Tag: Jordan Battle

Bengals coach details how Jordan Battle can earn more playing time

Here’s how coaches see things working for Jordan Battle.

The Cincinnati Bengals defense had a rough start to the 2024 season during the team’s 0-3 start, but has rebounded since then and is starting to become more consistent.

One player who has been a part of that effort in the past two weeks is safety Jordan Battle, who has been rotating with Geno Stone against the Browns and Giants in the last two wins.

The Bengals used a third-round pick on Battle in the 2023 NFL draft, and he has played in 24 games to this point, with 80 tackles, four for loss, six passes defended, and an interception in his young career. He hasn’t been as involved in the defense so far this year, but defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo thinks that could change moving forward if he can continue playing the way he has been.

“He’s becoming more consistent and that’s the good news,” Anarumo said. “He’s just got to stay there. That’s the key.”

Stone was carted off the field against Cleveland in Week 7, but will return for the game against the Eagles on Sunday. But if Stone isn’t able to suit up, Battle is going to have to be ready to play a big role against what can be a high-powered Philadelphia Eagles offense.

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Bengals coach talks limited playing time for Jordan Battle

A Bengals coach has revealed some thoughts on the Jordan Battle situation.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle continues to be a point of contention for fans who want to see more of the second-year player in the base defense.

But right now, Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is more reliant on veteran Vonn Bell, though the rotation continues to evolve as the season progresses.

“There’s a lot of reasons (Bell) is a team captain and that’s one of them, you know? I think he sees the benefit in it for the team and giving Jordan some opportunities,” Anarumo said, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby.

Bell played 66 snaps to Battle’s 14 last week, which was more than fans had seen of the latter all season, so the rotation is indeed evolving.

That said, none of this is shocking. The Bengals brought back Bell in the widespread changes to fix the communication issues that hurt the defense last season.

As recently as August, Battle himself was openly talking about being a second-string player and special-teamer, so he’s embraced the role, too. In October, Anarumo added that Battle had a slow start in training camp.

The defense, before the win over the New York Giants, obviously wasn’t good enough. With the line getting healthier and making the lives of the players behind it easier and Battle getting into the rotation, though, the arrow could keep pointing up, at least.

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Bengals coach reveals reason for Jordan Battle’s absence

The lack of playing time for Bengals safety Jordan Battle gets an explanation.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle has been a major question mark for fans over the first four games of the season.

Battle looked like a second-year player on a serious rise entering 2024, so it came as a shock to see he’s played just one percent of the defensive snaps so far.

On the same day coaches lit into Cam Taylor-Britt, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo revealed what’s going on with Battle, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby: “When he came in, just started off a little bit slow in training camp, for whatever reason. (He) has progressed as we’ve gotten along. So if he continues that upward trend, then, we’ll work him in there.”

Battle’s playing time has been so small that it was a fair point of speculation. The team brought back Vonn Bell to help fix communication issues that plagued the defense last year and the veteran has dominated the snap counts.

For now, the Bengals like what they have with Geno Stone and Bell at the safety spot. Whether that changes after the defense’s miserable start remains to be seen, but some of it apparently rests on Battle’s shoulders, too.

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Bengals’ Jordan Battle rising to the challenge of losing starting job

A rising Bengals defender welcomes the challenge of losing his job going into 2024.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle technically lost his starting job this summer when the team brought back Vonn Bell and added Geno Stone to play the other spot.

Technically, at least, Battle looked ready to jump into a starting role in that Bell-styled role after impressing late in his rookie season when given the chance.

But while Battle is now third in the rotation, he’s embraced the role and newfound duties that come with it — with even special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons impressed with how forcefully Battle has thrown himself into duties on special teams.

“Tough, but technically I never really had a job. Last year I was fighting. You know what they say. Long season,” Battle said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Keep fighting. Embrace the competition. Don’t get my head down. Play my role on this team, which right now is second safety and special teams. I kind of like special teams right now. I Iike the (new) kickoff. It’s like a one-on-one block. I can’t be blocked one-on-one.”

Battle wasn’t the only one to lose a job at safety, with former first-rounder Dax Hill making the move — incredibly successfully, by the way — to the boundary corner spot.

Communication issues that plagued the secondary last year were the main reason for the changes, with Bell coming back already knowing the system to fix the issue.

That leaves Battle as a rotational presence for now while effectively getting mentored by Bell before stepping into a bigger role at a later date. It’s a nice piece of long-term strategy by the Bengals in the secondary, with Battle’s embracing it making it all the better.

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WATCH: Former Alabama safety Jordan Battle records pick-six in Cincinnati Bengals final preseason game

On Thursday night, former Alabama safety made a huge play as he returned an interception to the endzone for a pick-six.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide safety Jordan Battle had an impressive rookie campaign last season with the Cincinnati Bengals. On Thursday, he proved that he is capable of having yet another impressive season in year No. 2 in the NFL. Battle picked off former first-round pick and Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson for a 14-yard pick-six.

Battle played a lot in 2023 for the Bengals. He saw action in 17 games and recorded 48 tackles, five pass deflections, and an interception. The expectation is that he will be another impact player on the back end of the Bengals defense in 2024.

If he continues to make big-time plays like he did on Thursday night, it will be difficult for the Bengals coaching staff to keep Battle off the field.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

Bengals’ Jordan Battle hyped as second-year breakout star

Could Bengals safety Jordan Battle be the team’s next breakout player?

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle has big expectations chasing him into his second year.

Battle, a third-round pick by the Bengals in 2023, broke into the rotation last year and generally showed the upside of a long-term starter over the course of 48 percent of the base defense’s snaps.

