On the Cincinnati Bengals first play of the preseason, the defense went off script from the formation it had used for most of training camp and most of the 2020 season.
The Bengals opened the preseason opener with three defensive tackles on the field to bolster the run defense. Later in the series for the first team defense, defensive end Cam Sample lined up as an interior pass rusher. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson lined up as an off-ball linebacker. Safety Vonn Bell blitzed the quarterback.
The Bengals prioritized adding depth and versatility on the defensive line during the offseason. The defensive line looked schematically different beginning with the first snap of the first preseason game.
“We are still feeling all that out, (putting) guys in different spots,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. “This is the time to do it. You didn’t have this last year. We are kind of feeling this guy might be better here or there. We are going to keep moving guys around all preseason just to see what they are best at.”
Before the 2021 season, the Bengals gave $100 million in contracts to defensive ends Sam Hubbard and Hendrickson. The Bengals drafted four defensive linemen, including Sample and defensive end Joseph Ossai.
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Since the Bengals only had 17 sacks last season, the defensive scheme changed during the offseason.
On the first day of training camp, Hubbard said he expected his role on the defense to look different in 2021. This year, he said he expected to do more “linebacker-like stuff” for the first time in Anarumo’s scheme.
“It takes four guys to get to the quarterback,” Hubbard said. “I think the four guys that we’re going to have out there are going to do a really good job working together and getting more pressure because that’s an area that was not acceptable last year and we have a lot of work to do.”
The evolution on the defensive line continued in the first week of training camp when Hendrickson dropped back in coverage. Hendrickson picked off quarterback Joe Burrow, and Hendrickson said it was his first interception since he was a defensive back in high school.
“If I can drop and it’s not just the same dropping every time, then an offense can’t pick up on those kinds of tendencies,” Hendrickson said. “The more we can do, the more it will help us in the rush. They don’t know – am I dropping, am I stunting inside, am I rushing outside? It’s a tool in the tool box.”
While Anarumo said the preseason opener included the “kids menu” version of the playbook, Ossai and Sample looked like the most versatile linemen on the roster.
Ossai lined up on the ball and off the ball. He lined up on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He played against the run and against the pass, and he played with the first string, second string and third string defense.
“I’ve always said it doesn't matter as long as I’m somewhere on the field,” Ossai said last week before he injured his right wrist. “Somebody can tell me what I need to do and coach me through it. I’m all for it. I’m excited to see where they use me, specifically.”
Sample often played outside on rushing downs. But since starting defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi didn’t play, Sample became a first string interior defensive lineman on passing downs.
“He played solid,” Anarumo said. “For a young guy in his first game (there are) a lot of things he needs to improve on. He showed some edge pressure.”
Last season, the Bengals played Christian Covington, Amani Bledsoe and Xavier Williams as defensive tackles against the run. Against the pass, the Bengals often leaned on Margus Hunt, Mike Daniels and Khalid Kareem. Entering the season, none of those players were expected to play big roles.
The Bengals have more options and more versatility on the defensive line in 2021, It only took one preseason game to show it.
Look at linebacker Darius Hodge
LOOK AT HODGE: After the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bengals picked up undrafted free agent linebacker Darius Hodge from Marshall University. The team converted him to an edge rusher, and then in his first preseason game, Hodge had 1.5 sacks, five quarterback hits and a tackle for loss.
“It’s always about competition and we’ve been preaching that since they got here in training camp and even back in the spring,” Anarumo said. “The fact that his play continues to (go) well, he’ll get the reps that he deserves.”
Jessie Bates' importance to Cincinnati Bengals defense
BATES TALK: With Bengals safety Jessie Bates III eligible for a contract extension, Anarumo explained the fourth-year safety’s importance to the defense.
Bates was the Bengals best player last season and finished the year with 78 tackles and 15 passes defended.
"I think Jessie's unique traits are A, he has great range, he can go get the ball,” Anarumo said. “It's been a little bit harder these last few years to find true free safety, center field type of guys. So, I think that accompanied with how well he's done tackling, especially last year, and how much better he did. You put all those things together, you've got a pretty darn good safety.”
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