Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals

In the NFL, a team’s defensive success isn’t just about talent—it’s about how well that talent executes cohesive, adaptable schemes. For the Cincinnati Bengals, their ability to shut down elite offenses this season traces back to a rigorous practice routine focused on refining and perfecting defensive strategies. Led by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the Bengals spend hours each week breaking down opponents’ tendencies, adjusting their schemes to exploit weaknesses, and drilling players until every read, tackle, and coverage assignment becomes second nature. What sets their approach apart is the blend of attention to detail, flexibility, and player input—turning practice fields into labs where good schemes become great ones. Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals explores the structure of their practice sessions, how they tailor schemes to specific opponents, the role of film study in refinement, player feedback loops, and how practice success translates to game-day dominance.

Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals opens with the structure of the Bengals’ defensive practice sessions, which balance repetition and innovation. Each week starts with “install days”: Anarumo and his staff introduce 2-3 new schemes or adjustments, using whiteboard breakdowns and video clips to explain the logic behind each play. For example, if the Bengals are facing a pass-heavy team like the Kansas City Chiefs, they might add a “zone blitz” package that sends linebackers or safeties while dropping defensive linemen into coverage. The team then moves to walkthroughs—slow, no-contact reps where players focus on alignment and communication—before progressing to full-speed drills. “Repetition is key, but it has to be intentional,” Anarumo said. “We don’t just run a scheme 10 times—we run it until every player knows where their help is, what the opponent’s likely counter is, and how to adjust on the fly.” This structure ensures that by game day, even complex schemes feel intuitive, letting players react to the offense instead of overthinking.

Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals delves into how the Bengals tailor their schemes to neutralize specific opponents, a process that starts with exhaustive film study. Every Monday, the coaching staff compiles a “tendency report” on the upcoming opponent: how often they run vs. pass on third down, which receivers they target in the red zone, and how their quarterback reacts to pressure. This data drives scheme adjustments. When facing the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson—one of the league’s top mobile quarterbacks—the Bengals added a “spy” assignment to their base defense: a linebacker (usually Logan Wilson) tasked with shadowing Jackson, preventing him from scrambling for big gains. In practice, they simulated Jackson’s moves using backup quarterbacks, drilling the spy on when to stay with the QB and when to help on run plays. The result? In their Week 11 win over the Ravens, Jackson was held to just 28 rushing yards and sacked 3 times. “We don’t just prepare for ‘a quarterback’—we prepare for that quarterback,” said defensive line coach Marion Hobby. “Practice lets us test those adjustments until they’re flawless.”

Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals covers the role of film study in refining schemes, both before and after practice reps. After each drill, the Bengals review footage as a group, pointing out small mistakes—like a cornerback being a step out of position or a blitzer taking the wrong angle—that could lead to big plays in games. For example, during a practice leading up to their game against the Buffalo Bills, film revealed that the Bengals’ zone coverage was leaving tight end Dawson Knox open in the middle of the field. The staff adjusted the scheme, having the middle linebacker drop an extra yard to cover Knox, and ran the drill again until the adjustment stuck. This feedback loop ensures that mistakes in practice become lessons, not game-day errors. “Film doesn’t lie,” said safety Jessie Bates III. “We’ll watch a rep where we gave up a touchdown in practice, and Anarumo will ask, ‘What could we have done differently?’ It’s not about blaming—it’s about getting better together.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, this commitment to film-driven refinement turns good schemes into airtight ones, minimizing the opponent’s opportunities to exploit gaps.

Another layer of Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals is the emphasis on player feedback, which gives veterans a voice in shaping how schemes are executed. Anarumo regularly meets with leaders like Bates, Wilson, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson to get their input on what’s working and what isn’t. For instance, Hendrickson suggested adjusting the Bengals’ pass-rush alignment to give him a better angle against right tackles—a tweak that was tested in practice and led to two sacks in their next game. “The players are the ones on the field, so their input matters,” Anarumo said. “If a linebacker says a blitz route is too tight, we’ll adjust it. If a cornerback says a coverage assignment is confusing, we’ll simplify it.” This collaboration not only improves the schemes but also boosts buy-in: when players feel like they’ve helped design a strategy, they’re more motivated to execute it perfectly. For the Cincinnati Bengals, this player-coach partnership is a key part of their practice success—it turns top-down schemes into team-owned strategies that everyone is invested in.

Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals explores how practice success translates to game-day dominance, with a focus on critical moments where refined schemes made the difference. In their Week 16 win over the Chiefs, the Bengals used a “fire zone” blitz package they’d practiced extensively that week: sending five defenders while dropping two defensive linemen into coverage. The scheme confused Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw an interception to Bates that set up the game-winning field goal. After the game, Mahomes admitted, “Their defense was doing things we hadn’t seen on film—little adjustments that kept us off balance.” Those adjustments weren’t random; they were tested and refined in practice, with the Bengals simulating the Chiefs’ offensive sets hundreds of times. “Practice is where we build confidence,” said Wilson. “When we run a scheme in a game and it works, it’s because we’ve already done it 50 times in practice—against our own offense, which is one of the best in the league.” For the Cincinnati Bengals, this translation from practice to games is the ultimate measure of their scheme-perfecting process—it’s where hours of work turn into wins.

Defensive Schemes Perfected in Practice by the Cincinnati Bengals closes with why this commitment to refining schemes in practice has become a cornerstone of the Bengals’ identity. In a league where offenses are constantly evolving, the Bengals’ ability to adapt and perfect their defense in practice keeps them ahead of the curve. It’s not just about winning games—it’s about building a sustainable culture of excellence, where every detail matters and every practice rep is an opportunity to get better. As they head into the playoffs, the Bengals know that their most complex schemes, their most precise adjustments, and their most clutch defensive plays all started on the practice field. “We don’t win games on Sundays—we win them Monday through Friday,” Anarumo said. For the Cincinnati Bengals, defensive schemes perfected in practice aren’t just a strategy—they’re a promise: that when the lights come on, they’ll be ready to outthink, outexecute, and outplay any offense in their way.