The Bengals defense has struggled to finish games this season. There is, though, still time to turn that around.
Let me start with what might sound like a bold statement: I don’t think the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense is *that* bad. The truth is, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens’ offense is just *that* good.
MVP-level players like Jackson are going to perform at their best, and that’s exactly what he did in the second half on Thursday night.
So, what’s wrong with the Bengals’ defense? Is it poor tackling? Is it an inability to stop big passing plays? Or maybe it’s because Rob Livingston isn’t around this season.
Rob Livingston? Yes, the former Bengals secondary coach, now the defensive coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes. Since he’s taken over at Colorado, their defense has seen a massive improvement, while the Bengals’ defense has regressed. So, here’s the question: Could the Bengals bring back Rob Livingston as their defensive coordinator in 2025?
A lot would need to happen for that to become a reality. First, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders would likely have to leave Colorado to take a head coaching job elsewhere. That could happen, especially since Colorado’s quarterback, Shedeur Sanders (Deion’s son), is expected to be a high draft pick next spring.
Second, the Bengals would have to move on from current defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. The team values continuity, but sometimes things become stale. That may be what’s happening with the Bengals’ defense. Since key players have left, Anarumo’s defense has struggled to maintain the same level of performance it had in 2021 and 2022.
Meanwhile, Colorado’s defense has drastically improved. The Buffaloes are currently ranked 51st in points allowed per game at 22.6. In 2023, they were 124th out of 133 FBS teams, allowing 34.8 points per game. Their yards allowed per game have also dropped by more than 100 yards this season.
For comparison, the Bengals ranked 21st in scoring defense (22.6 points per game) in 2023 and were 31st in total yards allowed per game. This year, they’re 26th in scoring defense (26.2 points per game) and 22nd in yards allowed per game, showing some improvement in that area.
But giving up 30 or more points in four games this season is still a major issue. Interestingly, the Bengals have scored 30 or more points in three of those four games, suggesting their offense is carrying more of the load.
I watched Colorado’s defense up close when they played the Bearcats two weeks ago. They’re outstanding in man coverage, and with Livingston’s background as a secondary coach, he could help the Bengals’ secondary return to being one of the better units in the NFL.
Perhaps the answer to the Bengals’ defensive struggles is in Boulder, Colorado. Maybe we’ve overlooked just how effective Rob Livingston was — and still can be — as a position coach.
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