Draft expert tabs Bengals' early draft pick as a perfect fit
The transformation of the Cincinnati Bengals' defense over the last two years is nothing short of remarkable. There was a time when Lou Anarumo was one thought to be a failed hiring as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator. Now, he's everyone's candidate for the next defensive-minded head coach. Anarumo didn't just bring fresh ideas and an amendable […]
The transformation of the Cincinnati Bengals' defense over the last two years is nothing short of remarkable. There was a time when Lou Anarumo was one thought to be a failed hiring as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator. Now, he's everyone's candidate for the next defensive-minded head coach.
Anarumo didn't just bring fresh ideas and an amendable scheme to the Queen City, he brought a vision of what kind of players he wanted filling out the depth chart. On all three levels, you'll find high-effort defenders who go 100% throughout the duration of the play.
It's why the Bengals have been so consistently stout on defense, even against some of the best offenses in the NFL. And they've done it without rostering a first-round pick on the defensive line, until now.
First-round pick Myles Murphy checked all the boxes when looking for the next Bengals pass rusher. Murphy brings high-end speed, explosion, and power as an edge defender, and it doesn't take a ton of tape-watching to gauge how hard he plays whenever he's on the field.
It's this attribute that has NFL.com's Bucky Brooks excited about seeing Murphy play for the Bengals. Brooks listed the Murphy selection as one of his 10 perfect fits in this year's draft:
"As an energetic pass rusher with a non-stop motor and relentless spirit, the Clemson product matches the blue-collar culture established by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Murphy has the potential to deliver the sack production needed to harass the talented collection of passers in the conference." – Brooks on Murphy in Anarumo's defense
Murphy took the Bengals by surprise when he fell to them in the first round. The team had met with Murphy numerous times in the pre-draft process, including hosting him for a top-30 visit, and coaching him at his pro day. Their interest was clear, and they wasted no time turning the pick in.
Although he's not a perfect prospect, Murphy's baseline athleticism and motor give him a great foundation to seamlessly integrate within the Bengals' defensive front. Anarumo and defensive line coach Marion Hobby like to have their edges utilize power rushes and stay disciplined on the outside shoulder, creating a condensed pocket for the quarterback to try and find something downfield.
Turning pressures into sacks is the next stage of Murphy's development, and it'll be needed for the growth of the defense. Despite their defensive prowess, Cincinnati finished 29th in sacks (30) during the regular season. Generating more QB takedowns will keep make things a lot easier for a unit that already boasts a ton of continuity.
And when those broken plays occur, expect Murphy to chase down the ball along with 10 other players in stripes.
