Bengals' Have MANY Issues on Defense | Can They Be Fixed Midseason?

[@discopotato188]

Everyone who pays attention to this team in the off-season knew the Dline and Corner positions were suspect. Instead of strengthening those positions, like a team that is trying everything possible to win a championship. Katie and Company drafted some guy's and brought in some mid to lower tier free agents. Then they hoped it would be Ok. Hope is not strategy,and it bit them in the ass. Padding your pocket and collecting interest on Billions of Dollars however is rock solid. This is why the Bengals have never won a Superbowl. Katie learned from one of the worst owners in the NFL. Profit>Championships=MikeBrown

[@jp27whodey31]

To be fair Reader was hurt, and there wasn't much available in a nosetackle.

[@joshmorgan838]

@@jp27whodey31 they should’ve brought him back regardless and let the rookies try to fill in that would’ve worked out fine. This secondary was never any good last year and to double down and move hill to corner just shows the ineptness of this staff. Britt was never anything more than a cb2, this nonsense some fans saying he’s all pro caliber was laughable. He’s a mid tier cb2 when he’s playing well. Turner is quick but lacks size and struggles to locate the football. Hill is just a master of nothing. Hilton is a solid but aging slot. The safeties suck. Bell is slow, Battle is smart but lacks athleticism, Stone looks capable if he isn’t asked to do much and he has talent around him but mostly he’s an average safety when he’s relied upon.

[@berns4146]

Saw Reader in a play for the Lions today just straight up run over the lineman trying to block him...Bengals just let him go. What would their defense look like if they'd kept him here?

[@joshmorgan838]

@@berns4146 whomever thought that replacing Rankins a rotational 3 tech with reader a 0/nose was really living in fantasy land. When they got Rankins I thought reader would be a certainty to re-sign and that Hubbard would probably be sacrificed. I should’ve known that when the front office does a contract they can never be bothered to make alterations to those deals 🤦🏻

[@berns4146]

@@joshmorgan838 I guess the truth of the matter can be covered in this way...the Bengals front office is at the root of the vast majority of the teams problems. It always has been, the Brown/Blackburn family takes great pride in doing NFL ownership "their" way and it obviously hasn't been. They've had some runs over the last half century but they're never sustained for long. The sad truth is that right now they have a qb that'd have them competing for a championship every season for over a decade if they'd put the pieces around him.Ownership has never proven that they're capable finding and keeping the right pieces. I don't anticipate them being capable anytime soon.

[@joshmorgan838]

@@berns4146 I guess a broken clock is right twice a day 🤦🏻

[@denniskeane5862]

They need better players. Can't coach Trey's abilities. The problem is the front office, & their poor talent acquisition

[@HaasSpitta]

THIS

[@jp27whodey31]

You absolutely can teach Trey's abilities. He didn't just come out the womb like that, he learned it

[@denniskeane5862]

⁠if it's simply a taught skill, then why aren't they all playing like Trey on every team

[@jp27whodey31]

@denniskeane5862 talent is a factor of course. I meant the technique is taught. Things like leverage, hand placement, awareness, stunts and scheme. It is on the players as well to be open to learning and working at it too.

[@joshmorgan838]

@@denniskeane5862 how gross is it that Trey has 11 sacks, Hubbard has 2 and 6 others have 1 or .5? This d line simply cannot get home and it’s a joke.

[@AS-wu8ob]

Hubbard is a Cincinnati legend, team captain & and sincerely outperformed his rookie contract. It may be time to get Myles Murphy more snaps

[@gyrz19]

It was time to get Myles Murphy more snaps last year.

