Throughout the beginning of the 2024 NFL season, the Cincinnati Bengals have had a fairly obvious flaw. In the first five games of the season, the defensive unit has been an absolute disaster as this unit has blundered on to be ranked 26th in the NFL in scoring defense. While there are several causes for the poor start to the season, the biggest contributor has been the lack of a true nose tackle on the defensive front.
Cincinnati Bengals Nose Tackle Steps up in Week 6 Matchup
Even though three-technique defensive tackle B.J. Hill appeared to steal the show during his excellent performance on the defensive line, much of the credit belongs to the defense as a whole including the team’s only true nose tackle McKinnley Jackson. Even though the rookie failed to register any measurable stats, the nose tackle played a valuable role in drawing defenders. It allowed Hill and fellow starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to make plays in the offensive backfield.
After only playing in 9 snaps in his first game back from injured reserve with a knee injury in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens, Jackson increased his workload to 21 snaps in his second game at the professional level even though Rankins returned to the starting lineup. Of those 21 snaps, Jackson led the team with 33% of those plays lined up in the A-Gap (between the guard and the center).
At a staggering 325 pounds, it is no surprise that Jackson is the only true nose tackle on this roster after the departure of superstar nose tackle D.J. Reader in the offseason. Given his sheer size and surprising athleticism for his weight, this team will likely be utilizing Jackson far more as the season marches onward particularly after some of the solid signs shown during his second outing. In Week 6 against the Giants, Jackson earned a respectable Pro Football Focus score of 54.9.
On one play, Jackson chased after a wide receiver on a screen play and showed excellent effort and speed for such a large player chasing down the play from behind. On another play, Jackson was caught off balance as he was blown out of a hole by the right tackle, allowing for the creation of an easy running lane. While there isn’t a ton he can do to avoid being down blocked on an inside slant, Jackson will need to improve his balance so that he can hold his ground better and prevent the open hole. Other than that play, Jackson had an overall positive performance against a mediocre Giants offensive front.
Here’s a McKinnley Jackson cut up. I was impressed with him in only his 2nd NFL game. He’s a high effort player which you can see at the 1:00 mark. He’s susceptible to crack blocks by the OT but that’s play recognition. Overall he’s a good run defender with a bright future. pic.twitter.com/42edsNae12
— Grant (@Big_Bengals) October 14, 2024
While there is certainly room for improvement, Jackson managed to put together a solid performance for his second game at the professional level. The rookie from Texas A&M will face a much stronger test from the talented rushing attack of the Cleveland Browns in Week 7.
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