Evaluating Cam Taylor-Britt's matchup vs. Seahawks star DK Metcalf: 'Give Cam his respect'

[Arkansas Bengal]

 

Charlie Goldsmith

Cincinnati Enquirer

 

 

With 5:42 left in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt got beat. Former Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf swept Taylor-Britt’s hands aside against aggressive coverage at the line of scrimmage, showed his world-class speed as he ran down the left sideline and reeled in a 30-yard catch on a deep ball.

 

Metcalf, one of the best athletes in the NFL and the Seattle Seahawks’ No. 1 receiver, was expected to win his matchup versus Taylor-Britt, who’s in his first full year as a starter. But after the only mistake that he made all day, Taylor-Britt showed his greatest strength. 

 

The first thing that Bengals head coach Zac Taylor looks for in a cornerback is what happens after that corner allows a big play. Do they start worrying about getting beat? Do they lose confidence?

 

Metcalf’s only big reception of the game brought the Seahawks to the Bengals’ 3-yard line, and Seattle ended up in a goal-to-go situation. Taylor-Britt matched up with Metcalf on every play of that drive, and Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo didn’t give Taylor-Britt much safety help.

 

Cam Taylor-Britt impresses to close Seahawks' drive out

 

Taylor-Britt closed out the drive with five impressive plays. He took away a fade to Metcalf, who was Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith’s first read. He made a touchdown-saving tackle after Metcalf caught a short pass near the line of scrimmage. He stopped another fade, even when Metcalf pulled Taylor-Britt’s shoulder pads. He ran stride-for-stride with Metcalf on a crossing route in front of the goal line. 

 

And then on 4th and goal with 2:08 left in the game, Taylor-Britt blanketed Metcalf again over the middle of the field and steered him into a double team. He took away Smith’s first read yet another time on a play that resulted in a sack for defensive end Sam Hubbard.

 

Taylor-Britt showed what his ceiling looks like with the way he played in the 17-13 win.

 

“That one ranks up there with the most impressive performances I’ve seen,” Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie said. “He played great coverage, made plays on the ball, tackled and got in his head. Cam was physical throughout the whole game. He made a statement from the beginning.”

 

Matching up against one of the NFL's best wide receivers

 

Taylor-Britt matched up against Metcalf 27 times in a game where Smith attempted 41 passes. Aside from the deep ball, Taylor-Britt played pretty close to a flawless game. Metcalf had a five-inch and 33-pound advantage, but Taylor-Britt was more physical for the entire game. 

 

Metcalf finished the game with four catches for 69 yards. On two of those receptions, Anarumo called a less aggressive coverage, and Taylor-Britt wasn’t lined up in a position where he could make a play. On another catch, Taylor-Britt was a fingertip away from completing an incredible diving pass breakup. The fourth catch was the 30-yard deep ball down the sideline.

 

How the Bengals planned to stop DK Metcalf

 

The game plan for Metcalf started with aggressive, physical coverage. The Bengals’ cornerbacks planned to “take him to the line without getting any personal fouls.” They knew that Metcalf was known for his strength as he changes directions on routes, where he often tosses cornerbacks aside. The Bengals’ cornerbacks knew that they couldn’t end up in that position, but they faced an additional challenge in this matchup.

 

During the week, the Bengals’ coaches briefed the corners that Sunday’s referee crew was known for calling penalties on the secondary. Taylor-Britt had to walk a difficult tightrope between setting the tone without going too far.

 

Metcalf’s 30-yard catch was his only big play of the game. He only caught four of his 10 total targets, and Taylor-Britt stuck with him on deep routes throughout the game.

 

“I don’t take no (stuff),” Taylor-Britt said. “I don’t want to go out there and puppy dog him. I want to go out there and play the game I like to play. I love to play physical, aggressive football.”

 

'That's who Cam is,' Taylor-Britt's man coverage worked

 

Before the Seahawks’ first snap of the game, Taylor-Britt showed how the matchup was going to go. He shifted from playing soft man coverage near the first down line and stepped up right next to Metcalf at the line of scrimmage. 

 

Taylor-Britt spent nearly the entire game in press-man coverage. He showed tremendous technique with the way he pushed back Metcalf’s shoulder pads at the line of scrimmage. As a result, Taylor-Britt began a lot of plays with a head start.

 

“That’s who Cam is,” Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton said. “Metcalf is known for trying to play bully ball. Sometimes the bully gets bullied. We knew the whole week the game plan was for Cam to follow him. It was a long day for No. 14. Cam’s confidence is second to none. He’s one of the best young corners in the game. Give Cam his respect.”

 

Late in the first quarter, Taylor-Britt delivered a pass breakup that few NFL cornerbacks can make. When Smith threw a deep ball to Metcalf down the left sideline, Taylor-Britt stayed patient with the ball in the air and timed up his play on the ball perfectly. He stuck his back hand between Metcalf’s hands, jarred the ball loose and pounded his chest to celebrate.

 

One drive later, Metcalf showed how much Taylor-Britt was frustrating him. The Seahawks ran a play specifically for Metcalf and had him run a deep bench route toward the left sideline. Smith patted the ball, waiting for his star receiver to get open. Taylor-Britt didn’t let that happen. After the play ended, Metcalf slammed Taylor-Britt into the ground and was flagged for a penalty.

 

“We had a little incident,” Taylor-Britt said. “That was just me running off at the mouth again. I got in his head. So be it.”

 

Cam Taylor-Britt shows complete skill set

 

Taylor-Britt showed his complete skill set as he tracked Metcalf all over the field. He ran stride-for-stride with Metcalf on deep routes and on crossing routes. Early in the fourth quarter, Metcalf ran a deep route down the sideline and cut back toward the middle of the field. 

 

Taylor-Britt made a key adjustment as Metcalf sprinted down the field and shifted inside of Metcalf’s right hip. After the game, Metcalf said that it felt like Taylor-Britt was “running my route for me.”

 

Then when Metcalf turned, Taylor-Britt had a one-step advantage. He recorded a diving interception that resulted in one of the most important plays of the game.

 

“Cam embraces this role,” Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt said. “He competes going up against who people think is the top receiver for the other team. He takes the No. 1 option away. He’s playing lockdown defense.”

 

The Bengals’ goal line defense was the team’s biggest strength on Sunday. On just about every one of those drives, the Seahawks tried a fade for Metcalf.

 

Taylor-Britt did a great job of staying in front of him. On one play, Taylor-Britt executed his coverage so well in front of Metcalf that Smith couldn’t even see Metcalf’s jersey.

 

Taylor-Britt overcame the size difference with competitiveness and toughness.

 

“We knew that was going to be a physical battle,” Anarumo said. “It played out the way we wanted it to. Cam was a tough, physical, aggressive guy who played with poise at the same time.”

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2023/10/17/cam-taylor-britt-showed-against-dk-metcalf-bengals-vs-seahawks-nfc-afc-score/71217306007/