Bengals' defender has been important to overall success the last few seasons
It's no secret why most people think of offense when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals, they are one of the NFL's best. But a lot of the success in Cincinnati can be attributed to the defensive side as well in recent years. The Bengals decided a few years ago that they were going to […]
It's no secret why most people think of offense when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals, they are one of the NFL's best. But a lot of the success in Cincinnati can be attributed to the defensive side as well in recent years.
The Bengals decided a few years ago that they were going to beef up the interior of their defensive line. Nose tackle D.J. Reader l, a behemoth that stands 6'3" and weighs 335 pounds, was added in 2020, and the results have been extremely positive.
Cincinnati wasn't good against the run in his first year with the team (29th). However, adding defensive tackle B.J. Hill has helped immensely, and the Bengals have finished fifth and seventh in that category in the past two seasons.
The size of Reader gives him the ability to be an anchor and a space-eater in the run game which sets the tone for the Bengals' defense, and on passing downs, the double teams he draws allow defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard to get one-on-one opportunities.
Reader has turned into one of the better interior defensive linemen which is why Pro Football Focus ranked him the ninth-best in the NFL.
"Reader plays a vital role in Lou Anarumo's defense, highlighted by his 85.2 PFF grade in 2022. As a run defender, he has earned grades of 69.0 or better since 2017. He produced a career-high 84.1 PFF pass-rush grade in 2022, registering 32 pressures from 310 pass-rushing snaps."-Gordon McGuinness, PFF
Last season was the best overall for Reader in the NFL.
Reader set career highs in overall grade and pass-rush grade according to PFF. In his three seasons with the Bengals, his PFF grade and pass-rush have increased, and although his run-defense grade dipped slightly in 2022 (73.1), it was just under his average for his first two years in Cincinnati (73.7) so he's been very consistent.
What is impressive about Reader is his athleticism for his size. Not only can he gracefully avoid blockers, but he can also contort his body when engaged to free himself and make plays at the line of scrimmage.
The Bengals are not a one-trick pony. Opposing offenses also have a lot to deal with, and it starts with the big guy in the middle, Reader.
Feature image via Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
