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You are here: Home / Archives for Taylor Cornell

You’re Not Mad at Zac Taylor’s Playcalling

October 11, 2022 Taylor Cornell Leave a Comment

You’re not mad at Zac Taylor’s playcalling. At least, you probably shouldn’t be. What a preposterous thing to say, right? An offense of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon, among others, is averaging just 21.6 points per game. They rank 22nd in the league in yards per game. They have 12 drives that were three-and-outs through their first five games. The offense has not been good in 2022, at least not consistently. And as the fanbase reacts to another close loss to a divisional opponent in Week 5, the cries for Coach to relinquish his playcalling duties grow even louder. But you’re wrong.

The Progress

While the offense has fallen short of expectations so far, that does not mean there have not been meaningful changes and progress from last year. For a team that converted just 26.0% of their short yardage situations last year (0-3 yards to go), they have seen a substantial improvement in that area, now converting at a 34.5% clip which is good for 2nd in the league. 

Additionally, we have seen Ja’Marr taking more snaps from the slot this year. Chase saw 26 targets from the slot across 17 regular season games in 2021. That number is already up to 17 slot targets through five games this year, according to SIS. We have also seen Ja’Marr motion into the backfield and receive both targets and carries from that alignment. These efforts to get Chase moved around the formation and get space are not always successful plays, but the process is there.

Even in-season, we have seen Zac Taylor’s playcalling evolve. In Week 2, 72% of the snaps from under center were run plays, including an astounding 15/17 in the second half. In Week 5, Joe Burrow only took 7 snaps from under center, with four runs (including a sneak) and three pass attempts. The predictability of going under center on every first down and running wide zone has dissipated and given way to more shotgun handoffs. 

Beyond just the shift to more shotgun snaps, even for running plays, we have seen Zac Taylor attempt more gadget plays to ignite the offense. In Week 4, Tyler Boyd’s 23-yard completion to Ja’Marr Chase converted a key third down on a drive that ultimately ended in three points and gave Cincinnati the lead. In Week 5, the ‘Philly Special’ had an unspectacular result, but it DID display some outside the box thinking from Taylor. 

Week 5 also showed a change in playcalling to quick passes to get the ball into the hands of your playmakers and let them run after the catch. After totaling eight screen passes in Weeks 1-4, Coach Taylor dialed up six screens in Week 5 alone. And again, while the results were not explosive, they showed a willingness to try new ways to get the ball out and stay ahead of the chains.

The Player Execution

While Zac Taylor hasn’t been perfect by any means, the player execution has left a lot to be desired as well. Let’s start with the running game. To kick off the season, Joe Mixon was one of seven running backs in NFL history to have at least 80 carries and average fewer than 2.7 YPC in his team’s first 4 games. While the volume was there, the efficiency clearly was not. Mixon has struggled getting consistent yardage, ranking fourth-worst in the league in Rushing Yards Over Expectation. Not only has he not gained the yardage blocked for him, he rarely makes defenders miss to get the extra yards. Mixon ranks dead last in PFF’s Elusive Rating among running backs with at least 50 carries, meaning he rarely forces any missed tackles. While playcalling can certainly impact a running back, Mixon hasn’t done much to help himself.

Joe Burrow also has started a bit slow out of the gates. In addition to the five turnovers in Week 1, Joe has at times held the ball far too long, resulting in sacks. At other times he has rushed to his checkdown and missed open receivers. And in Week 5, he had three passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. Burrow should only become more comfortable as the season progresses and the offensive line continues to gel, but thus far we have seen some uncharacteristic mistakes from Joe that have contributed to the offensive woes.

Here’s Your Problem

A Head Coach bears the brunt of the responsibility when the team underachieves, and usually doesn’t receive enough praise when the team overachieves. That comes with the territory. But the outcry over Taylor’s playcalling after Week 5 are simply overblown. You are upset with the results, but blaming the process. If you separate the two, you can see how the process is improving. Improving season over season, week to week. The results are inconsistent and until the offense clicks more often than not, it will remain a pain point for fans. Does Zac Taylor lack situational awareness at times? Certainly. But situational awareness is also separate from playcalling. If we trust the process is moving in the right direction and believe in the players to clean up their execution, we should expect the results to follow shortly thereafter.

Opinion, Statistics Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals, play calling, Zac Taylor

Preseason Week 2: The Good, Bad, and Nothing Too Ugly

August 22, 2022 Taylor Cornell Leave a Comment

As the second of three preseason games concludes, the roster begins to take shape just a bit more. After the loss to the Giants in New York, here are some takeaways as the season grows closer:

The Good

Daxton Hill

You cannot begin to discuss Week 2 of the preseason without mentioning the play of Daxton Hill. Last week, we saw his versatility on display, and he nearly came down with an interception in the end zone. This week, he was able to make a diving play on a tip-drill interception that ended a Giants drive that had entered Bengals territory.

