CINCINNATI — With there being so much focus on the Cincinnati Bengals offense getting more explosive, an area of improvement sometimes overlooked is where efficiency trumps explosivity — the red zone.
The Bengals dipped from fifth in red-zone touchdown percentage in 2022 to 10th in 2023, and that had little to do with Joe Burrow’s injury. They were eighth through the 11 weeks Burrow played at 59.3%.
From Week 12 to 18 with Jake Browning, they improved to 60%, but they still dropped two spots in the rankings because several other teams showed late-season improvement as well.
Bengals Expect Gesicki To Spark Red Zone
There were a lot of reasons Cincinnati signed 6-foot-6 tight end Mike Gesicki in free agency, but the red zone was at the top of the ledger.
“A lot of times when you get (in the red zone), you think players, not plays,” Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said.
“You obviously need to have good calls to put players in those spots, but as the field shrinks, the windows shrink. What helps counteract that is a guy with a giant catch radius that just naturally creates a bigger window.”
#Patriots TE Mike Gesicki with the go-ahead TD on #NationalTightEndsDay 🔥
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 22, 2023
That’s where size, jumping ability, ability to contort — jump, turn, contort, finish — can be so important, and (Gesicki) does that.”
It wasn’t on display much in 2023 because the New England Patriots had just 36 red-zone drives on the season, tied for fewest in the league with the Carolina Panthers. The year before, the Miami Dolphins were in the bottom half of the league, tied for 17th in red-zone drives.
The Bengals have to become more reliant on their red-zone offense since Ja’Marr Chase’s breakout rookie season in 2021 after opposing defenses began sitting back in two-high shells and forcing Burrow and the offense to work their way down the field and through the red zone.
Burrow’s accuracy and Gesicki’s catch radius could make life hell for opposing defenses in 2024.
Gesicki said friends vouched for the organization l, but even if they said it was the worst place in the world he would want to come here to play with Burrow. pic.twitter.com/KAU4sp3YoQ
— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) March 14, 2024
Another area where Pitcher is expecting Gesicki to have a big impact is one that will go unnoticed by most — the practice field.
The Bengals lost one of their most energetic players when they traded running back Joe Mixon last week, and Pitcher said Gesicki has a reputation for being the same type of presence.
“The thing I like, too, as I’ve gotten to know this dude a little bit, and just hearing from people who have played with him and coached on teams he was on, this guy’s got some juice,” Pitcher said.
“Everybody makes fun of the stupid Griddy and all that, but just having that spark it big. And it’s not just on game day. You hear how this guy comes to practice every day and brings that energy,” Pitcher continued.
“Those are things most people don’t get to see, but they’re critical to the team. It’s critical that you go out there on a Wednesday and you have a great practice. Because there’s some people bopping around out there like they’re happy to be there. From everything I hear about that guy, we’re getting that in Mike.”
KEEP READING: How Adding a Second 6-Foot-8 Tackle Will Help Evolution of the Bengals’ Offense
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