Zac Taylor Press Conference – November 2

Yeah, just I can’t I can’t believe it. Can’t believe it. Um is right there and then we just we don’t find a way to get it done and win again. We just got to make one play. Just one play. And uh some of these loss will turn into wins and um so again, we just got to as coaches, we got to spend this week finding a way um finding a way to help everybody and and get it done because this is it’s sick. It’s sick to to lose like that. It’s sick. Um, that’s what happened. So, we got to own it and we got to keep finding ways to improve and and keep finding ways to find a win. Just these last two weeks it hasn’t happened. Zach, are you surprised, frustrated, angry, whatever? Well, we we got to find a way to get them fixed. Um, we are. I mean, we’re like crazy. We’re trying to do everything we can to get it done. And and so again, that’s no it’s not because of a lack of work, lack of effort, lack of um trying to cover every single stone to get it done, but but it’s it is tough. This has just been the result that we’re dealing with. Is there anything you just feel defense has been missing? We just got to find a way to make a play, get off the field. I mean, it’s it’s no turnovers today, you know, and this is a team that’s, you know, they’re going to finish plus two in the turn battle today. Chicago is, and that’s where all their wins have come from. And so you lose the game by five points. They’re plus two in the turnovers. They’ve been plus three, but they’ve been plus four. They’ve been plus three a lot of their wins. And so kind of more the same for that. Zack, it’s a tough game. Plus three today, I guess, is what they were probably. Sorry, Zach. Tough game to play at the nine yard line there. Were you thinking about possibly trying to force them into their final timeout? We ran the ball. I mean, that’s what we did on the first play. Ran the ball. So you get cute and and you you force them to do that and then you have no points and then the game’s over. So, um, we just trust our guys to get out there and make a play and and, uh, that’s just the way it goes. Is it as simple as bringing Coloulston down after he makes that catch there? Just someone tackling him. Get him on the ground. Um, force him into a tough field goal, you know, at that point once the play’s been completed, make him execute. And again, we just didn’t get him on the ground, scored a touchdown, game over. He come back like that. 42. I mean, the Houston game a couple years ago, we were very similar. We were right there a couple years ago. Um, so it’s just it’s that’s a tough one to stomach, but it it’s the result is the result. And and so again, um I feel sick right now, but all we can do is pick ourselves up and keep fighting. And and that’s the beauty of being in this profession and being this locker room is is we see what we’re made of. We’re going to keep fighting. We we know there’s going to be pretty loud noise out there. um criticism. It’s deserved when when we’re the record we are and and the results we’ve had. Um we’re going to keep showing our character and keep fighting and find a way to to lead these guys and find a way to um to make some plays and get some wins and and keep this season alive. That’s what we’re going to do. Can it be fixed on defense? We’re going to find a way. We’re going to do everything we can to find a way. I think it’s impossible for me to say yes or no. We’ve been trying everything we can. Um so we’ll just keep working at it. You scored 38 points last week, 42. Yeah, this week most would say in in the NFL that’s more than enough points to win a game. How do you manage the locker room in not having the offensive players feel any sort of resentment? We fight like hell every single day to maintain the culture we have. Fight fight fight every single day. Talk to everybody I can possibly talk to. Um and we’re fighting and these guys, if you watched in practice, they are like hell working working like crazy in practice. Um, and so again, we just got to get some momentum. Got to get a play. Someone builds off that play and and we we find a way to get some momentum on defense and and um just haven’t found a way to do that lately. Coming into the season, there’s a lot of talk about defense potentially being better through nine games. Why do you think that hasn’t materialized? We just got to find a way. You know, we’re we’re working hard at it and and I know that’s a that’s a hard thing to listen to me say over and over. U there there’s not a magic formula that we’re just going to we would do it if if we could. And so we’re just gonna keep finding ways. We got the by-week. We got to keep working through it. See if there’s something we’re missing. See if there’s something we can we can enhance. Um we’ll work at it. How frustrating is it that Joe Flacco plays through the injury, has the performance he does, and you know, for that to go to waste essentially. How how tough is that given what he’s playing? And there’s a lot of great performances today. What Joe Flacco