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On 11/10/2021 at 6:40 PM, Shebengal said:

And the Browns in the past 2 days signed Teller to a new contract for 4 years and extended Joel Bitonio for another 3 years so he’s now signed through 2025.☹️

 

stupid browns...making good decisions.. I want to go back to the days when they are the laughing stock of the league.... 

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12 hours ago, fluhartz said:

 

stupid browns...making good decisions.. I want to go back to the days when they are the laughing stock of the league.... 

The NFL needs to put a stop to this. Somewhere, in a dark, smoked filled room reeking of bourbon, the Rooney’s and Roger Goodell are plotting the Browns downfall.  
 

Check the emails!!!

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13 minutes ago, SF2 said:

The NFL needs to put a stop to this. Somewhere, in a dark, smoked filled room reeking of bourbon, the Rooney’s and Roger Goodell are plotting the Browns downfall.  
 

Check the emails!!!

 

Dammit.  I keep hearing about this dark, smoke filled room reeking of bourbon.  I want to go there!  I would be glad to screw over the Browns.  Let me in!

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Grading the Bengals defense, special teams: Thoughts on every player through 9 games

 
By Jay Morrison Nov 11, 2021comment-icon.png 16 save-icon.png

For the fourth year in a row, the Bengals’ bye week falls smack dab in the middle of the season. But unlike the previous three, we’re not marking the occasion by kicking off mock draft season.

The bigger focus this year should be on who the Bengals have, not who they might get. A 5-2 start thrust them into the national consciousness, and despite taking a two-game losing streak into their break, they are still firmly positioned in the playoff race with many of the teams above them in the standings also sitting ahead of them on schedule.

On Wednesday, my colleague Paul Dehner Jr. offered his thoughts on every offensive player and assigned each a grade. Today I’ll cover the defense and special teams.

Lou Anarumo’s defense may be the most important variable in whether the Bengals can remain relevant in the playoff conversation until the regular-season finale Jan. 9 in Cleveland. There was a lot to like during the 5-2 start, but the ghosts of losses past emerged from the closet on Halloween, raising questions about how sustainable the defense’s top-10 ranking can be in the second half of the season.

Before we get into it, one point needs to be made. As Paul pointed out in his piece on the offense, the grades are based on performance but also performance against expectation. The curve on a grade for Jessie Bates is much different than one for Ricardo Allen. A higher grade for Allen doesn’t mean he’s better than Bates or played better than Bates. It simply means he saw more success relative to expectation before the season started.

Also, if a player hasn’t had enough time on the field to make an accurate judgment, the grade will receive an N/A.

With all of that out the way, onward we go:

 
 
Larry Ogunjobi (Jon Durr / USA Today)

Defensive line

Sam Hubbard

Snap count: 80 percent

Analysis: Hubbard signed a four-year, $40 million extension before the season started, and it’s safe to say he’s lived up to it to this point. With five sacks and 30 pressures, he’s on pace to top his career highs (nine, 49), and that doesn’t even touch on the value he brings as an elite edge setter against the run.

Grade: A-

Trey Hendrickson

Snap count: 71 percent

Analysis: Hendrickson signed a four-year, $60 million free-agent deal after his breakout, 13 1/2-sack season in New Orleans, and any worries about him being a one-hit wonder vanished quickly. Hendrickson has a sack in seven of the nine games and ranks sixth in the league with 8 1/2. His 42 pressures are tied for fifth. His every-down consistency is something the Bengals defense has been lacking for a while, and among defensive end tandems, only the Browns Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney (15 1/2) have more combined sacks than the 13 1/2 recorded by Hendrickson-Hubbard.

Grade: A

Larry Ogunjobi

Snap count: 67 percent

Analysis: The Bengals were desperate for a three-technique even before parting ways with Geno Atkins, and Ogunjobi has been everything they were looking for and then some. As good as he’s been in pushing the pocket and getting home (3 1/2 sacks, 19 pressures), Ogunjobi has flashed as a game-wrecker against the run as well. The one-year, $6.5 million prove-it deal the Bengals signed him to in March may go down as the team’s biggest steal in free-agent history.