[@jp27whodey31]

Mike Santagata made GREAT points about player development, as well as Lou having favorites keeping players from from competing at their best. Absolutely a huge issue

[@samuelsnider7651]

Gonna take more than 1 year to get the right def. Players to help this team

[@NathanDean79]

Jordan Battle was ranked by PFF as the 5th best safety in the NFL last year. And what does he get for his efforts? He gets benched for Vonn Bell. Ossai and Murphy don’t get nearly enough playing time because of Sam Hubbard. It’s time to bench Hubbard and Bell. Ossais pressure percentage is 18.6 which is well above average. Murphys is 18% which is also above average. CTB needed to be benched but no choice now but to play him with the injuries we have. Dax Hill was the best CB on the team before he got hurt. Yes he was be had a PFF grade of 76.8. When is the last time CTB had had a grade so high? Uhh never! Dax Hill and DJ Turner should be the starting CBs next year. Jordan Battle should be the starting SS. Nickel and FS should be a contest between CTB, Josh Newton, Tycen Anderson and Dajhan Anthony. And if this is not what the team looks like next year I’ll never watch another Bengals game and never tune in to shows like this again.

[@joshmorgan838]

Dax Hill’s pff grade is window dressing, he wasn’t good. Neither is Battle. You’re right about the lower level free agents and drafting players though. The problem is brown/blackburn don’t realize how exponentially the salary cap is rising and they alienate players due to their lowball offers, especially in guaranteed money. No reason bates should’ve left or Higgins to be leaving next year. Eagles and Lions have no problems retaining their top talent and they also pay big money to their qb’s. If they can’t afford the players take on a partner or an equity based corporation to front that money or sell the team.

[@gyrz19]

That's on Lou. He does a real bad job of playing younger guys, doesn't develop talent.

[@clementsfamily7002]

The Bengals can't afford to extend above league average difference making players because they tie their money up into too many league average to below league average players. We had to let a Corvette (Bates) go, because we are making payments on 4 Lumina's. (B.J. Hill, Logan Wilson, Pratt, Hubbard). 6th highest payroll on defense is a direct indictment of those that decided to offer those contracts. Stop spending money on Lumina's. If you are so adamant that you can't trade draft capital, keep your Corvettes and let the Lumina's go. Draft replacement Lumina's. Put the drafted Lumina's in the game early and live with the Lumina's while you have more Corvette's roaming around. Oh, and you could then afford to sign a true Corvette to add to a drafted Corvette. Think quality in free agency, not quantity. Pay more for 1 difference maker instead of signing the multiple Lumina's we sign of late. You can't win with Lumina's everywhere.

[@uog293]

I think they are more like saturns

[@joshmorgan838]

The teams refusal to structure little to no guaranteed money is killing them. If they don’t have confidence in signing these players get a better coaching staff and or a better scouting staff.

[@JordanT3025]

The only bad players this year is Hubbard . Hill, Wilson and Pratt are decent players but if we didn’t have Tee we would have been able to afford Bates.

[@jp27whodey31]

​@uog293 I was gonna say a taurus lol...I had nothing but problems with my daughter's

[@joshmorgan838]

@@JordanT3025 Hubbard is having a tough season he hasn’t been healthy but his tackle numbers aren’t bad and he seems to be holding up n the run game. But you’re right he’s lacking juice in the pass rush big time but so is everybody be else besides Tre.

[@josephschmidt2183]

They don’t have the players to salvage this season.

[@desmonddaly484]

Jordan Battle, Dax Hill, Myles Murphy and DJ Turner. All didn’t see the field too much or were injured. All talented players… but, where they at?

[@richardarmstead2503]

Zac still under contract for another year so maybe he will get another Defensive Coordinator. Draft a good D lineman and a real linebacker that will tackle.Also get another right guard to block for Burrow. I see no playoff.What did Rankins do.Nothing him and Stone at safety are bad.Zone play is wrong Defense. Weak and cannot tackle.

[@fredbetts3514]

Yea Sam Hubbard gotta go. I appreciate everything he's done for this team but it's time to part ways at the end of the season & let Myles Murphy get more of those pass rushing snaps!!

[@uog293]

Santagata needs to be o line coach!