INTERCEPTION DAX HILL!

TUNE IN: 📺 Local 12 📲 Bengals App pic.twitter.com/ntee2uNA0B

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 21, 2022

That wasn’t even the most impressive play from Dax in this game, in my opinion. On the very first drive, quarterback Daniel Jones made a throw into the flat on 3rd&5. We saw Dax Hill quickly process what was happening, then FLY to the ball, closing ground quickly and making an impressive open field tackle to stop the receiver short of the sticks. The drive resulted in a turnover on downs and showed yet again the athleticism Hill possesses. It certainly appears the first round pick is ready to make an impact for the Bengals defense sooner rather than later.

Dax Hill prevents the first down pic.twitter.com/RuXzSleg5b

— Laurie Fitzpatrick (@LaurieFitzptrck) August 21, 2022

Cordell Volson

By all accounts, Volson had an up and down performance working as the Left Guard for the entirety of the game. However, save for one rough sequence in the first half, Volson was solid enough. Coupled with Jackson Carman’s struggles last week and absence from the entire week past of practice, Volson appears to now have the inside track for the starting LG job. Assuming Carman gets healthy enough to return to practice this week, he will likely get another crack at the starting role. The third and final preseason game could be the last opportunity for these two to duke it out and see who wins the job outright.

CB and WR Depth

For the second week in a row, Trent Taylor made some plays at receiver, and an undrafted free agent splashed. One week after Kendric Pryor put up a 4/89/1 line, it was Kwamie Lassiter’s turn to impress with a 7/91 performance. It remains to be seen how many receivers the Bengals hold on their active roster this season, but the early returns on these depth guys is promising.

At cornerback, both Allen George and Jalen Davis were impressive again, albeit largely against backups. George had three pass breakups, and Davis was second on the team with eight tackles. Chidobe Awuzie and Eli Apple are the unquestioned starters, but adding George, Davis, and rookie Cam Taylor-Britt to the mix helps provide depth at a key defensive position.

Clay Johnston

I don’t think Johnston was really on the roster bubble regardless, but his showing against the Giants was impressive nonetheless. In addition to 20(!) tackles (16 of which were of the solo variety), Johnston played nearly half of the special teams snaps, adding to his versatility. While we may not see much of Johnston at linebacker this season, there is something to be said about the confidence that backups can perform if thrust into action.

And just like we all predicted, this game came down to Clay Johnston making a tackle on a 2-point conversationpic.twitter.com/nMBp2WnjFt

— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) January 24, 2022

The Bad

Penalties, Penalties, Penalties

I refuse to overreact to the number of penalties the Bengals have committed thus far in the preseason as we are playing less experienced guys with the purpose of getting valuable game reps. But after committing 11 penalties for 104 yards last week, the Bengals again shot themselves in the foot with eight more mishaps in Week 2. D’Ante Smith in particular struggled, committing multiple holding infractions, however, that is not too worrisome considering he is just working his way back from injury. I fully expect the starters to be more disciplined once the regular season begins and return to being one of the least penalized teams in the league, but for now we have to potentially endure another week of penalties that kill drives.

The biggest storylines to come between now and September 11th will likely be 1) the results from the Rams-Bengals joint practices this week, and 2) the perhaps surprising cuts still to be made. I for one cannot wait for the reports of Ja’Marr Chase carving up Jalen Ramsey once again.

Recap, Takeaways Bengals, Preseason, Recap

Preseason Week 1: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

August 12, 2022 Taylor Cornell Leave a Comment

Week 1 of the preseason is in the books for the Bengals, and as evidenced by the 60,000+ fans in attendance at Paycor Stadium, football has been missed. So what can we glean from the first organized, glorified practice in mid-August?

The Good

Joe Burrow is Back! (kinda)

After doing very little physical activity while recovering from an appendectomy, Joey B was on the field running sprints pre-game. While any preseason action is unnecessary, if Burrow can return to practice in the next week or so, he should have plenty of time to get back into tip-top condition prior to Week 1 on September 11th.

By far, the most strenuous activity we’ve seen from Joe Burrow since the start of training camp.

Running ≈80% speed wind sprints during pregame warmups.@WCPO#Bengals pic.twitter.com/psiYqacoRJ

— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) August 12, 2022

Jessie Bates is Back! (kinda)

No, Jessie has not signed his franchise tender. He was, however, in the stadium rooting on his teammates from a suite. Does it mean anything? Maybe, or maybe not. But for anyone debating Bates’ leadership and desire to play for this team in 2022, it was a resounding message. It seems his return to the team could be imminent. 

