CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals security Vonn Bell was not in a speaking temper on Monday.
He did not wish to clarify why a bit of cardboard was wedged atop his proper ear with what gave the impression to be white cotton balls. He did not wish to get into how he has been taking part in this 12 months, splitting time with second-year participant Jordan Battle, or his dialog with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo about his position transferring ahead.
“I do not wish to focus on it,” he stated with a smile and deep chuckle. “I am going to hold that to myself.”
Then the dialog at his locker shifted into what has change into a standard theme for this 12 months’s Bengals staff — a promising 12 months that has morphed into a giant disappointment. Bell did not have a lot to say then, both. However the rhetorical query he posed, one left open for interpretation, stated a lot.
“What did I come again right here for?” Bell informed ESPN.
4 years in the past, Bell delivered a giant hit towards the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Evening Soccer,” one which pressured a turnover and served because the symbolic tone-setter for deep playoff runs in 2021 and 2022. However rather a lot has modified between every now and then. Forward of this 12 months’s first assembly towards Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Cincinnati (4-7) finds itself at a crossroads. Because the Bengals attempt to hold their slim playoff hopes flickering with six video games left, additionally they should consider the place issues have gone unsuitable, particularly in terms of their protection, and what that would imply for a way the roster is constructed in future years.
The easy cause is a scarcity of execution. However the reply as to why the unit has been inconsistent is a multilayered one.
“It is actually a variety of issues,” Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton stated. “It is guys lacking their assignments or guys like myself lacking alternatives to alter the sport on turnover performs. It has been an entire multitude of issues.”
Accidents and shaky play have definitely contributed to a protection that ranks twenty sixth in factors allowed per drive. When Anarumo has repeatedly referenced inconsistency, it has been by way of on-field efficiency. That has been the first cause cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, the staff’s high cornerback initially of the season, was benched in a Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He regained a beginning position after cornerback DJ Turner left the sport with a damaged collarbone.
However even earlier than the struggles, the staff has had a rotating forged of defensive backs with the first-team unit amid a logjam of younger gamers. The 12 months began with 4 gamers who had been drafted with top-100 picks inside the previous three seasons however just one open beginning spot.
In coaching camp, Taylor-Britt subbed out at occasions because the staff acquired prolonged seems to be at rookie Josh Newton, who’s now beginning, and decided the battle between Turner and Dax Hill, who gained the job and began 5 video games earlier than struggling a season-ending ACL harm. Because the season progressed, Bell has rotated snaps with Battle.
“I take a look at who’s on the sphere with me after which what aspect of the sphere I might belief,” stated free security Geno Stone. “Now I do know if I do know this man has been successful constantly, I might lean the opposite approach whereas I am taking part in the submit.”
And given the finite margins between successful and shedding within the NFL, the texture between gamers makes all of the distinction in being profitable on any given play.
Bengals particular groups coordinator Darrin Simmons, who has been with the staff for 22 seasons, says that having consistency amongst teams of gamers is the “final factor” in soccer. And the one solution to getting gamers to react and suppose the identical approach is thru repetition.
“If that is a revolving door, then you definately by no means develop that,” Simmons stated. “You by no means develop that belief, so that they are all seeing it the identical approach on a regular basis.”
Throughout his Wednesday information convention, quarterback Joe Burrow stated whereas the playoffs aren’t out of the query, he is aware of the long-term outlook is not supreme. In response to ESPN Analysis, Cincinnati has only a 12.7% probability of creating the playoffs. To place that in perspective, that quantity solely acquired as little as 30.7% in 2021, when Cincinnati clinched on Week 17 and finally went on a run to the Tremendous Bowl.
Turning across the protection, beginning with this weekend towards the Steelers (8-3), will probably be vital to giving the Bengals the very best shot of reaching the postseason. However in terms of competing for championships, figuring out the best gamers to have round Burrow transferring ahead will probably be simply as essential for a staff seeking to change into contenders once more.