[@ironmanxrp4980]

Dax is actually looking like the best safety on this team

[@nickolasprala3197]

Agree with Jake, coaching change needed!!! Players are talented and not being used or developed correctly.

[@joshmorgan838]

@@nickolasprala3197 I think it’s a mix of low talent and inability to get the best out of them. Plus suspect drafting

[@WKRPwpig]

I like hearing Jake break down plays and schemes. It's always good when we have someone to break them down with Jake. Jake will sometimes bring it up during the regular show, but James will never engage him.

[@Montrovantis]

That's because James doesn't know.

[@ironmanxrp4980]

Correction... Lou doesn't have his guys... he has the "other" guys...

[@thedailyvlog6854]

The defense might have a chance if Geno Stone, Vonn Bell, Sheldon Rankins and Cam Taylor-Britt are all benched!!!! Start Jordan Battle and Tycen Anderson!

[@joshuacampbell4008]

I think miles Murphy would be just fine if he could get on the field more

[@johneskridge9497]

I read a comment about don't go to the games last time in the 90s when we stopped going to the games the Pittsburgh Steelers bought up all the season tickets so it's like when they come to our field they're at home

[@jonathanh2782]

Don't worry, help is on the way. We will draft another class of projects and hopes and wishes!

[@natej84]

Lou has been terrible at evaluating incoming rookies. Also why do we keep bringing in free agents that don't match Lou's scheme?

[@johneskridge9497]

They had a team meeting the defense and still didn't get much better they need to have another one and everybody just do their job I think they're pretty good players

[@NathanDean79]

Anaroumo needs to be working at Costco.

[@joshmorgan838]

Welcome to Costco….i love you

[@Montrovantis]

Maybe, but this isn't Lou's problem or fault.

[@potatgogrr]

Speaking of Al Golden, it certainly wouldn't hurt to see if they can pry him away from Notre Dame.. 👀

[@jp27whodey31]

CTB and Hubbard have regressed so much, you have to question both their desire and the coaches abilty to get the most out of a guy.

[@jp27whodey31]

Teams with a dominant Offense and suspect defense can win games, but they will rarely be easy. Play calling and clock management has lost us 2 games. And the kicking game has lost us 2 more. With a poor defense there isn't room for those errors.

[@cgendrew83themac]

kinda shows that they didn’t realize how important they were to our defense, thinking you could plug in draft picks and free agents…

[@joesturdivant]

even with Reader we were statistically in the lower half for defenses.. even with Reader line backer play is average.. without Reader linebacker play is exposed..

[@bengalsfandom623]

Chargers fullback is also a backup Defensive Lineman and just like when at the Ravens, Greg roman converted chargers DL to a fullback & backup DL So why wouldn't a converted defensive lineman be good against Hubbard?

[@bengalselite9588]

Get Duke Tobin out the building !! He’s the #1 problem along with coaching and the Front office !!

[@johneskridge9497]

Tyson Tyson Anderson is a beast on special teams why is he not playing more

[@johneskridge9497]

When I watch this defense is Miss tackles they don't know how to tackle

[@uog293]

We need dt de olb cb ss fs we have a defense thats basically the federal government - bloated and ineffective. And we have a media that for two years covered for the team as the real fans understood what was happening- a hollowing out and closure of our window. Now we are in a position where we have so many things to fix we don't even know where to start but the media still can't say the names, Mike Brown and Cersei Blackburn!

[@Montrovantis]

Let's see, the gaps this team needs to fill with quality solutions next year: LG, RG, OC, OT depth, NT, a pass rusher, whether that's some OLB/DE or interior DL whatever, keep Hendrickson, get a #1 CB, a #2 CB, a good starting S and probably a new nickelback. Perhaps another TE if All's career is over or the prognosis is not good. That's about a 20%+ roster turnover and about 85% of your starting roster rebuilt. And it looks like they will have to do this without guaranteeing any money, and assuming they keep Chase, and with that idiot Tobin calling shots.

