The Bengals expect Jordan Battle to take a big step this season with the addition of veteran Bryan Cook next to him at safety. Instead, it looks like the same inconsistent player the Bengals have seen over the past few years.
Jordan Battle currently has a 38.1 coverage grade on the season. He also has a 15.0% missed tackle rate. That mark is 10th worst among the 46 qualified safeties who have played 80% of their team’s snaps so far this season. More concerning than the missed tackles for me is how often he takes difficult angles and doesn’t even get there to be officially credited with a missed tackle.
In the first week of the season against Tampa Bay, Battle looked very inconsistent. He made some plays, but he was also arguably the hardest-playing player among the starters on the defense that day. He’s missed tackles, he’s taken poor angles on the football, and he doesn’t look like a player you can count on if you want to see a really good defense for the entire season.
Battle bounced back with a better performance in Houston. However, that was a game in which the Bengals generated 41 pressures, mostly by front men. A dominant performance like this can usually help to mask one’s shortcomings in the secondary.
Regardless, we’d say that was a solid performance from Jordan Battle in Houston.
On Sunday, I thought Battle was terrible. Poor angles, missed tackles, and a general lack of effort at times to go and make a play all reared their ugly heads this season.
Meanwhile, Bryan Cook has been battling injuries throughout the game. While I’m sure that may not have helped Battle on the day, it’s still his job to go out there and make plays. At the very least, you can’t have a lack of effort like we saw at times against the Steelers.
He didn’t have a good day in coverage on Sunday. The battle ended with a 40.3 coverage grade on Sunday. One play in particular was directly responsible for the Steelers’ second touchdown of the game. The fight came and Ben Skowronek broke through for a 23-yard touchdown pass.
The player I would like to see get a shot next to a healthy Bryan Cook is Kyle Dugger. Dugger had to play some snaps in place of the injured Cook for most of Sunday’s game, and I thought he was good there. He also sat out the game, so he and Cook’s health will be something to watch this week.
However, if they both can play, I’ll make them my two starters this week. Dugger finished the game with 8 tackles and a pass defense during the game. His physicality, effort, and ability to finish tackles in the open field is more than we’ve seen from Jordan Battle this year.
With everyone healthy, do you think Kyle Dugger should replace Jordan Battle in the starting lineup at safety? Sound off in the comments.