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Cincinnati Bengals: Players to watch vs. Bills in Week 5

By Kenn Korb

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 11: Darqueze Dennard #21 and William Jackson III #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrate in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 11: Darqueze Dennard #21 and William Jackson III #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrate in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 02: Michael Johnson #93 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates during the 23-20 victory against the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium on October 2, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 02: Michael Johnson #93 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates during the 23-20 victory against the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium on October 2, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Michael Johnson

Johnson is the poster child of what has frustrated me the most about Cincinnati. He’s a Bengals veteran who was once a quality contributor, but for years now has survived exclusively on blind loyalty and name recognition alone. Despite playing in at least 14 games every season since 2009 (his rookie year), Johnson has reached double-digit sacks only once in his career (11.5 in 2012) and only twice surpassed six sacks.

Wait, it gets worse. According to Pro Football Focus Edge, since earning back-to-back 80+ overall season grades in 2012-13, Johnson has failed to do better than a pathetic 52.3 across any of the ensuing three years.

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This season is starting off just as badly. Through four games (120 snaps), Johnson has six tackles, one sack, one pass knockdown, and a 48.6 grade from PFF Edge. Fortunately, his poor play hasn’t done much to ,hold back a strong overall defense. After four weeks, Cincinnati is No. 9 in Football Outsiders’ Defensive DVOA. But even in a reduced role, just having him on the field has been a detriment to a certain degree.

He isn’t all bad however, and in the right role and matchup he can (at least in theory) still make a positive impact. Johnson’s strengths have never been as a pure pass rusher. Rather, he’s previously done a solid job against the run while also having a knack for knocking down passes (31 in his career, including three years with at least five). This year, we’ve seen those skills used not only at his usual end spot, but at defensive tackle in nickel packages as well.

With these nickel packages getting more usage than ever (for the league as a whole, but in this case specifically with Cincinnati), Johnson has managed to pick up the fourth-most snaps among Bengals defensive linemen, despite young guys like Carl Lawson and Jordan Willis taking away much of his edge-rushing opportunities.

This week, the area Johnson will be lining up pits him against the weakest link of Buffalo’s offensive line, right guard John Miller. Stalwart defensive tackle Geno Atkins will likely be facing constant double teams from the remaining interior offensive linemen, leaving Johnson in the most favorable matchup anyone on the line will see on the afternoon. If he can take advantage, he’ll be yet another weapon to keep a probable defensive struggle even closer. If not, he may be the weakness which makes the difference in a game where a single score shifts the balance.

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