Getting back to basics worked wonders for the Cincinnati Bengals' defense towards the end of 2024. Players made it known how simplifying the scheme helped them play faster and ultimately better during the team's five-game win streak to finish the year.
Realizing this too late was one of the reasons why Lou Anarumo was let go soon after Week 18. Hammering it home as soon as possible would become a feather in Al Golden's cap. Now that Golden is taking over for Anarumo as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, the expectation is to carry that momentum from December into the offseason and beyond.
Linebacker Logan Wilson, who didn't even play during those final five games due to injury, sounds very confident in that happening.
Wilson is one of the few players expected to stick around this season who played under Golden back in 2021. He still has three years remaining on his second contract with the team, and the best season of his young career featured Golden as his position coach during the run to Super Bowl LVI.
One of the things Wilson remembers about Golden's coaching falls in line with how Anarumo's defense got better this past year.
"[Golden] allowed things to be simpler when he was with us," Wilson said to Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson. "And so I feel like that's why we were able to play fast and I'm sure he'll be doing some similar stuff that we used to run. He will have his little nuances in the system. He obviously had that Notre Dame defense cooking."
Consider that box checked with sharpie.
Golden was more than just the team's linebackers coach during his previous stint in Cincy. He was responsible for calls on third down and pass-rushing packages, aspects that directly impacted what was on Wilson's plate as a young starter. It worked splendidly when personnel around him improved, and clearly left a positive mark on Golden.
"I just can't wait to see him to be honest with you," Golden said of Wilson to Dan Hoard on the Bengals Booth Podcast. "He was one of my favorite players of all time. Just the way he conducted himself, the pro that he is. I know he got banged up a little bit last year, so I know he's going to have a little edge to him and and I want to help him every way I can.
"I just can't wait to get to work with him."
For all the unknowns regarding Golden in this new role, maximizing Wilson and the Bengals' linebacker play should not be in question. Wilson hasn't quite been the same player since that '21 campaign, but he'll still be 29 and fully healthy the next time he takes the field.
As for the other 10 players around him, they'll be happy to hear Golden keeps things simple and effective after how the last two years have been.
