10-19-2020, 02:25 PM
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2020/10/19/cincinnati-bengals-geno-atkins-carlos-dunlap-frustrated-roles/3707697001/
Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, two patriarchs on the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense, are being phased out of the team’s defensive game plan.
According multiple sources, Atkins and Dunlap are frustrated with their lack of playing time. Atkins and Dunlap are miffed by the team’s defensive philosophy and approach. They have basically been demoted to third-down specialists.
“He played on third downs,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of Atkins after Sunday's 31-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. “He was in there on third downs, I know that.”
Atkins was on the field for 18 snaps and Dunlap was in for 28 defensive plays in the Week 6 loss. Dunlap was the only one of the two to appear in the stat column. He registered one tackle.
The Bengals started defensive tackle Xavier Williams over Atkins and defensive end Amani Bledsoe instead of Dunlap in Week 6. Williams was just signed by the team last week and Bledsoe began the year as a practice squad player. Williams logged 34 snaps and Bledsoe was in for 29 plays.
Sources told The Enquirer, the Bengals coaching staff approached Dunlap and Atkins and said their limited role is “what’s best for the team” going forward. Multiple players inside the locker room are wondering why Dunlap and Atkins have been relegated to situational players. The two veterans have combined for 10 Pro Bowls.
Atkins was invited to his eighth Pro Bowl as recently as last year. His eight career Pro Bowls are the most ever by a Bengals defender. Dunlap was twice named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in 2019. Dunlap is one sack shy of tying the Bengals’ franchise record.
Dunlap started the first four games of the regular season. He had nine tackles in Week 3 and one tackle and a pass deflection in Week 4. Leading up to the Week 5 tilt in Baltimore, Dunlap was first told of his demotion and publicly voiced his disapproval. He’s played a backup role ever since.
Atkins made his season debut in Week 5 after missing the first four games due to a shoulder injury. He played in just 19 snaps versus the Ravens despite Cincinnati being thin at defensive tackle. The 11-year veteran has been on the field an average of 30% of the team’s defensive snaps in two games.
Even though the Bengals have reduced the roles of both Atkins and Dunlap, the team is reluctant to trade either of them at this point, per sources. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 3. A more likely scenario is the team moving on from the two during the offseason if there's no resolution. The Bengals would save $9.6 million if they released Atkins before June 1 and $11.25 million if they cut ties with Dunlap before June 1.
Dunlap’s contract expires after the 2021 season. Atkins’ deal is complete following the 2022 season.
Cincinnati’s defense allowed 430 total yards to the Colts in Sunday’s loss. The Bengals defense currently ranks in the bottom half of the league. Atkins and Dunlap are on the other side of 30, but it’s perplexing that the two defensive stalwarts aren’t heavily involved in the 1-4-1 Bengals’ game plan.
Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, two patriarchs on the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense, are being phased out of the team’s defensive game plan.
According multiple sources, Atkins and Dunlap are frustrated with their lack of playing time. Atkins and Dunlap are miffed by the team’s defensive philosophy and approach. They have basically been demoted to third-down specialists.
“He played on third downs,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of Atkins after Sunday's 31-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. “He was in there on third downs, I know that.”
Atkins was on the field for 18 snaps and Dunlap was in for 28 defensive plays in the Week 6 loss. Dunlap was the only one of the two to appear in the stat column. He registered one tackle.
The Bengals started defensive tackle Xavier Williams over Atkins and defensive end Amani Bledsoe instead of Dunlap in Week 6. Williams was just signed by the team last week and Bledsoe began the year as a practice squad player. Williams logged 34 snaps and Bledsoe was in for 29 plays.
Sources told The Enquirer, the Bengals coaching staff approached Dunlap and Atkins and said their limited role is “what’s best for the team” going forward. Multiple players inside the locker room are wondering why Dunlap and Atkins have been relegated to situational players. The two veterans have combined for 10 Pro Bowls.
Atkins was invited to his eighth Pro Bowl as recently as last year. His eight career Pro Bowls are the most ever by a Bengals defender. Dunlap was twice named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in 2019. Dunlap is one sack shy of tying the Bengals’ franchise record.
Dunlap started the first four games of the regular season. He had nine tackles in Week 3 and one tackle and a pass deflection in Week 4. Leading up to the Week 5 tilt in Baltimore, Dunlap was first told of his demotion and publicly voiced his disapproval. He’s played a backup role ever since.
Atkins made his season debut in Week 5 after missing the first four games due to a shoulder injury. He played in just 19 snaps versus the Ravens despite Cincinnati being thin at defensive tackle. The 11-year veteran has been on the field an average of 30% of the team’s defensive snaps in two games.
Even though the Bengals have reduced the roles of both Atkins and Dunlap, the team is reluctant to trade either of them at this point, per sources. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 3. A more likely scenario is the team moving on from the two during the offseason if there's no resolution. The Bengals would save $9.6 million if they released Atkins before June 1 and $11.25 million if they cut ties with Dunlap before June 1.
Dunlap’s contract expires after the 2021 season. Atkins’ deal is complete following the 2022 season.
Cincinnati’s defense allowed 430 total yards to the Colts in Sunday’s loss. The Bengals defense currently ranks in the bottom half of the league. Atkins and Dunlap are on the other side of 30, but it’s perplexing that the two defensive stalwarts aren’t heavily involved in the 1-4-1 Bengals’ game plan.