Grade: A-

D.J. Reader

Snap count: 59 percent

Analysis: Reader is the single biggest reason the Bengals defense ranked seventh in rush defense and fifth in rushing yards allowed per attempt before the Browns game. There were some questions about how he would bounce back from the season-ending quad injury he suffered in Week 5 last year, but he’s tossed those aside the same way he does so many interior linemen.

Grade: A

B.J. Hill

Snap count: 39 percent

Analysis: The Bengals acquired Hill in a trade for center Billy Price two weeks before the season began, and the former Giant made it look like a steal with two sacks in the opener and three in the first three games. He hasn’t had one since, but he’s here to provide quality depth, which he has. Pro Football Focus has him ranked 10th against the run among all defensive tackles.

Grade: B+

Josh Tupou

Snap count: 39 percent

Analysis: After opting out in 2020, Tupou has made a solid return to action. There is nothing flashy about his play, but he’s been reliable and consistent when called on as part of five-man fronts or to give Reader a break.

Grade: B

Cam Sample

Snap count: 35 percent

Analysis: While inconsistent, which is what you might expect from a fourth-round rookie being asked to play multiple positions, Sample has shown promise. Anarumo has backed away some from using him in the interior of the defensive line, letting rush off the edge, where he is at his best.

Grade C+

Wyatt Ray

Snap count: 20 percent

Analysis: The Bengals claimed Ray off waivers from the Titans after final cuts, and though he’s played 20 percent of the snaps, I can’t think of one that stands out, good or bad.

Grade: C

Khalid Kareem

Snap count: 2 percent

Analysis: The second-year defensive end had a big game in the preseason finale before suffering a shoulder injury that kept him out for the first seven games. He made his season debut against the Jets with 12 snaps and should work his way into a rotational role after the bye.

Grade: N/A

Darius Hodge

Snap count: 1 percent

Analysis: He flashed in the preseason but was a healthy scratch in Games 5-8 before being waived and claimed by the Dolphins on waivers last week.

Grade: N/A

Tyler Shelvin

Snap count: < 1 percent

Analysis: He played his first four snaps of the season against the Browns after being a healthy scratch the first eight games. The rookie needs to show more consistency during the week to earn more time on Sundays.

Grade: N/A

 
 
Logan Wilson (Evan Habeeb / USA Today)

Linebackers

Logan Wilson

Snap count: 87 percent

Analysis: Nearly everyone’s pick for breakout star in 2021, Wilson did just that with three interceptions and 30 tackles in the first three games, but he’s coming off two terrible games in which he was a big reason why the Jets and Browns lit up the Bengals defense for 872 yards and 75 points. The good outweighs the bad with Wilson, but he’s trending in the wrong direction.

Grade: B-

Germaine Pratt

Snap count: 56 percent

Analysis: Pratt has been all over the place, which is usually a good thing for a linebacker, but that refers to his range of performances, not his range of motion. This is the prove-it, third year for the 2019 third-round pick, and halfway through the season, the jury is still out. His role will be more important than ever after the bye with the mounting injuries at the position.

Grade: C+

Akeem Davis-Gaither

Snap count: 36 percent

Analysis: Davis-Gaither made has made the improvement the coaches were looking for after a shaky rookie season, but the foot injury he suffered Sunday against the Browns landed him on injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss at least three games, and possibly more as head coach Zac Taylor said the timeline is unclear. In addition to coming into his own on defense, ADG has been great on special teams, which is where his absence will be felt most.

Grade: B-

Jordan Evans

Snap count: 7 percent

Analysis: Like Davis-Gaither, Evans’ true value was on special teams. Still, he found a way to make plays in his limited role on defense. But his season came to an end in Week 5 with a torn ACL.

Grade: N/A

Markus Bailey

Snap count: 6 percent

Analysis: Bailey made the best play of his young career Sunday against the Browns when he went up high for a pass breakup against tight end David Njoku in the corner of the end zone. But he’s played more than four snaps in only one game, which came in garbage time in the blowout at Baltimore.

