07-03-2021, 01:10 PM
Wes, I'll do my best to respond to your points (off the top of my head so that it won't take a week to reply). "Doing or saying": In the "Welcome to Cincinnati" press conferences for most/all of this year's free agents, they mention Joe Burrow as a key reason they chose Cincinnati. (As opposed to previous years' reluctance to do so by quality players.) Even if they framed their response more generally, "I like what they're building, here" it ends up with Joe Burrow. (Mike Hilton, Riley Reiff, Trey Hendrickson, etc.) As to the (voluntary) OTAs, where most teams had limited participation for a limited period, then went home, this year's Bengals has 100% attendance for 3 full weeks. That is, both, different from the rest of the league and different from previous Bengals teams.
The off-season work by some players also was noteworthy. Tee Higgins got stronger and faster, as mentioned by many players and commentators, including Burrow and Higgins himself. Burrow made some significant adjustments to his technique WHILE rehabbing his knee. So, as appears typical with him, he did more than most would have, by not simply recovering from a big injury, but accomplishing other things during that period. Higgins, Uzomah, Boyd, and the coaches ALL commented on how much faster his ball speed is.
"I'm under the impression they're working out and going through the typical schedule that you see in the offseason. Are there activities and drills occuring that are different than in years past?
As far as what they're saying, everything I've heard sounds not much different than any other offseason." I think what I have listed is clearly not "typical." These are not your grandfather's Bengals, as they say. Mike Brown AT LAST got up off a buck and brought in real pros. Hilton, Hendrickson, Reiff, Ogunjobi, even "Chido," I hope (yep! There's some use of the word hope) as well, are quality players who are NOT infected with "Bunglitis." And if, you look at those initial press conferences that I mentioned, you will SEE how they "light up" when they mention Burrow. All in all, that represents a commitment and enthusiasm beyond the other years you mentioned, where the same team comes back (with a couple of hopeful draft picks) and waxes hopeful. (Something of which I was guilty.) And Mike Brown won't take a single snap or throw a single pass. So, his past misfeasance has no weigh anymore.
"Do you mean more excited? More confident? Stronger?" YES. And, I think, justifiably so.
So, yes I'm beyond optimistic to exuberant. And I've been in Cincy since 1979. So, I know rote optimism and canned comments. But I genuinely believe this year is markedly different. No trolling, here. But neither will I countenance, without comment, traditional skepticism in the face of what I have tried to express and a REAL change that I believe I SEE in a bunch of quality NFL players with a couple of stars and superstars sprinkled in.
I hope I was responsive.
The off-season work by some players also was noteworthy. Tee Higgins got stronger and faster, as mentioned by many players and commentators, including Burrow and Higgins himself. Burrow made some significant adjustments to his technique WHILE rehabbing his knee. So, as appears typical with him, he did more than most would have, by not simply recovering from a big injury, but accomplishing other things during that period. Higgins, Uzomah, Boyd, and the coaches ALL commented on how much faster his ball speed is.
"I'm under the impression they're working out and going through the typical schedule that you see in the offseason. Are there activities and drills occuring that are different than in years past?
As far as what they're saying, everything I've heard sounds not much different than any other offseason." I think what I have listed is clearly not "typical." These are not your grandfather's Bengals, as they say. Mike Brown AT LAST got up off a buck and brought in real pros. Hilton, Hendrickson, Reiff, Ogunjobi, even "Chido," I hope (yep! There's some use of the word hope) as well, are quality players who are NOT infected with "Bunglitis." And if, you look at those initial press conferences that I mentioned, you will SEE how they "light up" when they mention Burrow. All in all, that represents a commitment and enthusiasm beyond the other years you mentioned, where the same team comes back (with a couple of hopeful draft picks) and waxes hopeful. (Something of which I was guilty.) And Mike Brown won't take a single snap or throw a single pass. So, his past misfeasance has no weigh anymore.
"Do you mean more excited? More confident? Stronger?" YES. And, I think, justifiably so.
So, yes I'm beyond optimistic to exuberant. And I've been in Cincy since 1979. So, I know rote optimism and canned comments. But I genuinely believe this year is markedly different. No trolling, here. But neither will I countenance, without comment, traditional skepticism in the face of what I have tried to express and a REAL change that I believe I SEE in a bunch of quality NFL players with a couple of stars and superstars sprinkled in.
I hope I was responsive.
