Notes From Training Camp 2025

[*bfine32*]

(Yesterday, 09:21 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I'm all for the Bengals bringing him in. I was listening to the recent Rapien and Liscow Locked on Bengals, both have been at the practices this week, and they observed the IOL needs, as expected, some work. The OL overall could probably use more guys competing for the reserve spots as well.

I think they've been in pads 1 day. 

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 11:21 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: A lot of it has to do with what he was asked to do at AM as well. He was constantly asked to attack the B gap in their scheme. They pretty much said just go attack the inside and wreak as much havoc as possible. That's not going to get you a ton of recorded production, but will help out the team as a whole. 
Im really, really starting to sell myself on the pick. I think there is a lot of untapped production the Bengals can get out of him. 

If it really came down to how he was used, maybe that lends itself to some optimism, but again it's just optimism not actual proven pass rush ability.
It's hope that if used in a different way, he might be more effective than what he displayed in college.
And if he wasn't used much aside from attacking the B gap, would it also be fair to say he doesn't have a whole bunch of experience doing much else like attacking from the true edge, and it might take time for him to build up that skill set?

I view Stewart, in most optimistic way, as I did Josh Allen QB when he came out.
There were some things he needed to work on and develop, as he was flawed and inexperienced coming out of college.
Bills were able to get him there, but it took them until Year 3 for him to really take that step forward.
I see a similar trajectory for Stewart.
And if people are ok possibly waiting until 3rd year for a 1st round pick selected in the teens to come on, that's their choice, but I personally like my 1st rounders (especially Top 20) to play significant snaps and perform solid by Year 2, not have to wait until Year 3.
Stewart was too much of a gamble for my liking, but I'm not a coach, so maybe it will be easier bringing him up to speed than I think.

[Soonerpeace]

(Yesterday, 11:21 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: A lot of it has to do with what he was asked to do at AM as well. He was constantly asked to attack the B gap in their scheme. They pretty much said just go attack the inside and wreak as much havoc as possible. That's not going to get you a ton of recorded production, but will help out the team as a whole. 
Im really, really starting to sell myself on the pick. I think there is a lot of untapped production the Bengals can get out of him. 

The more I’ve dug into him the more I like. Slaton is going to push the pocket and Stewart will push the pocket. I really like Slaton, Knight. and Stewart vs the Ravens. You have to stop their run game. I think we got much better there.

[WeezyBengal]

(Yesterday, 11:51 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: The more I’ve dug into him the more I like. Slaton is going to push the pocket and Stewart will push the pocket. I really like Slaton, Knight. and Stewart vs the Ravens. You have to stop their run game. I think we got much better there.

It can't be any worse, literally. 

Shemar trying to keep up with Lamar in the pocket is going to be LIGHT YEARS better than Hubbard trying to keep up with him last year. No disrespect to Hubbard, but he was just a shell of himself last year. 

[Nicomo Cosca]

(Yesterday, 10:48 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Hernandez in my opinion is the only available guard that is an upgrade, I have concerns with Risner. Does anyone have his last couple of years PFF scores? If he really an upgrade or just a name we all know and available?

Anyone can see the previous season grades on PFF without a subscription.

Risner in 24:

76.2 - Pass blocking (13th/136 guards)
57.4 - Run blocking
67.0 - Overall

[Nicomo Cosca]

(Yesterday, 11:11 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: We have more than enough good players competing for OL

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 12:01 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Anyone can see the previous season grades on PFF without a subscription.

Risner in 24:

76.2 - Pass blocking (13th/136 guards)
57.4 - Run blocking
67.0 - Overall

Hernandez?

Looks like Risner sucks at RB, we need a guard who excels at both.

Can we see history and look back many years for their results?

 I just tried and it asked me for a subscription to get more than first 3 guards?

[Soonerpeace]

"Joe Burrow takes none of the blame for the Cincinnati Bengals not making it to the playoffs."

