06-13-2015, 01:45 AM
Good start!
I'll hit what's here in one shot, as some of these dovetail into others
Do the Bengals go with 2 or 3 QBs this year?
As of today, I'm pretty sure they'll go with two, mainly due to past history and because Pryor hasn't really done much in OTAs (he's gotten so few snaps, which isn't a good sign) that it's hard to believe they'd take up a roster spot on him. Now, if McCarron totally flames out in the preseason, that might change things - and let's be honest - we don't know what kind of pro he'll be.
Speaking of McCarron, he has looked good. He was my "one positive" of the OTA. Considering where he was a year ago - being unable to participate at all - it's already a win. He has been picked a few times - Reggie Nelson and Dennard have gotten him - but for the most part he's spun it pretty good and been pretty accurate. The fact that he's gotten nearly every backup rep also says a lot. It's honestly impossible to project him beyond being the backup in 2015.
How do the rookies look? Anything about any of the rookies.
Ogbuehi is out, rehabbing but working hard. Fisher has been impressive - the team said they'd move him around and they have. Coaches and Whit have loved it. Kroft and Uzomah have shown the physical traits we heard about, but you also see the rawness - for instance an individual drill had to be re-done because Kroft stumbled out of the three point stance. This is new for both of them, really. Eifert is important, because they have a ways to go. We've seen the speed with Alford - that is definitely real - but he's been having a hard time catching the ball the right way, meaning it's not always a clean catch, even if he does hold on to it...and no one is hitting him, so those are probably drops on contact.
Dawson and Hardison are nearly impossible to evaluate because there is no contact - it's all technique and learning the schemes, to be honest.
But as far as Fisher goes, he's another "OTA positive" for me. He really has picked things up quickly, both inside and outside, and they even had him running routes as a tackle eligible receiver and caught a ball over the middle and another in the flat. Even TJ Houshmandzadeh had to note it.
Barring injury, I don't see how Dre Kirkpatrick isn't the "starter" opposite Adam Jones in Week 1 - but I could also see Dennard "starting" in nickel, because let's be real, nickels are basically starters in this league. Hall isn't an "odd man out" necessarily, but someone is going to see their snaps reduced as the two young first rounders establish themselves. Both Dennard and Kirkpatrick have looked really sharp. Unlike linemen and linebackers, we can make some judgments on DBs and WRs, and they have looked really good.
Honestly, I have no frame of reference for Obarski. Usually they kick inside PBS, or off on the other field when we're watching team drills.
Like the LBs, the same goes for Wilder. They hand the ball off, run patterns out of the backfield, but there is no contact, so it's really hard to determine anything with even the running backs...
Re: starters at linebackers, I don't think they know just yet. Because of the injuries last year this session has been about rotating combinations and getting everyone familiar with one another - and at different spots. So every healthy linebacker has played all three positions. With Burfict & Porter out and Rey Maualuga working on the side, that left Hawk/Dawson/Lamur/Rey/Flowers working together. Honestly, they wouldn't want either to "start" - Dawson just for being so young, Hawk for being older. If I had to pick today, it would be Lamur/Rey/Maualuga. Hawk could easily play all three spots, Dawson more at the weakside spot to take advantage of his instincts and playmaking. But watch for Flowers...
Without a healthy Burfict, a Pro Bowl player, this unit obviously isn't as strong as it could be. But as for finding that cap casualty, that veteran with enough left in the tank to maybe slide right in -- that's a tough one to predict. You never say never, but the way I look at those type moves, I mean - why is the guy cut to begin with? There's usually a reason. And if it's a true cap hit, and not about talent, then odds are another team will throw more money at him. It's not about the Bengals being "cheap" - it's more that they feel they have the guys that can take a step forward.
Great observation about the d-line. Football is the ultimate team game - if one area falters, the whole thing looks awful. So if they generate more of a pass rush up front, then those LBs aren't being asked to cover as long. If that d-line can fill gaps, or make a back stutter, your LB can stay disciplined and hit the hole and make a play. Obviously great, great players can make up for the mistakes of others, but I think this Bengals defense is meant to work as one, strong unit. You're right - they need Atkins to be Atkins, and Johnson to be the guy that Tampa gave all that money to.
As for Burfict - no idea in that he hasn't talked to us. But, the team has been pretty straightforward, I think, with the plan. It's a long rehab process after a complicated surgery. I honestly think the determination will be made in the middle of the preseason regarding PUP, but I do think he'll play. When? I don't think we can even begin to guess until that roster decision is made.
