Super Bowl LVI Preview: The Bengals Front

In representing the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals arrive in Los Angeles as the pronounced underdog. Yet, through the adulation and flowers laid at the Rams’ feet, one unit stands rather defiant. Without the tireless work of their defensive line, the Bengals would enjoy the Super Bowl from the couch, instead of between the line. The defensive line holds the key to making Matthew Stafford’s first foray into the big game, a nightmarish experience, fraught with rushed throws and the happiest of feet. The Bengals’ first line of defense remains their best.

Getting Home

Head Coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo display such a staunch faith in their front four that you will rarely see a blitz. In fact, the Bengals will send an extra rusher only 20.5 percent of the time, which ranks as the seventh-fewest. Yet, Cincinnati hurried the passer on 10.8 percent of passing snaps, which stood as fourteen-overall. Cincinnati’s forty-two sacks sat eleventh overall. Basically, they do their level best to generate pressure with the front four exclusively.

The Leader

When Trey Hendrickson arrived in Ohio, many figured that his production stemmed from the success of another. In other words, Cameron Jordan made Trey Hendrickson. However, in his first season away from the Big Easy, Hendrickson set a single-season record with fourteen sacks. What makes Hendrickson dangerous is the ability to keep his feet while changing hand position, in the course of bending the corner. Tenacity as a rusher only gets you so far. Hendrickson wins with quick hands with occasional heaviness to confuse tackles.

Quiet Sam

Now, with all the attention paid towards Hendrickson, his bookend Sam Hubbard goes unheralded. The best athlete on the defensive line, by far, Hubbard’s length, quick jab step, and deceptive power provide the Bengals a potent one-two punch. Now, Hubbard isn’t the polished rusher Hendrickson is. Yet, blessed with superior athletic ability, he is the more complete defensive end. A former linebacker, Hubbard tackles better, sniffs out the run quicker, displays a feel for the flow of the play.

Inside Threats

In all honesty, if Larry Ogunjobi didn’t suffer a season-ending injury, the complexion of the Super Bowl would greatly change. Ogunjobi provided the Bengals with a three-technique, capable of winning with agility or thumping hands. In his stead, Cincinnati will rely on the combination of B.J. Hill and D.J. Reader to man the interior. Hill offers disruption on the inside and a motor that will wear guards out. Rollback the AFC Championship film and you’ll see Hill winning on the inside, forcing Patrick Mahomes to falter late. Stats may not show it, but B.J. Hill will affect the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, D.J. Reader exists to envelop the run, clog the lanes, and force backs wide. On passing down, he hopes to crush the interior of the pocket backward.

Analysis

In facing a rather immobile quarterback, the Bengals’ defensive line can make life rough for Matthew Stafford. They must. If they allow Stafford to sit back and enjoy a clean pocket, he will end this game early. The front four is as strong as the backend is weak. The onus resides with the ends getting in without crashing, down. More importantly, the tackles need to hold up and make Stafford use what little agility he has. With hyperbole, the fate of this game depends on Cincinnati winning at the line of scrimmage on defense. Nothing fancy, just hard work.

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