Will Bengals Fire Lou Anarumo? Could He Save His Job With Late Season Push?

[@Monteil9015]

Bad draft picks, letting players go, not replacing players. He’s to blame for player development, but Lou isn’t responsible for half of the defensive problems

[@bones3142]

Absolutely. Duke Tobin should also be fired and they should hire an actual GM. However, it’s Lou’s fault that we haven’t seen much of Myles Murphy. He barely sees the field for whatever reason

[@TravisCropper-gt1no]

​@@bones3142Yeah. That part specifically pisses me off. Myles should have been starting.

[@MultiNobleSpartan]

For it to get this bad yeah he is you see all these teams decimated by injury and their back ups even practice squad players play coaches up. You cant get your guys every draft sometimes you have to work with what you have lou has yet to do that

[@rickscott1730]

@@Monteil9015 happens all the time with this organization when they lose somebody to free agency, they replaced them with a lesser player and then wonder why we can’t get going

[@runnn3107]

Lou won’t be fired as he’s been trying to show the Brown family that these are the results when drafting and scouting is 100% pathetic. Tobin & Pollack should have been fired after the SB season.

[@dmanv69]

Spectacular video Rapien. You provided exceptional insight and a thorough analysis on player development. It’ll be surprising if we do keep Anarumo

[@ronesterman7248]

I will be surprised if any of the coaches get fired. If you told me I had to fire one - it wouldn't be Lou

[@TravisCropper-gt1no]

I think the lack of pressure from the front 4 besides Trey and their inability to get off blocks to slow the run is the biggest problem on defense. You can get away with having mid DBs if the front 4 isn't giving the QB 8+ seconds every play to throw. You can't play man and expect all ur Dbs to cover for 8+ seconds every play while the QB just sits back there and waits for someone to get open. Also, what do you think about CTB at safety. I feel like he is too slow at Corner but plays the ball well and if he is covering tightends and running backs I think he would feast.

[@IanMackey-z5l]

He’s a great DC remember the bengals fans that said he’s going to get a head coaching job… we are so tunnel Vision in Cincinnati it’s insane

[@jaredarmstrong385]

Only scenario where I would want to see any of these people come back is if we somehow have a deep playoff run, since that would’ve been my expectation week 1

[@metalgearfan9802]

I thought that Lou was pretty much guaranteed to be out but........ hearing Burrow give him THAT kind of praise that he did earlier today may have honestly saved his job lmao. Despite the frustrations on defense, Burrow is sounding like he wants Lou to stay. I can sorta feel that too in all honestly, it's more of a talent problem.

[@carsongartner3391]

One thing I haven’t seen anyone talk or mention about is I would love to have Robert Saleh as our DC. It seems like everywhere he’s been he’s had a top 5-10 defense and you can clearly tell a huge difference in the Jets defense since he was fired

[@bigshys]

WE DONT GET RID OF PPL WHO NEEDS TO GO... WE GET RID OF PPL THAT WE NEED TO KEEP.... SO BACKWARDS.

[@craigholland2274]

This

[@georgefiorini1809]

Thank You James, Let’s Save Lou, He’s Good🏈 And Yes, I Believe I Found The Rabbit For Lou, To Be Pulled Out Of The Hat👊 I Have Been Following Lou Since He Started, And I Have Recorded Analytically The Bengals Every Move Extensively🏈 There Is An Adjustment Lou Must Consider, To Get Back On Track🏈 If We Care To Save Lou And His Team, Let’s Connect🏈 Thank You James👊

[@natej84]

Lou's biggest weakness is how complicated his defense is, he wants every player to be multiple in the things they do and that doesn't work for every player. Geno Stone said Lou finally simplified the defense and that's why they've been better the last two weeks. Bill Belichek talked about this on the Manning cast and said all the miscommunications and players out of position was bc the scheme was too complicated and Lou needed to make it simpler for the players. Thankfully Lou did just that. Lou is really good at game planning and mid game adjustments, but without smart versatile players that won't work

[@jacupwakup9109]

I feel bad for Lou but a new coaching system would be so exciting. Maybe Zac not give up HC position but do actually give up playcalling completely to Joe and the OC

[@valerielittle3311]

Why tho the offense has been humming all year I think y’all bash Zac play calling to much it’s impossible to compete every pass all year. Now I do believe we should add another rb and run little more😊