That alone adds hype. But so does something like a second-year breakout candidate list from The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner that calls out Battle:

Branch is another player who might have outperformed this list, but he did lose several games to injury last season. More importantly, Detroit plans to further expand his role in 2024 — the Lions believe he’s a future Pro Bowler. Cincinnati could say the same about Battle, another ex-Alabama safety who looks like a potential perennial stud.

What will be interesting to see from Battle is how he fits into the secondary puzzle in 2024.

While moving former first-rounder Dax Hill to cornerback, the Bengals brought back Vonn Bell and brought new arrival Geno Stone aboard via free agency.

Bell and Stone could see more snaps than Battle next season. But defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo also likes to run three-safety sets, whether it’s actually bringing on another safety or sliding some, such as Mike Hilton, into the role in certain packages, too.

Either way, the glimpses of Battle from last season suggested he’s indeed worthy of being on breakout lists and if nothing else, he’s undoubtedly part of the long-term plans for the unit.

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Bengals excited for Jordan Battle to learn from Vonn Bell

Bengals coaches love how Vonn Bell will impact Jordan Battle.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle is already one of the team’s breakout candidates.

That idea only got a bigger boost when the team went out in free agency and brought back Vonn Bell to help fix the unit’s communication issues.

Bengals coaches aren’t shy about this, either. Bengals Safeties Coach Jordan Kovacs recently told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com how Bell can help Battle:

I think competition brings out the best in everybody. We’re so early into this thing, I don’t know how it’s all going to shake out. But I think having a guy like Vonn in the room is only going to help a guy like Jordan, right? He’s the consummate professional. He has maxed out his ability because of the stuff he’s done off the field. I can’t learn enough from him as a coach. The rookies can’t learn enough from a guy like him, and Jordan Battle can’t learn enough from a guy like him. And I see them off the field talking ball. In individual, talking ball. Stuff like that is going to be invaluable to Jordan in his second year.

We’ve already seen some proof of Bell helping Battle. Heck, we’ve also heard from new arrival Geno Stone that Bell has been helpful, too.

Given this and simple projections, with Dax Hill off to cornerback, it feels safe to presume Battle sees a huge chunk of the snaps alongside Stone next year while greatly benefiting from Bell’s presence.

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Vonn Bell understudy Jordan Battle is Bengals breakout candidate

Jordan Battle is a breakout player to watch.

There aren’t many secrets when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals defense coming into 2024.

By now, most know what B.J. Hill is worth in the middle, that Cam Taylor-Britt is a rising star at corner and just how good the linebacker duo is.

There’s also the matter of second-year safety Jordan Battle.

That’s who Jonathon Macri of Pro Football Focus named as Cincinnati’s likely breakout candidate:

Battle was one of the highest-graded college safeties heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, and while he fell to the third round and didn’t get a starting job until Week 11 of his rookie season, all of those strong metrics remained. Battle earned top-10 marks at his position, both overall (82.5) and in run defense (81.3), while also adding a 76.4 PFF coverage grade (17th). He should be locked in as a full-time starter to kick off 2024 and continue his impressive play for the Bengals.

It’s not an uncommon thought around the Bengals this offseason even in the wake of the team adding back veteran safety Vonn Bell and bringing over Geno Stone from Baltimore.

In fact, Bell has had plenty of praise for Battle, too.

Given the team’s affinity for two-plus-safety sets, Battle shouldn’t have a problem seeing the field plenty in his defined role as a sophomore. And those additions to the secondary should help his “breakout” status come to light, not hinder it.

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Vonn Bell already mentoring upstart Bengals safety Jordan Battle

Vonn Bell is already helping along Jordan Battle.

The Cincinnati Bengals brought back veteran safety Vonn Bell for a few main reasons this offseason.

Chief among those? Mentorship.

Communication issues plagued a young transitional defense last year that coughed up more explosives than most of the league. So what better way to help fix those than to bring back a guy who already knows the system and leads by example?

Case in point, how some have talked about Bell’s return already.

“Vonn is going to be a great veteran for the room. Great for a guy like Jordan who didn’t necessarily have that at times last year,” secondary coach Jordan Kovacs said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “We love Vonn for not only what he does on the field, but the tone that he sets in the meeting room and off the field. The culture that he sets. Having a guy like that around a guy like Jordan Battle is going to be very beneficial. We were missing that last year.”

And while many minds might go to former first-rounder Dax Hill’s position change, much of this has to do with the development of former third-round safety Jordan Battle.

Battle says the presence of Bell has had an impact already.

“Great conversations,” Battle said, per Hobson. “Just his aura when he walks in the locker room. Everybody sees it and everybody welcomes Vonn. Whatever I can learn to elevate my game and reach the next level. He’ll be a great help to the team.”

Battle’s promising climb up the depth chart last year might be the thing that prevents Bell from seeing a high snap count next season, with the other safety spot going to Geno Stone. Hill will compete at the corner spots, but could also function in a third-safety role, too.

And so far, everyone seems to be on the same page about this — Bell is back to help by any means necessary.

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Bengals safety Jordan Battle makes an All-Rookie team

A big honor for a rising Bengals rookie.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie safety Jordan Battle caps off his stellar debut season with an honor.

The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) just issued its annual honors and All-Rookie team, where Battle gets the nod as the first safety listed.

It’s a nice highlight for Battle, who emerged as a player earning more snaps by the week while overtaking veteran Nick Scott. He finished the year fifth on the team in total tackles with 71, recording two sacks, five passes defended and one interception in the process.

The honor is a result of the performance that suggests Battle has a bright future as a key cog in the secondary alongside former first-rounder Dax Hill.

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