CINCINNATI -- Injuries affected much of what the Cincinnati Bengals could accomplish in 2014.
Still, they had to play around those who were hurt. As a result, several backups, even a couple of rookies, saw more playing time than they probably were expected to have. As we continue reviewing the season, we're spending the next few days briefly analyzing the snap-count percentages for individual players at specific positions.
Click here for analysis of other positions. We conclude with the defensive backs.
One of the few position groups that avoided the injury scourge was the secondary. Compared to their teammates in other parts of the roster, the Bengals' cornerbacks and safeties missed very little time. Leon Hall and Terence Newman were in and out of a few games with a couple of minor issues, and backup Darqueze Dennard was out often at the start of the season due to injuries stemming from the preseason. Otherwise, they were comparatively healthy.
It's no coincidence then that the Bengals' defensive backs had a relatively strong season. The Bengals tied for third with 20 interceptions, just three shy of San Francisco, whose defense led the NFL in pickoffs. Cincinnati could have leapfrogged the 49ers. Bengals corners and safeties dropped multiple passes early in the season that could have been interceptions. Newman was a repeat offender, with at least three would-be interceptions falling off his hands. Hall notably had a likely pick-six negated in Week 7 when he dropped a pass at Indianapolis.
Iloka and Nelson barely came off the field. Combined, they only missed 30 snaps.
It wasn't too surprising to see the order the playing percentage broke down. Behind Nelson and Iloka, Hall and Newman were the starting corners. When the Bengals went with three-corner sets in nickel packages, Adam Jones came on the field to play one of the boundary cornerback positions, while Hall moved inside to play the slot. Since they were often in nickel, Jones was on the field regularly. Behind him, Dre Kirkpatrick was next off the bench in the secondary, followed by the rookie Dennard.
As the Bengals enter a new season, one of the biggest questions surrounding them involves the playing-time breakdown for Kirkpatrick and Dennard, in particular. Both young players are expected to see a dramatic increase in action after having such promising 2014 campaigns. Kirkpatrick had arguably his best season as a reserve, and Dennard impressed in very limited action.
Playing time for both young corners likely would increase if Newman isn't re-signed in March or decides to go into retirement. He is one of 13 Bengals eligible for unrestricted free agency March 10. Kirkpatrick and Dennard would benefit without him in the rotation. If that were to happen, it still will be tough for Kirkpatrick or Dennard to jump Jones and/or Hall in the starting rotation.
Strange as it may look, Chris Lewis-Harris was indeed part of 0.1 percent of all the Bengals' defensive snaps this past season. He played just one down.