[@johneskridge9497]

I hate to say everybody's afraid about payday if they would pay the players they'd want to play play Jamar Chase auntie Higgins we need them both

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

Minimum Burks and Hobby gonna be sacrifices. Lou probably survives.

[@joshmorgan838]

@@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru the secondary coaches corner and safety coaches need to be replaced. They’ve done 0 for the development of any of these players and Dax hill is a shining example. Britt has gone from solid starter to practice squad fodder.

[@JeantsJourney]

It’s about time for Hubbard to go ahead and get his CDLs 😂

[@johneskridge9497]

I'm using the mic so I'll figure it out it's not catching my words right sometime

[@johneskridge9497]

And where is Charlie Jones the fancy punt returner was supposed to have he's a added receiver seems like a side disappeared

[@johneskridge9497]

Some players aren't given the first chance like Tyson Anderson what happened to Joseph osai he was much better last year

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

The first lb coach under zac in 20 was horrible.

[@nazmaster1]

I say if we actually do trade tee which we shouldnt we should pay jmarr and get jesse bates back and focus on defence and o line

[@joshmorgan838]

@@nazmaster1 if you think this team is bad now wait until tee is gone

[@johneskridge9497]

Hubbard's an old man he's been around since 18 I forgot how Lamar still on them twice

[@johneskridge9497]

I forgot about who's away

[@sleazym9685]

They might have the guy but he hasn’t even touched the field. They also should have kept 53 Bell from preseason a player can show he the guy and the bengals let him go I have watched a few preseason games threw every season and every year they keep a person that is not good and let the player who shows the flashes you want to see and they don’t sign them it shows if they don’t daft a good player it’s over and they don’t even give the rookie players a chance a couple snaps a game is not how you find your guy let them play the starters are not doing a good job how many games will you loose before you make a change make in game changes next man up if you not productive have a seat

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

Move CTB to safety!!

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

Dont have the horses. Needed vet DE and Corners but did NOTHING . Not enough imagination in line stunts . Savior Stone ended up another Nick Scott

[@alainagehrig2736]

All they needed was a pass rusher on defense. No defense can last 5,6,7 seconds or more! Other teams, better than ours picked up players, not us! Man we knew by week six what we needed. Did nothing! Typical Bengal owners playbook! Sucks being a fan. Don’t go to the games, that’s all they care about, money!!!$$$

[@lawrencepennington7396]

Having no DEFENSE IS OUR failure and maybe TIME FOR A NEW DEF COACH!But STILL IT'S TAKE 💰 FOR A BETTER DEFENSE AND THAT'S MIKE'S BROWN fault PERIOD!😭

[@jp27whodey31]

Saying the defense is poorly coached is nut just an indictment on the coaches, but aslo the players willingness to put forth the effort to learn, and stay focused

[@thedailyvlog6854]

Start Daijahn Anthony instead of Taylor-Britt replace Rankins with the Kris Jenkins Jr. And McKinley Jackson!!!

[@johnkammer4754]

Never conceed

[@johneskridge9497]

MI

[@lawful_laughter]

Pollock drinking too many Miller lites he's cooked

[@joshuacampbell4008]

Not to mention Lamar Jackson stiff armed him off of him Hubbard then reengaged and got stiff armed again into the dirt just saying

[@scifirod5914]

Please let gino( hands of stone ) go...he has been a waste, now he is running his mouth saying, he don't know why he signed here... ARE YOU KIDDING ME. HE SUCKS, HES SLOW. CANT MOVE, CANT RUN, CANT DEFEND, WHY IS HE HERE ANYWAY... OH YEAH, FREE PAYCHECK FOR SUCKING....

[@lawrencepennington7396]

It's all started with a bad decisions to get rid of ARE OLD players on DEFENSE PERIOD!!!Just A CHEAP PAYING TEAM PERIOD😢

[@sleazym9685]

Play man defense because they don’t know how to play zone defense it’s simple

[@johnb4823]

CUT! Pratt

[@joshmorgan838]

Pratt has been solid, why would you cut him? He plays every week, makes 7 million a year which is very modest for a veteran lb. I’d argue he’s better than Wilson.