[@rmersmannsr]

Lou system needs to have a really good fs, a decent rush and a upper cb and a decent cb. His d was never zimmer level but I've never seen a coach with second half adjustments like lou. Letting bates walk hurt him bad. Zimmer was and is unique in the way that he could take cast offs and make them look better. I do think think lou can do that. If they invest in a top saftey and put some money and/or hit on some d picks he'll be fine

[@johnkammer4754]

Maybe, I just don't believe in this Ownership!?!😢😮😢

[@DaveysWonderfulWorld]

No Lou is terrible

[@TravisCropper-gt1no]

I feel like we have the DBs for it. I think we need a better d-line. If we had a DJ Reader level guy again it would hurt offenses in a bad way and take the leash off of Myles Murphy. I think this alone would bolster everyone on defense.

[@themaddenmillennial6342]

They play a man coverage but no one cN cover their man

[@TravisCropper-gt1no]

@themaddenmillennial6342 They play man because they can't stop the run. Also, the QBs are getting in stride because there is little to no pressure. It's really hard to beat teams who are firing on all cylinders.

[@discopotato188]

One Question, If and when Zac & Lou both get fired who do you think would get another job in the NFL? 1&11 is that really Lou's fault? I smell a scapegoat. Keep on Selling it.

[@weegeorge07]

Fully understand your thinking James but I will still be shocked if any coaches get fired after this season.

[@neubianx]

Or, if Lou just isn't good at player development, can they hire for this? Are there caps on coaching staff? Lou certainly has talent. It'd be a shame to lose what he does have.

[@pvthurley]

Can he save his job? No this is the year that should have saved his job. His defense had 1 decent season during his tenure. With the loss of players and additions this was to show if it was a player talent issue or a coaching issue. It’s time to let Kovacs get in here and build his own defense. This is obviously a defensive rebuild off season coming.

[@Dkapparel23]

This is my fear, we end up winning out and peoples jobs are safe? Sorry but that’s not how it should work.. there needs to be changes period.

[@theejoester1]

Bengals D got to comfortable after having stars like Bates and Hendrickson. Riding the coat tails of the O this season has to be a eye opener for the Front office. The lack of development starts with the front office but 3 years in the most important league to develop is enough for top draft picks. We need a complete rehaul at defense and guys that can recognize all they got to do is keep the ball in Burrows hands. Make plays but don't be that guy that is keeping our O off the field…

[@mcdonie1975]

I get the feeling Lou will be sacrificed. Its an easy move to make and it allows the front office a bit of cover... which they need right now.

[@BPS3519]

Can someone explain to me why no one talks about firing Marion Hobby? He's developed nobody except Hubbard but Sam has only ever been average. Trey and DJ came to us as finished products.

[@craigholland2274]

Zac needs to go as well

[@aaronburgess4442]

The defense was bad last year. It’s talent but I think they’re also confused by a complicated scheme. I talked to a DB I know and he said they were confused last year.

[@XHollisWood]

The Bengals kept L. Smith with worst product. Lou has no control over injuries, budget and backup options. Has the time come to change up defense schemes. Offensive play calling is to predictable. 🧡🖤 Bengals 🧡🖤

[@parkertowles2401]

It’s not Lou’s fault. It’s mostly Dukes fault. Fire Duke and Zac. If we fired Lou, I promise he would get hired tomorrow by another team.

[@rickscott1730]

I would have to think that Lou had a big part in any defensive player chosen in the draft

[@parkertowles2401]

@ Agreed. But Duke let Awuzie and Bates walk. And signed Rankins instead of Reader.

[@rickscott1730]

@@parkertowles2401 they are not gonna fire Duke so if that happens and he stays, would you just leave the coaching staff intact?

[@parkertowles2401]

@@rickscott1730 I’d fire Zac and Pollack at a minimum

[@rickscott1730]

@ I’d keep Zac but I’d let Lou go, pollack also

[@clementsfamily7002]

I believe he can scheme. What I don't believe is that he can develop young players. Look. our business model is clearly going to be "do more with less on defense" because of the cost of offensive Hall of Fame talent. We need to draft and develop. He has been hesitant to put young guys in. He has an issue with young guys. This flies in the face of the business model.

