Bengals Week 4 Snap Count Takeaways: Joe Burrow teases larger role for improving rookie
The Cincinnati Bengals notched a win for the first time this season by taking down the Carolina Panthers, 34-24. It was another commendable offensive performance, and worries continue to stack up for the defense. Let's check out what the snap counts had to say about the game. Tight end dynamic Two things stand out with […]
The Cincinnati Bengals notched a win for the first time this season by taking down the Carolina Panthers, 34-24. It was another commendable offensive performance, and worries continue to stack up for the defense.
Let's check out what the snap counts had to say about the game.
Tight end dynamic
Two things stand out with the tight ends. For starters, their involvement throughout the game impacted how often the starting trio of wide receivers were on the field as neither Ja'Marr Chase (53) nor Tee Higgins (43) eclipsed 80% of the total offense. Part of this has to do with the offense running the clock out during the fourth quarter with the use of 12 and 13 personnel. Even Cody Ford (14) got in on some action as an added blocker. Trust is another factor that's worth analyzing.
Rookie Erick All Jr. (40) led the tight end group in both snaps, targets and receptions (4), and receiving yards (28). He wasn't the first one out on the field as the starter, but he pretty much operated like it for all four quarters. Mike Gesicki (22) only saw a single pass come his way and he lost nine yards while Drew Sample (38) remains a blocker first and foremost. Joe Burrow certainly is on board with letting All lead the way.
"Yeah, he's gonna continue to play a big part," Burrow said of All after the game. "He's a really good blocker. He's an athletic guy. Catches it really well, just kind of jack of all trades for us. So he's gonna continue to continue, you know, carve out his role, and it'll be a bigger one going forward."
All is definitely on track to making this the norm.
Cornerback conundrum
This was not a game to remember for Cam Taylor-Britt (36) as the Bengals' lead cornerback got familiar with the sidelines throughout the afternoon. DJ Turner II (51) ended up out-snapping the second-round pick that preceded him the year prior as Taylor-Britt was struggling immensely to cover Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette.
Head coach Zac Taylor explained that Turner's playing time came more as an in-game decision and was a testament to the second-year player's progression in practice. Taylor can prop up one of his players without putting the other down, but the reality is that Turner wouldn't have out-snapped Taylor-Britt if everything was going as planned.
There are enough issues for Cincinnati's defense as it is, there's hardly any room for one of the unit's best players to suddenly forget all the technique he acquired over two years of experience.
With Turner now breathing down his neck, time is of the essence for Taylor-Britt to correct course.
Other notes
Kris Jenkins Jr. (22) only had one tackle but it was a huge one as he plugged the gap where Chuba Hubbard was entering at the goal line on the opening drive. Jenkins' moment in the same stadium his dad shined in for years was just about the only highlight the Bengals' defense made outside of Trey Hendrickson's (36) near-strip sack fumble on Andy Dalton that led to Vonn Bell's (70) interception.
Speaking of Hendrickson, the Bengals' three-time Pro Bowler left the game in the fourth quarter with what's being labeled as a stinger. Joseph Ossai (40) and Cedric Johnson (24) had to pick up more of the slack and Sam Hubbard (56) continued to play more than he probably should. Myles Murphy can return off the Reserve/Injured list this week, and it can't happen any quicker for Cincinnati's defense.
Ja’Marr Chase does more with less and made history twice in Bengals’ win over Panthers
Chase put his name in the record books again.
