The Bengals entered week 1 with the expectation that they would come away with a win. A home, facing a rebuilding Patriots team, the odds were stacked heavily in their favour. However, the Patriots outplayed the Bengals in all phases, taking to them with a strong defensive performance, while controlling the clock by running the football. There were some individual standouts for the Bengals, but overall, a lot more negatives, unfortunately.
The Good:
P, Ryan Rehkow
With Brad Robbins on IR for at least 4 games, you could say that week 1 was the start of Rehkow’s audition to keep this starting job permanently. He wasn’t perfect, with past issues about touch showing up on his two touchbacks. However, the booming leg that was the highlight of his draft profile overshadowed anything else for the rookie. He set a franchise record with an 80 yard punt. Further, despite the two touchbacks, he still had a net average of 52 yards per punt. The upside here is undeniable, and if he continues to perform at this level, even with some mistakes mixed in, he should be able to fend off Robbins.
LB, Logan Wilson
Wilson was all over the field on Sunday, and looked like one of the team’s best defenders, if not, the best. He led the team with 13 total tackles, on a day where many others struggled in this department. As well, he had a solid day in coverage.
Left Side of the OL
The left side of the offensive line, overall, was solid. Orlando Brown could have been better in the run game, but did a good job in pass protection. Cordell Volson, meanwhile, had a great day in both regards. Coming in as the biggest question mark on the OL, it was good to see him have a good start to the season.
CB, Daxton Hill
It was Hill’s first regular season start since transitioning to CB, and he did not disappoint. He was routinely in good position, allowing very little separation from his opponent. The few times he allowed a reception, it was nothing too bad.
DT, Jay Tufele
The defensive line, outside of maybe Trey Hendrickson, didn’t do a lot to pressure the QB, and had an even worse day against the run. Tufele was the only guy on the interior who had a few true stand out moments. Zach Carter seemed to get a good chunk of the rotation, but Tufele is making a case for more snaps.
The Bad:
HC, Zac Taylor & OC, Dan Pitcher
The offence struggled, there is no question about it. But while the players are getting a lot of the blame, coaching is equally, if not, more responsible. Throughout his Bengals tenure, Zac Taylor’s teams have come out flat to start the year. His vanilla play calling allowed the Patriots defence to sit underneath on routes, and had an impact on the team’s inability to create much momentum.
PR, Charlie Jones
Jones has been the starting punt returner since being drafted last season, but they also have an exciting rookie, in Jermaine Burton, waiting for his opportunity. Jones fumbled the ball on one of his returns, which led to New England putting points on the board. The leash might not be very long, if mistakes continue.
TE, Tanner Hudson
Hudson was another player who committed a costly fumble. A shame really, because he ran a nice slant route and was looking to get into the end zone after making the catch. Unfortunately, he was lazy with the ball in his hands, holding it in a vulnerable position away from his body, which allowed the defender to punch it out at around the 1 yard line. A costly mistake with the Bengals in scoring position.
Run Defence
The run defence was thought to be an issue entering the season, and it was in week 1. The Patriots dictated the tempo by running the ball with Stevenson. He often found wide open running lanes, and when he didn’t was often able to power his way forward for extra yards. This happened multiple times on the final drive, when the Patriots were clearly going to run the ball, and the Bengals needed a stop to keep the game alive.
Pass Rush
The pass rush was very quiet, outside of Hendrickson. I had big expectations for Sheldon Rankins, but he did not stand out at all. BJ Hill, Sam Hubbard, and most of the others were equally invisible.
Tackling
Tackling was a big issue in many areas. DB’s were missing tackles after the catch, missed tackles at the line led to bigger runs, and there were a couple of missed opportunities when the pass rush did actually get close to getting home. They just could not finish the play.
Right Side of the OL
The right side of the OL did not match the performance from the left side. Trent Brown was good in the run game, but less so as a pass protector. Alex Cappa looked like the worst player on the unit. He struggled in both phases at various points.
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