did for us this week. Um, you’ll never forget, you know, and and I mean, just knowing what our quarterback room is working through right now, what Joe Burrow is doing too and Joe Flacco and what Jake’s all the things he’s done. It’s a really mentally tough room that leads by example. Um, Joe Flacco got the opportunity to show that this week. That’s him. Joe Burrow working like crazy behind the scenes to do everything he can to help our team. Um, you know, Flaco, I mean, he couldn’t he could he barely lift his arm this week, you know, and he’s willing to go put himself out there for a bunch of teammates that he’s been with for three weeks. Um, you know, he’s a football player. That’s what he had up here and said. He said, “I play football for a living. That’s what I do.” And and often times um you need that throughout the locker room. Guys that are just football players and they they remember that and they’ll go out there and do whatever it takes to help their team win a game no matter what. No matter the circumstances, got a bye-week next week, get a chance to get rested up. That’s how Joe Flacco looks at it. And so he went out there and and put himself on the line. I’m sure he’s going to be in a ton of pain tomorrow. Um and we’ll give him 10 days off and and see if he can come back and do it again. The offense had had a terrific game, but what happened on the intentional grounding there on third down? Kind of looked like a weird miscommunication. Yeah, we were checking a play and and um um didn’t everybody get in the field goal. It was after the after that the decision. Was that a tough decision? How It’s a tough decision. It’s a tough decision. You know, you’re it’s tough. you know, whether that was the right thing to do or not. Um, I’ll have to reflect on that. It’s a split-second decision because now now you know, you’re in your head, you’re thinking fourth and three or less potentially. Um, and so then you got to shift very fast to to the decision to kick the field goal and okay, now you’re down four and hope to get another possession, get a stop and go win the game. So, um, it was tricky that that was a decision we made. Obviously, didn’t work out and and I’ll have to digest if if I made the right one there. What is your message to the team heading into a buy? Yeah, we’re I’m going to keep fighting. The coach is going to keep fighting. I know these players have shown that they’re going to keep fighting. It’s frustrating for everybody to put in the work that’s being put in and this is the result we’ve had. It’s it’s frustrating and and uh you know, sometimes you got to take a deep breath and and then come back to work and try to uplift others. That that’s I face a lot of adversity here. Uh and and the only thing I know how to do is is keep trying to lift people up. That doesn’t mean we run from corrections. That doesn’t mean we don’t give criticism. But at the same time, the easy thing to do is question everything and point fingers and and and uh be negative and and be an energy vampire in a lot of ways. And I think we got enough guys that just want to continue to lift people up and find answers, find solutions, help where they can, uh make myself better, make the person next to me better. And that’s that’s all I know how to do. That’s how we built a coaching staff that does that, too. We built a locker room full of leaders and great men that are that are following suit there. And that’s what I’ve seen from them. And that’s just what we’re going to continue to do. And I don’t have something I can say that’s going to say, “Hey, we we we’re just going to fix this and things are going to be better.” It’s not that simple. I wish it was, but um I can promise you we’re going to fight like hell to to keep keep finding wins here and get the season turned around. Are you surprised to see like the tackling issues, especially when Yeah, we work like crazy at it. I mean, it’s it’s it’s all we seem to talk about and work on and and we have to improve. After losses, like especially these last two, do you now going into the buy, are you looking at all personnel for trades, for switches in house? No, I I keep working with the players we got. That’s that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to keep finding solutions with the guys we have, and if something else comes at us, so be it. But that’s um I’m I’m going to work with the players we got in here, and we’re going to keep finding solutions to to what’s going on right now. It’s been tough here at home really going back to the start of last year. Does that add just a little more frustration to this whole thing big picture just how tough it’s been to win here? Yeah, it’s frustrating. I mean, you just our fans, they they show up for us and and you got to give them something. You got to give them something and you know, you did after the Pittsburgh game and then you come back and and you know, the last two weeks have been what they’ve been. So, um that that is tough. It is tough loss. That’s that’s not what we want. Okay, thank you.