Apparently Jessie Bates is here tonight according to his Instagram. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/0OB9gGlSE5

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 13, 2022

The Young Bulls on Defense

Multiple times, rookies Zach Carter, Jeff Gunter, and Dax Hill flashed impressive playmaking ability. Gunter finished the day with a sack as well as a pass deflection on a screen pass. Carter also had a pass deflection to go along with his four tackles, and Dax Hill narrowly missed making an insanely athletic interception in the end zone. The future is bright for this team, and the defense is no exception.

Rookie Jeff Gunter with a sack 😤

Watch live at https://t.co/KpeqK4RKUm pic.twitter.com/43Kt0TECo3

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 13, 2022

Dax Hill got up for that one! Almost an INT. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/eUcNMsxj1L

— CincySportsTV  (@CincySportTV) August 13, 2022

The Bad

Brandon Allen Suffers an Injury

Allen was knocked out of the game after just three pass attempts and was later diagnosed with a concussion. With Burrow missing practices the past couple of weeks, Allen has been an integral part in keeping the offense on track throughout training camp. If Allen is to miss time, and Burrow is not yet ready to return, the Bengals would be relying on their QB3 to keep things moving throughout camp.

The Ugly

The (Backup) Offensive Line is Offensive

Granted, the Bengals were playing just one “starter” along the line in Jackson Carman, but the backups struggled mightily. Isaiah Prince allowed a strip sack, Hakeem Adeniji was regularly beat at multiple positions along the line, and Carman himself played poorly. Bengals fans are hopeful the new additions along the line, along with Jonah Williams’ continued development are able to mask whatever deficiencies exist at the Left Guard position. However, the depth is a very real concern, as one injury could force any of these reserves into action and Burrow back into survival mode.

The Bengals will be back at it again Sunday, August 21st against the New York Giants for preseason game #2.

Recap, Takeaways Bengals, Preseason, Recap

Is Tyler Linderbaum the Pick to Make at 31?

April 18, 2022 Taylor Cornell Leave a Comment

For the first time in three seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first round selection is not set in stone as the NFL Draft approaches. In 2020, Joe Burrow was the sure-fire number one pick, and while there was some lively debate around the fifth overall selection last season, Ja’Marr Chase became the betting favorite as draft day grew closer. Thanks to a Super Bowl run in 2021 followed by a busy offseason of key free agent signings, there are a few different directions the team could go at pick 31. In this series, we will make a case for the Bengals attacking specific position groups with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Protect the Franchise

One hundred and two. 1-0-2. That’s how many sacks Joe Burrow has taken in just 30 career games in Cincinnati. After the horrendous knee injury in 2020, and the obvious impact a poor offensive line had on the entire offense in 2021, upgrading that position group is a no brainer. Thankfully, the Bengals addressed a few of those questions via free agency, signing Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La’el Collins. All three of those players represent significant improvements over the incumbents, and immediately make the 2022 version of the offensive line much more serviceable. Is it enough, however?

First, you have to define ‘enough.’ Will the line be better as currently constructed? Of course. Both Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon should benefit greatly from those improvements with Burrow showing just how lethal he can be when given a clean pocket.

When operating with a clean pocket in 2021, Joe Burrow ranked:

🔸1st in PFF Grade (95.9)
🔸1st in YPA (9.0)
🔸3rd in Adjusted Completion % (82%)
🔸3rd in Passer Rating (113.7)
🔸5th in Big Time Throw % (5.8%)
🔸7th in Passing TDs (25)
🔸7th lowest Turnover Worthy Play % (1.5%)

— Taylor (@_TaylorCornell) March 20, 2022

But let’s not overlook that additional work could be needed to shore up the line long term. At left tackle, Jonah Williams has a team option for 2023 and would need a new deal if the Bengals hope to keep him locked into protecting Burrow’s blind side. Left guard remains a major question mark, with Quinton Spain unsigned and Jackson Carman set to compete for the starting role. Karras is slated to start at center, where he played predominantly in 2019 and 2020 before sliding over to LG last season. Cappa and Collins anchor the right side for the next few seasons, with both signed to multi-year deals.

With LG being the only obvious question mark entering 2022, the Bengals could choose to give their second round pick from last season an entire year to earn a long term role in that spot. Drafting for depth then becomes the other glaring need at that time, with current backups Isaiah Prince, Hakeem Adeneniji, D’Ante Smith, and Lamont Gaillard all being unproven as dependable options. While drafting for ‘depth’ at pick 31 isn’t necessarily ideal, there are some intriguing options that could immediately push for a starter role. What Bengals fans should avoid though is assuming offensive line is no longer a need simply because of the moves made this offseason.

