The Bengals evened their record at 1-1 with a 34-27 win against the Browns in Week Two, but that didn’t mean everyone was happy with the performance.
At the top of the list of those less than enthused by the Bengals’ play is defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer has watched his team give up more than 400 yards in the first two weeks and more than eight yards per first down play, numbers that would make any defensive coach express their disgust in much the same way that Zimmer did while speaking to the media.
“It’s not good. There’s lots of things we’re not doing good right now Every aspect of it surprises me,” Zimmer said, via Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s everything. Technique, discipline, effort, responsibilities, everything. It’s a big problem. We don’t pass rush, pass cover, stop the run, stop the pass. We don’t tackle and play with enough effort.”
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
Zimmer said that there could be changes coming to the defensive lineup. It would help the Bengals if one of those changes was the return of defensive end Carlos Dunlap to the lineup after missing about a month with a sprained knee suffered in the preseason opener against the Jets.
One new player won’t fix everything for the Bengals defense, however, which means that Zimmer’s got his work cut out for him if he wants to avoid further frustrations in the weeks to come.