A look at the players on the Bengals defense who stepped into bigger roles last week
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 25, 2022
(thread)
You’ve got to start with DT Jay Tufele, who made four different types of impressive run stops
Lou Anarumo: “Super happy. He’s a positive guy trying to do the right thing. He’s active"
DT Zach Carter struggled against the run vs. New Orleans. He was really strong vs. Atlanta, and he credited adjustments Lou Anarumo helped him with.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 25, 2022
Tufele said of Carter: “I’m so proud of him. He’s working really hard, and it’s just the beginning for him.”
Linebacker is the Bengals’ deepest position. Even though Logan Wilson was out, Anarumo trusted Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey to fill in and execute a rare 4-3 front for the Bengals.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 25, 2022
"It’s probably something they didn’t game plan for,” Davis-Gaither said.
Bailey’s biggest contributions were vs. the run. He made two diving tackles.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 25, 2022
“That’s what he does, he likes putting the hammer on people,” Davis-Gaither said.
Check out these two plays from Bailey.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 25, 2022
On one of them, he gets DT Tyler Shelvin to move over a gap before the snap, which ended up being the difference in getting a run stop.
On the other, he makes a leaping tackle to stop Mariota. pic.twitter.com/PJhtEitnAD
Winning makes believers of us all
