Welcome back to Bengals On The Brain, presented by First Star Logistics! In this episode, we're diving deep into the film of an intriguing Cincinnati Bengals undrafted free agent: Defensive Tackle Howard Cross III out of Notre Dame.

With the draft now in the rearview mirror, it's time to analyze the players the Bengals added post-draft, and Cross stands out as a potential hidden gem on the defensive line.

Coming from a strong defensive program like Notre Dame, and with a name that evokes a classic football era, Howard Cross brings an interesting skill set to the Bengals training camp. While undrafted, his film suggests a player with untapped potential and a nose for disrupting opposing offenses.

In this film breakdown, Joe Goodberry meticulously reviews Cross's performance in a selected 2024 game against Stanford, dissecting his strengths and weaknesses. We'll examine:

Run Stopping Ability: Can Cross hold his own at the point of attack? How does he shed blocks and disrupt running lanes?

Pass Rush Potential: Does Cross possess the burst, agility, and hand technique to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks? We'll analyze his PFF pass-rush grades and look for signs of a potential hidden pass-rush weapon.

Athleticism and Awareness: Despite being considered undersized at 6'1 and 285 lbs for a defensive tackle, Cross is a gifted athlete who shows great ball awareness on the field. We look into whether Cross is just aware enough to make a difference in the Bengals' roster.

We will analyze his:

Get Off: How quickly does he explode off the line of scrimmage?

Hand Technique: What tools are in his toolbox to set him apart from the competition?

Agility: How well does he move laterally and navigate through traffic?

Instincts: Does he demonstrate the football IQ to read plays and react accordingly?

We will look into what this means for his ability to make the roster and carve out a role for himself on the Bengals' defensive line, if there is a glimmer of hope that this guy was undervalued in the draft process. Is Howard Cross more than just a camp body? Can he compete with Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinley Jackson? Can he add pass rush juice with BJ Hill and T.J. Slaton? With Al Golden now leading the Cincinnati defense, is there potential for this guy to become an impact player for the stripes?

We acknowledge the challenges facing undrafted free agents, where the odds are stacked against them. But we're searching for those diamonds in the rough, those players who might defy expectations.

Join us as we explore whether Howard Cross III has the potential to be one of those success stories.

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