Grade: N/A

Joe Bachie

Snap count: 4 percent

Analysis: His only snaps have come in mop-up time in Detroit and Baltimore. That could change with the injury issues at the position.

Grade: N/A

 
 
Chidobe Awuzie (Joe Robbins / Associated Press)

Defensive backs

Vonn Bell

Snap count: 96 percent

Analysis: Bell committed his offseason to improving in coverage after getting roasted by some of the better tight ends in the league, and the work has paid off. His tackling hasn’t been as solid this year, but he’s still one of the better safeties in the league and, at this point, the best one on the team.

Grade: B

Eli Apple

Snap count: 91 percent

Analysis: Calling Apple’s performance “up and down” would be accurate but also misleading as it’s mostly been down. He’s allowing 11.8 yards per catch, seventh most in the league among corners with at least 300 snaps. And his 59 penalty yards are eighth most among all defensive players. Don’t be surprised if the recently claimed Vernon Hargreaves III starts for Apple after the bye.

Grade: D+

Jessie Bates III

Snap count: 86 percent

Analysis: Bates has said all along his contract isn’t going to affect how he approaches his job this season, but it may be responsible for creeping in and affecting his performance. He’s played well, but not at the standard he set over the last couple of years. He’s already allowed more yards in coverage than he did all of last season on fewer receptions, and his missed-tackle percentage is slightly higher. The Bengals need Bates to get back to where he’s been talked about as one of the best safeties in the league.

Grade: B-

Chidobe Awuzie

Snap count 77 percent

Analysis: The Bengals hit multiple home runs in free agency this offseason, and Awuzie might be the most important one of all. He’s been terrific, and the significance of that increases further when holding up his performance against the absence of Trae Waynes, who was supposed to be CB1. Only two NFL corners have been targeted more than Awuzie (the Colts’ Kenny Moore and the Ravens’ Anthony Averett) and Awuzie has been up to the task, allowing only 54.2 percent of those throws to result in receptions, one of the best marks in the league. It’s impossible to overrate his value to this defense.

Grade: A

Mike Hilton

Snap count: 75 percent

Analysis: Another smaller-cost free agent who has paid dividends. He hasn’t made many “wow” plays, but his performance has been steady and strong, which is exactly what you want from your slot corner.

Grade: B

Trae Waynes

Snap count: 17 percent

Analysis: After missing all of last year with a pectoral injury, Waynes has played just two games because of a hamstring injury, and he wasn’t particularly good in either game, allowing five catches on six targets for an average of 17.8 yards per reception. The Bengals have made a lot of great moves in free agency the last two seasons, but Waynes has been a colossal failure.

Grade: F

Brandon Wilson

Snap count: 14 percent

Analysis: I can’t ever remember so many coaches speaking so emotionally about losing a player to injury as Taylor, Anarumo and special-teams coordinator Darrin Simmons have about Wilson, who tore his ACL Sunday against the Browns. One of the top kick returners in the league the last few years, Wilson was struggling this year, but he was playing well on the coverage units.

Grade: C+ (special teams)

Darius Phillips

Snap count: 12 percent

Analysis: Sixty-three percent of Phillips’ defensive snaps came in one game (Pittsburgh). His most significant contribution has come as a punt returner, and he has frustrated coaches with his indecision to the point where they’ve given Trenton Irwin some looks. The Wilson injury thrusts Phillips into the kick returner role, but it’s unclear whether he’ll hang on to the punt return job.

Grade: C

Ricardo Allen

Snap count: 13 percent

Analysis: Allen had a big role and played well in the opener, but he broke his hand, went on IR and we haven’t seen much of him since, outside of late fourth-quarter action in the Detroit and Baltimore routs.

Grade: B

Jalen Davis

Snap count: 5 percent

Analysis: He’s barely played on defense and his special-teams snaps are beginning to wane.

Grade: N/A

Nick McCloud

Snap count: 2 percent

Analysis: He was a healthy scratch for all but one game and recently was claimed off waivers by the Bills.

Grade: N/A

Sean Davis

Snap count: 2 percent

Analysis: I forgot he was even here.

