After a long and grueling wait, Cincinnati fans can finally rest assured that their team has found a defensive coordinator.
The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Thursday that former New York Giants defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo has been signed as the defensive coordinator.
Many fans worried that Cincinnati was taking too long to sign their defensive coordinator, and what it might mean for the team, as they seemed to be an unattractive destination for defensive coordinator applicants. Jack Del Rio initially emerged as the favorite to take over the defense in the Queen City, however, after meeting with Cincinnati, Del Rio and the Bengals reportedly agreed that they would not be a good fit for each other. What followed was public reception nightmare, as it seemed that every candidate the Bengals had their eyes on beyond Del Rio was either uninterested in the job entirely, or could not agree on contract details.
Nevertheless, the Bengals have finally found their man to lead what was statistically one of the worst defenses in the entire league last season. Anarumo has had experience with Taylor, as both were on the coaching staff of the Miami Dolphins from 2013-2015. This time together can give Bengals fans hope that the two will develop an even greater chemistry in Cincinnati.
As a former defensive back’s coach, fans can hope that Anarumo will be able to address some of the problems in Cincinnati’s secondary. It would be nice for fans to see players like Dre Kirkpatrick and William Jackson receive coaching from someone who has obviously spent a lot of time around the position.
For better or worse, Cincinnati has its defensive coordinator. Only time will tell is Anarumo is the right fit, and whether he, along with the rest of the Bengals staff, can fix the teams problems heading into 2019.
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