Bengals safety Jordan Battle comes into Sunday's Battle of Ohio (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) at Paycor Stadium back where he ended last season as a rookie.
After losing his starting job during the offseason when the Bengals re-signed playoff hero Vonn Bell, he regained the spot midway through this season and in the last two games has teamed with safety Geno Stone to help the defense play its best back-to-back games of the year.
Last Sunday's gaffe in Tennessee, when he fumbled away a 61-yard touchdown return on the 1, overshadowed his biggest tackling day in more than a year. He sat down with Bengals.com senior writer Geoff Hobson to talk about it in this week's conversation.
THE CONVERSATION
GH: The defense has played better the last two games. Why?
JB: I think just everyone being on the same page before the snap. Being able to play fast. We did a good job talking pre snap, post snap. It was a good example of that on Sunday with Geno's pick-six with us disguising, with us talking before the play. He's telling the cornerback, 'I've got the over if he goes over,' and then Fig (cornerback Josh Newton) climbing so he can catch the pick. That's one good example of the many plays we had on Sunday of good communication.
GH: Did you guys say anything after Pittsburgh to get on track?
JB: I think it was more like doing some soul-searching as a defense. Noticing that we're letting the offense down, obviously, in a few games. They're putting up points. They're going down every drive scoring. We're just not getting that one stop sometimes that we need for the offense. They were being consistent and as the season was going on, we weren't being as consistent.
I feel like now after that Steelers game we've been on the same page. Guys are locked in every day. We know what spot we're in. We know how to dig ourselves out. Focus in week in and week out. Being 1-0 in that week Just going on and winning out and see where that takes us.
GH There has been some talk the defense has been simplified a little bit.
JB: It's not so much simplified, but more plays we're comfortable with as a defense. Plays we've had a little more success.
GH: Last year you finished your rookie season with 525 snaps. Now you've got the job back and this season have 301 snaps going into the last three games. Compare this last stretch of this season to last year for you.
JB: It's crazy. I was just thinking about that the other day and how it's playing out not too differently. As far as the starting role and getting acclimated right now, I feel like it's the same flow to last year. I've grown a little more as far communication-wise. Little things. Disguising. Having better eyes. I feel like going down the stretch in these past few games controlling what I can control on the field. Just having good eyes. Making the tackles I need to make.
Just the personal growth. Me with my teammates, with coaches. Whether that's doing more film. Whether that's keying guys on other teams and how they like to attack different coverages. Different disguises. Trying to see what the quarterback's main reads are before the ball is even snapped.
GH: Have you got a play from Sunday that shows how more comfortable you are?
JB: You look at all our quarter coverages. Just me holding and reading and not being as fast to trigger as much on the run. Keying in on taking away the deep ball first and then coming in on the run. Sometimes in quarters, the linebackers aren't counting on the safety in the run fit. We might get there late. But the main thing is getting the guy on the ground making it second-and-five, second-and four, second-and-six, making it manageable to have a good third down and get off the field.
GH: Who's kind of taken the bull by the horns on defense since Pittsburgh? Anybody in particular? Anybody stepped up?
JB: The leaders. You know, Mike (Hilton), GP (Germaine Pratt), Sam (Hubbard), Trey (Hendrickson), guys speaking up in front of the team more often. Making sure guys are locked in and letting everyone know. Locked in. Let everyone in the room know if you're not locked in, you don't need to be in the building because the one mission is to complete the season the right way. Right now we're on track to do that. So we have to keep it going.
I think it's a good team effort, good team defense. You see guys every week getting better. See Geno (Stone) getting better. You see that in practice. Trey, obviously, you know, keep climbing. GP and Five Nine (Akeem Davis-Gaither) stepping in for Logan (Wilson). Obviously, Logan was a big loss for us, but Akeem has been doing a great job filling that (linebacker) role, and guys competing in the interior like B.J. Hill. McKinnley (Jackson) finding the ball a couple of times on Sunday. Just seeing guys keep elevating is beautiful.
GH: Are McKinnley and Kris Jenkins getting more comfortable up front?
