A Bengals Defense with Teeth?

[BZBot]

A sudden resurgence in the Bengals defense seems to have occurred after several weeks of futility. But what has prompted this resurgence from a team that is no longer in the playoff hunt and should be looking towards next year?

Source: http://www.bengalszone.com/article.php?sid=602

[BengalszoneBilly]

Good article Jay, but IMO the recent improvement in defensive play can be attributed primarly to two things.

#1: The quality of opponents. In the last five games only the Cardinals(14th) and the Steelers (15th) had top 16 offenses, and those games they lost. They did well against the Ravens, (25th) the Titans, (21st) and the Rams. (27th) Go figure.

#2: The backups have learned from their brief experience. This I can at least find some solace in.

[gregstephens]

Yeah, I'm not impressed yet stopping the Titans, Ravens, Jets and Rams. Let's see how they do in the Browns rematch.

[Kirkendall]

Look. I think that personnel stability is a big factor with the Bengals defense. It's not defensive musical chairs right now. If there's one thing I've learned about the NFL this year, it's the added importance of growing and playing together as a cohesive and stable unit.

[GregCook]

Look. I think that personnel stability is a big factor with the Bengals defense. It's not defensive musical chairs right now. If there's one thing I've learned about the NFL this year, it's the added importance of growing and playing together as a cohesive and stable unit.

I don't consider this a good defense until they can take away the running game consistently and take away a team's #1 receiver consistently. This defense right here, its a phantom, it won't exist next season. Next season, there will be 2 or 3 new starters on the Dline, 1 or 2 new starters in the secondary, 1 or 2 new starters in linebacker.

So much for consistency and growing together.

[ArmyBengal]

But that's what is going to happen when you have injuries and in general, SUCK. You are going to have this defense this year and that defense next year until they get some players that don't suck and don't get bit by the injury bug.

That being said, color me VERY unimpressed that the are getting kudos for playing against week opponents. I guess if they demolished the University of Mother Mary of the Blind, it would be worthy of a positive write up as well, right ?? Actually, don't answer that...

WHODEY !!!

[HairOnFire]

I'd say the improvement has resulted equally from some long awaited stability at the LB positions to the poor offensive ability of many of the most recent opponents.

In regards to the former, the return of Rashad Jeanty and the switch of Landon Johnson to the middle has resulted in a dramatic improvement in the run defense....even against quality teams.

In regards to the latter, there's absolutely no way Dexter Jackson makes the plays he did in the last game if matched against a quality QB. That said, we're finally seeing players like Marvin White get playing time and regardless of the quality of competition being faced that should pay dividends in the future.

Bottom Line? There's no way I can bring myself to say that this defense has turned the corner. There was simply no way any defense would be able to compete on ANY level while adjusting to so many injuries and it's no suprise that this one didn't. But things have improved greatly now that a player or two has returned and guys like Dhani Jones have settled in.