Friday Practice and Mock Game Chatter

[membengal]

Thought we could use a place to put up links to any observations from the scribes and give a place for people there live to set some thoughts over the next few days.

1530 is broadcasting live from the mock game tonight at Georgetown, for those who did not know. I will be listening on-line if I am near a computer.

Apparenty the coaches chewed asses most of the morning practice, according to Curnutte:

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/s....cincinnati.com

The Bengals were on the field this morning for almost two hours and battled through miserable heat and humidity in a sluggish practice that is the stuff of an NFL training camp.

Players were calling for cold towels. The training staff scheduled specific breaks for Gatorade. Some players sustained muscle cramps and tweaks -- cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph with a groin and Jonathan Zenon with a quad.

Coaches were getting on players for every misstep. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer threw cornerback David Jones out of a drill for poor coverage and an error in position. Defensive end Robert Geathers jumped offside on what would have been the last play of a simulated two-minute drill. "Junior, you can't give them another play," yelled defensive line coach Jay Hayes.

Rookie receivers Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell dropped passes. With starters Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh out with injuries, the rookies are getting a lot of work.

Wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard, normally soft-spoken and professorial in his approach, called his receivers together and ripped them.

He scolded them for the need to "go full speed, study your (butts) off, get away from the press (coverage from defensive backs), get to the right spot and catch the dad-gum ball every time. If you don't, you're gone."

Safety Chinedum Ndukwe drew the ire of secondary coach Kevin Coyle and head coach Marvin Lewis for taking an incorrect angle on a play.

Several players were resting or nursing minor injuries, some being saved for the intra-squad scrimmage tonight: Tailbacks Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry rode exercise bikes on the sideline. Tailback Kenny Watson was out. Rookie free agent James Johnson ran as the No. 1 tailback, and rookie free agent fullback Bradley Glatthaar worked as No. 2 tailback and fullback. Right tackle Willie Anderson did not work on the field, nor did defensive tackle Michael Myers.

Talkative safety Dexter Jackson took note of the number of offensive players being saved for the scrimmage, compared to the number of defensive players working hard in the heat.

"See that, the running backs, wide receivers, they're resting for tonight," he said.

[membengal]

A little more on the morning practice from Hobson. Sounds like they are riding the young WRs hard. Good. That is a position that has a steep learning curve:

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6916

The Bengals are concerned about how long it is taking their young wide receivers to adjust and the evidence surfaced in Friday morning's one-minute drill in which the defense reigned.

Receivers coach Mike Sheppard blasted them after the drill and told them they better go study their playbooks instead of putting a movie in the DVD before Friday night's scrimmage.

With Pro Bowl receivers Chad Johnson (ankle) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hamstring) shelved until next week, the youngsters have been getting plenty of reps and yet have failed to stand out. Sheppard was so livid at their performance in a drill where the offense completed only a couple of balls that he called them together on the field and loudly ripped them for being unable to get off the line of scrimmage and make the catch.

"Get off the ball, go full speed, this is not the way it's done, now jog off this field," Sheppard fumed after he watched plays like second-rounder Jerome Simpson dropping a long touchdown pass.

But Simpson wasn't the only culprit, which Sheppard made clear later.

"It's important to prepare every day and I just told them as a group they didn't put themselves into the situation before they went into the huddle," Sheppard said. "You have to be ready. Guys' reps are going to begin to diminish in a hurry with Chad and T.J. back and they can't miss a rep. They can't miss a night studying and they can't waste a practice and in my mind they just wasted a practice."

Third-rounder Andre Caldwell said they had it coming.

"We weren't getting the job done. You're supposed to make plays, that's why we're here, and we didn't make them," Caldwell said. "We dropped too many balls. You have to adjust how they play here. People get up in your face."

There have been some private grumblings that if the situation doesn't improve, the Bengals may have to go get a veteran wide receiver not named Chris Henry before the season. But even then, he wouldn't come free until at the end of the preseason and he'd be behind knowing the system.

By the way, Simpson did make some nice catches and on one play got behind the DBs to make one of his patented leaping catches.

