Notes From Training Camp 2025

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 09:55 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: It's kind of wild to me that the Bengals went and upgraded their TE room by signing Fant before they went and upgrade their OL room.

The TE room was stronger than the OL room to begin with, but they went and spent money on another TE before adding another guard or tackle? Just odd.

Maybe they don't feel players available are better than what we have in camp. Maybe they feel a better option will emerge at cut downs for trade or FA. Fant is a solid NFL TE who can play 3 downs and I am glad we went and signed him. I am also optimistic because we still have the cap space to sign a vet guard if one is an upgrade. It is strange to me no one has signed Risner nor Scherff, now Hernandez who just cleared and Cardinals had a visit this week.

It is not just us as a lot of needy interior OL teams are passing on these guys. Why? If they were great or even good one would think they would have been signed by now.

[J24]

(Yesterday, 10:07 AM)Synric Wrote: That's why I mentioned I would have liked to have seen them practice this week against the Eagles before their pre-season game. The rest of the AFC North are heavy formation heavy run teams. 

Pittsburgh has Pat Feiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington.
Baltimore has Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar.
Cleveland has David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr.

These are teams that are going to be mostly 12 personnel with some 13 personnel.

I have a stupid question about 12 personnel? Isn't one of the TEs really just a glorified WR  in that formation? Why is it such an adjustment to prepare for vs 11 personnel if that were the case? 

[Essex Johnson]

(08-05-2025, 11:26 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: After just watching some camp breakdowns. Im concerned. Rivers played LT and LG in college. They have him covering RT for Mims and he is bad on that side. Also I was bit concerned Patrick seems to be getting handed the starting spot and I guess Ford has looked bad maybe not a shocker. We really need to get some more talent in the building. Our depth is gonna really come back to bite us.

I think you are leaping a bit far if you have already decided after a couple weeks of highlights in camp that he is bad on right side besides you or I are not at the micro level that the coaches are and drafting a player is in theory bringing talent in, free agency does not mean success either, every year a team brings in a FA and they don;t perform to the level they expected.  The bottom line it is way too early to decide if a draft pick is bad at a position. 

[Soonerpeace]

(Yesterday, 07:05 AM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: Half full is the optimistic mind set. But the clips were from the last few practices and myles Murphy was pretty much running the arch uncontested against rivers on the right side. He can't be our plan as backup on that side especially with Mims missing time like he has. I wasn't aware but there has been rumblings that Ford hasn't looked good and Patrick being inserted with the 1s whenever he is available seems to point to the team agreeing. In his very limited time here Patrick has missed some time so if at some point we have Ford and Rivers on the right side in the season it may be worse than I fear. 

Ha ha yes meant half empty. But yes Rivers & Ford on the right side means empty

[Essex Johnson]

(Yesterday, 09:55 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: It's kind of wild to me that the Bengals went and upgraded their TE room by signing Fant before they went and upgrade their OL room.

The TE room was stronger than the OL room to begin with, but they went and spent money on another TE before adding another guard or tackle? Just odd.

I agree i would have preferred a OL but at same time many teams out there  are in the bengals position of maybe adding more depth and it sure seems no team is jumping at signing FA out there at this time which might mean there are issues that teams don;t at this time want to spend $$ on.  Also now that a few days of Fant's signing and reflecting i can understand how the Bengals can see this signing as actually helping the line with the skill sets Fant does bring. 

[Soonerpeace]

(Yesterday, 09:55 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: It's kind of wild to me that the Bengals went and upgraded their TE room by signing Fant before they went and upgrade their OL room.

The TE room was stronger than the OL room to begin with, but they went and spent money on another TE before adding another guard or tackle? Just odd.

I had the same thought but Fant was a steal of the highest proportion. Could they have used that money plus squeezed some more for a guard? You’d think so.

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(08-05-2025, 03:18 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: And if Tanner Hudson doesnt fumble week 1 last year he is 2-10. 

