Opportunity arrives for Bengals first-round pick Myles Murphy

[Arkansas Bengal]

Charlie Goldsmith, Cincinnati Enquirer

Wed, Aug 30, 2023, 5:19 PM CDT·4 min read

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive end Myles Murphy is a 6-foot-6, 275-pound first round pick who can run a 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds. For his whole life, he has been bigger, stronger and faster than his competition.

 

In college at Clemson, Murphy was a freshman All-American. After the Bengals drafted him this year, Murphy expected a similar transition where he’d hit the ground running and wreak havoc in the backfield.Instead, he was one of the quietest players on the field during training camp and the preseason. The 21-year-old has faced a learning curve in the NFL.

 

“It’s frustrating to not go in and dominate the way I know that I can,” Murphy said. “This experience is different. It’s definitely a humbling experience. I’ve just got to learn from it. I just have to work on my craft. The stats will come. I just have to be disruptive whenever I can.”

 

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy is set to play a more important role because Joseph Ossai is out with an ankle injury.

 

When Murphy struggled early in training camp, the expectation was that the Bengals were going to be able to ease Murphy into a role on the active roster. The Bengals could give him a few snaps per game as a situational pass rusher, or they could even keep him inactive at the start of the season and give him a chance to develop behind the scenes.

 

That changed when defensive end Joseph Ossai, the player ahead of Murphy on the depth chart, sprained his ankle in the preseason finale. Ossai told The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway that  he’d be out for the Bengals' season-opener and could miss up to 4 weeks.

 

Now, the Bengals will need Murphy to play a significant role right away on the Bengals’ defense.

 

“It’s all about going full speed,” Murphy said. “Really attacking the guys in front of me.”

 

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy had a quiet preseason, but now the Bengals need him to step up and fill a Week 1 role.

 

Before Ossai got hurt, Murphy was the fifth defensive end on the Bengals’ depth chart. Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard are entrenched as the starters. Cam Sample is a run stopping specialist who plays 25-to-40% of the defense’s snaps in most games, and he was one of the Bengals’ most improved players during training camp.

 

Ossai was a breakout player on the Bengals’ defense during the second half of last season. He started translating his athleticism into creating pressure in the backfield, and Ossai is still on track to play 30-to-50% of the defense's snaps when he’s healthy.

 

Initially, Murphy looked like he’d spend his rookie year waiting for an opportunity as well as a chance to prove himself.

 

“It’s all about staying patient and always being ready,” said Bengals safety Dax Hill, who went through the same experience at his position last season. “That’s what I had to deal with last year. You always have to make the most out of whatever is your opportunity. Then when you get it, you have to seize the moment.”

 

Behind the scenes, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Myles Murphy is working on new techniques that can help him make an impact as a pass rusher.

 

Murphy is getting his chance right away. If he takes advantage of it, then Murphy could cement a role for the rest of the season. The Bengals would find ways to get him onto the field if he’s creating pressure, even when Ossai is back in the mix.Murphy is still figuring out the details that can turn him into the player he wants to be.

 

After Murphy’s preseason debut, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said that Murphy had to figure out how to “shift into a different gear” when he was in games. Murphy knew that he had to hone in small aspects of his game for his athleticism to lead to production.

 

“It’s about having a pass rush plan and committing to it,” Murphy said. “There’s small technique stuff with my hand placement and striking at the point of attack. It’s a bunch of small details.”

 

Even though Murphy is still adjusting to playing the defensive line in the NFL, he’s the Bengals’ most promising pass rusher on the second team defensive line. The Bengals’ coaching staff wants to manage Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard’s snap counts throughout the season to keep them fresher and more productive when they’re on the field. Murphy’s growth early in the season will shape whether Hubbard and Hendrickson play 70% of the defense’s snaps or 90% like they had to at times last season.

 

“It does take some of the pressure off of me knowing we have Sam and Trey,” Murphy said. “But anyone who knows me knows that I’m going to keep putting pressure on myself. This is what I’ve got to be. I go home every day and think about what I want to do tomorrow.”

 

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/opportunity-arrives-bengals-first-round-221955903.html?src=rss

[Jamie_B]

With Ossai out for a month he is gonna have to step it up.

[PatternMaster]

 

He seems like a very thoughtful guy who thinks before he acts, which could explain his supposed slow start. But now, he's had an opportunity to learn without the pressure to produce I think he's ready to step it up to another level. Getting this opportunity to gain valuable experience early in his career is a blessing, in the worst-case scenario he can completely fall on his face, but he will be able to take a step back and figure it out when Ossai comes back.

