The Cincinnati Bengals are making a slight adjustment to the approach on special teams ahead of the team’s Week 2 game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Said adjustment involves giving corner Darius Phillips more looks on returns, which means fewer chances for wideout Alex Erickson.
Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com caught up with special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons:
“I had a big, long discussion with Alex. I have an immense amount of trust and an immense amount of confidence in Alex. But I also think Darius has earned an opportunity to get a chance back there…
…“I’m just trying to spice things up a little bit, give Seattle something different than maybe what they were expecting. And I think Darius has deserved an opportunity to do that. Again, that is not a reflection on Alex and his ability.”
Phillips has always been dangerously explosive as a returner. But he had a brief issue with catching punts in the preseason, though the coaches gave him chances to correct and he eventually did.
It speaks to how much coaches like Phillips as a returner though considering Erickson was one of the NFL’s best last season. Depth at corner itself is also strained too with Darqueze Dennard sidelined, so again, it speaks to the upside Phillips touts.
And as always, special teams have the capability to swing games outright, so it should be interesting to see how this slight shuffle impacts Sunday’s game.
