Oct 14, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Chris Crocker (33) before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

It looked as though the Bengals would head into Houston this weekend at nearly full-strength with everyone practicing this week, but now comes word they’ll likely be without starting strong safety Chris Crocker in Saturday’s AFC Wild Card game vs. the Texans after he was listed as doubtful in Friday’s injury report. Crocker  suffered a serious thigh injury during Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens, and it immediately forced him out of the game, though he did later say he could have gone back in.

It’s a significant loss for the Bengals, but it shouldn’t be one that ultimately decides the game on Saturday. Nate Clements has started seven games at safety this year and played well before ultimately losing his job to Crocker. In games he started and played specifically at safety, he received a +4.0 grade from Pro Football Focus while missing only two tackles. He has 53 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception this year.

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In Hall’s case, he used his eyes to help himself to an interception in a situation that causes many cornerbacks to pick up a pass interference call. Against Jeremy Maclin on the outside, Hall was playing off man coverage. Crocker rolls towards the middle of the field, and Hall has the outside. Maclin releases to the outside and runs a vertical route.

When playing off coverage, the defensive back should give about seven to nine yards of cushion in order to be able to break on a quick, three-step drop throw, but enough cushion that the receiver does not eat it up right away. That opens up the cornerback’s hips too early to commit to the downfield throw, then the receiver can break off the route.

Hall, the masterful technician that he is, lines up eight yards off Maclin. That allows him to keep strong leverage at the top of the stem.

Hall sinks back and, when Maclin gets past the top of the stem at ten yards, where a receiver would make the break if he were running a breaking route, Hall opens his hips to run downfield, still on top of Maclin with no safety over the top.

Oct 9, 2011; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims (90) reacts between downs against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Fernando Medina-US PRESSWIRE

DT Pat Sims continues to be a significant player in the defensive lineman rotations, as he picked up 20 of a possible 61 defensive snaps (33%). Even more noteworthy were the lack of snaps for rookie Devon Still and Brandon Thompson, who were both inactive of Sunday. It was the third-straight DNP for Still after he registered 44% of the defensive snaps against the Denver Broncos. It will be tough for either rookie to get playing time going forward.

Playing time for starting OLB Manny Lawson continued to remain limited on Sunday, as he registered only 9 defensive snaps (15%). Rookie OLB Emmanuel Lamur actually received the same number of snaps, so perhaps the team is grooming him to take over the strong-side linebacker spot when Lawson potentially departs in free agency next season.