01-15-2024, 10:09 PM
(01-15-2024, 03:15 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: Cincinnati gave up the 7th fewest yards last year. In 2021, they gave up the 15th most but their total was right around league average. Now, this year, they were awful aside from turnovers but this hasn't been a problem for "years."
The vast majority, if not all NFL teams run primarily zone coverage. You'll see different styles. Some teams run cover two as their base, some run cover four. Some run cover three, etc. Playing zone coverage isn't an issue. It's a personnel issue, and part of the issue is that the secondary was incredibly young. Cincinnati had four starters in the secondary that had less than two seasons of experience, two being rookies. You have to let those guys get reps. You can't just give up on Dax yet because he made mistakes in his first season starting.
There are two issues in my eyes - the youth in the secondary and personnel on the defensive line. With Reader aging and having another major quad issue, Cincinnati really needs two new players in the middle of the line. Pratt and Wilson are both capable, talented linebackers but they need help in front of them.
The linebackers have to cover too much ground that is why the safeties have to make the tackle cause the front 7 in our case the front 6 with an undersized Hilton at nickel is not getting the job done.
You cannot put it all on a missing DT people get hurt the coaches have to overcome one injury on Defense.
