Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt on the rebound. His struggles last year resulted in a major drop off in play. Though recognized for his Pro Bowler potential, Taylor-Britt’s 2023 campaign has fallen short of past accolades. In order for the Bengals and Williams to have a successful season, he needs to get his competitive fire back. Last year’s failures and disappointments hang heavy in their heart and minds.
Taylor-Britt’s been a ballhawk with flash and pizzazz since entering the league. What we saw in the 2023 season was the ugly truth of his game. In those first twelve games, on a completion percentage above expected basis, he was 9.3% worse than expected. In the process, he gave up 24 expected points added when passers threw at him, per NFL Next Gen Stats. This was a significant drop-off from his prior seasons.
The cornerback’s fate changed wildly after injury to Dax Hill on an ACL tear in Week 5. Moving to outside cornerback was a huge leap for Taylor-Britt defensively, a position that required an increase in production. He played next to another safety in DJ Turner, and the Bengals’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo utilized a ton of zone looks. While this approach mostly worked, it was a recipe for some on-field confusion at times.
This uncertainty was most pronounced during media availability, when repeatedly, Taylor-Britt sounded unsure of his play. He’s a realistic self-evaluator, and he admitted, “I don’t think I played with confidence,” conceding that his trademark edge felt all but erased. To put it bluntly, he had no gumption this season. By comparison, he played with outstanding spirit and passion in earlier years.
Geno Stone, another member of the defensive back corps, offered an inside look at how far Taylor-Britt has come. “I feel like he has to do the same thing as me — get that confidence back, go out there and ball,” he stated. Stone noted the challenges faced by their secondary: “It got a little bit confusing with a few guys, and I feel like that’s why sometimes we weren’t on the same page.”
Despite these setbacks, the Bengals’ coaching staff remains optimistic about Taylor-Britt’s potential. Confidence in him and this current group has been an infectious air of positivity throughout the offseason. Perhaps this is most evident from the absence of any substantial moves to reshape the secondary. This reflects a belief that fixing the unit’s performance could hinge on Taylor-Britt’s consistency and ability to regain his former prowess.
As a player who is arguably second only to defensive end Trey Hendrickson in terms of importance to the team’s defensive strategy, his resurgence could have wide-reaching implications for the Bengals’ overall performance. “Great corners can’t have a roller-coaster season. You have to stay the same way the whole season,” he emphasized.
Leave a Reply