JB: Of course. That's going to happen as a rookie through the season. I feel like even last year through the season with me, as the season went on, everything got more comfortable, everything slowed down and you're able to play fast.
GH: You lost your job coming in when they re-signed Vonn Bell. You didn't seem to go in the tank. Did you figure you'd just try to learn from him?
GH: Take what I can from Vonn, a great player in this league for a long time, for a while now. He knows what it takes to get this far, what it takes to be great. Just seeing what he does every day, how he comes in the building. Probably one of the first guys in the building every day, first to work out. The way he treats his body. Taking whatever looks I can get from him to put in my game.
GH: Did you get down on yourself when you came into the spring because you weren't playing?
JB: I'm never a guy who is going to get down. All I can do is work. That's what I know. Work. Have fun. Enjoy the time here.
GH: How often do you keep in touch with your dad? He's been your coach all the way.
JB: I talk to my dad all the time. He sends me a text every morning. Tells me, 'Good morning, son. Attack the day.' He always has words of motivation for me every day. My brother as well. My mom. I have a good family, good support system that I can rely on if I need them. Now it is, definitely.
GH: He coached you in basketball, right?
JB: He was my basketball coach and one year of Pop Warner he was my (football) coach.
GH: Tough guy to play for, right?
JB: Toughest guy I ever played for in my life.
GH: Is he still coaching?
JB: He's still coaching. A small college down there in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale University. He's assistant head coach out there.
GH: Did he get on you about losing the ball last Sunday just before you scored? That's the first thing I thought. 'His dad is the guy who going to give it to him the most.'
JB: Oh yeah. He's a little more calm now. He's not as rowdy as he used to be. Just tells me, 'Finish every play. especially as a defender. You never know when you'll see the end zone again.' That's what he said Sunday night. When you get a chance, you have to finish it.
GH: Is it all texts or do you talk?
JB: We text and talk. I'll usually call them after the game. See if they were watching if they didn't go.
GH: Were they there Sunday?
JB: No, they were at home.
GH: What's the first thing he said to you?
JB: You know dads are always going to the negative first. Negative first and then knock out the positives.
GH: Did he ask you what happened?
JB: For sure. I told him. I said, 'Hey, ball slipped out of my hand. Tried to grab it and I knocked it out even further.' It's just a learning experience. Running through the end zone with the ball tucked. No need to even switch it.
GH: What were the positives?
JB: He thinks it was one of my better-tackling games. Just better fitting. He thought I did a better job fitting. Obviously, he's a guy who watches the ins and outs of the game.
GH: Do you dread that call or text or do you look forward to it?
JB: I always look forward to what he has to say. I know he always knows he has in the back of his mind, he doesn't want to say it because, you know, his wife is right there. My mom. But when she's away, he can speak how he wants to speak. You know how it is. Father-son relationship. Have to have those talks.
GH: Jordan Battle in the Battle of Ohio this Sunday.
JB: Another big game. Another big division game. Let's finish out in the division positive. We've already got one win on them. One more game against the Steelers. Just trying to win both these division games, focusing on the Browns. Be 1-0.
GH: What about those Tuesday meetings?
JB: Tuesday meetings are big. Just a time for us as DBs, players only, come in, a get jump on the guys. Get a jump on the Cleveland Browns. Obviously, (Browns wide receiver Jerry) Jeudy is a guy climbing up the ranks the past few weeks. He's their guy to get it started. It starts with Jeudy, and, honestly, Jerome Ford is a good speed guy for them at running back. He broke one on the Chiefs. Understanding that. DTR is starting (Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson), so just understanding what type of quarterback he is.
High percentage throws. Quick throws. Running quarterback. Uses his feet to win a game. Speed. Just understanding that.
GH: Vonn leads the secondary meetings with Mike.
JB: They rotate it.
GH: Are you saying more?
JB: Yeah, we go through calls. What can we get out of different formations they give us. The three-by-one with the speed shifts. All receivers on one side. Just knowing what they like to do. Just knowing the types of guys they are. Like (wide receiver) Cedric Tillman probably coming back. Michael Woods. Just knowing who the guys are going to be the blocking receivers vs. who is going to be lined up there when it's more pass.