[@truckinpoppop6777]

I’ll believe it when I see it. 4 of the 6 turnovers last week were gifts from the titans. The defense wasn’t as good as it looked.

[@PaulMusser-h3g]

This organization would be foolish to let Lou go. I don't want to use the excuse of injuries but in this case I have to. they have had key guys injured at different times this season. The defensive line has been a Mash unit the first four or five weeks of the season. The secondary has been abysmal most of the season is that lous fault or is that the secondary coaches fault. I would lean towards the secondary coaches fault. And now we're even missing our starting linebacker. I like Zach as a head coach but the fact that they were not ready to play a game as a team until about week 5 . Suggests to me that most of their problems stem from an undisciplined nature whether it's false starts, tackling, lack of attention to detail, taking the wrong angles in an attempt to to tackle someone, etcetera. That is something that suggests to me that this coach is not disciplining this team enough. Maybe he is too much of a player's coach. The fact that they're still having trouble getting offensive plays called into Joe's headset after 5 or 6 years of him being the head coach is a serious problem

[@danrennekamp5698]

I don't know all the X's and O's when it comes to football. But the coaching staff that we have damn near took the team to back-to-back Super Bowls and if it wasn't for Burrows injury I think that they could have made a deep run into the playoffs last year also. So you need to tell me that this coaching staff is just completely forgotten how to coach good? I hate to say it but if coaches don't have good players to coach how can a person expect anything else? This team should still have a majority of the players that it had 3 years ago but no, salary cap BS or whatever it is, keeps good teams from going anywhere. You had a group of players that went to the AFC title 2 years in a row and possibly could have been 3 years in a row, why would you let players from that group leave? I don't know I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to stuff like that just my unnecessary two cents.

[@EvangelismforGod]

Maybe Lou will just walk away if he’s not fired. Because at this point he has to know the fans have turned on him.

[@AirtimeAerial]

Everything you said would make perfect sense..if the Brown/Tobin braintrust weren't the braintrust. Need a competent GM for all the hard and expensive needed decisions.

[@bones3142]

There is absolutely no reason he, Frank Pollack or Duke Tobin should have jobs. Any serious organization would also fire Zac Taylor, hire a new head coach, and hire an actual GM. I’d be highly shocked if that were to happen, since it’s obvious they are unserious and don’t value their players or fans. My only hope is Joe Burrow having enough pull that ownership will recognize that they have to do something

[@DaveysWonderfulWorld]

Keep dreaming 😢

[@PeeweeHerman-j2i]

why are we discussing firing lou we should be discussing firing Zach

[@rickscott1730]

@@PeeweeHerman-j2i one of the best offenses in the NFL get a couple offensive guards so we got a legit running game and better protection for Joe

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

An assistant thats coming in some roll in 2025 is..shane waldren. Zacs buddy but his background is supposedly offensive...in more ways than one. He's almost a guarantee hire

[@ernestntreh9632]

Pls no he couldn't even coach the offence in Chicago

[@pdureska7814]

Couple last year's defense with this year's and he , Taylor and Tobin should be fired. A few wins after the season is lost means nothing. They all had a hand in the roster.

[@jasonhopson7969]

How could they not fire him?

[@WhoDey1976]

The front office let Lou’s good players walk and they whiffed on draft picks and free agents, yet he’ll be the one to get canned while Zac gets bailed out again. Ass backwards.

[@andrewb8017]

I don’t blame the coach, you have to have the players. He had some players and they have been the only team to stop Mahomes.

[@TheHomesteadJourney]

Will they? No. Should they? Yes. A couple of years ago Lou was the next hot thing. Sure fire head coach. And then he didn't get hired anywhere. I think we all now see why.

[@DaveysWonderfulWorld]

Lou needs to go after this season he sucks

[@Seeker794]

Lou got competency out of Eli Apple, i'd put that on the resume. The demons demand their pound of flesh, the DC is the obvious choice. Defense suffered a talent drain just like the offense. You don't go from hot head coach candidate to a disgraceful firing in such short order, he didn't suddenly and mysteriously lose all that makes him a good DC.

[@L3tsFnGoDumDuM]

You know, I don’t think it’s Lou’s fault totally, I think the defense is less talented and not disciplined, he can’t teach them if they won’t learn. Bengals Defense did not have 6 take aways, titans had 6 giveaways

[@DudeKentucky]

This isn't Lou's fault. This is a personnel problem, not a coaching problem. Lou wasn't on board with losing Jessie Bates!