—@Realrclark25 on whether Burrow is still elite if the Bengals miss the playoffs again ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Zi0e7FiTlS

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 29, 2025

[WeezyBengal]

(Yesterday, 12:21 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote:

"Joe Burrow takes none of the blame for the Cincinnati Bengals not making it to the playoffs."

—@Realrclark25 on whether Burrow is still elite if the Bengals miss the playoffs again ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Zi0e7FiTlS

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 29, 2025

Season hasn't even started and I am already sick of the media and their idiotic headlines. 

[ERIC1]

(Yesterday, 12:22 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Season hasn't even started and I am already sick of the media and their idiotic headlines. 

1000%...and the fan reaction to the medias nonsense

[Clark W Griswold]

(Yesterday, 11:11 AM)ERIC1 Wrote: We have more than enough good players competing for OL

This is just false. Good equals at least above average.
Even if Fairchild ends up being great like we all hope the rest have proven to be mediocre at best.
Ford is a career back up, Patrick has been serviceable but nothing special and Volson is below average. They could use another guard for sure.

You have to be trolling because even the biggest homer could not honestly say the Bengals guards are good. We can only hope they raise their play to a mediocre level as that would actually be a big improvement.

[ERIC1]

(Yesterday, 11:17 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Name them please.
And let us know how you are determining "good" OL.

John Sheeran, a Bengals writer who has been following the team for years (and might have been a former member of this board at one point), had this to say from the first full day of camp where they put on the pads...

Unlike yourself, I dint guve a damn about the opinions of sports writers

Again ..our offense was extremely potent even without our starting left tackles and a bunch of plug and play players last year

We have a new OL coach, we drafted some pretty darn good rookies, people are healthy, volson is young tough and strong and may even benefit

Just because they did not sign some costly, aging , big name FAs , whose best days are behind them, does not mean that there wont be improvement

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 12:29 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: This is just false. Good equals at least above average.
Even if Fairchild ends up being great like we all hope the rest have proven to be mediocre at best.
Ford is a career back up, Patrick has been serviceable but nothing special and Volson is below average. They could use another guard for sure.

You have to be trolling because even the biggest homer could not honestly say the Bengals guards are good.  We can only hope they raise their play to a mediocre level as that would actually be a big improvement.

And Ford's best OL performance, to date, has been LG, so I personally want him only competing for LG, not playing RG (which he has done before and was not good).
Patrick's best position is C.
Neither is a good option for RG, Volson has not played RG, and Fairchild is slotted for LG.
They really need an experienced, solid-or-better option at RG, and they could potentially get that with Risner, Hernandez, or Scherff.
Will they pull the trigger now that camp has started though? I don't think so unless a longer injury happens.

[ERIC1]

(Yesterday, 12:29 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: This is just false. Good equals at least above average.
Even if Fairchild ends up being great like we all hope the rest have proven to be mediocre at best.
Ford is a career back up, Patrick has been serviceable but nothing special and Volson is below average. They could use another guard for sure.

You have to be trolling because even the biggest homer could not honestly say the Bengals guards are good. We can only hope they raise their play to a mediocre level as that would actually be a big improvement.

I dont troll anyone .I dont agree with you.and my opinion is just as valid as yours..as far as your immature name calling..you dont have any idea as tonhow well this OL will gel how well the players will do under a new coach etc. Its all assumption at this point in time.

You are another one that will only be satisfied only if the team wastes money on overpriced aging FAs whose best days are long behind

And part of burrows difficulties..and him getting sacked..as you well know stems from the fact that he holds on to the ball for too long for whatever reasons

This team has signjficantly changed the focus for the offensive line beginning with the immediate firing of the OL coach after the end of last season..You may not like the effort and direction well...too bad

[Nicomo Cosca]

(Yesterday, 12:17 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Looks like Risner sucks at RB, we need a guard who excels at both.

Then they better actually hit on their draft picks. Because OL that “excel” in both pass pro and run blocking aren’t available all that often. And when they are they certainly aren’t in the Bengals price range.

