That didn’t take too long. Just three games into the new season, Cincinnati Bengals defensive players are already upset with the scheme the team is running.
At least, this is what Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald is reporting.
The primary issue here appears to be a rift between defensive backs and new assistant coach Kevin Coyle, who is tasked with coaching them after serving as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator over the past four seasons.
“But some of the issues that helped derail Coyle’s time here have followed him to a new address,” Beasley reported. “Word out of Cincinnati is that there’s already friction in the defensive backs meeting room, which he leads.”
There’s definitely something happening in Cincinnati. Its defense has allowed nine touchdowns compared to three interceptions for a 95.5 quarterback rating in three games.
Comparing this to how Cincinnati’s defense performed under former coordinator Vance Joseph, and there’s definitely been some regression. This unit allowed 18 touchdowns compared to 21 interceptions a season ago.
Three games is a rather small sample size. That much is known. Also known is the fact that Coyle didn’t exactly depart South Beach on the best of terms after being fired last season.
If he’s already having issues connecting with players in Cincinnati, there’s surely going to be problems moving forward.