Bryan Cook is aware of the problem awaiting the Cincinnati Bengals in Baltimore.
And the issue is Ravens running back Derrick Henry, whom the safety called “a freight train running around out there,” according to Bengals.com.
Cook has experience helping slow that train.
During his previous two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, he was part of victories over Baltimore in which Henry finished with 46 and 42 rushing yards, respectively.
He needs to help out Cincinnati in that same way.
“You have to get him before the second level,” Cook said.
He stressed that the responsibility spans the defense, including fellow safety Jordan Battle and linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter.
That makes tackling and pursuit critical to Cincinnati’s assignment. Allowing Henry room to accelerate would leave defenders facing the exact problem Cook’s description captures.
So, the objective is a coordinated defensive performance to snuff out Henry.
Applying those lessons with a group of teammates is key, as the Bengals need their first defender to slow Henry and the following defenders to finalize the job.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ DB talks ‘freight train’ Derrick Henry before Ravens matchup