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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Preseason Week 1: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

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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.

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. 

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.

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.

Cincinnati Bengals Midseason Check-In: Awards and Outlook

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Welp, we’re halfway through the 2018 season – and for Cincy fans, things ain’t looking too bad.

The team stands at 5-3, including a win against AFC North foe Baltimore. That’s the best start since going 8-0 in 2015 (which feels like a helluva lot longer than three years ago). They are 3-0 against the teams with whom they are in wild-card contention (Ravens, Dolphins and Colts). Five remaining games are against teams with losing records.

If the receiving corps can hold together until A.J. Green gets back from a foot injury, and the offensive line continues to gel, and Vontaze Burfict quits playing like he’s trying out for the Cleveland Browns, a postseason trip could very well be in the cards.

By the way … some of those players we just mentioned, they deserve mid-season mentions for their accomplishments. Or lack thereof.

Cincinnati Bengals Mid-season Awards

MVP – Andy Dalton: Halfway through the year, Dalton has thrown for 2,102 yards and 17 touchdowns. The latter of those is tied for eighth in the NFL with Tom Brady and Ryan Fitzpatrick. We’re not saying we’d take him over Tom Brady at this point … wait, yes we are.

Surprise player – Trey Hopkins. Offensive guard Trey Hopkins had to show hustle to move up from the practice squad in late 2016. He had to show it even more to earn 12 starts in 2017. Through the first half of this year, he has shown us – and all Cincinnati Bengals fans – that he’s the real deal. Didn’t see that coming.

Rookie MVP – Jessie Bates. Now this is the way to make a first impression. Rookie free safety JB has racked up 60 tackles this year, defended four passes, picked off three others, and scored a touchdown. The last time a Bates was this scary, he was stabbing Janet Leigh in the shower (kids, ask your parents).

Most improved player – Tyler Boyd. Boyd has produced three 100-yard games this year and almost got a fourth against the Ravens in Week Two. His five TDs this year are already more than his first two seasons combined. With 620 receiving yards so far, Boyd is easily on pace to break the 1,000-yard mark in 2018. Now if we can only get John Ross to do that …

Most disappointed in – Vontaze Burfict. Vontaze browned the bed by getting suspended for the first four games of the year for using PEDs. He’s only tallied 17 tackles so far and the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense has fed off that, which puts them on par with the worst Ds in the league. They are 30th in total yards allowed, 25th in rushing yards allowed, and 19th in sacks. Granted, they are tied for sixth with 10 interceptions, so we’ll throw ’em a bone there.

Winners and Losers from Week 3

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Winner: Tyler Boyd

Boyd continues his massive year 3 breakout for the Bengals. On Sunday we saw him go for 6 catches, 132 yards and a touchdown. That now gives him 249 yards on the season. It is clear he is becoming one of Andy Dalton’s most trusted targets, especially on third downs. Boyd stepped up big in the absence of Green. With Green’s status uncertain for week 4, Boyd should continue to contribute to the offense in a big way.

Loser: The Linebacker’s Run Defense

Going into this game, Christian McCaffrey’s career high for rushing yards in a game was 66. Sunday he rushed for 184 yards on the Bengals defense. He nearly tripled his career high against what looked like a lost Bengals run defense, particularly the linebackers. We saw the defensive line make some nice stops behind the line of scrimmage but once McCaffrey got past the first level he was picking up huge yardage on each run. This was the first week all season Burfict’s absence has really been felt. If the Bengals want a shot at beating Atlanta they will have to slow down the run.

Winner: Tyler Eifert

I am sure everyone saw #85 on Sunday. Apart from the mullet he looked like the same guy who player for the Bengals in 2015. Eifert was finally able to make an impact on Sunday and looked healthy doing so. Tyler saw 8 targets and turned them into 6 catches for 74 yards. He adds another element to the passing game that we haven’t had the last two years in which he has battled injuries. Now healthy, expect Eifert to be even more involved versus Atlanta.

Loser: Dre Kirkpatrick

Another game, another dropped interception for Dre. The Panthers picked on Kirkpatrick early, targeting him on the first play of the game and doing so until the end. We saw him give up some big plays, and of course drop an interception. Dre is going to be targeted all year, playing opposite of William Jackson will do that to you. Dre has to step up his game next week versus a very good air attack in Atlanta.

