Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor remains optimistic about safety Geno Stone, despite concerns surrounding his performance last season. Stone, who was brought in to replace Jessie Bates, faced challenges but showed improvement as the 2023 season progressed. Taylor emphasized that the defensive unit's tackling needs to enhance and indicated that they'll continue to develop Stone while also increasing Jordan Battle's role in the lineup. After a rough start, the defense began to adapt, aided by a simpler scheme and a more manageable schedule. The Bengals are banking on Stone's development as they navigate coaching changes within the team.