Ryan Clark Highlights Bengals' QB Blitzing Schemes, Ability To Slow Great Passers

The Bengals have stymied great quarterbacks over the last two seasons.

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offense are getting plenty of deserved love for their play this season, but ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark thinks Lou Anarumo's defense has been an unsung key.

"After the divisional round last year, we crowned Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes," Clark said. "The two most talented quarterbacks in the entire league where there's a team in Cincinnati that has played those guys four times, and they're 4-0 in the last calendar year, and that's because of what Lou Anarumo does in changing the looks and also the coverage is behind him and the way that he can add to the rush. There are some times you'll have a four-man rush, but you bring a secondary player, and then you rush three, and you have a man on the backend."

Cincinnati is 4-0 against the Chiefs and Bills over the last two seasons, all while they've played eight top-end QB matchups across that time. Those quarterbacks averaged -0.03 EPA/dropback in those games.

For context, Mac Jones averaged -0.031 EPA/dropback in 2022, ranking 26th among QBs with a min. 320 plays.

"We watched Mike Hilton take over this game as a slot blitzer," Clark said. "There was a blitz where he was picked up, and he said, 'Okay, now I have contain, I'll be secondary contain. I'll keep Josh Allen in the pocket.' The next blitz, he comes free, and he gets hands on the football. When you think about the way that they attack you based on rush by showing you one thing and giving you another, it's been absolutely phenomenal."

The Bengals are still the crop of the AFC 😤

"We crowned Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes ... Cincinnati has played those guys four times, and they're 4-0 in the last calendar year." — @Realrclark25 pic.twitter.com/h1ZboU6F37

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 23, 2023

Cincinnati fights Kansas City for a spot in the Super Bowl this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The game is available via fuboTV—start your free trial here.

For more on the Bengals, watch the video below and subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Get Your Bengals Tickets From SI Tickets HERE.

Make sure you bookmark All Bengals for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

You May Also Like:

Tee Higgins On Joe Burrow: 'It's Good To Have A Quarterback Who Can Come Out In The Snow And Sling It'

Five Takeaways From the Cincinnati Bengals' Dominating Win Over the Buffalo Bills

Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor Offers Minor Injury Updates on Alex Cappa and Jonah Williams

Joe Mixon Offers Up Huge Praise For Bengals' Offensive Line Following 27-10 Win Over Bills

NFL Announces Ron Torbert As AFC Championship Game Referee

ESPN Analyst Dan Orlovsky: 'Joe Burrow's The Best Quarterback In Football'

Bengal Bets: Top Picks For Divisional Round Meeting Against Buffalo

Ja'Marr Chase Opens Up About Future In Cincinnati, Status Among NFL's Top Receivers

Bengals Film Breakdown: Four Pivotal Matchups In Divisional Round Showdown With Bills

Tee Higgins Praises Jackson Carman Ahead of Bengals' Playoff Matchup With Bills

Watch: Jimmy and Robin Burrow Deliver Game Ball From Bengals Playoff Win to Courtside Pizza in Athens

Watch: Sam Hubbard's Fumble TD From All Angles

Sam Hubbard Scores Improbable Touchdown to Become Latest Bengals' Playoff Hero

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bengals all the time!

Subscribe to the All Bengals YouTube channel

Follow AllBengals on Twitter: @AllBengals

Like Our FaceBook Page

Subscribe and follow the ONLY Daily Bengals Podcast

Follow on TikTok