Notes From Training Camp 2025

[Nepa]

(Yesterday, 11:55 AM)Synric Wrote: 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.

I brought up, among others, the question of why the punter has to be the holder. I do understand that the punter has more time than others to focus on the task during practices, as he works with the kicking unit, but if Rehkow is not ideal at being a holder, why not have the backup QB or another player be the holder? 

[Essex Johnson]

(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.

i believe later on, Joe admitted he probably should have been more open on his condition and let Allen start first couple games. 

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 01:49 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: 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.  

Yes, that's well and good...


He said the backups were going to end up biting us. I said, just like they did in the SB and AFCCG. There was no talk of micro, macro, how healthy, making the playoffs, any of that. No specualtion, luck or happenstance. 

Just that having not good backups are going to bite you in the worst moments, specifically. Like it did for the Bengals, specifically, in 2021 and 2022. Relevant, history repeating itself, learn from your mistakes, etc, etc. 

EDIT: backup Oline.

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 01:58 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: i believe later on, Joe admitted he probably should have been more open on his condition and let Allen start first couple games. 

Yep. It was after his calf injury that he said his mindset changed. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 02:07 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Yes, that's well and good...


He said the backups were going to end up biting us. I said, just like they did in the SB and AFCCG. There was no talk of micro, macro, how healthy, making the playoffs, any of that. No specualtion, luck or happenstance. 

Just that having not good backups are going to bite you in the worst moments, specifically. Like it did for the Bengals, specifically, in 2021 and 2022. Relevant, history repeating itself, learn from your mistakes, etc, etc. 

Hopefully the new coaches help in this aspect. Good coaching can really help your depth.

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 02:10 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Hopefully the new coaches help in this aspect. Good coaching can really help your depth.

Different players. New coaching. Better situational awareness. Learned from your mistakes. 

Yes, the hope is that they've done these and history doesn't repeat itself. 

[*rfaulk34*]

(Yesterday, 01:55 PM)Nepa Wrote: I brought up, among others, the question of why the punter has to be the holder. I do understand that the punter has more time than others to focus on the task during practices, as he works with the kicking unit, but if Rehkow is not ideal at being a holder, why not have the backup QB or another player be the holder? 

Back in the day it was typical for the backup QB to be the holder. For the reason you stated and the ability to throw if things went awry or they wanted to fake.

[jj22]

https://thebengalsboard.com/thread-39256.html?highlight=punter

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(Yesterday, 11:02 AM)NotBigzo Wrote: This doesn't change the fact that he missed. All this does is add context about WHY he missed.

Technically, it was blocked lol, so still not a miss except on the stat sheet :)

[TCUBengal34]

(08-05-2025, 08:55 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: BTW don’t know if you know this but the biggest TCU guy on the planet is Elliott Hill. He’s the President of Nike. An old friend of mine 30 years ago. Haven’t talked to him in years.

Oh yeah. Very familiar with Elliott Hill. He's the reason TCU has had some really cool uni combos over the years. We got some special Nike treatment for a while. Good guy from my understanding. 

[*Synric*]

(Yesterday, 01:55 PM)Nepa Wrote: I brought up, among others, the question of why the punter has to be the holder. I do understand that the punter has more time than others to focus on the task during practices, as he works with the kicking unit, but if Rehkow is not ideal at being a holder, why not have the backup QB or another player be the holder? 

Time on task. The Punter just has more time to practice holding. 

[Sled21]

(Yesterday, 09:54 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: If same article, it is also said Ford is #1 due to Patrick's injury and missing time so Ford was gettig majority of snaps with the #1's.

Must have been a different article. But fwiw, I fully expect Patrick to take the spot.

[Sled21]

(Yesterday, 11:52 AM)Synric Wrote: 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.

And you'd think people would realize no other teams have signed them either.... so there must be a reason. Hernandez is cleared, but cleared does not mean 100%

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(Yesterday, 01:55 PM)Nepa Wrote: I brought up, among others, the question of why the punter has to be the holder. I do understand that the punter has more time than others to focus on the task during practices, as he works with the kicking unit, but if Rehkow is not ideal at being a holder, why not have the backup QB or another player be the holder? 

Because then if your starting QB gets hurt your backup QB is now your starting QB... and still the holder but absolutely doesn't have time to practice it anymore and has a lot of other things on his mind.



- - - - -
I think that play right there ended the practice of backup QBs being holders.

[Sled21]

(Yesterday, 03:59 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Because then if your starting QB gets hurt your backup QB is now your starting QB... and still the holder but absolutely doesn't have time to practice it anymore and has a lot of other things on his mind.



- - - - -
I think that play right there ended the practice of backup QBs being holders.

Not to mention the risk of his hand being kicked....

[Soonerpeace]

(Yesterday, 03:28 PM)TCUBengal34 Wrote: Oh yeah. Very familiar with Elliott Hill. He's the reason TCU has had some really cool uni combos over the years. We got some special Nike treatment for a while. Good guy from my understanding. 

Really good guy and he’ll do well.

[*bfine32*]

(Yesterday, 03:45 PM)Sled21 Wrote: And you'd think people would realize no other teams have signed them either.... so there must be a reason. Hernandez is cleared, but cleared does not mean 100%

I disagree with the notion that Cincy didn't address the IOL this year, we replaced our coach and both Guards. 

Only 5 IOL went in the draft before we took Dylan, so it's not like we scrapped the bottom of the barrel, and although Lucas is not a superstar he has been a starter in the NFL and can play all spots.

I also disagree with the notion that just because they haven't been signed yet, they cannot help the team. I'd be stoked if it were announced today we signed Risner or Hernandez

[Nepa]

(Yesterday, 02:29 PM)jj22 Wrote: https://thebengalsboard.com/thread-39256.html?highlight=punter

You got hammered in that thread but ended up with the last laugh. (Although I love Rekhow as the punter. Just find another holder if he cannot get the laces lined up.)

[Essex Johnson]

(Yesterday, 02:07 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Yes, that's well and good...


He said the backups were going to end up biting us. I said, just like they did in the SB and AFCCG. There was no talk of micro, macro, how healthy, making the playoffs, any of that. No specualtion, luck or happenstance. 

Just that having not good backups are going to bite you in the worst moments, specifically. Like it did for the Bengals, specifically, in 2021 and 2022. Relevant, history repeating itself, learn from your mistakes, etc, etc. 

EDIT: backup Oline.

You could argue without a backup we don;t get to SB, BJ Hill was a backup that saved us in playoffs.  We were playing the SB with I believe 19 of the starters pretty much from beginning of year, so not buying that backups cost us a SB and we had a weak Oline even with starters, so the pressure on Joe in SB was not that much different than the season or playoffs,  the 2021 team was really still rebuilding the roster, no one expected us to go from 4 wins in 2020 to SB in 2021 season... Im sure you could pick top tier team coming into this season and find a few holes in their backups, it is hard to afford and draft well enough to have solid backups across the board.  I will agree i would like to see a bit more depth on the Oline but our defense cost us a run to playoffs last year over our Oline. 

[Nicomo Cosca]

(Yesterday, 04:42 PM)Nepa Wrote: You got hammered in that thread but ended up with the last laugh. (Although I love Rekhow as the punter. Just find another holder if he cannot get the laces lined up.)

JJ was only half right. I still don’t want Robbins back.