Should the Bengals make coaching changes?

Should Callahan move on to bigger things, the succession plan is already in place. Quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher received a raise last year while garnering interest to become an offensive coordinator elsewhere. The club would replace Callahan with Pitcher, and Pitcher's spot at QB coach would likely be filled by assistant quarterbacks coach Brad Kragthorpe.

Callahan could disrupte this succession if he plucks some of his fellow assistants to his new team. Pitcher could become his OC, or Kragthorpe his QB coach, or any other Bengals coaches looking for a promotion could latch on to his departure. But if Cincinnati simply needs a coach to take Kragthorpe's current role, there are far more damaging outcomes.

Alterations to the group that influences Cincinnati's offense does not include Taylor relinquishing play-calling duties. We're hear to discuss staff turnover and nothing more.

While Callahan is getting plenty of attention across the league for helping backup QB Jake Browning make a name for himself, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo looks primed to stay in town after an underwhelming year for his unit. Cincinnati finished 27th in EPA/play allowed and 23rd in defense DVOA. Anarumo was a finalist to become the Arizona Cardinals' head coach this time last year. There's been no reports of any team wanting to interview him this hiring cycle. 

What about changes under Anarumo? Defensive line coach Marion Hobby is one of their best position coaches, as is linebackers coach James Bettcher, who'd be an in-house candidate to become the DC when Anarumo eventually moves on. Bettcher was the New York Giants' defensive coordinator from 2018-19. Anarumo was his defensive backs coach in 2018.

Any changes would happen in the secondary, where the real trouble of the defense occurred. Charles Burks wrapped up his second year working with the cornerbacks, and Robert Livingston has now been the safeties coach for six seasons. Livingston is one of the three assistants who were Marvin Lewis holdovers when Taylor took over for Marvin Lewis in 2019.

Safety play for Cincinnati really took a downturn when Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell left and were replaced by the group of Dax Hill, Nick Scott, and Jordan Battle. How much blame does Livingston deserve for failing to integrate the trio at the necessary speed? Does Anarumo shoulder most of that for schematic reasons? The answer is probably in the middle somewhere. 

Offensively, offensive line coach Frank Pollack being let go wouldn't have surprised many. His traditional scheme has been ousted for the sake of maximizing the personnel he's been handed over the past two years. Pollack has a wide zone background, and the Bengals' offensive line is best utilized running gap schemes instead. 

The OL coach who's also the run game coordinator having to avoid scheming his bread and butter seems illogical. A lot of Pollack's criticisms have originated from seemingly failing to develop young and experienced players alike, but his main responsibilities involve getting them ready to play, not fixing their individual issues. 

Pollack would likely find another job very quickly if let go. He's not a bad coach by any means, but one should wonder if he's the right fit for what the Bengals want to do going forward. 

It's been nearly a week since Taylor made his statement, and no changes have been made to his staff. We're likely past the point of the Bengals making a proactive move in this area.

If similar issues occur next season, this conversation will not be so hypothetical.