CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals security Vonn Bell was not in a speaking temper on Monday.
He did not wish to clarify why a chunk of cardboard was wedged atop his proper ear with what seemed to be white cotton balls. He did not wish to get into how he has been taking part in this yr, splitting time with second-year participant Jordan Battle, or his dialog with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo about his function transferring ahead.
“I do not wish to talk about it,” he mentioned with a smile and deep snigger. “I am going to maintain that to myself.”
Then the dialog at his locker shifted into what has grow to be a standard theme for this yr’s Bengals staff — a promising yr that has morphed into a giant disappointment. Bell did not have a lot to say then, both. However the rhetorical query he posed, one left open for interpretation, mentioned lots.
“What did I come again right here for?” Bell instructed ESPN.
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4 years in the past, Bell delivered a giant hit in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Evening Soccer,” one which compelled a turnover and served because the symbolic tone-setter for deep playoff runs in 2021 and 2022. However loads has modified between every now and then. Forward of this yr’s first assembly in opposition to Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Cincinnati (4-7) finds itself at a crossroads. Because the Bengals attempt to maintain their slim playoff hopes flickering with six video games left, additionally they should consider the place issues have gone fallacious, particularly in relation to their protection, and what that might imply for a way the roster is constructed in future years.
The easy purpose is an absence of execution. However the reply as to why the unit has been inconsistent is a multilayered one.
“It is actually a whole lot of issues,” Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton mentioned. “It is guys lacking their assignments or guys like myself lacking alternatives to vary the sport on turnover performs. It has been an entire multitude of issues.”
Accidents and shaky play have definitely contributed to a protection that ranks twenty sixth in factors allowed per drive. When Anarumo has repeatedly referenced inconsistency, it has been by way of on-field efficiency. That has been the first purpose cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, the staff’s high cornerback originally of the season, was benched in a Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He regained a beginning function after cornerback DJ Turner left the sport with a damaged collarbone.
However even earlier than the struggles, the staff has had a rotating solid of defensive backs with the first-team unit amid a logjam of younger gamers. The yr began with 4 gamers who have been drafted with top-100 picks throughout the previous three seasons however just one open beginning spot.
In coaching camp, Taylor-Britt subbed out at instances because the staff bought prolonged appears at rookie Josh Newton, who’s now beginning, and decided the battle between Turner and Dax Hill, who received the job and began 5 video games earlier than struggling a season-ending ACL harm. Because the season progressed, Bell has rotated snaps with Battle.
“I have a look at who’s on the sector with me after which what aspect of the sector I may belief,” mentioned free security Geno Stone. “Now I do know if I do know this man has been profitable constantly, I may lean the opposite manner whereas I am taking part in the submit.”
And given the finite margins between profitable and shedding within the NFL, the texture between gamers makes all of the distinction in being profitable on any given play.
Bengals particular groups coordinator Darrin Simmons, who has been with the staff for 22 seasons, says that having consistency amongst teams of gamers is the “final factor” in soccer. And the one approach to getting gamers to react and assume the identical manner is thru repetition.
“If that is a revolving door, then you definately by no means develop that,” Simmons mentioned. “You by no means develop that belief, so that they are all seeing it the identical manner on a regular basis.”
Throughout his Wednesday information convention, quarterback Joe Burrow mentioned whereas the playoffs aren’t out of the query, he is aware of the long-term outlook is not ideally suited. In keeping with ESPN Analysis, Cincinnati has only a 12.7% probability of constructing the playoffs. To place that in perspective, that quantity solely bought as little as 30.7% in 2021, when Cincinnati clinched on Week 17 and finally went on a run to the Tremendous Bowl.
Turning across the protection, beginning with this weekend in opposition to the Steelers (8-3), will probably be vital to giving the Bengals the most effective shot of reaching the postseason. However in relation to competing for championships, figuring out the suitable gamers to have round Burrow transferring ahead will probably be simply as essential for a staff seeking to grow to be contenders once more.