The Cincinnati Bengals and Zac Taylor hired Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator Thursday after a lengthy search boasting plenty of twists and turns.
Now the attention turns to Anarumo and Anarumo alone, as he’s the most important hire Taylor has made so far. Here are five things to know about the new coordinator.
Anarumo wants multiple
The Bengals had problems getting coordinators in the door with at least one candidate because the personnel didn’t want to switch to a 3-4.
No such problem here.
Anarumo has his sights on a something of a 4-3 base but predominantly multiple look, per Bengals.com:
“Like every team these days, we’ll be multiple,” Anarumo said. “Whether it be some four down or five down (linemen), I think that’s where the league is heading. We’ll get into all that as we get going. There are some guys around here that have made plays for a long time. There has been really good defense played here. I’m looking forward to meeting all of them and getting going.”
Most teams are in a multiple look these days and it’s probably for the better if the Bengals find their roots in the 4-3 still. The team has enough problems at linebacker and otherwise to worry about without asking established talents to play new spots.
Anarumo and Taylor worked together in Miami
Taylor has been strict on hiring guys he knows.
And he knows Anarumo.
The two were together for four years in Miami and even became interim coordinators together, which clearly had a major impact on the bond they share and led to this hire.
“Tremendous energy. I always thought he got the best out of his players,” Taylor said, per Bengals.com. “His messaging and what he wanted to do on defense was always crystal clear to those guys. I just like the way he communicated with his coaches when he was the coordinator and with his players through the years I was with him.”
His success rate at developing players is superb
Anarumo knows how to get the most out of his defensive backs.
With Miami, he recently got safety Reshad Jones to the Pro Bowl and helped turn cornerback Xavien Howard into one of the game’s best.
With the New York Giants, he helped groom Landon Collins.
Meaning, he’s an ideal guy to have looking over Jessie Bates and he doesn’t figure to put guys like Dre Kirkpatrick in bad situations, either.
It’s all in the relationships
Anarumo wants honesty and an open line of communication.
Over the past few years, especially with Teryl Austin running the show, it felt like players weren’t buying into the plan. Anarumo has a plan to make sure that isn’t a possibility again.
“I‘m going to be brutally honest and transparent,” Anarumo said per Bengals.com. “The only way for this to work, not only as a coordinator but certainly as a position coach, is if you don’t have a line of communication and the players don’t trust you, you have no chance. I’ve had really good relationships with my players throughout the years and it’s something I’ve always been able to rely on.
Sounds good and should be, especially if the new coach can link up with the veteran leaders and get them in his corner.
Back to Basics
Anarumo coached under former Bengals assistant Kevin Coyle’s 4-3 and it sounds like Taylor wants more of that next season per Bengals.com: “Taylor seems to like the fact that Anarumo worked in Coyle’s 4-3 that has some similarities to the scheme the Bengals ran so effectively under Mike Zimmer with the Double A gap blitz and taking advantage of press corners.”
Meaning, more press for William Jackson and Kirkpatrick, which plays to their strengths. And the coaches won’t need to go wild with interior blitzes thanks to Geno Atkins.
In fact, it should be interesting to see how Anarumo’s unique take on a familiar approach unfolds with such a talented unit.
