WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Notes, Quotes

The Sports Xchange

October 25, 2018 at 12:12 am.

–The defense while making timely plays on occasions has not been great, but there was one glaring area that highlighted the deficiencies in Kansas City and that was missed tackles. The missed tackles were coming with disturbing frequency and when Pro Football Focus compiled the numbers, the website said the Bengals missed 18 tackles. It was the most since 2006 when Pro Football Focus began compiling statistics in its database.

“You have to go and you have to tackle,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said Monday. “You have to do a better job. I wish there was a magic word or button to press, but there isn’t.”

Of course, it’s not a new problem. The Bengals are averaging 9.5 missed tackles per game and in their three losses that number is 13 missed tackles

–Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is off to a slow start since returning from his four-game PED suspension. He had a career-high four missed tackles in Kansas City and is up to seven so far. It is the same amount as his totals in the 2012 and 2015 seasons. His most egregious missed tackles occurred on consecutive plays in the second quarter. He missed a tackle on wide receiver Tyreek Hill that enabled Kansas City to get a first down at the Bengals 15. On the next play, he had running back Kareem Hunt contained to a three-yard gain but the tackle was missed and Hunt scored to put Cincinnati behind 14-0. He then exited with a hip injury but seems likely to play this week.

–It has been a frustrating experience being a Bengals tight end no matter how many touches you get. Tyler Eifert is out for the season with an ankle injury, Tyler Kroft has missed the last two games with a foot injury and even the injuries are trickling down to the lowest rungs on the depth chart. Just ask Mason Schreck, who landed on injured reserve with what is believed to be a torn ACL. Schreck appeared in six games without compiling any statistics. At least the Bengals still have C.J. Uzomah but barring a trade before next Tuesday’s deadline multiple tight end sets for offensive coordinator Bill Lazor are a thing of the recent past.

“I remember when we had eight or nine,” said Schreck, who also sprained an MCL in the same knee last season. “I thought we had the deepest group of tight ends in the league. Now (we don’t).”

–The struggles of some offensive linemen is not a secret for the Bengals, but if there was one and perhaps the only bright spot from Sunday’s 45-10 loss in Kansas City it was the performance of left tackle Cordy Glenn. According to Pro Football Focus, the Bengals had 39 pass-blocking snaps and he did not allow a pressure. Coming into the game, Glenn ranked second on the team with 21 pressures allowed. Glenn also pitched a perfect game in terms of pressures in Week 2 against Baltimore. Now comes the follow-up against Jason Pierre-Paul.

–While Glenn’s performance was a welcome change it is a difficult season for right guard Alex Richmond. Richmond allowed a team-worst six pressures at Kansas City and those pressures often occurred moments after the snap. Richmond likely stays in his role until rookie center Billy Price returns from a foot injury after the bye week since Trey Hopkins can play guard.

BY THE NUMBERS: 67 — Point total in the last 14 quarters since tight end Tyler Eifert was lost for the season with a gruesome broken ankle in Week 4 at Atlanta. Before then, they totaled 117 points.

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