Zac and Duke meet with media this afternoon

Bengals defensive notes Monday:

?CTB on his struggles in ‘24: “I don’t think I played with confidence.” Contract season ahead in ‘25.

?Joseph Ossai notes Al Golden is all about “details” early on. Not a slight at Anarumo. Just something noticeable.

?Jordan Battle dialed in…

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 21, 2025

Myles Murphy says he’s down to 13 percent body fat and around 273 pounds.

Excited after initial conversations with Golden & Montgomery. Focused on looking forward. Not back. pic.twitter.com/4tx4qevTPO

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 21, 2025

In talking to a few people today, I learned the Bengals plan to fill Mike Hilton's nickel CB role is Josh Newton.

This means they'll keep Dax Hill outside to start.

Hill certainly has the flexibility to go inside, but right now the plan is Newton

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) April 21, 2025

Two locker room minutes with Cam Taylor-Britt.

* On expanding his locker room role
* On new defensive coordinator Al Golden
* On why the defense performed better late in season
* On "changing the narrative" of the defense
* On needing an impact from defensive draft picks pic.twitter.com/pjMNlGUdAU

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) April 21, 2025

"It's a me vs. me season right now."

A locker room minute with former first round pick Myles Murphy as he enters year three with the Bengals. pic.twitter.com/3Fd3ne0kPP

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) April 21, 2025

i thought Newton flashed at times last year so glad he will get a shot in the slot. It would be really nice if all the young corners could figure it out this year. I have high hopes for Hill based on how he was playing before the injury. I'll be curious if CTB and DJ Turner end up competing for the other spot opposite him.

I'm real interested in the changes to the defense. Don't care what it is: how Golden runs practices, schemes, etc. I'm going through some copium withdrawals.

I thought both Hill & Turner were better than Newton by a significant margin last year. CTB, too. Overall at least.

I get not wanting to move Hill around again. But at the same time, I'd rather have our best 3 corners out there more often.

Now, if we are not gonna in base nickel, it does not matter as much

Hill should be the slot CB for the foreseeable future. It's stupid not to play him there.

(5 hours ago)J24 Wrote: Hill should be the slot CB for the foreseeable future. It's stupid not to play him there.

I feel that way as well. I'd still list him as CB2 in 2CB alignments, but would slide him inside for nickel and dime sets. Iirc, weren't most, if not all, of Newtons snaps last year outside?

(5 hours ago)J24 Wrote: Hill should be the slot CB for the foreseeable future. It's stupid not to play him there.

Yeah, nothing against Fig Newton, I like the guy but Dax could be All Pro as the Slot Corner IMO.

Duke wants more draft picks and wants players ready to play
no new information on Trey
Pratt is we'll see what happens there
the scheme fit is a priority when dating
largest ranked player list on draft board in memory

(4 hours ago)pally Wrote: Duke wants more draft picks and wants players ready to play
no new information on Trey
Pratt is we'll see what happens there
the scheme fit is a priority when dating
largest ranked player list on draft board in memory

Scheme fit when dating makes sense.

Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart are on the Bengals board.

1. On traits vs production:
“You’ve got to have the physical traits to play in this league.
“There are plenty of examples of guys who have not had great collegiate production, but (have) stupendous NFL athletic traits who have come into our league and really shined.”

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) April 21, 2025

FWIW, Murphy was 268 lbs coming into the league.
He was 270 lbs last year.
Would need a side-by-side for how he looked then vs now because the weight is about identical.

Looks like Myles has a dip in his mouth

https://x.com/dan_hoard/status/1914427894446817779?s=46&t=oRdMuHpC2b0Xldr1TrExDA

5. On looking for immediate contributors:
“Gone are the days of taking a guy for 3 years from now. In my opinion, those days are gone. You need quick development and some production out of your young guys. So we’re looking for that. That’s just the nature of what the NFL is now.”


