Darqueze Dennard left the Bengals slot looking for a job on the outside a few weeks ago, but each never really took their eyes off the other.
When Dennard signed a one-year deal Monday to return as their top inside guy in the passing game he explained it was an issue of comfort even though new coordinator Lou Anarumo is building the defense as we speak.
"There's a lot things that were shook up. Definitely crazy, I will say that," Dennard said of his turn in free agency. "The thing it just came down to is the scheme that fits you. A couple of teams called and I had to weigh some options, Cincinnati being one of them."
Dennard has spoken on the phone only briefly with Anarumo, but he got the sense his defense is going to be familiar to him.
One of the reasons the Bengals covet Dennard and kept enough money around to sign him at the end of their free-agent activity is because he's a hard-nosed student of the game and he's comfortable with the returning secondary coaches in cornerbacks Daronte Jones and safeties Robert Livingston as well as Anarumo's background.
Anarumo coached for a season under Vance Joseph in Miami and Joseph was the Bengals secondary coach in Dennard's first two seasons as well as one of the guys pushing for Dennard in the 2014 first round. Jones is also a Joseph disciple.
"DJ and Rob do a good job of keeping things fresh," Dennard said. "(Anarumo) coached with Vance Joseph so I'm pretty sure there are going to be a lot of similarities."
Another reason the Bengals like Dennard (besides the fact he gives them three productive first-round corners) is because he's a pro's pro. He turned down a better multi-year deal last season to stay and he admits his "comfort zone," is playing outside instead of the slot. But he has vowed to make this a better year for himself and his team and he's buying what Taylor is selling.
"I talked to him a few days ago. Good talk," Dennard said. "We just talked about the excitement of the season. You can definitely tell he's got a lot of energy being a younger guy and also being very successful. That's always good. That's contagious. That's good to have around.
"Change is good."
Dennard, who turns 28 early in the season, has started 19 of his 68 career games and is one of their own they love to keep but still has plenty of ball left.
The oldest vet they retained is 28-year-old Tyler Eifert and fellow tight end C.J. Uzomah just turned 26. Right tackle Bobby Hart has 37 starts before his 25th birthday in August and middle linebacker Preston Brown has 547 career tackles at age 26.
The Bengals re-signed Darqueze Dennard. A look back at some of the best images during his Bengals career.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard (21) runs out to the field before an NFL Football game between Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Darqueze Dennard, CB
Bengals 1st Round Pick
2014 NFL Draft
Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick Darqueze Dennard, a cornerback out of Michigan State, in interviewed inside the NFL football team's locker room, Saturday, May 10, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Darqueze Dennard (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard celebrates with teammates after breaking up a pass against the Cleveland Browns.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Darqueze Dennard (21) in coverage during a week 2 NFL football against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 34-23. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard (21) in action during an NFL regular season game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 in Glendale, Ariz. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard (21) is knocked out of bounds by Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and offensive lineman Brian Schwenke (62) after Dennard intercepted a pass in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Eli Rogers (17) loses the ball after being hit by Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Darqueze Dennard (21) in the second quarter an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Pittsburgh. Rogers recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cincinnati Bengals corner back Darqueze Dennard (21) tackles Marquiss Lee of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Tom DiPace via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Darqueze Dennard (21) breaks up a pass during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 in Cincinnati. (Ryan Meyer via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Darqueze Dennard (21) signs autographs for fans prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Darqueze Dennard (21) reacts during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
