01-17-2023, 10:46 AM
I know Pally links twitter to the top 5 overall, but I will go a bit deeper and add my colorful commentary:
Top 5 on Defense (they deserve to be first this time)
ADG- 87.1 on 16 snaps. That is what you call making the most of your opportunities. He was also a whopping 92.3 on 16 Special Teams snaps. Huge game for the App State LB.
Wilson- 82.1 What can you say about Wilson? The guy is tough as nails (please look up on youtube the hit he made on Tyler Linderbaum during ADG interception return. OH, and BTW, My ASS was ADG down by contact, he had not REMOTELY secured the ball. Assbags. Wilson can cover, he can rush the passer, and he is incredibly instinctive and decisive on run defense.
Tufele- 78.9 He only played 5 snaps (hence, the reason I have 6 in my top 5) but his snaps came at a crucial time when Baltiwhore was starting to overwhelm the defensive line. Again, making the most of his opportunities and, like Sharping, a great pick up.
Sample- 76.5 He played 31 snaps and made a huge impact when Lou shifted him in for Trey on rushing plays. Love how these young guys are stepping up. This is what Championship clubs have: Depth and Talent.
Hilton- 69.0 Only got to play 27 snaps due to Baltiwhore using predominantly 12 personnel, but damn this guy makes his presence felt every time he is on the field. Pound for pound, the toughest Bengal.
BJ Hill- 68.0 in a full 60 snaps. Had linemen diving at his knees all day in the run, had to defend a mobile QB, and still found time to generate some pass rush. BJ is a big part of this defense and continues to up his game in postseason play.
Top 5 on Offense:
Joe Burrow- 84.2 This game was as much about what Joe didn't do as what he did do. He held the ball with two hands when the pocket collapsed. He was sacked 4 times, hit another 4 times (seemed like more) but he never turned the ball over. At least three of those hits would have been penalties on the likes of Brady or Rogers. But Joe never got rattled. He also never forced anything. He just did what it took to win. One complaint, and this is more for the coaches: Stop running the ball in to a pile in the 4th quarter with a lead unless you are going to put an extra OT in and really dedicate yourself to it. PUT THE BALL IN JOE'S HANDS. He will make the right reads, take shots where he can, and check it down if it isn't there. The end of this game had a very SF 49er-2021 feel to it. Give Joe the ball. Get the plays in quick. Let him audible. That is always your best play.
Chase- 71.2. I remember just one drop on a high pass and one other PBU where he was led in to Hamilton. Took a lot of hard shots, but held on to the ball. They couldn't cover him in the slot. If the Bengals want to put up more 30 burgers, however, you are going to have to have more from Boyd in the slot and the TEs with Chase and Tee outside. They are supposed to have the best trio in the NFL. Need all three at their best.
Higgins 64.9 4 catches for 37 yards on 6 targets is hardly a great game, but I do think he got the shaft when Peters basically punched him in the facemask, nearly knocking his helmet off on what would have been a sure TD. Assbag blind MFRs.
Karras- 69.3 with an 84.5 pass blocking rating. Given the pass plays were run over 2 to 1, this was a really solid game by Karras, the last FA standing.
Mixon 62.8 I had to put him here as he was techically top 5, but his 17.7 on pass blocking (just 3 snaps pass blocking, but we are back to predictability based on formation/personnel. Mixon needs to do better.
Honorable Mentions:
Sam Hubbard- 50.2 Lowest rated defensive player. I will chalk some of this up to being a spy that was trying to keep Huntley contained and he never really got to make a play on him, but just steered him to traffic.
Vonn Bell- 67.7 was 7th overall on defense. His hit on the RB at the goal line was huge in getting the Bengals to third down and the Wham, Bam, Thank You, Sam.
Zac Carter 64.3 #10 overall on defense. Played 29 snaps and has been improving each week. The guy has that relentless motor and is figuring out how to work through the trash and make plays. He just keeps improving each week.
Jackson Carman- 49.6 I would give him a few extra points if he would simply tuck his shirt in, but I digress. Played 28 snaps and didn't grade out great, but against the best defense in the NFL over the past however many weeks ago that they signed Smith is at least serviceable. For reference, he scored 2 points lower than Volson, 7 points higher than Sharping, and 9 points higher than Adeniji. He has what is clearly a last chance to show he belongs at the position where he started three years.
