2022 Dynasty/Fantasy Preseason Week 1 Game Report: Cardinals 36, Bengals 23 (by Ross Jacobs)
-- by Ross Jacobs
The Cardinals opened with a few rotational pieces of their starting defense playing but none of the big names. That lasted about a quarter or so and after that it was 2nd team vs 2nd team and 3rd team vs 3rd team for both squads.
What's sad is that the Cardinals absolutely crushed the Bengals in every phase. It might be different if the starters played but there is no doubt in my mind the Cardinals are the deeper team overall and they just looked more energetic overall. The Bengals by comparison were lifeless. I'm not a fan of Zac Taylor and I'm afraid he and the Cincy front office are going to drag down Burrow. Wouldn't be the first time we've seen a talented QB destroyed by terrible management.
The Cardinals toyed with the Bengals here and 3rd string QB Trace McSorley had his way with the defense. He was moving them up and down the field with ease and the game was very quickly out of hand. Cincy scored two late touchdowns with under 8 minutes left in the game when Drew Plitt came in for the Bengals.
Don't know who Drew Plitt is? Me neither. I had to go look him up after the game. He's a rookie out of Ball St. Didn't have a standout career but he was efficient, didn't turn the ball over much. He looked like a nice developmental practice squad QB here. Not a lot of arm but is smart and knows where to go with the football. He might eventually work his way up to a backup role somewhere in a few years.
The most exciting thing to happen in the game won't even show up in the box score because Chris Evans ripped off a long run on his very first carry but it got called back for a hold. It was a nice run too. He hit a jump cut behind the line to shake a defender in his face and there was nothing but green grass to the outside. He looks very smooth. Not sure he's ready to push Perine for the backup role yet but I bet he'd at least split to some degree if Mixon got hurt.
Eno Benjamin got the start for the Cardinals at RB. Darrel Williams didn't play which tells me he's definitely the true backup to Conner. Rookie Keaontay Ingram didn't come into the game until very late behind Benjamin and Jonathan Ward. He didn't do anything to stand out. He was a big sleeper for several mainstream outlets back in the spring. Not sure he's going to make the starting squad at this rate.
We got a Bernhard Seikovits sighting here as well. If you don't remember him I don't blame you. He's a foreign player that was one of the final selections in the NFL's International Player Pathway Program last year. I looked into him after he put up some sweet pro day numbers. I concluded he was very raw and would need a lot of development to have a chance. What's the verdict on him now? Meh. He's still pretty thin for an NFL tight end and you can't tell how athletic he is by the way he moves. He's still years away from mattering if he ever does at all.
On the defensive side of the ball Arizona had a few interesting notes: Victor Dimukeje was making life miserable for the Bengals 3rd string. They couldn't block him all game. No such troubles with rookie Myjai Sanders though. He was just ok but did look much bigger than we saw him last time. Don't think his weight is going to be a problem after all but he doesn't look as quick now either.
Marco Wilson is probably starting for the Cardinals this year and he was out there for a short time...and got torched by Trent Taylor. Wilson had no idea where the ball was, which was his problem last year as well. He's super athletic but doesn't have a great feel for the game. He's going to be a major weakness for Arizona if they are forced to play him a lot this year.
Longtime FFM favorite Dennis Gardeck started and played for a bit...and didn't look like nearly the force I remembered. He was ok but nothing special. Bet he rotates with Devon Kennard.
The only note I have on the Bengals defense is for rookie Dax Hill. He looked good, no bones about it. It seemed like every other play he was around the ball. He did drop an INT in the endzone but it would have been a tough catch and he played the coverage perfectly. He is a little weak tackling but is fantastic in coverage. He was playing free safety, not nickel corner although I'm sure he could rotate down if needed. It seems like Hill is the plan to replace Jessie Bates (who is sitting out for a new contract).
