

I will never forgive Lou for refusing to blitz a severely hobbled Mahomes in the January 29, 2023 AFC Championship game. It was absolute DC malpractice and he should have been fired after that game alone.

[Sled21]

(01-07-2025, 12:15 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: I think a lot of this is on the players (or the FO for drafting them) and injuries - especially at CB.
You are in the NFL so the coaches should not have to teach you how tackle. Now if you don’t have the desire then the coach needs to find someone else to play so that could be on Lou.

I think it was time for changes so I support what they did but how can you blame Lou for Pratt forgetting how to tackle?  I’m sure Lou was not instructing him to miss tackles.
With Wilson out he did not even have the option of replacing him.  It was time for Lou to go but a lot of this is on the players.

Normally this would be correct. But these guys have been taught to make tackles certain ways their entire playing careers from Pop Warner through college and the pros. Then all of a sudden the NFL changes the tackling rules and players have to learn new methods. No more hip dropping, no more landing on the QB., etc etc. So, it was the position coach's job to make sure they made the transition. I do not believe ours did. 

[Sled21]

(01-07-2025, 01:08 PM)BigRed75 Wrote: I will never forgive Lou for refusing to blitz a severely hobbled Mahomes in the January 29, 2023 AFC Championship game.  It was absolute DC malpractice and he should have been fired after that game alone.

I don't believe for one second he was hobbled. He limped around between plays then during the plays he moved like he was 100%. I think he wanted us to blitz him.