Winner: Carlos Dunlap

In weeks 1 and 2, our defense stepped up causing big turnovers to help seal the deal on games. In week 3 Dunlap almost did just that. Late in the game, down by one touchdown, Carlos was able to strip sack Cam Newton causing a fumble. It looked like the momentum shift needed to get the Bengals back in the game. Unfortunately the Bengals could not fall on it. Dunlap also deflected a few of Cam’s throws, one ball was almost tipped into the hands of the defense for a pick. It is interesting to imagine what could’ve happened had we recovered the fumble.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Pierson242FF, Who Dey!

Winners and Losers: Preseason Week 1

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While it was only preseason, man was it great to have football back. We saw an encouraging performance from the Bengals starters in their 30-27 victory over the Chicago Bears. Here are a few of the winners and losers from the first game of the year.

John Ross – Wide Receiver
Winner

I am listing Ross as a winner, despite him falling down on a route resulting in a pick six early in the game. Ross did not play a perfect game, however he had flashes that showed why the Bengals picked him 9th overall in 2017. Ross’s one catch for the night was a short route where he caught the ball about four to five yards from the line of scrimmage, right in front of the defender. Most wide receivers would have fought for an extra yard or two and been tackled, but this is where Ross is different. Ross juked out the defender and turned on the jets, accelerating for 20 yards and nearly scoring. It was the type of play that showed just how dangerous he can be in the open field. Ross also remained in the game and got a lot of targets even after his mistake. It was a good sign that Marvin Lewis left him in rather than benching him for the mistake. Ross got a few red zone targets later in the night, one in which he went up in the air to snag the ball and nearly drug both toes in the back of the endzone. Some will say both feet were down, but regardless he showed just enough to flash his monster upside.

Matt Barkley – Quarterback
Loser

Going into Thursday night Barkley was the second quarterback on the Bengals depth chart, but if he continues with performances like he did against the Bears, Barkley could find himself as a free agent. Barkley showed next to nothing in his time against the Bears, completing just five passes for 64 yards. He was able to lead a few drives resulting in field goals, but gave Bengals fans no confidence if something were to happen to Dalton. Barkley will need to seriously step up his game to avoid being passed up by Jeff Driskel, who played very well.

Geno Atkins – Defensive End
Winner

Geno was his usual disruptive self against Chicago, contributing to the first team defense that held Mitchell Trubisky to only four yards passing. Early on in the game versus the Bears first string offense, Geno bulldozed an offensive lineman to the ground getting right to Trubisky for the sack. It was a reminder that Geno is still one of the league’s most elite defensive tackles. A few plays later Geno rushed into the backfield drawing an offensive holding penalty after the Bears line was forced to hold him to keep him from recording his second sack of the night. A five yard penalty is as good as a sack for the defense. Geno showed us that even if you don’t let him get to the quarterback, he can still be a defensive nightmare. Geno should once again be one the key players on this Bengals defense.

Malik Jefferson – Linebacker
Loser

It is not a huge red flag as this was Jefferson’s first NFL game ever, but Jefferson didn’t flash much. Outside of his one tackle we saw Jefferson miss a tackle on a run to the outside that led to the Bears getting a big gain. As if him being a liability on the ground wasn’t enough we also saw him struggle in pass coverage, getting beat several times. It is likely Jefferson was not ready for the speed of the NFL and will be able to better prepare for their week 2 Preseason matchup, but for someone who was taken in the third round Jefferson must improve. With Vontaze Burfict out for the first few games, Malik has a huge opportunity to showcase what he can do with an expected increase of snaps. Jefferson is still raw and developing his instincts, expect him to improve in week 2.

The Cincinnati Bengals Offense
Winner

After an embarrassing 2017 filled with bad line play and no creativity, we saw a new look Bengals offense against the Bears. With a full offseason of Bill Lazor, young wideouts like Ross, Boyd, and Malone, and a new line, this Bengals offense gave fans hope. The Bengals came out firing and moved the ball very effectively. We saw AJ Green lined up in the slot against linebackers, Joe Mixon lined up wide running wide receiver routes, and we also saw Tyler Boyd shine from the slot. Bill Lazor will not be short on weapons this year, and while it was only one game it appears he knows how to utilize them. We saw one blunder by the first team offense, John Ross’s slip, but was otherwise lights out and appeared to be clicking well. Bill and his new offense bring excitement the Bengals have been missing.

Follow me on Twitter @Pierson242FF, be sure to tweet at me for any Bengals related questions or comments. Who Dey!