Bengals: Zac Taylor's strength as a head coach goes beyond X's and O's.
Over four years later, the word that resonates from Zac Taylor's introductory press conference is culture. The Cincinnati Bengals hired a head coach that understood real change would come from beyond bringing in new talent and a fresh system, a complete mentality reset would trump everything else. But that takes time, and the results aren't […]
Over four years later, the word that resonates from Zac Taylor's introductory press conference is culture. The Cincinnati Bengals hired a head coach that understood real change would come from beyond bringing in new talent and a fresh system, a complete mentality reset would trump everything else.
But that takes time, and the results aren't immediate. Just look at the Bengals' 6-25-1 record in Taylor's first two years back in Cincinnati.
When head coaches—specifically those with play-calling duties—are ranked against their peers, their role as the roster's CEO and instiller of culture doesn't get brought up as often as it should. Results drive the discourse, and Taylor is finally gaining the respect he deserves as the conductor who started it all.
As it turned out, the intersection of scheme and culture both fitting the roster happened at about the same time. It's what's led to the Bengals' success the last two seasons, and his true strength is getting recognition.
Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson put it best when discussing how much credit Taylor deserves for the Bengals' success. Taylor's work at implementing effective scheme took longer than expected after coaching under Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay. But the culture shift he's created is becoming undeniable to the masses.
"I thought initially, he was simply not a particularly good head coach because I don't think he's schematically where he was supposed to be coming across from the Sean McVay system. But I'm starting to buy into the idea that he is sort of setting this culture that is having success in Cincinnati." – PFF's Sam Monson
Culture only goes as far as the team's record, and selling it was near impossible after two seasons of straight losing. But what happens behind the scenes can only be viewed by who's already on that side of the curtains.
Bengals' ownership falls into that category, and when skepticism was at its peak towards the end of 2020, Mike Brown and the Blackburns held strong in their support of Taylor's vision. It's paid off tremendously since.
You can muster up legitimate critiques of Taylor as a play-caller, game manager, and most other aspects that are observable from the television broadcast. But being a head coach entails so much more responsibility than what can be encapsulated from afar.
Taylor came in with a promise. While the schematics have indeed changed course, his path of culture has never taken a wrong turn.
Bengals: Zac Taylor is absorbing winning lessons from the Cincinnati Reds
Taylor has been meeting with Reds skipper David Bell amidst the team’s winning streak.
Featured image via © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
