The Bengals beat the Steelers two weeks ago, and everything was looking hunky-dory. Then came the New York Jets.
The Bengals had it, and they lost it. There were defensive failings to be sure, but a lot of it was just losing the battle for those important inches. They should have won that game, and they could have won that game with one defensive player stepping up and making a play. And yet, here we are.
With Trey Hendrickson on the sideline, the defense generated no pass rush, and in turn, the secondary struggled. The run defense saw guys out of position and massive holes opened up just like they did in August.
We were told this defense was less complicated, but is it?
Jordan Battle doesn’t seem to think so.
Seriously, what is up with this defense?
Is it a coaching issue or a scouting issue?
It does make you feel differently about Lou Anarumo and even Teryl Austin. They didn’t have the dudes and neither does Al Golden. Anarumo had them once, when Duke Tobin went on a hot streak drafting Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson and signing Trey Hendrickson, D.J. Reader, and Chidobe Awuzie.
Players seem to be cutting bait and attempting to move on from this defense. That isn’t really a surprise, particularly when you are talking about a benched veteran in Logan Wilson, who surely thinks that he can be a starter, and young McKinnley Jackson, who is eager for a shot but keeps seeing newcomers come in and surpass him on the depth chart.
Matt and Willie discuss all of this and more, including an odd conversation about Joe Pesci.
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