Grade: N/A

Tre Flowers

Snap count: 3 percent

Analysis: After the Bengals claimed Flowers off waivers from Seattle, he had a pick-six on the first play of his first practice. He’s played only 11 snaps since arriving, but he’s another corner who could be in the mix to supplant Apple.

Grade N/A

Trayvon Henderson

Snap count: 5 percent special teams

Analysis: Henderson figures to be the player the team calls up to fill the spot vacated by Wilson. He’s played only three defensive snaps in his three years with the team.

Grade: N/A

 
 
Clark Harris and Evan McPherson (Sam Greene USA Today)

Specialists

Evan McPherson

Snap count: 100 percent kicks

Analysis: He’s perfect on extra points and 11 of 14 on field goals, with two game-winners. One of his misses was a 57-yarder off the upright and another was a 49-yarder destined to be his third game-winner before a gust of wind shot over the south bank of the stadium and pushed the ball wide as McPherson and his teammates celebrated. He’s already tied the team record for most 50-plus-yard field goals in a season (three) and has eight games left to break it.

Grade: A –

Kevin Huber

Snap count: 100 percent

Analysis: Huber has been a little up and down of late and will spend the bye week changing his punting mechanics to try something new, Simmons said. Still, at age 36, his net (40.9) and gross (46.4) averages are higher than his career marks.

Grade: B-

Clark Harris

Snap count: 100 percent

Analysis: His streak of deep snaps without an unplayable one is up to 1,775.

Grade: A

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4 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Germaine Pratt

Snap count: 56 percent

Analysis: Pratt has been all over the place, which is usually a good thing for a linebacker, but that refers to his range of performances, not his range of motion. This is the prove-it, third year for the 2019 third-round pick, and halfway through the season, the jury is still out. His role will be more important than ever after the bye with the mounting injuries at the position.

Grade: C+
 

Eli Apple

Snap count: 91 percent

Analysis: Calling Apple’s performance “up and down” would be accurate but also misleading as it’s mostly been down. He’s allowing 11.8 yards per catch, seventh most in the league among corners with at least 300 snaps. And his 59 penalty yards are eighth most among all defensive players. Don’t be surprised if the recently claimed Vernon Hargreaves III starts for Apple after the bye.

Grade: D+

 

Trae Waynes

Snap count: 17 percent

Analysis: After missing all of last year with a pectoral injury, Waynes has played just two games because of a hamstring injury, and he wasn’t particularly good in either game, allowing five catches on six targets for an average of 17.8 yards per reception. The Bengals have made a lot of great moves in free agency the last two seasons, but Waynes has been a colossal failure.

Grade: F

 

These 3 have really hurt us.  Waynes was supposed to be our shutdown corner.  Him always be hurt resulted in Apple still on the team and playing way too much.  

 

Pratt has simply regressed from average play. 

 

Apple wasn’t good in NY or NOLA and has never come close to 10th spot he was drafted at. Having to put him on the field for 91% of the snaps because Waynes can’t play sucks.  Hell, Terrance Newman is only 43, give him a call. 
 

That said the defense is WAY better than the last year which can only be described as terrible.  
 

Every team seems to be having one or two really bad WTF games this season so I think we have exceeded expectations so far. 

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7 hours ago, UncleEarl said:

 

Dammit.  I keep hearing about this dark, smoke filled room reeking of bourbon.  I want to go there!  I would be glad to screw over the Browns.  Let me in!

I'd be worried a lot more about the Browns if they didn't have Baker behind center. He's not who you want when the game's on the line. That said, I think the division is theirs to blow this yr

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49 minutes ago, Sea Ray said:

I'd be worried a lot more about the Browns if they didn't have Baker behind center. He's not who you want when the game's on the line. That said, I think the division is theirs to blow this yr

I dunno, beat the Stealers last year in the playoffs and played great. Certainly there are better QBs but also plenty worse. 

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4 hours ago, SF2 said:

These 3 have really hurt us.  Waynes was supposed to be our shutdown corner.  Him always be hurt resulted in Apple still on the team and playing way too much.  

 

Pratt has simply regressed from average play. 

