Bengals’ corners a problem
PITTSBURGH – Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis cut his teeth in the NFL as a linebackers coach for the Steelers from 1992 through 1995, when Pittsburgh boasted a smothering defense.
The McDonald native and Fort Cherry High School graduate didn’t realize how good he had things as a defensive assistant until he moved to Baltimore to become a defensive coordinator.
“I always tell people that when I left the Steelers in 1996, I underestimated how good we were on the back end, how good Rod (Woodson) and Carnell (Lake) were back there,” said Lewis, who will lead the Bengals (8-3-1) against the Steelers (7-5) Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium in a key AFC North game.
Lewis worked hard to make sure he doesn’t get caught short in the secondary again. Now in his 12th season with the Bengals, Lewis accumulated high draft picks at cornerback through both the draft and free agency. Cincinnati boasts five cornerbacks who were first-round draft picks.
The Bengals are so deep at cornerback that Darqueze Dennard, Cincinnati’s top pick in this year’s draft, and Dre Kirkpatrick, their top pick from three years ago, play only as gunners on special teams.
“I have to sometimes pick their lip up off the ground because they’re not getting to play as much on defense,” said Lewis.
Cincinnati’s emphasis on collecting first-round talent at cornerback has paid off. The Bengals have allowed an NFL-low 11 touchdown passes with Terrence Newman, Leon Hall and Adam Jones comprising a formidable trio of cornerbacks.
“They know what they are doing,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “They have a couple of top-quality, first-round guys who can’t even see defensive snaps. That speaks to the stability of the play of the first three guys.
“They do a nice job of keeping it in front of them. They don’t give up big plays. They don’t make mistakes.”
Cincinnati’s depth at cornerback is in contrast to the Steelers, who have not selected a player in the first round at that position since taking Chad Scott in 1997.
Many thought that would end this year when mock drafts had the Steelers selecting Dennard in the first round. Instead, they took linebacker Ryan Shazier, who has been limited to four games because of injuries but is expected to play against the Bengals.
Pittsburgh has allowed 11 pass plays of 40 or more yards. Only three teams have allowed more.
The Steelers also have given up 24 touchdown passes, including a season-high five last week in a 35-32 loss to New Orleans.
“It’s guys getting beat in some instances. It’s coverage breakdown in other instances and it’s rush and coverage not working together in some instances,” said Tomlin. “Sometimes you’re going to put your coverage in harm’s way in an effort to provide pressure. You understand what comes with that. If the pressure doesn’t get home then the onus is on the pressure. That’s been an element of it a few times.
“Part of being a tough defense is not beating yourself. … We have to fix that and we have to fix it yesterday.”
Of the six cornerbacks on Pittsburgh’s roster, three – Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen and B.W. Webb – were fourth-round draft picks. William Gay was a fifth-round selection and Brice McCain and Antwon Blake were undrafted.
Teams might get lucky on occasion with late-round draft picks, but it’s much safer to build a secondary the way the Bengals have.
Hall, Kirkpatrick and Dennard were all drafted by the Bengals, and Newman and Jones were acquired as free agents.
“When I became the coordinator in Baltimore, I didn’t quite enjoy the luxury of that,” Lewis said of having high draft picks in the secondary. “I got my head beat in a little bit until we started drafting some guys in the first round.
“We’ve continued that same thing here.”
The Steelers declared right tackle Marcus Gilbert (sprained ankle) out for the second consecutive week. Mike Adams will start in his place. … Linebacker James Harrison (knee) is doubtful. … Nose tackle Steve McLendon (shoulder) practiced all week but is questionable. … The Steelers could activate linebacker Jarvis Jones from the injured reserve/designated to return list. Jones (wrist) has not played since a Sept. 21 win at Carolina.