The Bengals continue to plow their way through training camp, now in Week 2, as they prepare for their first preseason game next Thursday. The pads were on Tuesday, and they’ll be on Thursday and Friday as well. Then they’ll have one more camp practice before their preseason game against the Lions.
All eyes are on the defense, and by extension, Dexter Lawrence. He’s the new face of the defense, and has looked dominant in camp, according to some eyewitness accounts. His presence on the defensive line
has, in theory, given linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter the ability to play more free. The additions of Bryan Cook in the secondary and Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen on the line will hopefully pay dividends as well.
The offense has been nothing to overlook either. Joe Burrow has shown his connection with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the best wide receiver duo in the league, is just as strong as ever. Chase Brown, who’s on a contract year, is poised to earn the big bucks if he can continue to improve not only as a runner, but as a receiver. On top of all that, the offense has been running quite a bit of 13 personnel with three tight ends on the field, and Burrow under center.
So yeah, there have only been a handful of practices, but a lot has happened.
Reds pay visit to Bengals at training camp in ‘super cool experience’
“I admire [Chase’s] work and like him a lot as a player,” Stewart said. “I love when he said, ‘I’m like 7/11, I’m always open.’ And it’s true! He is always open. He’s obviously the best wide receiver in the league so it was cool and I love watching him play.”
While all eyes are on Sexy Dexy, and for good reason, the addition of Cook can not be overlooked. He was the best safety on the market this offseason. He’s a sure tackler, a two-time Super Bowl champion and he knows how to communicate in the secondary, a skill he developed and refined as one of the leaders in Kansas City’s secondary. Oh, and he’s a former Bearcat.
DEXTER LAWRENCE ‘TERRORIZING PRACTICE’ AT BENGALS TRAINING CAMP
“When you have a man as big as (Lawrence), the quick twitch and the speed they’re able to play with just disarms you,” Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher told Epstein. “I don’t know what you do to counteract that other than you just really focus on the technique of this interior line and you got to be really cognizant of what types of schemes you’re trying to run and how often that guy’s truly one-on-one. Running sideways and backward at quarterback in the NFL is a good way to not play very long. So it’s a problem.”
More on Cook’s leadership as a huge reason why the Bengals’ defense has shown up through the first few sessions of training camp. After DJ Turner was beat by Chase on a deep ball that fell incomplete, it was Cook who was hyping him up. Just a couple plays later, Cook stepped in front of a pass thrown early because Mafe got in his face, and took it back for a pick six. Hopefully Cook is finally the Bengals’ answer to “how do we move on from Jessie Bates?”
As the preseason approaches, since there is no practice today (Wednesday), answer this simple question:
How much should Burrow play during the team’s three preseason games?
Sound off!