But that pass blocking grade for Risner should be enough for any Bengal fan to want him. Protecting 9 is the priority, and Zac is always going to be a sling it all over the field coach anyway.

[*pally*]

Via Charlie Goldsmith.....Rookies  
https://charlieschalkboard.substack.com/p/zac-taylors-hands-on-approach-with

Quote:“We were messing up early on,” backup linebacker Maema Njongmeta said yesterday as he reflected on the 2024 season. “We had a bunch of guys who were showing up late. We were kind of a troublesome class.”

So at the end of the first month of the season last year, Taylor called the entire rookie class into his office.

According to a few of last year’s rookies, the message was along these lines.

“You guys will be called upon sooner than you think. Don’t wait. Start showing up now. Don’t wait until you’re in that position to start acting like a leader. How you become a leader in the league is if you earn peoples’ respect, you earn the right to speak. Start showcasing it now, wherever you’re at. Lead from where you are.”

Quote:“Everyone needed a wakeup call,” Anthony said. “Coach Zac Taylor got the message to us really good. He’s a very good coach. He was telling us that we need to take our game from here to there because we have high expectations. You want high expectations from your coaches and your peers.”


Over the course of the season, Taylor developed specific messages for this group that hit on the team’s history or the story of a specific player.

Quote:Following a year where the Bengals needed more from their first-year players, the Bengals’ veteran leaders also received a good reminder of what their roles are in helping develop these players.

“You always want to help bring them along,” BJ Hill said. “You always want to be that guy that gives good advice and information. We always bring in some good young guys who come in and compete every year. It makes the team better. It makes people compete.”

Quote:Heading into 2025, Taylor has planned one-on-one meetings with each rookie “to get to know them on a deeper level and understand where they’re coming from and let them understand where I’m coming from.”

[ERIC1]

(Yesterday, 12:35 PM)ochocincos Wrote: And Ford's best OL performance, to date, has been LG, so I personally want him only competing for LG, not playing RG (which he has done before and was not good).
Patrick's best position is C.
Neither is a good option for RG, Volson has not played RG, and Fairchild is slotted for LG.
They really need an experienced, solid-or-better option at RG, and they could potentially get that with Risner, Hernandez, or Scherff.
Will they pull the trigger now that camp has started though? I don't think so unless a longer injury happens.

One question..was the bengals offense one if the best in the nfl last year even with significant injuries to our starting tackles and mediocre players, as you suggest? Yes...and injury free this year..mims having experience under his belt, addition of fairchild .and even volsons matuaration and new coach..it should even be better this year...have a great day..off to the golf course

[ERIC1]

(Yesterday, 11:21 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: A lot of it has to do with what he was asked to do at AM as well. He was constantly asked to attack the B gap in their scheme. They pretty much said just go attack the inside and wreak as much havoc as possible. That's not going to get you a ton of recorded production, but will help out the team as a whole. 
Im really, really starting to sell myself on the pick. I think there is a lot of untapped production the Bengals can get out of him. 

1000%

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(Yesterday, 12:44 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: I dont troll anyone .I dont agree with you.and  my opinion is just as valid as yours..as far as your immature name calling..you dont have any idea as tonhow well this OL will gel  how well the players will do under a new coach etc. Its all assumption at this point in time.

You are another one that will only be satisfied only if the team wastes money on overpriced  aging FAs whose best days are long behind

And part of burrows difficulties..and him getting sacked..as you well know stems from the fact that he holds on to the ball for too long for whatever reasons

This team has signjficantly changed the focus  for the offensive line beginning with the immediate firing of the OL coach after the end of last season..You may not like the effort and direction well...too bad

Nobody called you any names, Moron (but I will).

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 12:53 PM)pally Wrote: Via Charlie Goldsmith.....Rookies  
https://charlieschalkboard.substack.com/p/zac-taylors-hands-on-approach-with

I think we have a very good HC, it is things he does like this that proves it. It has discipline, but seems to be a player's coach. Trey referenced him when he stayed in Florida, e said they have a good relationship and I got the impression he did not want to negatively impact Zac's TC.