Woody Confident in Bearcats Defense, High on Hutchinson's Work Ethic

Cincinnati defensive coordinator Nate Woody praised new addition D'Angelo Hutchinson for his dedication, noting he rarely leaves the facility to catch up on the playbook. Hutchinson, a veteran from Louisville, may see limited action in Week 1 but could get more reps in Week 2. Woody also expressed confidence in the defense's progress after installing his 3-4 blitzing scheme during spring.

Woody's decision to install the full 3-4 playbook during spring rather than pacing the installation created an initial learning curve, but players have since compensated through extensive film study and notebook work. The defense's progress reflects that accelerated approach now paying dividends as the season opener approaches.

Hutchinson arrives with substantial experience, having logged over 1,100 snaps with strong Pro Football Focus grades in each of the last two seasons at Louisville. His transition involves adjusting to split-coverage concepts that differ from his previous responsibilities. With Ty Goodwill sidelined, Hutchinson's eventual integration into the two-deep rotation becomes increasingly important, though his Week 1 role appears limited.