Top 5 on Defense (they deserve to be first this time)
ADG- 87.1 on 16 snaps. That is what you call making the most of your opportunities. He was also a whopping 92.3 on 16 Special Teams snaps. Huge game for the App State LB.
Wilson- 82.1 What can you say about Wilson? The guy is tough as nails (please look up on youtube the hit he made on Tyler Linderbaum during ADG interception return. OH, and BTW, My ASS was ADG down by contact, he had not REMOTELY secured the ball. Assbags. Wilson can cover, he can rush the passer, and he is incredibly instinctive and decisive on run defense.
Tufele- 78.9 He only played 5 snaps (hence, the reason I have 6 in my top 5) but his snaps came at a crucial time when Baltiwhore was starting to overwhelm the defensive line. Again, making the most of his opportunities and, like Sharping, a great pick up.
Sample- 76.5 He played 31 snaps and made a huge impact when Lou shifted him in for Trey on rushing plays. Love how these young guys are stepping up. This is what Championship clubs have: Depth and Talent.
Hilton- 69.0 Only got to play 27 snaps due to Baltiwhore using predominantly 12 personnel, but damn this guy makes his presence felt every time he is on the field. Pound for pound, the toughest Bengal.
BJ Hill- 68.0 in a full 60 snaps. Had linemen diving at his knees all day in the run, had to defend a mobile QB, and still found time to generate some pass rush. BJ is a big part of this defense and continues to up his game in postseason play.
Top 5 on Offense:
Joe Burrow- 84.2 This game was as much about what Joe didn't do as what he did do. He held the ball with two hands when the pocket collapsed. He was sacked 4 times, hit another 4 times (seemed like more) but he never turned the ball over. At least three of those hits would have been penalties on the likes of Brady or Rogers. But Joe never got rattled. He also never forced anything. He just did what it took to win. One complaint, and this is more for the coaches: Stop running the ball in to a pile in the 4th quarter with a lead unless you are going to put an extra OT in and really dedicate yourself to it. PUT THE BALL IN JOE'S HANDS. He will make the right reads, take shots where he can, and check it down if it isn't there. The end of this game had a very SF 49er-2021 feel to it. Give Joe the ball. Get the plays in quick. Let him audible. That is always your best play.
Chase- 71.2. I remember just one drop on a high pass and one other PBU where he was led in to Hamilton. Took a lot of hard shots, but held on to the ball. They couldn't cover him in the slot. If the Bengals want to put up more 30 burgers, however, you are going to have to have more from Boyd in the slot and the TEs with Chase and Tee outside. They are supposed to have the best trio in the NFL. Need all three at their best.
Higgins 64.9 4 catches for 37 yards on 6 targets is hardly a great game, but I do think he got the shaft when Peters basically punched him in the facemask, nearly knocking his helmet off on what would have been a sure TD. Assbag blind MFRs.
Karras- 69.3 with an 84.5 pass blocking rating. Given the pass plays were run over 2 to 1, this was a really solid game by Karras, the last FA standing.
Mixon 62.8 I had to put him here as he was techically top 5, but his 17.7 on pass blocking (just 3 snaps pass blocking, but we are back to predictability based on formation/personnel. Mixon needs to do better.
Honorable Mentions:
Sam Hubbard- 50.2 Lowest rated defensive player. I will chalk some of this up to being a spy that was trying to keep Huntley contained and he never really got to make a play on him, but just steered him to traffic.
Vonn Bell- 67.7 was 7th overall on defense. His hit on the RB at the goal line was huge in getting the Bengals to third down and the Wham, Bam, Thank You, Sam.
Zac Carter 64.3 #10 overall on defense. Played 29 snaps and has been improving each week. The guy has that relentless motor and is figuring out how to work through the trash and make plays. He just keeps improving each week.
Jackson Carman- 49.6 I would give him a few extra points if he would simply tuck his shirt in, but I digress. Played 28 snaps and didn't grade out great, but against the best defense in the NFL over the past however many weeks ago that they signed Smith is at least serviceable. For reference, he scored 2 points lower than Volson, 7 points higher than Sharping, and 9 points higher than Adeniji. He has what is clearly a last chance to show he belongs at the position where he started three years.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