If Mcpherson doesnt miss the kick against the Stelers two years ago he is 3-9.

We can do this all day, man. So I guess the slow starts are a combination of Burrow missing camp AND bad luck. Thanks for reminding me. 

Evan didn't miss, he had no LS and COULDN'T kick properly.

That entire game was stupid, I was absolutely amazed that Burrow actually had it in him to pass as well as he did (we know how bad he was), coming off of the Appendix issue and losing so much weight. I get it, we were at home and the like, but given the circumstances, in hindsight, Brandon Allen should've started that game.

[WeezyBengal]

(Yesterday, 10:40 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Evan didn't miss, he had no LS and COULDN'T kick properly.

That entire game was stupid, I was absolutely amazed that Burrow actually had it in him to pass as well as he did (we know how bad he was), coming off of the Appendix issue and losing so much weight. I get it, we were at home and the like, but given the circumstances, in hindsight, Brandon Allen should've started that game.

lol OK - the point kind of remains. 

Allen should have started that game, and Browning should have started the Cleveland game the following year. I get Burrow wants to play, but the staff really needs to do a better job of making the executive decision when an injured Burrow isn't better than a healthy Browning. 

[NotBigzo]

(Yesterday, 10:09 AM)Synric Wrote: The opportunity presented itself with Noah Fant. I'd hope if a Guard similar to Fants quality and price range % the Bengals would be all over it.

The opportunity was--and still is--there for guard. 

We need to accept that fact that the Bengals stubbornly don't value the guard position. if Burrow's injury and that 4th and 1 in the SB didn't change their minds, nothing will.

[NotBigzo]

(Yesterday, 10:40 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Evan didn't miss, he had no LS and COULDN'T kick properly.

That entire game was stupid, I was absolutely amazed that Burrow actually had it in him to pass as well as he did (we know how bad he was), coming off of the Appendix issue and losing so much weight. I get it, we were at home and the like, but given the circumstances, in hindsight, Brandon Allen should've started that game.

This doesn't change the fact that he missed. All this does is add context about WHY he missed.

[Essex Johnson]

(Yesterday, 11:01 AM)NotBigzo Wrote: The opportunity was--and still is--there for guard. 

We need to accept that fact that the Bengals stubbornly don't value the guard position. if Burrow's injury and that 4th and 1 in the SB didn't change their minds, nothing will.

Most nfl  teams value tackles over guards that is also why less FA tackles hit the market than guards

[*rfaulk34*]

(08-05-2025, 11:26 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: After just watching some camp breakdowns. Im concerned. Rivers played LT and LG in college. They have him covering RT for Mims and he is bad on that side. Also I was bit concerned Patrick seems to be getting handed the starting spot and I guess Ford has looked bad maybe not a shocker. We really need to get some more talent in the building. Our depth is gonna really come back to bite us.

As it did during a SB run and another almost SB run. 

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 09:55 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: It's kind of wild to me that the Bengals went and upgraded their TE room by signing Fant before they went and upgrade their OL room.

The TE room was stronger than the OL room to begin with, but they went and spent money on another TE before adding another guard or tackle? Just odd.

Their focus has always been #1 on getting Burrow as many weapons (options) on the field as possible and #2 shoring up the Oline for protection. 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(Yesterday, 10:40 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Evan didn't miss, he had no LS and COULDN'T kick properly.

That entire game was stupid, I was absolutely amazed that Burrow actually had it in him to pass as well as he did (we know how bad he was), coming off of the Appendix issue and losing so much weight. I get it, we were at home and the like, but given the circumstances, in hindsight, Brandon Allen should've started that game.

He still did a crap job of adjusting. 

It is a PAT. In that situation, he should have been expecting an issue. He should have shortened is run up to 1 step to give the snap/hold more time AND scooped the kick to clear the line. It didn't need to go 50 yards. 

