Why Is the Bengals DC Planning to Give Younger Players More Opportunities?
The Cincinnati Bengals' defense has had its fair share of issues throughout their four straight losses since starting 2-0. First-year defensive coordinator Al Golden, who spent last season at Notre Dame, has decided that with some of these issues, it is best to give younger players a chance to try and make an impact on the field. Last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, Bengals five-year starting middle linebacker and playcaller Logan Wilson was benched for fifth-round draft pick Barret Carter out of Clemson. Carter joins rookie second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. as a starting linebacker, along with DJ Ivey and Josh Newton getting more snaps every week in the secondary.
Multiple veterans on the Bengals' defense haven’t been playing their best football of late. Wilson was already benched for Carter, and we should see Cam Taylor-Britt out of a starting position in recent weeks. Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is questionable for Thursday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and we should see former first-round pick Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart work into Hendrickson’s role throughout the game. Stewart has been out with an ankle injury since Week Two against the Jacksonville Jaguars and is expected to play this week. He had an impressive start to the season, considering he didn’t participate in a team practice until July 28th.
Kris Jenkins Jr., a second-year defensive tackle from Michigan, has also seen an increase in snaps over the last couple of weeks with T.J. Slaton struggling of late. With a rejuvenated and more energetic defense, the Bengals could give the Steelers some defense looks they aren’t prepared to see. Golden has always succeeded as a defensive play caller when he has a versatile group around him. Carter and Knight are extremely gifted athletes and can stop the run and drop back in coverage whenever needed, something Wilson and former Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt struggled with last season. Murphy, Stewart, Jenkins, and Cam Sample rotating on the defensive line also gives Golden some interesting versatility on the defensive line. The secondary for the Bengals has been the sole bright spot of the defense; DJ Turner leads the NFL in pass deflections with 11, and the Bengals have six interceptions on the season, good enough for sixth in the NFL.