I'll hit what's here in one shot, as some of these dovetail into others
Do the Bengals go with 2 or 3 QBs this year?
As of today, I'm pretty sure they'll go with two, mainly due to past history and because Pryor hasn't really done much in OTAs (he's gotten so few snaps, which isn't a good sign) that it's hard to believe they'd take up a roster spot on him. Now, if McCarron totally flames out in the preseason, that might change things - and let's be honest - we don't know what kind of pro he'll be.
Speaking of McCarron, he has looked good. He was my "one positive" of the OTA. Considering where he was a year ago - being unable to participate at all - it's already a win. He has been picked a few times - Reggie Nelson and Dennard have gotten him - but for the most part he's spun it pretty good and been pretty accurate. The fact that he's gotten nearly every backup rep also says a lot. It's honestly impossible to project him beyond being the backup in 2015.
How do the rookies look? Anything about any of the rookies.
Ogbuehi is out, rehabbing but working hard. Fisher has been impressive - the team said they'd move him around and they have. Coaches and Whit have loved it. Kroft and Uzomah have shown the physical traits we heard about, but you also see the rawness - for instance an individual drill had to be re-done because Kroft stumbled out of the three point stance. This is new for both of them, really. Eifert is important, because they have a ways to go. We've seen the speed with Alford - that is definitely real - but he's been having a hard time catching the ball the right way, meaning it's not always a clean catch, even if he does hold on to it...and no one is hitting him, so those are probably drops on contact.
Dawson and Hardison are nearly impossible to evaluate because there is no contact - it's all technique and learning the schemes, to be honest.
But as far as Fisher goes, he's another "OTA positive" for me. He really has picked things up quickly, both inside and outside, and they even had him running routes as a tackle eligible receiver and caught a ball over the middle and another in the flat. Even TJ Houshmandzadeh had to note it.
Barring injury, I don't see how Dre Kirkpatrick isn't the "starter" opposite Adam Jones in Week 1 - but I could also see Dennard "starting" in nickel, because let's be real, nickels are basically starters in this league. Hall isn't an "odd man out" necessarily, but someone is going to see their snaps reduced as the two young first rounders establish themselves. Both Dennard and Kirkpatrick have looked really sharp. Unlike linemen and linebackers, we can make some judgments on DBs and WRs, and they have looked really good.
Honestly, I have no frame of reference for Obarski. Usually they kick inside PBS, or off on the other field when we're watching team drills.
Like the LBs, the same goes for Wilder. They hand the ball off, run patterns out of the backfield, but there is no contact, so it's really hard to determine anything with even the running backs...
Re: starters at linebackers, I don't think they know just yet. Because of the injuries last year this session has been about rotating combinations and getting everyone familiar with one another - and at different spots. So every healthy linebacker has played all three positions. With Burfict & Porter out and Rey Maualuga working on the side, that left Hawk/Dawson/Lamur/Rey/Flowers working together. Honestly, they wouldn't want either to "start" - Dawson just for being so young, Hawk for being older. If I had to pick today, it would be Lamur/Rey/Maualuga. Hawk could easily play all three spots, Dawson more at the weakside spot to take advantage of his instincts and playmaking. But watch for Flowers...
Without a healthy Burfict, a Pro Bowl player, this unit obviously isn't as strong as it could be. But as for finding that cap casualty, that veteran with enough left in the tank to maybe slide right in -- that's a tough one to predict. You never say never, but the way I look at those type moves, I mean - why is the guy cut to begin with? There's usually a reason. And if it's a true cap hit, and not about talent, then odds are another team will throw more money at him. It's not about the Bengals being "cheap" - it's more that they feel they have the guys that can take a step forward.
Great observation about the d-line. Football is the ultimate team game - if one area falters, the whole thing looks awful. So if they generate more of a pass rush up front, then those LBs aren't being asked to cover as long. If that d-line can fill gaps, or make a back stutter, your LB can stay disciplined and hit the hole and make a play. Obviously great, great players can make up for the mistakes of others, but I think this Bengals defense is meant to work as one, strong unit. You're right - they need Atkins to be Atkins, and Johnson to be the guy that Tampa gave all that money to.
As for Burfict - no idea in that he hasn't talked to us. But, the team has been pretty straightforward, I think, with the plan. It's a long rehab process after a complicated surgery. I honestly think the determination will be made in the middle of the preseason regarding PUP, but I do think he'll play. When? I don't think we can even begin to guess until that roster decision is made.
Beat writer for Cincinnati.com & The Enquirer. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Periscope.
