Bengals Week 7 Snap Count Takeaways: Domino effect from injury leads to rookie's debut on offense
It didn't come easy, but the Cincinnati Bengals improved to 3-4 with a cathartic win over the Cleveland Browns. Injuries caused several changes for both teams, and the Bengals appeared to avoid worst while also coming out on top on the scoreboard.Let's check out what the snap counts had to say about the game. Bengals Week […]
It didn't come easy, but the Cincinnati Bengals improved to 3-4 with a cathartic win over the Cleveland Browns. Injuries caused several changes for both teams, and the Bengals appeared to avoid worst while also coming out on top on the scoreboard.
Let's check out what the snap counts had to say about the game.
Bengals Week 7 Snap Counts vs Browns
Finding their edge
During the first four weeks of the season, left edge defender Sam Hubbard (45) played at least 74% of the defense's snaps in every game. He hasn't gone over 65% in the last three weeks. Hubbard's 45 snaps from Sunday had him on the field for 54% of the defense's day as Myles Murphy (34) and Joseph Ossai (30) put in plenty of work in relief and alongside him.
When Hubbard isn't overplayed, he plays better. Take his sack and interception on Sunday as definitive proof.
Murphy is now three games back from his knee injury and is creeping closer and closer to outplaying Hubbard, foreshadowing how the future of the left edge position will look in due time. Ossai has exceeded 30 snaps three times this year but his impact in those snaps wasn't as noticeable as it was on Sunday. He laid the boom on Deshaun Watson early on and showcased his rare explosion throughout the afternoon.
The Bengals' defense is fifth in dropback EPA allowed per play and seventh in dropback success rate allowed over the last two weeks. Rediscovering their pass-rushing depth in the same timeframe is no coincidence.
Next man up, again
For the second time in three weeks, backup offensive lineman Cody Ford (37) was thrusted off the bench to relieve an injury at offensive tackle. Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (18) suffered what has been clarified as a calf injury during the first half. Brown went into the locker room and later returned to the sideline but did not come back into the game. Head coach Zac Taylor said Brown just returning from the locker room was a positive sign and Brown himself gave reporters a thumbs up after the game.
Ford did what he could in playing for Brown, and the domino effect trickled down to rookie center Matt Lee (3). Lee was called upon to fill Ford's usual role as the sixth offensive lineman for the offense's jumbo packages. Lee's three plays all came in the fourth quarter as an eligible outside the tackle and they were the first three snaps he's ever taken with the offense.
Other notes
Running back Chase Brown (32) continues to take more snaps away from Zack Moss (27) and considered the former is averaging 5.0 yards per carry and the latter is stuck at 3.3, this trend should continue.
All four of the Bengals' tight ends saw the field with Erick All Jr. and Drew Sample leading the way with 28 snaps each. Mike Gesicki (17) continues to fill in behind as his role has diminished with the emergence of All. Even Tanner Hudson (5) got in on the action.
Safety Jordan Battle (19) continued to see time throughout the day but ended up playing more than expected after Geno Stone () went down with a shin injury. Stone appears to have dodged a major injury, but Battle would likely start in his place should he miss time.
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