[@rickscott1730]

@@DudeKentucky he was on board with Nick Scott and Stone. Maybe the defense that he runs doesn’t have the same people is it once dead and is incapable of carrying it out

[@valerielittle3311]

I don’t believe it’s the cbs and safety’s fault or lue it’s the line can’t cover for a min it’s impossible. We get zero pressure

[@flunder50]

What missed tackles?

[@scottleber2071]

Lou shouldn't be fired. He doesn't have the players from 2-3 years ago. Bad drafting, letting players go, bad FA. Fire Duke Tobin!

[@DeamonteNicholson]

Woh day

[@santiagogalindo4201]

Man, I like Lou, I think it’s lack of talent. We only have one elite rusher, and that’s it. Nobody can provide any pressure other than tray. Hendrix and our corners are pretty average where we should change. Coach. Is the offensive line coach, who has not been able to improve that onlineand Zach Taylor. I feel like Joe Burrow is starting to get annoyed by him man. I would go for that guy. Joe Brady from the Buffalo Bills. That would be an Amazing iron. They already know each other from LSU and please rebuild that difference in the draft and free agency.

[@grinpick]

My personal opinion: Anarumo is probably in line for some blame AFTER THE SEASON. As a Bengals fan, I consider your running a video entitled "Will Bengals Fire Lou Anarumo" to be pointless, counter-productive agitation at this moment. Criticism is fine. This is more like sabotage.

[@jables1992]

Duke and Zac aren’t going anywhere. Not saying I agree with that but it’s the truth. Someone has to get blamed for how bad this defense is. Lou is next in line and he deserves a lot of blame for this. he’ll get fired.

[@justmythoughts2786]

If anyone should be fired it should be Zac

[@EvangelismforGod]

The strength and conditioning coaches need to be fired as well.

[@matthewharmon7956]

It's not Lou's fault. Injuries and lost key players. It's not the same defense. Fire the front office. Better keep him. When we had a defense Lou carried us to a super bowl.

[@slapchop7166]

If Lou goes, then Frank Pollack better be out too!

[@chickengenius4202]

Keep Lou, Fire Zac, Tobin, Pollack

[@jasonhopson7969]

It was bad last year also

[@EvangelismforGod]

Yep!

[@andrewb8017]

Reds do same thing put subpar players on the field and distract from the problem by firing/hiring coaches. Who do you actually think could coach this group up?

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

Great point. It was all Delino Deshields fault reds floundered

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

Now that front office has helped him by adding Isaiah Thomas all he needs is for Troy and PaulH to go get Bill Laimbeer and Joe Dumars and he'll be home free

[@TripleG12398]

Lou is at least part of the problem, especially when talking about myles murphy. the more reps that murphy will get, the better he will play. funny how it took sam hubbard to get injured just so myles murphy can get a 85 PFF pass rush grade. coincidence????? I think not! also, pass rush has been the biggest problem with the defense, not secondary. you can get away with having mediocre corners if you have a consistently good pass rush and the bengals don't have that at all. the bengals are ranked 31st in both sacks and sack yardage which says a lot considering trey hendrickson is the sack leader. myles murphy may not have a sack this year, but he's the best chance of getting pressure on the quarterback outside of hendrickson. he would definitely have some sacks if they kept him in longer. stop using these washed up veterans and develop these young players better!🙄they have the talent.

[@rickscott1730]

@TripleG12398 anything they do from here on out should not be counted against Lou or for Lou because we got a lot of injured players and some of these games are gonna be meaningless

[@stuartturner1431]

The defense was good 1 season with Lou, not great. Otherwise it's been average to bad with the odd stand out performance here and there. No consistency, always trying figure things out. Time to move on.

[@ca9495]

No, Lou cannot save his job. While they are at it, drop that waste of life offensive line coach Frank Pollack. Pollack is just not a good coach, period!!

