–Rookie safety Jessie Bates is becoming a favorite of Pro Football Focus as the website cites him as being among the NFL’s top safeties. His 27 tackles rank eighth at his position and when he is the primary cover, opposing quarterbacks own a passer rating of 58.8. According to the website, he has been targeted five times, allowing four catches for 38 yards. Overall, the site gives him an 83.9 rating, good for sixth among safeties. “For a young guy, coming out playing basically every down from day one, it’s a pretty daunting task. So far he’s done well,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said.
–It continues to be a struggle for starting right guard Alex Redmond. Although he has allowed only one sack, there are other unfavorable numbers for Redmond, who allowed five pressures last week against Miami. According to Pro Football Focus, his 21 pressures are the second-most in the league, three behind Minnesota’s Mike Remmers. Redmond also is tied with Kansas City’s Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for the league lead for guards with five penalties.
–The success of Cincinnati’s rookie class is starting to appear on the defensive line with the performance of third-round pick Sam Hubbard, who iced the win over Miami with a 19-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“He’s not like an average rookie, in his maturity and the way he approaches his game,” defensive end Michael Johnson said. “He’s always ready to go, a team-first guy, like myself. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Hubbard has 11 tackles and is plying his trade in front of family and friends, who watched him become a local high star before heading to Ohio State. Now he’ll get a glance at Cincinnati’s equivalent of a Michigan-Ohio State game.
“I haven’t experienced a game against the Steelers yet,” Hubbard said. “I will this week, and I am sure it will be a different level of intensity.”
–Linebacker Vontaze Burfict will play his second game following a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. In his season debut, he played 53 percent of the snaps, significantly fewer than his season debuts in the previous two seasons. Miami had 11 possessions on Sunday and he sat out in three of the final four drives.
BY THE NUMBERS: 18 — While the defense is not highly ranked overall, it’s in the fourth quarter when the group shines. Through five games, the Bengals have held teams to 18 points and are outscoring opponents 56-18 when you include the defensive touchdowns. Opponents have had 16 drives start in the fourth quarter and scored on only three of them. “That was one of the things when we came in, being able to finish games and close out games,” first-year defensive coordinator Terry Austin said. Last year, the Bengals were outscored 108-68 in fourth quarters.
