Bengals DC Lou Anarumo tells it like it is with defensive issues
Explosive plays have done extreme damage to the once great defense for the Cincinnati Bengals. It's what ultimately gutted them in last week's 34-11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. kIn preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs and keep their season alive, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo kept it simple in regards to what needs […]
Explosive plays have done extreme damage to the once great defense for the Cincinnati Bengals. It's what ultimately gutted them in last week's 34-11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
kIn preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs and keep their season alive, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo kept it simple in regards to what needs to be done.
"We have to stop these big plays. Let's call it what it is," Anarumo told media members Wednesday afternoon.
No need to complicate things. He's absolutely right.
Only one other defense has allowed more 20+ yard passes than Anarumo's, and only five have allowed more 10+ yard runs. Combine the two and Cincinnati has surrendered the most explosive plays out of any defense with a whopping 111. Only six other clubs have allowed more than 100.
| Team | Explosive Plays Allowed |
|---|---|
Bengals | 111 |
Packers | 109 |
Cardinals | 105 |
Broncos | 103 |
Colts | 101 |
Commanders | 101 |
Giants | 101 |
Stathead.com
Be it from a lack of consistent pass rush or an inexperienced secondary, the Bengals sure know how to boost the confidence of offenses. Where they do their best work is when their backs are up against the wall. Anarumo's unit has forced nine turnovers after the opposition advanced the ball inside the 25-yard line.
The red zone has often become the dead zone for opposing teams, but the ease of which they arrive there has to become more difficult for this defense to become stable once more.
Last Saturday saw the Steelers produce 196 yards on three explosive plays to George Pickens alone. It doesn't matter what unlikely turnover phenomena you have going for yourself, that's asking to get blown up.
Is this an ideal week to correct the issue? The Kansas City Chiefs rank 15th in producing explosive passing plays on the year, and rank 20th since their Week 8 when their six-game win streak was snapped and offensive inconsistencies really began emerging.
The Chiefs' current flux helps, but there's no offense that the Bengals can take lightly after what Mason Rudolph and the Steelers did to them. Anarumo's simplistic message says it all.
Déjà vu is hitting the Bengals in a unique way
They’ve been in this spot before.