No ______ Sherlock. I don’t know if that’s a slam on Lou but it’s been a joke. Out of top 3 picks the last 4 years only Chase and Mims have been solid. CTB nope. Everyone else haven started much.

(2 hours ago)Synric Wrote: Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart are on the Bengals board.

1. On traits vs production:
“You’ve got to have the physical traits to play in this league.
“There are plenty of examples of guys who have not had great collegiate production, but (have) stupendous NFL athletic traits who have come into our league and really shined.”

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) April 21, 2025

I really like Williams. Stewart worries me, a workout warrior with a poor record of finishing in college.

I will be thrrilled if we went with top LB in the class Campbell to team with Wilson, but Williams is also a very good option to replace Hubbard.

I hope we choose defense and hope they can make contribution and impact immediately.

(6 hours ago)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I thought both Hill & Turner were better than Newton by a significant margin last year. CTB, too. Overall at least.

I get not wanting to move Hill around again. But at the same time, I'd rather have our best 3 corners out there more often.

Now, if we are not gonna in base nickel, it does not matter as much

I thought Newton showed he can be a good NFL CB.

To me, the good news is Newton was forced under fire as a rookie to show if he belongs. It is almost automatic, teams see a rookie late round CB on the field, that WR becomes option #1. Newton had some bad plays and some good plays.

I like our CB room even without Hilton. I think they can develop into a long term strength if we can keep them healthy. Turner was picked 60th in 2023, so very young. Hill was picked 31st in 2022, so very young. Britt was picked 60 in 2022, so very young. Newton drafted 149th pick in 2024. A young and atheletic group may be our breakout position group in 2025. Wilson and Ivey young. I thought Wilson showed a lot of speed last year.

It sucked losing or 2 starting CB's in 2025, but by end of the year the CB's had improved and gained valuable experience, hope it pays off in 2025 and beyond.

(2 hours ago)Synric Wrote: Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart are on the Bengals board.

1. On traits vs production:
“You’ve got to have the physical traits to play in this league.
“There are plenty of examples of guys who have not had great collegiate production, but (have) stupendous NFL athletic traits who have come into our league and really shined.”

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) April 21, 2025

So, what were the other 4 comments?

(2 hours ago)bfine32 Wrote: Looks like Myles has a dip in his mouth

Some people use dip as an appetite suppressant to help curb appetite when cutting weight, as nicotine is an appetite suppressant.

Not saying it is good or bad, just info.

But if it works for him...

(1 hour ago)Luvnit2 Wrote: I really like Williams. Stewart worries me, a workout warrior with a poor record of finishing in college.

I will be thrrilled if we went with top LB in the class Campbell to team with Wilson, but Williams is also a very good option to replace Hubbard.

I hope we choose defense and hope they can make contribution and impact immediately.

Workout warriors with a rising stack are always a no go.

You can train all sorts of stuff to boost your numbers, supplement, and bundles of training tops that make you great at individual tasks, but if the tape says you stuggle while on the field, it SHOULD not elevate a player very much.

Trust the tape.

Use the combine as a tiebreaker.

(1 hour ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: So, what were the other 4 comments?

3. On if they need to add a DT with pass rushing ability:
“I’m always open to adding any good defensive lineman, and if they can rush, that’s fantastic.
“We’ve got a good mix right now, and I think we’ll probably add to it as we go through the weekend.”

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) April 21, 2025

 

5. On looking for immediate contributors:
“Gone are the days of taking a guy for 3 years from now. In my opinion, those days are gone. You need quick development and some production out of your young guys. So we’re looking for that. That’s just the nature of what the NFL is now.”

— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) April 21, 2025

That guy is an idiot. Two of the things he said are almost mutually exclusive.

1) You need guys who will produce right away

and

2) We have nonproblem taking guys with traits who weren't productive players.

Guys who are in bucket #2 are not gonna be guys in bucket #1. See Murphy, Myles.