After a disappointing 0-2 start, a player described the Cincinnati Bengals situation as “toxic” while the team fired offensive coordinator Ken Zampese. The Bengals made the move after becoming the first team since the 1939 Philadelphia Eagles to start the season without a touchdown in two home games. According to the Bengals, quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor will take over coordinator duties. Lazor last coordinated the Miami Dolphins in 2014 and 2015. He also worked under Chip Kelly in Philadelphia before joining the Dolphins.
However, head coach Marvin Lewis said Andy Dalton’s job as starting quarterback is secure despite struggling to find the end zone.
"No, I'm not worried about Andy," Lewis said when asked if there will be a quarterback change in Cincinnati. In his first two starts, Dalton completed just 36 of 66 passes for 394 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions for a passer rating of 47.2. The Bengals have AJ McCarron as a backup in case they decide on a quarterback change.
Zampese lasted just 18 games as OC
After earning the offensive coordinator job last season, Zampese lasted just 18 games on the job. He joined the Bengals as quarterbacks coach in 2003 and waited in line behind Bob Bratkowski, Jay Gruden and Hue Jackson for the OC position. In a statement, Lewis thanked Zampese for his tremendous job in his 15 years with the organization.
However, Lewis emphasized that a change was needed to inject new life into the offense.
Lewis is confident that Lazor can improve the Bengals’ dismal offense moving forward. “We have a lot of talent on offense, and we need to keep working to take full advantage of the personnel we have,” said Lewis. Under Zampese, the Bengals offense dipped from seventh in 2015 to 24th in points per game last season.
In their first two games, the Bengals generated just nine total points with an average of 258 yards and four sacks per game.
Bengals players frustrated with 0-2 start
Omar Ruiz of NFL.com reported that some Bengals players are frustrated with their 0-2 start. According to Ruiz, one player said “it’s toxic in here” while leaving the locker room following their 13-9 loss to the Houston Texans Thursday.
However, Ruiz did not identify the player in his report. Wide receiver A.J. Green also expressed his frustrations after not getting enough chances to make plays. “I need the ball in my hands somehow, somewhere, we gotta find a way to get me the ball," Green said. The Bengals will try to avoid a 0-3 hole when they take on the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 24 at Lambeau Field.
