Darius Hodge exploded unexpectedly into the iPads of the Bengals coaches in late March, much the way he exploded in Saturday night's 19-14 victory over the Buccaneers with 1.5 sacks and five hits on Tampa Bay's parade of quarterbacks.
Andrew Johnson, the Bengals East Coast scout, sent an alert following Marshall's pro day workouts. Hodge an undersized 6-1, 248-pound defensive end, had delivered some interesting numbers:
According to some reports that day coming out of Huntington, W.Va., he not only ran 4.67 in the 40-yard dash, but 2.63 in the first 20. He ran through three cones in 7.18 seconds, vertically jumped 38.5 inches and bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times.
"Andrew made us aware of him because of that explosion," recalled Mark Duffner, the Bengals senior defensive assistant, after Monday's practice. "He's explosive, tough, he'll compete. Plays hard. He wants to be a good player. That's what you want. When you've got guys that want to work hard, are tough and they've got explosion, come on with it."
And so Hodge did. If there is one common theme for the defensive coaches from Saturday night, it's how hard they played while not allowing a run longer than seven yards and a pass longer than 18. No explosives, as they say.
Except on their end. Like Hodge.
After a season he had 6.5 sacks, he can't ever remember hitting the quarterback five times in 31 college game during three seasons. When the Bengals signed him after he went undrafted, they designated him a linebacker. You can forget that now. He's a pass rusher.
No longer is he playing in the three-point stance he used in college, a major adjustment.
"You get more get off in a three-point. I feel like you get more explosion in a three-point stance," Hodge said.
He's doing pretty well standing up at the line with the potential of dropping back into pass coverage. But right now, covering the pass seems like an afterthought in the wake of a night he combined with fellow rookie Cam Sample on a stunt for a fourth-down sack he shared with Amari Bledsoe and another one he got by himself when he flat ran by the tackle and chased down quarterback Kyle Trask on the other side of the field with four minutes left in the game.
The kids were all over the place. Sample, a fourth-round pick, moved inside and out on the defensive line. His stunt with Hodge came working at tackle. He ended the game with a sack rushing from the edge. Third-rounder Joseph Ossai suppled five pressures and half a sack in 22 snaps on the edge.
After Monday's practice, Hodge talked about his coaches and how Duffner, the edge/linebacker specialist, has worked with him after practice and how defensive line coach Marion Hobby has walked him through the nuances of the position and came up with some nice calls on Saturday.
"Coach Hobby talks about how to run the play, how to angle, how to rush the passer," Hodge said. "I didn't do anything special. I just fit into the defense.
"(Duffner) knows how to coach other ways … Some people do it in the film room or talking with me. He puts his hands on me, works with me after practice. He's helped with my stab and dip and working my craft every day. Coach Hob and Coach Duff have really helped me make some tweaks."
If he's not a linebacker, then he's a defensive end. Probably a nickel rusher. And there's always the question if a defensive line can afford that luxury in the roster numbers game. If you get to the quarterback like Hodge did in Tampa Bay, of course, the answer is always yes.
Check out some of the top photos from the Week 1 preseason game as the Cincinnati Bengals faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jalen Davis (35) breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tyler Johnson during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) and defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) team up to sack Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) and defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) celebrate after sacking Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) before an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans (25) before an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals fan during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Trayvon Henderson (41) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) gets hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) after a catch during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen (8) calls a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen (8) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen (8) fires a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans (25) runs past Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt (52) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Tony Brown (27) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mike Thomas (80) tries to elude Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Antonio Hamilton (22) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) runs after a catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs a route against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon (9) battles against Cincinnati Bengals Gunnar Vogel during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) rushes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a pre-season NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Menendez)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Auden Tate (19) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Jacques Patrick (31) runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Trae Waynes (26) plays defense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a pre-season NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Menendez)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans, left, scores against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Pat O'Connor (79) and linebacker Kevin Minter (51) on a 1-yard run during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans (25) runs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Safety Vonn Bell warms up on the field prior to the Week 1 preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) kicks a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Kyle Shurmur looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Trayvon Henderson (41) intercepts a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
The Bengals offense takes the field prior to the Week 1 preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cincinnati Bengals' Evan McPherson (2) kicks a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Cincinnati Bengals free safety Kavon Frazier (43) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Trayvon Henderson (41) celebrates with linebacker Joe Bachie (49) after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
"Whatever they want me to do," Hodge said. "If they want me to go in there and play the three technique, I'll go down in there and do it."
Hodge says this is nothing new for him. "I've been an underdog my whole life," he says. Still, he was the North Carolina Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, but after he committed to North Carolina State out of Wake Forest High School he couldn't go because of academics.
"It's all on me. It's my responsibility my grades weren't good enough to get into that school," Hodge said. "But it worked out. I had a great time at Marshall and to me, I'm working every day and that's a blessing."
He got a ton of texts and calls Saturday night into Sunday morning. But a couple stood out. The ones from his mother and grandmother after they had watched back in Carolina. On Monday, he could recite the highlights.
"Your hard work is being noticed. Keep your head down and keep grinding. We love you."
"That meant a lot," Hodge said. "For them to be able to see it on TV after they've watched me do the work day-by-day."
He knows there is plenty of work left in the two remaining preseason games. No matter where or how they line him up.
"I'm just looking to showcase my talents so I can make that roster," Hodge said. "I'll take whatever they give me, boss. I'll take whatever they give me."
