Sometimes I feel like I only write about them to complain about what they’re doing wrong, but I want to highlight some positive developments this week.
Bengals look serious about fixing things for 2025
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Cincinnati — whether it was solely Zac Taylor or with the consultation of the front office — made the right move in parting ways with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo as soon as the regular season ended.
I am surprised the secondary coaches are being retained, but Laurel Pfahler’s story from this week about the coaching moves mentions they might still be shown the door when a new defensive coordinator is hired.
Taylor says this should be an appealing job, and for once his relentless positivity in a press conference actually rings true.
About that…
A change of tone from Taylor?
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Another quote from Taylor this week also caught my eye.
“I’ll certainly look back over those games that we lost and some of the moments where I need to do a better job of taking control of the game and making sure our team took control of the game in those late moments where you lost games that you were a play or two away,” Taylor said when asked about his own performance. “That’s one of the things that I’ve got to do better. Those aren’t things you can run from when you’re in my shoes. Those are things you’ve got to address head on, and I’ve never had an issue doing that.”
I don’t watch every single Bengals press conference, but this struck me as different from previous messages about the team starting slowly every season — or anything else negative that happens.
It’s not that Taylor shirks responsibility, per se, as much as he (and most of the younger coaches who have come into power lately) just sort of brushes off any criticism whether it has merit or not.
Maybe it doesn’t matter, but this attempt to control the narrative when anyone can see what happened on the field often strikes me as odd, making me wonder what is really going on behind the scenes.
This is an unambiguous acknowledgement, so perhaps that is a good sign for the future both in how he deals with the media and, you know, tries to develop the football team.
Reds make move for now
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
The hot stove finally got stoked again this week when Cincinnati brought in Gavin Lux via trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers to bolster multiple positions.
An infielder by trade, he has both MLB experience and the upside of a former first-round pick and has already been somewhat productive with the arrow pointing up at the end of last season, so this looks like a pretty good move.
Former Dayton Dragon Mike Sirota (and/or whoever the Dodgers get with that draft pick) might yet turn into a major-league player, but someone who can play now is more valuable to the Reds.
This might not be the splashiest move, but that is worth noting.
As for the Buckeyes and Flyers:
You can read more about Ohio State’s matchup with Texas in the Cotton Bowl here, and be sure to check back tonight for a recap of the game.
Coverage of Dayton’s stunning loss at UMass is also available, and we’re inviting UD basketball fans to come and chat with our sports about the second half of the Flyers season and A-10 play at Warped Wing in Springboro on Tuesday, Jan. 14, starting at 6 p.m.
Also make sure you subscribe to David Jablonski’s Flyers newsletter if you aren’t already.
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