The Cincinnati Bengals’ protection was so dominant Wednesday through the joint follow in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers offense that the gamers weren’t even falling again on the outdated locker room cliché, “I’ll have to look at the movie.”
“It wasn’t like we simply dominated each play, however I felt like we had a extremely, actually good day,” mentioned defensive sort out DJ Reader, who had one sack and one other strain that brought on Packers quarterback Justin Like to step up into the trail of Trey Hendrickson.
“We had an amazing day,” Reader continued. “We performed actual, actual good immediately.”
“We did lots of good issues. We had actually nice work,” B.J. Hill added.
Why Was the Bengals’ Protection So Good Towards the Packers?
“We take lots of satisfaction in our room, so we anticipate to go on the market and dominate like that in opposition to everyone we play,” defensive lineman Cam Pattern mentioned.
The domination up entrance little question led to a pair of fights with the Packers and a few harsh phrases from Reader.
Nickel cornerback Mike Hilton, who mentioned the group watched some Packers movie from final yr in anticipation of the joint follow, intercepted a Love move on the objective line. It was a red-zone drill with the Inexperienced Bay offense on the 2-yard line. Love referred to as an audible, threw a fast display screen left for Romeo Doubs, and Hilton jumped in entrance and raced up the sideline with the ball.
“They’d a large journeys bunch, and (Love) appreciated the numbers. It was 3 on 1 just about,” Hilton mentioned. “I noticed the verify and let my instincts take over, and I simply made the play.”
It was one of many performs head coach Zac Taylor had in thoughts when he described his protection as “veteran-y” and clever throughout his pre-practice information convention.
“I feel in all probability the underrated portion of our protection is how sensible they’re,” Taylor mentioned. “They will make changes on the drop of the hat as a result of they’ve performed collectively for thus a few years. They’re all so sensible. It’s actually irritating as a play caller on offense, generally while you follow in opposition to the identical group time and again and over.
“Not solely are they proficient, and never solely have they got nice chemistry collectively, and so they perceive what (defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo) and the place coaches need from them, however they’re all actually sensible.”
A number of the least skilled gamers have been making an affect Wednesday as effectively, with rookie nook DJ Turner and second-year security Tycen Anderson additionally getting their fingers on balls that they practically picked off.
Turner had one other spectacular day that earned him some shared reps with Sidney Jones IV with the first-team protection. Certainly one of Turner’s most spectacular performs might need been one during which he gave up a landing.
After biting on a double transfer by Doubs, Turner’s restoration pace received him again in place to make a play on the Love move. However the ball slid previous the rookie’s arm and Doubs caught it and took it the space.
The follow was heavy on 11-on-11 work, so rookie first-round Myles Murphy received his most reps with the first-team protection and had his finest follow but. Murphy had a sack of Inexperienced Bay backup quarterback and Cincinnati native Sean Clifford throughout one interval. Later within the follow, he recorded one other one when Clifford dropped a shotgun snap and Murphy was practically on prime of him by the point he picked it up, ensuing within the play being blown useless.
On the subsequent snap, Murphy held the sting and made a run cease for no acquire.
“That was my first actual competitors in opposition to one other group, so yeah, that was fairly thrilling actually,” Murphy mentioned. “I felt extra in rhythm. Once they referred to as the play, I knew precisely what it was. It felt so much smoother.”
Hendrickson had two sacks and a 3rd was iffy. There additionally was an uncalled holding penalty that prevented a doable fourth.
Defensive sort out Josh Tupou additionally had a sack.
It wasn’t the most popular day of camp, nevertheless it by far was essentially the most humid. And the heavy workload had the gamers spent by the point it was over.
“As we speak was all about pushing your self fatigue-wise. I’m about as exhausted as I’ve been shortly,” defensive finish Sam Hubbard mentioned. “It was a great workload for the 1s to get that 60, 70 performs. It’s a distinct pace. You may’t replicate that game-like really feel.
“Second yr of being in a joint follow, I’m turning into increasingly more of a fan of them as a result of I really feel like I’m actually preparing for a sport with that work somewhat than simply six performs in a preseason sport.
“I feel we actually pushed ourselves from the starters to the younger guys and received the work we have to get performed, performed,” he added.
Cincy’s Offense Much less Productive
The Bengals’ offense might commiserate with the Packers’ offense — each items had issue transferring the ball and sustaining success.
Extensive receiver Tee Higgins didn’t participate in any group drills, and quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning alternated reps with the primary group.
“We tried to present them as even of reps as doable,” offensive coordinator Brian Callahan mentioned. “Clearly it was a heavy 1s follow, so if there have been 10 reps with the 1s in a interval, we tried to get Trevor and Jake every 5 reps, nevertheless that shook out. We tried to maintain it as at the same time as we might in the midst of follow so it type of flip-flopped backwards and forwards.”
As for the outcomes?
“Some good, some unhealthy,” mentioned Callahan, who referred to as the offensive performs, as he’s performed taking up for Taylor in some preseason video games prior to now.
“It’s enjoyable. It’s nice,” he mentioned. “I’ve performed this within the preseason earlier than normally once we’re cut up up with groups simply so Zac can handle the remainder of it. It simply permits us to be extra environment friendly with our time. It’s at all times enjoyable. I at all times benefit from the alternative. Zac lets me name preseason video games, I’ve performed earlier than and I’ll do some this yr, it’s good expertise.”
Taylor mentioned earlier within the day a lot of the starters is not going to play Friday night time in opposition to the Packers, so lots of them, resembling left sort out Orlando Brown Jr., seen the joint follow as their first sport reps since final season.
“It was fairly clear and really aggressive,” Brown mentioned. “Quite a lot of enjoyable, too. I view this as my first sport as a Bengal, and I actually loved it. I feel general up entrance we did a reasonably good job.”
Odds and Ends
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was current at follow for the primary time since injuring his calf July 27.
Linebacker Logan Wilson didn’t costume for follow.
Offensive lineman D’Ante Smith had three pancake blocks in a row in one-on-one move rush drills in opposition to Inexperienced Bay defensive linemen.
Rookie large receiver Charlie Jones took half in group drills for the primary time since lacking two practices with a left shoulder harm he suffered Aug. 3.
Former Bengals defensive lineman Tim Krumrie was on the follow, and Orlando Brown Jr. stopped to talk with him on his manner into the locker room. “That was my first time assembly him, however clearly I do know who he’s. We have been simply f—king round, speaking about wrestling strategies principally.”
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