[@johnb4823]

He will not tackle nobody. 🤷‍♂️

[@JLock1987]

I can’t believe the title of this. I wish Bengals content creators would get their heads out of their ass and objectively cover this team? Can the Bengals fix the defense midseason? Can they do it in two years is really the question. My goodness. The coverage this year is worse than the team.

[@LockedOnBengals]

This comment is ridiculous lol.

[@joshmorgan838]

I mean we’ve watched this defense all year and I don’t disagree, this defense is horrid and has shown no signs of being able to play for 60 minutes. This season is over. The defense lacks talent and more importantly, isn’t coached up at all in situational football. Lou’s system is good when it’s working but there has been a tremendous breakdown in the secondary over the last two seasons and it isn’t getting better. They seem lost whenever a big play is needed.

[@JLock1987]

@@LockedOnBengals that isn’t a rebuttal. Why in the world are we asking the question can the Bengals fix their defense mid season? 1) it’s not mid season 2) they have a less than 20% chance of making the playoffs 3) the evidence is overwhelming that they cannot. Once again, coverage of this team from talking heads that predicted 13 wins has been atrocious.

[@cadenbuschur4260]

This is a ridiculous comment. You don’t need to agree with everything they say

[@loganlibra5705]

so why keep doing the same thing over and over and think it's going to work? isn't that the definition of insanity? why not adapt to the talent that you have? sounds like Lou is his own worst enemy. to stubborn to get out of his own way. when Marv fired the d coordinator and took over the defense, he switched things up and within a couple of weeks you could see the improvement

[@GK-wx6xo]

Myles Murphy was always going to be a bust. He wasnt good in college and sure enough he's low effort low strength DL with virtually no technique

[@AS-wu8ob]

Cam is getting too much heat this year from the media. He was a solid number 2 CB letting go of awuzie, reader, and bates then expecting cam Taylor Britt to make up for that is crazy!

[@Nowaythisisright]

this season is over. Hubbard must go . Taylor must go. The hosts of this show must go. Nuff said....!!!!!

[@thedailyvlog6854]

Get Bill Belichick or Coach Prime!

[@AnthonyMancuso-pt4ru]

Golden gone. Boettcher still there

[@AS-wu8ob]

Made no sense to let reader and Jesse bates go

[@lawful_laughter]

They got to get them players for less. 😆

[@jables1992]

Gotta bring back Zimmer after McCarthy gets fired and the entire staff leaves Dallas.

[@justmythoughts2786]

It’s over just tank out the rest of season for draft pick

[@zoneworld308]

They won't do that

[@Justsomedude-713]

Fellas everyone with even rudimentary knowledge of football knows that the front office is the problem and always will be. The countdown is on for Burrow’s time with our team. He’s not gonna keep putting up with this. I give it 2 more years and he will be demanding a trade. Because Burrow prioritizes winning and the front office DOES NOT.

[@ryanmcdonald1672]

Stop backing the casinos

[@ryanmcdonald1672]

Instantly lose ur fin money quit giving casinos money

[@johneskridge9497]

They had a team meeting the defense and still didn't get much better they need to have another one and everybody just do their job I think they're pretty good players

[@sleazym9685]

They might have the guy but he hasn’t even touched the field. They also should have kept 53 Bell from preseason a player can show he the guy and the bengals let him go I have watched a few preseason games threw every season and every year they keep a person that is not good and let the player who shows the flashes you want to see and they don’t sign them it shows if they don’t daft a good player it’s over and they don’t even give the rookie players a chance a couple snaps a game is not how you find your guy let them play the starters are not doing a good job how many games will you loose before you make a change make in game changes next man up if you not productive have a seat

[@johneskridge9497]

Play the young guys Tyson Anderson