Missed tackles dramatically holding back an improved Bengals defense

The Cincinnati Bengals have undergone a defensive collapse that looks eerily similar to the units the franchise put on the field over the prior two miserable seasons.

So much so, we’ve already analyzed whether coordinator Lou Anarumo is firmly on the hot seat.

But as much as Anarumo is at fault in many ways, it doesn’t help that players keep whiffing on the fundamentals — tackling prominent among them.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor said the team missed 15 tackles during the humiliating loss to the Jets. PFF charted the team as missing 11 more in the 41-16 thumping at the hands of the Browns.

By their numbers, some of the team’s biggest names — leaders and stars, not just guys — had miserable days when it comes to tackling:

Just four Bengals defenders graded above a 70 vs. Browns. Bates, Wilson, Hendrickson, Hubbard, Apple and Ogunjobi all graded in the 55.0-25.6 range for tackling. Not what you want from leaders and guys taking most of the reps.

— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) November 8, 2021

This isn’t a new thing either, despite the hot 5-2 start. As Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic pointed out before Week 9, the defense routinely came up short:

Bengals missed tackles and MT% by game (via @PFF):

Vikings (W): 8 – 10.3%
Bears (L): 11 – 17.2%
Steelers (W): 11 – 13.4%
Jaguars (W): 6 – 9.8%
Packers (L): 13 – 17.1%
Lions (W): 5 – 8.8%
Ravens (W): 8 – 12.9%
Jets (L): 15 – 17.0%

Notice common % thread between wins/losses?

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) November 1, 2021

Before the two consecutive losses, it was easy to point out that poor tackling mostly happened in the weeks after big wins — talk about a team needed to “learn how to win” right?

But counting the Browns game, the Bengals now have 10 defenders who have missed at least 10 percent of their tackles. The following players and their missed-tackle count:

• Eli Apple: 10
• Logan Wilson: 9
• Larry Ogunjobi: 7
• Vonn Bell: 6
• Akeem Davis-Gaither: 5
• Mike Hilton: 5
• Jessie Bates: 5

As a team? The Bengals have missed 67 tackles, the second-worst mark in the league — tied with Jacksonville.

Until the Bengals clean up the basics, which includes star players, they’re going to keep seeing their playoff chances fall and the draft position rise.