 

Ultimately, this is the best thing to happen to Myles, he's going to step up and make some big plays. 

[PatternMaster]

 

 

"How different the pass rushing is," Murphy said about the biggest change. "Things are a little bit different. Pass rushing in college is a little bit different than pass rushing in the NFL so it's just adapting to that honestly because I know everyone knows I know I got all the tools to be a great pass rusher it's just a matter of honing everything and putting everything together and it's going to click, and it's going to show up very, very soon."

 

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/myles-murphy-dives-into-biggest-lesson-from-debut-preseason-matter-of-honing-everything

[|BlackJesus|]

The athletic skills are undeniable and there. But I have yet to see the reckless abandon, or fire in his eyes that's needed. He needs to find it fast. 

 

* I would activate Gunter off the PS for week 1 just in case. 

[PatternMaster]

33 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

The athletic skills are undeniable and there. But I have yet to see the reckless abandon, or fire in his eyes that's needed. He needs to find it fast. 

 

* I would activate Gunter off the PS for week 1 just in case. 

 

That's hard to see from the couch, my guy...I think the coaches have seen it or they won't have drafted him in the first round. 

 

He did have a productive preseason, he made plays and showed he can excel at this level. 

[IKOTA]

44 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

The athletic skills are undeniable and there. But I have yet to see the reckless abandon, or fire in his eyes that's needed. He needs to find it fast. 

 

* I would activate Gunter off the PS for week 1 just in case. 

I agree, from an outside perspective, he doesn’t seem to have the dog in him. Immensely talented but mental make-up could prevent him from being a dominant edge guy.  

[PatternMaster]

14 minutes ago, IKOTA said:

I agree, from an outside perspective, he doesn’t seem to have the dog in him. Immensely talented but mental make-up could prevent him from being a dominant edge guy.  

 

Did you watch him play at Clemson?

[Jackie Treehorn]

The conclusions people are jumping to about Murphy are baffling to say the least. The guy has played in 2 preseason games. Pass rushers can take a season or two to develop. Hendrickson, for example, had 3.5 sacks through his first 2 seasons before his breakout campaign in his 3rd and I don't think anyone is questioning him now. Let's give the guy at least a season and see how he develops.

[|BlackJesus|]

55 minutes ago, PatternMaster said:

That's hard to see from the couch, my guy... 

 

I saw plenty of it from Raymond Johnson III and even Gunter in the last game to keep his job. But the former got cut and is now on the Lions practice squad and the latter got demoted to our PS, so maybe "fire" isn't what they're looking for. Fitting a measurable checklist is. 

 

And not to say that's wrong. They seem to believe that DEs need to be 6'5, 275, and a certain build with certain attributes for Lou's defense. Hard to argue with the results as well.

 

But so far Murphy seems too measured for my taste. I hope an opponent punches him or something, to ignite something and see what kind of fight he has in him. 

[|BlackJesus|]

30 minutes ago, Jackie Treehorn said:

The guy has played in 2 preseason games.

 

Yes, but against scrub OL, who are way less talented than the starters he's now going to see every Sunday. And he didn't make any splash plays against such backups. 

 

Now of course he could still turn it all around and find his mojo. Maybe when the lights turn on for real his play will rise to the occasion. I hope he does. Why would I want him to suck? I would love nothing more than for him to be dominant. 

[membengal]

 

[Jamie_B]

I'd care alot less if Ossai was not hurt. But with him hurt we need Murphy to relieve Henrickson so he's not on the field all the time for the first 4 games, so I'm hoping he can at least produce enough against the Browns and Ravens who have mobile QBs. The Rams and Titans we should be fine against, I just want to see the kid do enough to keep Tre not having to take every snap. After Ossai gets back he can work on continuing to develop, we just need him to be a good backup asap.

[PatternMaster]

30 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

 

I saw plenty of it from Raymond Johnson III and even Gunter in the last game to keep his job. But the former got cut and is now on the Lions practice squad and the latter got demoted to our PS, so maybe "fire" isn't what they're looking for. Fitting a measurable checklist is. 

 

And not to say that's wrong. They seem to believe that DEs need to be 6'5, 275, and a certain build with certain attributes for Lou's defense. Hard to argue with the results as well.

 

But so far Murphy seems too measured for my taste. I hope an opponent punches him or something, to ignite something and see what kind of fight he has in him. 

 

lol... are u serious....is it the glasses...

[|BlackJesus|]

6 minutes ago, PatternMaster said:

lol... are u serious....is it the glasses...

 

I'm an observer of the human condition and read people's eyes (glasses or not), which I think can tell you alot.

 

Murphy seems like a nice guy, but I think even McPherson might have more 'edge' to his personality than he does right now. 

