Bengals’ biggest defensive weakness could revive Ravens star and unleash rookie

The Cincinnati Bengals had many issues to address this offseason. Naturally, there were too many, and they couldn't cancel all of them in one offseason. There is always next year. 

The good news for the Bengals is that they are facing the Baltimore Ravens, who haven’t thrown that much to tight ends this season. The bad news is that their AFC North rival hasn’t thrown a lot to their tight ends this offseason. 

With one of their stars coming off of an inauspicious start to his season and a young rookie who had a coming-out party last week, the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, will likely look to attack the Bengals where they are most vulnerable in pass defense while simultaneously exploring avenues to reinvigorate a falling star and make a star of an up-and-comer. 

With one of their stars coming off of an inauspicious start to his season and a young rookie who had a coming-out party last week, the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, will likely look to attack the Bengals where they are most vulnerable in pass defense while simultaneously exploring avenues to reinvigorate a falling star and make a star of an up-and-comer.

Bengals haven’t fixed a glitch in their matrix

Despite having played only five games, the Bengals have surrendered the fourth-most receiving yards to the tight end position this season.

The Detroit Lions are the only team that has played five games and given up the most receiving yards to tight ends. They have surrendered the most receiving yards to the position and also spent Week 6 on a bye.

The Bengals' opponents target tight ends on 30% of their passing attempts. That is second only to the Lions' 32%.

Apparently, offensive coordinators have discovered that the Bengals haven't found a software patch for the virus that plagued their defense last year. That weakness in Cincinnati's defense will keep getting exploited until Al Golden shows he can counter the predictable plan of attack.

Ravens star has a chance to silence his critics against Cincinnati

The once-beloved Ravens tight end, Mark Andrews, is facing heavy criticism for his play this season.

In Week 5, after drops and a costly fumble that former Bengals safety Jessie Bates returned for a touchdown, some Baltimore fans are questioning whether Andrews is injured.

The emergence of another tight end has other Ravens fans less concerned about Andrews' injury status and more inclined to want him off the field going forward, no matter the reason.

However, going against the Bengals presents a unique opportunity for Andrews to get back into the good graces of his fans, and possibly his quarterbacks, as the tight end is losing target share to a couple of rookies.

If the Ravens want Andrews to bounce back, it could come at the Bengals' expense, based on their play against tight ends last year and this season. That plan could also turn to favor Cincinnati if he has another game like the one against Atlanta.

That is, if it isn't already too late for Andrews.

Ravens rookie could turn one breakout game into Bengals’ next headache

Against the Browns last week, rookie Josh Cuevas had four receptions on five targets for 44 yards and a touchdown. Andrews, on the other hand, after his disastrous Week 5 performance versus the Falcons, had three targets and one catch for four yards.

Cuevas, a fifth-round pick out of Alabama, gave the Ravens a shot in the arm at the position, and hope that they are in good hands if Andrews doesn't return to the form of yesteryear.

If the Ravens want to feature the promising rookie after a breakout performance, they could look to take advantage of Cincinnati's defense, which is headed toward its second consecutive season of allowing the most yards to tight ends. That is, if the Lions don't get in the way of that particular debacle.

Will Bengals make the bye week matter in minimizing TE woes?

More good news for the Bengals is that they know capable tight ends are on the horizon and have time to prepare. More bad news is that, while they knew and had time to plan for it last season, it didn't matter in the end.

If Andrews, Cuevas, or fourth-round rookie Matt Hibner returns from a hand injury, the Ravens have options to attack the weakest aspect of Cincinnati's pass defense.

The Bengals have already been victims of the season's best receiving games from several tight ends this year. Dalton Schultz, Darnell Washington, and Brenton Strange have all had their best games this year against the Bengals. Andrews has historically torched Cincinnati.

Hopefully, Al Golden and the Bengals' defense cooked up something over the bye week, anticipating that opposing offenses would attack them until they showed they could do something about it.

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