 

Apple wasn’t good in NY or NOLA and has never come close to 10th spot he was drafted at. Having to put him on the field for 91% of the snaps because Waynes can’t play sucks.  Hell, Terrance Newman is only 43, give him a call. 
 

That said the defense is WAY better than the last year which can only be described as terrible.  
 

Every team seems to be having one or two really bad WTF games this season so I think we have exceeded expectations so far. 

 

I would rather see Phillips than Apple, worst case he plays bad like Apple. 

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9 minutes ago, PatternMaster said:

 

I would rather see Phillips than Apple, worst case he plays bad like Apple. 

Hes a slot ..Sir Darris cant handle the height on contested ball or power running ...not a goid tackler out there..

Theres no real band aid for the loss of Waynes..

Hargraves should be next up...

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11 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

Hes a slot ..Sir Darris cant handle the height on contested ball or power running ...not a goid tackler out there..

Theres no real band aid for the loss of Waynes..

Hargraves should be next up...

And as much as I like to bash coaches there is a reason he has not been put out there.  Same reason the Packers didn’t play Jordan Love at all until they had no choice.  

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This is strange:

 

Sean Payton suggests he can’t explain leaving competition committee without getting fined

Getty Images

Saints coach Sean Payton is one of three people who is no longer on the NFL’s competition committee as of this week, but he’s not saying why.

Asked about the competition committee today, Payton said it was the right time, and that he wouldn’t go into more details.

 
 
 

“I’ll leave it at that so I don’t get fined,” Payton said, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Payton left the committee along with Packers president Mark Murphy and Broncos president of football operations John Elway. Newcomers on the committee are Bengals Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn, Colts coach Frank Reich, Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier.

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6 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

This is strange:

 

Sean Payton suggests he can’t explain leaving competition committee without getting fined

Getty Images

Saints coach Sean Payton is one of three people who is no longer on the NFL’s competition committee as of this week, but he’s not saying why.

Asked about the competition committee today, Payton said it was the right time, and that he wouldn’t go into more details.

 
 
 

“I’ll leave it at that so I don’t get fined,” Payton said, via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Payton left the committee along with Packers president Mark Murphy and Broncos president of football operations John Elway. Newcomers on the committee are Bengals Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn, Colts coach Frank Reich, Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier.

I can understand Peyton’s frustration. Team got screwed in the NFC Championship, they decided to put a replay system in to “fix” it then time after time we would see a replay with our own eyes and the guys in “New York” so something completely different. It was maddening.  
 

Add in the ridiculous new taunting rules and half assed  helmet to helmet stuff ( defender always the bad guy) and he is probably done with those clowns. 

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On 11/12/2021 at 4:55 PM, Sea Ray said:

I'd be worried a lot more about the Browns if they didn't have Baker behind center. He's not who you want when the game's on the line. That said, I think the division is theirs to blow this yr

Hubby’s opinion of Baker Mayfield is that with the Browns’ OL and running game with Chubb and Hunt, he doesn’t have to do a lot. 

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12 hours ago, Shebengal said:

Hubby’s opinion of Baker Mayfield is that with the Browns’ OL and running game with Chubb and Hunt, he doesn’t have to do a lot. 

 

The Browns are the class of this division right now and it pains me to admit it. If they can stay healthy they will make a lot of noise in the playoffs.

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https://www.bengals.com/video/top-10-bengals-plays-at-midseason-2021-season

 

Top 10 Bengals Plays at Midseason.

 

Highly motivation, reminder of what and who we are and good things to come.

 

p.s. ... after watching how in the world did we ever lose to Covid Bay?

Not laying it on McPherson, he should have not been put in that situation.

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3 hours ago, High School Harry said:

https://www.bengals.com/video/top-10-bengals-plays-at-midseason-2021-season

 

Top 10 Bengals Plays at Midseason.

 

Highly motivation, reminder of what and who we are and good things to come.

 

p.s. ... after watching how in the world did we ever lose to Covid Bay?

Not laying it on McPherson, he should have not been put in that situation.

 

Some good plays but they didn't include ANY of CJ's TDs? Some of those have been really fun to watch too.

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