‘Being Where I’m Supposed To Be’ – Why Geno Stone’s Words Were Musical to the Bengals

CINCINNATI – In his first minutes in front of the media, new Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone had an interesting response — and no doubt a well-received one inside the walls of Paycor Stadium — when asked about what will bring to the team.

“Probably one of my biggest strengths is me being where I’m supposed to be,” Stone said.

You could almost envision defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo sitting in his office watch the live feed of the news conference and pumping his fist when hearing Stone say that.

Geno Stone To Bring Reliability to Bengals’ Defense

The Bengals had a lot of flaws in 2023 that contributed to them missing the playoffs a after a Super Bowl and back-to-back AFC Championship Game and appearances in 2021-22. But none of the imperfections played a bigger role in the fourth-place finish in the AFC North Division than the miscommunication and misalignment in the secondary.

That resulted in Cincinnati allowing 82 plays of 20 yards or more, the most in the league. The Seattle Seahawks were a distant second with 75.

Those 82 explosive plays were the most allowed by the Bengals since at least 1991, and they were tied for the seventh most surrendered by any team in that time frame (the 2019 Bengals top that dubious list with 92.

There is a reason Stone was the first player Cincinnati targeted in free agency, agreeing to terms on a two year, $15 million contract a few hours into the start of the legal tampering period Monday.

Stone said he prides himself on his football IQ, which is why he’s rarely out of position.

“It’s something I’ve probably been doing my whole life, and I’ve been around ball my whole life,” Stone said. “Just continue to keep learning. That’s what I try to do. Because in this league, you’re gonna win with the mindset that everyone’s the same, got the same the ability, whatever it is, but if you’re smarter than your opponent and you know what they’re gonna do, you’ve got to try to outsmart them and be in the right spot.”

Stone wasn’t specifically addressing last season’s interception of Joe Burrow with that comment. That topic arose much earlier as one of the first questions of the news conference.

The play came on Cincinnati’s opening drive of the third quarter. Trailing 13-10, the Bengals had second and 8 at the Baltimore 17 with a chance to take the lead or at least tie the game.

But Stone baited Burrow into throwing to Tee Higgins on a post route near the goal line. Stone picked off the pass at the 2-yard line and returned it 36 yards, and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense converted into a touchdown drive for a 20-10 lead on the way to a 27-24 victory.

Geno Stone picked a great time for his 2nd career INT. (by @Fanduel) pic.twitter.com/bhlGEQuNUY

— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2023

“Joe took me to the ball. I was reading his eyes the whole time,” Stone said. “I just went and made a play on the ball.”

Stone said the reporter who asked the question was the first person to bring it up since he arrived at the stadium to officially sign his new contract.

“I think everyone I’ve talked to so far, I’ve heard it from,” he said. “They just said they’re happy I’m on this side of the ball. They keep saying they think Joe’s happy, too.”

The interception was Stone’s first of what would be a career-high seven in 2023, a rare number of a safety.

Safeties with at least 7 interceptions in a season the last 10 seasons: pic.twitter.com/GMCU7XCouA

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) March 11, 2024

Stone only had one interception during his first three seasons in the league, which included only eight combined starts. He started 11 games in 2023.

“That was the most opportunities I’ve had in my career,” he said. “People always say that this is my breakout year. But if you go back, my first ever game, a preseason game my second year, I had two picks in the first half. Then when I got more opportunities, the next year I had a pick against Big Ben (Roethlisberger).

“My third year I had opportunities, but I didn’t take advantage of them,” Stone continued. “Then last year I took huge strides.”

If Stone can continue to be where he’s supposed to be – and where the opposing quarterback doesn’t expect him to be – the Cincinnati secondary, and defense as a whole, could be taking similar huge strides in 2024.

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