I think any #Bengals fan that thinks Linderbaum isn’t a need because the OL is better than it was last year should reconsider

— Taylor (@_TaylorCornell) April 18, 2022

The Possible Options

One popular pick amongst fans is the center from Iowa, Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum is the consensus top center in the draft, and his play at Iowa was elite. Additionally, his testing numbers from his pro day were absurd.

Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum at his pro day (among iOL historically)

6’2” 302
4.98 40 (96th percentile)
1.71 10 (93rd)
7.14 3-cone (100th)
4.38 pro agility (97th)
32.5 vertical (92nd)
110.5 broad (93rd)

elite.

— Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) April 11, 2022

Linderbaum profiles as a ‘can’t miss’ prospect with a very high floor and Pro Bowl ceiling. Selecting him at 31 would slide Karras to LG and guarantee that the offensive line would be improved at 4/5 positions (Jonah Williams notwithstanding). So then why is Linderbaum starting to fall into the 2nd round of some mock drafts? For one, the center position is not a premier position in football. Generally speaking, the tackle position is the most important, and guards are likely of greater value than centers. Secondly, Linderbaum lacks versatility. The beauty of players like Ted Karras is their ability to move around the offensive line as needs emerge or other situations dictate. Linderbaum is a center now, and likely solely a center going forward. 

If the Bengals still want to address the offensive line and Linderbaum is not an option, Kenyon Green is a possibility. Green provides versatility, having played at multiple positions along the offensive line at Texas A&M, as well as stellar performance. While Green is usually off the board by pick 31, if he were to slide just a bit, the Bengals would have to strongly consider selecting the former Aggie.

If you missed the previous installments of the series, check out the arguments to be made for the Bengals drafting a defensive back or defensive lineman at pick 31. You can follow Taylor on Twitter, @_taylorcornell.

Draft Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals, Draft, NFL Draft, Offensive Line

The Bengals Need Pass Rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft

April 5, 2022 Taylor Cornell 1 Comment

For the first time in three seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first round selection is not set in stone as the NFL Draft approaches. In 2020, Joe Burrow was the sure-fire number one pick, and while there was some lively debate around the fifth overall selection last season, Ja’Marr Chase became the betting favorite as draft day grew closer. Thanks to a Super Bowl run in 2021 followed by a busy offseason of key free agent signings, there are a few different directions the team could go at pick 31. In this series, we will make a case for the Bengals attacking specific position groups with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Pressure is On

Cincinnati struck gold along the defensive line last season, with newcomers making an impact week in and week out. Free agent addition Trey Hendrickson led the team in nearly every pressure metric, including 14 sacks. Larry Ogunjobi was third on the team with seven sacks, and tied for the team lead with 12 tackles for loss. Preseason addition B.J. Hill notched 5.5 sacks, and added a key interception against the Kansas Chiefs in the AFC Championship. Sam Hubbard and D.J. Reader rounded out the Bengals defensive line that for the most part showed to be a strength of the team, especially when it came to stopping the run. However, the defensive front was not the most consistent unit on a weekly basis.

Cincinnati ranked 14th in pressure rate, and were fortunate to win five of their six games last season when sacking the opposing quarterback one or fewer times. That .833 winning percentage was tops in the league, and only four other teams had a winning percentage over .500 in those scenarios. While Joseph Ossai is slated to return in 2022 coming off knee surgery which ended his rookie season before it began, expecting him to be a star in Year 1 is dangerous (even if his 2021 preseason was superb). Ogunjobi is currently not in the fold for 2022, so defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will be looking to add playmakers to the line in the draft.

Potential Options

Edge appears to be a rather deep position group in the 2022 NFL Draft, so the Bengals may elect to wait until the middle rounds to add another pass rusher. However, pass rushers like Arnold Ebikete (Penn State) and Boye Mafe (Minnesota) could be good value at pick 31, especially since neither will likely be on the board in the second round at pick 62. If Cincinnati prefers to focus on beefing up the interior of the line, Travis Jones (Connecticut) could be in play. The real value would be in rounds two and onward, unless one of the top pass-rushers free fall into Cincinnati’s lap.

Minnesota RDE Boye Mafe (#34) definitely looked less hesitant/more reactive in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs WVU than he did Week 1 vs OSU. Here is a 3-down sequence that encapsulates his skill set. Drops in coverage, gets a sack on a nice swim move, and hustles for the run stop. pic.twitter.com/QPkluEn0ne

— Al Karsten (@bigalfredosauce) April 5, 2022
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Draft Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals, Defensive End, Draft, NFL Draft, Pass Rush

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  • Preseason Week 2: The Good, Bad, and Nothing Too Ugly
  • Preseason Week 1: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
  • Is Tyler Linderbaum the Pick to Make at 31?
  • The Bengals Need Pass Rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft
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