Analyst: Dexter Lawrence Has Transformed Bengals' Defensive Front
The short version
- Daniel Jeremiah said Dexter Lawrence has "completely changed" the Bengals' defense.
- Lawrence recorded three tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit against Houston.
- Jeremiah highlighted Lawrence's run defense, pocket push and a near-interception in zone coverage.
- Jeremiah called Lawrence an ideal matchup piece against Baltimore's Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson.
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah says the defensive tackle's play against Houston went far beyond his stat line and reshaped Cincinnati's defense.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah offered strong praise for Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, saying on the "Move the Sticks" podcast that Lawrence has quickly reshaped perceptions of the Bengals' defense this season.
Discussing Cincinnati's win over the Houston Texans, Jeremiah noted that a modest stat line of three tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit understated the performance. He described the showing as dominant, pointing to how Lawrence handled double teams, defeated cutoff blocks in the run game and generated consistent interior pressure as a passer rusher.
Jeremiah said the roughly 400-pound tackle also showed versatility, recording a pressure on a loop stunt and nearly breaking up a pass after dropping into zone coverage. He added that few players combine that size with that skill set.
Looking ahead, Jeremiah said Lawrence is an ideal piece for matchups with the Baltimore Ravens, citing his ability to help contain running back Derrick Henry and collapse the pocket against quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Bengals also shared miked-up video of Lawrence from the Week 2 win over Houston.