Bengals defense chosen to repeat success in 2023

[Arkansas Bengal]

Greg Wilson

Sun, Aug 27, 2023, 10:30 PM CDT·1 min read

 

 

The Cincinnati Bengals offense is known to be the strong point of the team, but Larry Holder of The Athletic thinks the Bengals defense can carry the momentum they got going in 2022 into the upcoming season.

 

The Bengals might have lost a few key pieces from their secondary, but there are good, young players ready to step in and keep the defense at the level it was with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo at the helm.

 

Here’s what Holder had to say about the Bengals defense:

The Bengals maintained continuity along the defensive line and at linebacker. The secondary will present a different look with Dax Hill and Nick Scott sliding into the safety spots following the departures of Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell. But Cincinnati made Hill a 2022 first-round pick knowing it would lose a safety and signed Scott after his first season as a starter with the Rams last season.

Cincinnati also used its first three 2023 draft picks on defenders: edge rusher Myles Murphy, cornerback D.J. Turner and safety Jordan Battle. The Bengals aren’t just building an offense in Cincinnati.

Not only have the Bengals added pieces, but they have retained some important players like Germaine Pratt, Sam Hubbard and even signed Logan Wilson to a four-year extension.

 

Whether Cincinnati’s defense will be able to keep up the pace will be something to watch this season.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-defense-chosen-repeat-success-033030399.html?src=rss

 

 

[sparky151]

I'd expect the defense to take a step back, especially early in the year. Bates and Bell were an elite safety tandem and it's unreasonable to expect Hill and Scott to be at their level from the start. They just need to be a lot better at the end of the year than the beginning.