Yes, obviously there was poor execution there. And poor blocking. But having a kicker who needs it to be flawless every time is also a problem. It wasn't his fault, but he could have done better. 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(Yesterday, 11:20 AM)Essex Johnson Wrote: Most nfl  teams value tackles over guards that is also why less FA tackles hit the market than guards

We did not need to spend big to do it. 

We could have had Trent Brown for cheap. Teven Jenkins. Risner, Scherff, and Hernandez are still out there. 

You did not need a crystal ball to know Ford/Volson are substandard, and relying on a Day 2/Day 3 rookies is a big gamble on the OL. 

Peters was the OL coach in NE last year and they were dreadful. He cannot turn water into wine. 

If our OL was good, we'd be hoisting Lombardi's.

Rivers, Lee, Kirkland, and Cochran are essentially guys with no NFL experience/PS level guys. Your experienced OL reserves are Ford and Volson, which should be frightening. 

A starting quality G lets Patrick be the primary cover on the interior, and in case Fairchild flops. And Ford can then be the secondary cover on the IOL and the swing tackle. 

Trey and a starting G need to get done ASAP. OT3 is gonna be tougher at this point. Maybe someone decent gets cut. 

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 11:43 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: We did not need to spend big to do it. 

We could have had Trent Brown for cheap. Teven Jenkins. Risner, Scherff, and Hernandez are still out there. 

You did not need a crystal ball to know Ford/Volson are substandard, and relying on a Day 2/Day 3 rookies is a big gamble on the OL. 

Peters was the OL coach in ME last year and they were dreadful. He cannot turn water into wine. 

If our OL was good, we'd be hoisting Lombardi's. 

I disagree, if our defense was good we would be a playoff team every year JB is our QB. You can't win it all when your defense can't stop the run or the pass. the argument coud be maded we should have spent big bucks in FA on defense.

[*Synric*]

(Yesterday, 11:01 AM)NotBigzo Wrote: The opportunity was--and still is--there for guard. 

We need to accept that fact that the Bengals stubbornly don't value the guard position. if Burrow's injury and that 4th and 1 in the SB didn't change their minds, nothing will.

No there isn't. You are talking about Hernandez who was just cleared from injury and had his first visit and Schreff who isn't talking or visiting anyone and maybe retired.


Honestly it was a terrible year for free agent Guard. You can complain they didn't sign Kevin Zeitler early in Free Agency but you can't complain about guys no one has been looking at thr entire off-season.

[*Synric*]

(Yesterday, 10:40 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Evan didn't miss, he had no LS and COULDN'T kick properly.

That entire game was stupid, I was absolutely amazed that Burrow actually had it in him to pass as well as he did (we know how bad he was), coming off of the Appendix issue and losing so much weight. I get it, we were at home and the like, but given the circumstances, in hindsight, Brandon Allen should've started that game.

Paul Dehner on one of his walkouts mentioned that the issue is Ryan Rehkow. The man is an excellent punter but he isn't able to spin the ball laces out catching the snap. That forces the Long Snappers to have an even more controlled snap which is why they are getting a Long Snapping battle because Rehkow is to good as a punter for them to switch up.

[*bfine32*]

(Yesterday, 10:21 AM)J24 Wrote: I have a stupid question about 12 personnel? Isn't one of the TEs really just a glorified WR  in that formation? Why is it such an adjustment to prepare for vs 11 personnel if that were the case? 

You force the defense to keep more men in the box (nearer the LOS and inside), as there are now 8 running gaps. This means that at least one of your two WRs will receive single coverage, as there's only one safety. 

This site is great for researching tendencies. For instance, we were top 10 in use out of 12 personnel last year. 
https://sumersports.com/teams/offensive/personnel-tendency/?personnel=12

[Essex Johnson]

(Yesterday, 11:26 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: As it did during a SB run and another almost SB run. 

I believe we were one of the healthiest teams during our SB season, we did get banged up in playoffs but that is micro to the whole season.  Normally how healthy your team has been in the regular season is a strong variable on making the playoffs.