The Bengals are on pace to have the worst defense of all time, but HC Zac Taylor is sticking with DC Al Golden and his defensive coaching staff. After yet another fatiguing collapse, he gave a passionate defense of Golden, citing his own history. Noting the team’s awful record his first two seasons, he said he’s glad the Bengals stuck by him.
“I believe in the people that we’ve hired”, Taylor said of Golden, who is in his first year as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator. “I sit in there and watch these guys coach. I know what they’re made of. I know where we can continue to grow. So when you believe in people, you don’t just make a gut reaction from what people want to see that aren’t necessarily a part of it”.
Through nine games, the Bengals have allowed 300 points on defense under Golden. That puts them on pace for 567 points allowed, the most ever by 33 points. The Carolina Panthers set the current record just last year by allowed 534. But the Bengals are also allowing the most points per game in the modern era at 33.34, slightly above the 1981 Baltimore Colts.
“I understand the frustration. I get it. I’d be frustrated, too, if I was outside the building”, Taylor said, once again defending the job Al Golden has done. “We’re gonna get it fixed. We’re gonna continue to work it. I trust every coach we’ve got in this building to get it done. Or else they wouldn’t be here”.
Golden had never held a coordinating position in the NFL before Taylor hired him to lead the Bengals’ defense. Replacing longtime DC Lou Anarumo, his first foray has left much to be desired. While his coaching career goes back three decades, including a decade as head coach at the college level, Golden has only spent seven seasons in the NFL.
Including two seasons on Anarumo’s Bengals staff on defense, where Golden served as linebackers coach in 2020-21. Before that, he spent four seasons with the Lions, first as tight ends coach, then as linebackers coach. Between 2022-24, he returned to college as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator.
The Bengals rank 32nd in both points and yards allowed this year under Al Golden. They have given up the most rushing yards and the second-most passing yards, and the second-most yards and points allowed per drive. Four times this season, they have allowed 37-plus points and twice allowed 47-plus.
This is a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Even after losing Joe Burrow, the Bengals miraculously salvaged their offense with Joe Flacco. But Golden’s defense has cost the Bengals dearly. In the past three games, they have scored at least 33 points each week, with just a 1-2 record to show for it. They just became the first team in decades to lose back-to-back games in which they scored at least 38. They’re making all the wrong kind of history, but Zac Taylor is staying the course.
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