[-GoBengals-]

38 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

 

I'm an observer of the human condition and read people's eyes (glasses or not), which I think can tell you alot.

 

Murphy seems like a nice guy, but I think even McPherson might have more 'edge' to his personality than he does right now. 

 

im with both sides, here there WAS a knock on him for taking series off in college now and then, however i havent seen that when he has played, and attempting to gauge "fire" but a locker room interview is just sheer silliness, ever been in one of those groups or seen one in person? its awkward as fuck, 8 cell phones in your face, 5 more recording you, lights and a camera, all in your personal locker space backed up against it, its wild they allow it to be honest.. and we obviously know none of has has seen his face or eyes for that...fire... in a huddle or on the field..

 

Gunter offers nothing Murphy is even potentially missing, and Murphy in preseason hasnt played with the players he would be on the field with in the regular season. 

 

this is a post week 1 conversation, not a his eyes lack fire standing at his locker in august conversation, IMO.

[gupps]

I won't start panicking until the middle of the season if he still hasn't started to contribute. Here's a thought experiment; the next 5 (6 actually but here was no way the Bengals were taking a QB) selected after Murphy. Who would you have rather had? I know teams have different rankings but hey can't be THAT far off:

 

Bryan Bresee         DT

Nolan Smith          EDGE

Felix Anudike-Uzomah    EDGE

Joey Porter Jr         CB

Sam LaPorta           TE

 

I may have gone with Bresee*  or Laporta but I'm giving Duke the benefit of the doubt as of now.

 

* I meant Porter, no idea why I typed Bresee. Leaving the post as is and correcting.

 

[|BlackJesus|]

7 minutes ago, gupps said:

 Who would you have rather had?

 

From that list ... LaPorta.

 

But Mayer I think would have fit nicely, who went right after those. 

[IKOTA]

8 hours ago, PatternMaster said:

 

Did you watch him play at Clemson?

Yes I’ve watched the game tape of his full collegiate career. Just kidding, no I didn’t really see him play at Clemson. He could turn out to be a monster, he needs developed though. 

 

 

8 hours ago, Jackie Treehorn said:

The conclusions people are jumping to about Murphy are baffling to say the least. The guy has played in 2 preseason games. Pass rushers can take a season or two to develop. Hendrickson, for example, had 3.5 sacks through his first 2 seasons before his breakout campaign in his 3rd and I don't think anyone is questioning him now. Let's give the guy at least a season and see how he develops.

Nobody’s jumping to any conclusions after three preseason games. Just making casual observations. He has one move, and needs to develop significantly to be that guy everyone wants him to be. 

[sparky151]

23 hours ago, gupps said:

I won't start panicking until the middle of the season if he still hasn't started to contribute. Here's a thought experiment; the next 5 (6 actually but here was no way the Bengals were taking a QB) selected after Murphy. Who would you have rather had? I know teams have different rankings but hey can't be THAT far off:

 

Bryan Bresee         DT

Nolan Smith          EDGE

Felix Anudike-Uzomah    EDGE

Joey Porter Jr         CB

Sam LaPorta           TE

 

I may have gone with Bresee*  or Laporta but I'm giving Duke the benefit of the doubt as of now.

 

* I meant Porter, no idea why I typed Bresee. Leaving the post as is and correcting.

 

 

Since I didn't see D-line as a big need with our top 10 linemen from last season all returning, I would have traded down. It was reported on draft night that Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Tennessee were all trying hard to get back into round 1, presumably for Will Levis. Titans did trade up with Arizona for Levis at 33 and Vegas traded up for Mayer. If we had to stay put, like BJ, I would have picked Mayer. But if we traded down for an improved version of what the Cardinals got, then I'd have taken Dawand Jones and Darnell Washington with the 2023 picks and who knows with the 2024 pick. 

[UncleEarl]

They have said he needed to upgrade his technique, which makes sense for a rookie.  Guy probably got by on superior athleticism in college, but that rarely works in the NFL.  Give him time to learn.  Wasn’t drafted to step in day 1.  
 

Thinking you can judge a guy’s heart from the living room after watching a few plays is silly. 

[PatternMaster]

On 9/2/2023 at 10:59 AM, UncleEarl said:

They have said he needed to upgrade his technique, which makes sense for a rookie.  Guy probably got by on superior athleticism in college, but that rarely works in the NFL.  Give him time to learn.  Wasn’t drafted to step in day 1.  
 

Thinking you can judge a guy’s heart from the living room after watching a few plays is silly. 

 

Hey BJ played high school football so he knows when a guy's got that fire or not....