Zac Taylor speaks to the media following Week 9 against the Chicago Bears.

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42 comments

  6. This is the worst Bengals team I have seen in many years. That's saying a lot coming from someone who lived and witnessed the bengals of the 90's. This defense is God awful. Absolutely the worst defense in the history of the sport. Al Golden is a joke. Our defense can't tackle, can't pressure the QB, can't cover anybody. Can't find a way to get off the field. It takes the opposing team 2 or 3 plays and they are already in scoring position. This is what happens when half of your team's capital is wrapped up in three offensive players. Have no money to spend on defense. What a joke!! This organization is literally a train wreck from the top down.

  7. Zac seems to have lots of excuses. Maybe it time for him to go to work by teaching his defense how to play fundamental football. Offensive line needs more work too. Joe B needs to work on getting and staying health and stronger for next year vs trying to come back this year. Maybe TH, JMC and JB should try to get out of their contracts or get other teams to buy their contracts because they deserve go to a Super Bowl. Bengals can't do it.

  8. The game against the Jets should have been the final straw for Zac Taylor and the defensive coordinator, and they should trade these defensive players in free agency. I would let them go:
    Trey Hendrickson
    Cam Taylor-Britt
    Geno Stone
    Dax Hill
    Jordan Battle
    And Logan Wilson
    Because they have been responsible for allowing 500 yards per game, and the ineffective secondary and cornerbacks don't know how to tackle and made poor draft picks.They were given a chance because they were rookies, it's been 4 years now and they're not polished players as they should be, y and the safeties react slowly and tackle after the opposing receiver gains a 10-yard advantage from the perimeter.
    He should trade that and look for draft picks because he already spent several picks on Flacco to replace Burrow and I think he should trade them to get some defense.But the best thing is that Zac Taylor leaves because having him for 15 years is like what happened with Marvin Lewis.

  12. I feel bad for Joe Flacco. He is playing like an all-star and not getting any help from the defense. The defense looks like the keystone cops while Flacco is gritting and gutting it out!!! Wow

  17. At one of his press conferences last week Zac said “you guys are asking a lot of defensive questions, but if we just fix a couple things in offense and get up to that 42 point range, that’s a hard threshold for other teams to pass and we’re going to be really hard to beat”

    …. Apparently not. 😞

    Its sad seeing it start to truly effect the locker room now. Zac has lost the locker room and has truly destroyed the culture of this team.

    His general passiveness and lack of defensive knowhow has created a culture of softness within it defensive squad. There is no excuse for our defense to be this bad!

  23. 2 things i think are wrong with the defense…1. no sense of urgency. They are not ready presnap half the time. You guys need to be on it, all over it presnap, eager to stop the play. Energy is just low, theres no movement presnap. Yall have to start playin a lil wild and crazy, but in control. 2. Tackling high every single time has to stop. Stop tryin to strip the ball and tackle the runners legs first and foremost. Theres no reason to let guys get 5+ yrds after contact. This is bc yall are tackling high and trying to take the ball wayyy too much. Lay the wood and get the legs immediately.

  27. Zac has no clue how to address or fix the defense. He's a glorified offensive coordinator, and he's not really that good at that.

    He says we have to keep finding ways to win week after week. Year after year. You haven't found ways to win.

    Don't mistake effort for results!

    Fire him… today.

  28. I waited to reflect before commenting. Something has to change. It's everyone on the team, every coach, every aspect of the office. Look at the product on the field. Hard to argue 40+ but there is something to be said about allowing multiple franchise records to be attained for the opposing team in back to back weeks. Find A way at the moment. Dig deeper. If you know you can't, let someone who has the heart to make the play or make the call get in the plan. WhoDey

  36. As a lifelong bengals fan I am officially done with this team. I am switching to a superior team in the Chicago Bears. They compete and have a better quarterback than our injury riddled overrated bum.

  38. It’s Not Just Zac That Has To Go The Whole Organization Has To Go Simple We Made No Moves For Our D After Letting Teams Score 30+ Last SZN ! It’s Not Just Zac

  40. As long as MB and company owns this team, they will never change how they run their franchise. It’s all about profit and the family business. It’s not about winning Super Bowls it never has been Zach. Taylor is nothing but a yes, man for the clown family fans need to call the Hamilton county commissioners and get on their case for giving them another lease knowing how they operate. I quit going to the games years ago and I stopped being a fan. MB only cares about your money when Joe Burrow retires or his career is cut short due to injuries or he asked to be traded whatever comes first when Burrow is gone, it’s gonna be right back to the 90s again if not worse to all the Bengals fans you gotta ask yourself is it really worth it to support a franchise that does not care about winning as long as they own this team, they will never win a Super Bowl stop going to the games and giving them your hard earned money. They just don’t care.

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