Half measures
Second-half adjustments have been key to Bengals’ success
The Cincinnati Bengals have regularly made big in-game adjustments over the last two seasons. But in most of those cases, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo could bank on the experience of veteran players. He knew he could get a player like safety Jessie Bates III or defensive end Sam Hubbard to execute something they hadn’t practiced all week because, at least at some point over the last four seasons, they had done it with the Bengals.
Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, after the Bengals went down 17-3 at halftime, Anarumo asked two rookie cornerbacks to make radical in-game changes. And one of those rookies was playing a new position. Dax Hill had been a safety all year, but he stepped up and started at slot cornerback since Mike Hilton and backup Jalen Davis were out with injuries.
With a different style of coverage from the Bengals’ cornerbacks in the second half, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady only completed 13 of his 21 passes for 118 yards after halftime. And most of that production took place in garbage time in the fourth quarter on a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the game.
The Bengals won the game, 34-23. “Our adjustments disrupted the timing for Brady and his receivers,” Hill said. “Once you do that, it slows the whole offense down. That was a big emphasis at halftime. We came out clicking on every level.”
So what exactly was the adjustment Anarumo made?
He told Hill and Cam Taylor-britt, along with seventh-year NFL defensive back Eli Apple, that they needed to be more physical at the line of scrimmage. He wanted them to play press coverage, with the corners starting the play right in front of the wide receiver.
“Tom Brady was throwing timing throws, timing throws and timing throws,” Bates said. “Coach Lou challenged our corners to get up and press those guys. It messed up a lot of their timing routes.”
In the first half, it looked like the Bengals wouldn’t be able to stop Brady. He completed 17 of his 23 passes for 194 yards. The Bengals were without their best two cornerbacks, Chidobe Awuzie
and Hilton due to injuries. On top of which, Anarumo’s original game plan had the Bengals’ cornerbacks playing more conservatively.
Brady took advantage.
“We played a little too far off,” Anarumo said. “A little too soft in coverage. (Brady) will pick you apart if you do that.”
Time after time, Brady made quick throws to wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Bengals’ pass rush didn’t have enough time to force Brady to move around the pocket as a result.
“There was a lot of encouragement at halftime,” Apple said. “Step up. Let’s get attached. Man coverage. Challenge them more. Especially me, I was playing a little too soft on the in-breakers. So, I just wanted to take that away in the second half and we did that.”
It was another milestone in a standout season for the Bengals’ defense. It marked the fourth straight game that a big adjustment from Anarumo was successful.
Against the Tennessee Titans, Anarumo gave more snaps to slot cornerback Mike Hilton and had Hilton and the Bengals’ linebackers run-blitz running back Derrick Henry. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, Anarumo went away from blitzing Patrick Mahomes and started using three-man pass rushes on some of the most important plays of the game to keep Mahomes off-guard. He also gave the linebackers a better plan to stay in front of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Against the Cleveland Browns, Anarumo had Bates fly all around the middle of the field to jump in front of receivers and prevent quarterback runs.
The Bengals’ defense did it again last week and will look for yet another productive halftime Saturday against the New England Patriots.
“Everybody in this locker room can get it done,” Apple said. “Everybody. So, we just rely on each other and get it done.”