Zac Taylor’s former offensive coordinator makes tough decision that many Bengals fans want him to make as well
A former Bengals coach is making a switch. Could Taylor follow suit?
While the Cincinnati Bengals are trying to stay above .500 right now, the Tennessee Titans are just trying to get a win. Titans head coach Brian Callahan, who was Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator from 2019-23, is making a tough decision to make that happen.
Callahan is giving up play-calling duties after three weeks into his second year as head coach. Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree will assume the role as play-caller.
Tennessee is struggling mightily on offense after three weeks, and Callahan is putting his trust in one of his assistants to spark a light.
The very sacrifice he’s now making is one many Bengals fans have wanted Zac Taylor to make for a long time.
Should Zac Taylor follow Brian Callahan’s footsteps and give up play-calling?
Callahan is only 20 games into his head-coaching career after spending the previous five years coaching under Taylor. That he’s making this decision now while Taylor remains the play-caller in Cincinnati is nothing short of eyebrow-raising.
Why? Because Taylor’s offense is really not that much better than his former protege’s.
Bengals & Titans Offense Rankings
- Points per Game: Bengals rank 24th, Titans rank 28th
- Yards per Play: Bengals rank 31st, Titans rank 32nd
- Net Yards per Pass Attempt: Bengals rank 24th, Titans rank 28th
- Yards per Carry: Bengals rank 32nd, Titans rank 23rd
Cincinnati’s offensive ineptitude was on full display before Joe Burrow suffered turf toe during Week 2, and Jake Browning’s first start of the season was anything but positive. A full stable of pass-catchers and an offensive line built to pass-protect couldn’t manufacture any success in their 10-48 blowout defeat last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Taylor and his staff earned a lot of credit in 2023 when they eventually got Browning to produce like a quality starter, but if he can’t achieve similar results this season with Burrow months from returning, the argument for him giving one of his assistants a chance will grow stronger.
Head coaches relinquishing play-calling duties can be seen as a sign of weak job security. Should Taylor follow suit, it might give us a message of how he’s viewed by the front office in his seventh year on the job. It could also be a decision he makes on his own to give the offense the best chance at being revitalized.
If his former OC, who never called plays under him, can reach this conclusion, it stands to reason Taylor can as well. If there isn’t significant progress made on his side of the ball soon, the outcry from fans will only grow louder.
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