[@paulgee8113]

MIMMS / THAT WR FROM ALABAMA TERRIBLE DRAFT CHOICES . ALWAYS INJURIED . SHOULD OF NEVER LET MIXON AND BOYD GO . THIS DEFENSE IS AWFUL ...LOU HAS GOT TO GO... THEY WILL HAVE EMPTY SEATS NEXT YEAR IF THEY DONT GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER..😮

[@PurcellGaines-z5i]

The Bengals go 9 8

[@dariusking2927]

Zac has to go he’s the head coach. And coaching staff can’t develop players, draft players. And can’t get a team ready to start the season. End of discussion.

[@513hook513]

All of the coaches need to go. Joe Burrow and Ja'marr playing out of their minds has kept the bengals from being 0-14

[@jasonhopson7969]

I agree he's not the only one. Hobby hasn't developed one dlineman come on man. Since we lost al golson our lbs have went to crap. I worry about zach coaching reach to really improve this staff

[@leseancunningham9456]

Pratt and defense tackling is just abysmal

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

Lou knows xs and os. The room just needs more talent and a new voice. My money is on rob Livingston knowing our ownership so brace yourselves it would be surprise if its Allen Saleh or Eburflus type

[@justmythoughts2786]

Lou has no talent to work with it’s not his fault, Lou can’t get the players he wants cause bengals are cheaper and when someone develops to be good bengals won’t pay to keep them , give John madden that defense or Vince Lombardi they ain’t doing nothing with that talent, but it would be a typical Mike brown move to fire Lou bring some water boy in to run the def because he’s cheaper and next year we will be even worse.. everyone forgets outside of Hendrickson there is no one any good on defense, you got rid of reader , bates , awuize who wasn’t great at all but better than what we got 🤦

[@ohiopigeon]

They should fire everyone, but in reality it won't happen so I'd be happy if it was a t least one fcoach

[@briansiemers5906]

Make him head coach

[@DaveysWonderfulWorld]

Absolute not

[@tylerwombold3478]

Mike brown will keep him I think.

[@valerielittle3311]

O and I believe if anyone gets fired Joe burrow will have a fucking say after this year

[@robertange3891]

Look i agree something has to change. My god its like the whole staff has no gauge in talent. Frank pollack has made every OT worse ( pff grade) since they got here. Then stone a damn flop, nick scott flop, Irv smith flop. Its like nobody can gauge talent. Esp. Esp esp Duke Tobin. !!!

[@brucefangmann5728]

How many all pros have their recent draft picks made. Guess you need more than 6 scouts to draft well. You can’t develop bad players. Front office is clueless. Half of players from superbowl team are gone or too aged.

[@farkbodark7462]

But also it’s the head coach.

[@paulgee8113]

LOU HAS TO GO - SO DOES ZACH TAYLOR . MIKE BROWN . TO HAVE ALL THAT TALENT AND LOSE ALL THOSE GAMES ..

[@tomv4545]

Zac need to go, NOT Lou

[@zachharmon4277]

Zac may need to go, but Lou absolutely needs to go.

[@briansiemers5906]

He doesn’t have s

[@ChrisB-vb9hh]

Lou doesn’t have the talent! Only 2 good players on defense with the rest being okay to practice squad players 💯

[@bigshys]

HAVING A GOOD FINISH DOESN'T COUNT FOR SQUAT..... SHOULDVE DONE THAT TO KEEP US FROM BEING ELIMINATED

[@Tally326]

Someone needs to fire you James.

[@BengalsTalk]

😂😂😂😂

[@kevinsearch6527]

What I can't understand is what do these dudes do at practice. If you sit there game after game of guys not being able to tackle. Wouldn't you spend your practice time on fundamental tackling. Practice wrapping up practice taking proper angles to cut players off. Practice gang tackling. They are obviously not professional in there craft. So how can you progess as a professional unit when you can't even do the number one fundamental aspect in football. It really doesn't matter how long you spend on a game plan if you can't block or tackle. They can't do the simplest fundamentals how can they advance into advanced tactics. There only defense is the NFL as a hole is a trash league of entitled babies that do nothing but worry about their Instagram feed. Practice has been collectively bargained out of the league and has produced an inferior product. Don't even get me started on the bone head mistakes that go on and on game after game. Their low IQ jumps out every Sunday!

[@whodey1975.]

Not many good coaches out there to hire.

[@bradheltonmagee9980]

He needs to go but Taylor the bigger issue

[@PurcellGaines-z5i]

The Bengals steel playoffs mask

[@PurcellGaines-z5i]

The Bengals win super bowl 2026