[vettespd20]

A little more on the morning practice from Hobson. Sounds like they are riding the young WRs hard. Good. That is a position that has a steep learning curve:

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6916

The Bengals are concerned about how long it is taking their young wide receivers to adjust and the evidence surfaced in Friday morning's one-minute drill in which the defense reigned.

Receivers coach Mike Sheppard blasted them after the drill and told them they better go study their playbooks instead of putting a movie in the DVD before Friday night's scrimmage.

With Pro Bowl receivers Chad Johnson (ankle) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hamstring) shelved until next week, the youngsters have been getting plenty of reps and yet have failed to stand out. Sheppard was so livid at their performance in a drill where the offense completed only a couple of balls that he called them together on the field and loudly ripped them for being unable to get off the line of scrimmage and make the catch.

"Get off the ball, go full speed, this is not the way it's done, now jog off this field," Sheppard fumed after he watched plays like second-rounder Jerome Simpson dropping a long touchdown pass.

But Simpson wasn't the only culprit, which Sheppard made clear later.

"It's important to prepare every day and I just told them as a group they didn't put themselves into the situation before they went into the huddle," Sheppard said. "You have to be ready. Guys' reps are going to begin to diminish in a hurry with Chad and T.J. back and they can't miss a rep. They can't miss a night studying and they can't waste a practice and in my mind they just wasted a practice."

Third-rounder Andre Caldwell said they had it coming.

"We weren't getting the job done. You're supposed to make plays, that's why we're here, and we didn't make them," Caldwell said. "We dropped too many balls. You have to adjust how they play here. People get up in your face."

There have been some private grumblings that if the situation doesn't improve, the Bengals may have to go get a veteran wide receiver not named Chris Henry before the season. But even then, he wouldn't come free until at the end of the preseason and he'd be behind knowing the system.

By the way, Simpson did make some nice catches and on one play got behind the DBs to make one of his patented leaping catches.

wow i love it good job!!!

[membengal]

From C. Trent at LotD the guys out for tonight's scrimmage:

http://www.thelotd.com/ctrent/

DeDe Dorsey

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Chad Johnson

Jeremi Johnson

Rudi Johnson

Herana-Daze Jones

Ethan Kilmer

Antwan Odom

Kenny Watson

Jonathan Zenon

[membengal]

First update from C. Trent:

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- And away we go. Sort of.

It's calisthenics time here at Toyota Stadium.

Brad and Lap are on the PA system here. So, well, you'll hear the same things the folks hear here if you're on the radio.

So, the intrasquad will be offense vs. defense. There is no game clock.

There is also a modified scoring system.

For the offense:

Normal scoring for touchdowns (6 points), field goals (3) and PATs (1 or 2)

First downs are good for 1 point (but not on a touchdown)

Pass completion of 20 yards or more count for 1 point

Runs of 15 yards or more are 1 point.

For the defense:

An interception or fumble recovery is 5 points

A touchdown is an additional 6 points (so 11 total)

A safety is worth 4 points

Forcing the offense into a punt, missed field goal or failed fourth-down conversion counts for 3 points

A sack is worth 1 point

My prediction -- Bengals cover the spread.

* The quarterbacks are orange jerseys -- it's the first time they've been in another 'safe' jersey this camp.

The Jordan Palmer/Jeff Rowe battle could be one of the orme interesting things to watch here.

* Saw my first Ben Utecht jersey -- and first Corey Lynch jersey.

So, I've noticed, if an attractive woman is in a jersey, your best bet is it's an 84. Very interesting, if you ask me.

* Others to watch -- RB James Johnson, CB Simeon Castille, OL Anthony Collins, LB Brandon Johnson, DT Pat Sims, SS Cinedum Ndukwe, CB David Jones.

* 6:48 the KO/KR teams are on the field.

These are just drills, not the start of the scrimmage. Glenn Holt, Chris Perry, James Johnson and Andre Caldwell get returns.

* 6:52 away we go -- First team offense vs. first team D.

First series

First play is a screen to Perry for five. Then James Johnson is caught deep in the line by Brandon Johnson. Then incomplete to Glenn. 3-0 defense

Second series

Chris Perry gaines 14 on the first run. So he gets 1 point for that. 3-1. Perry on the next first down, loss of 1. Brandon Johnson again. Carson Palmer called him the camp MVP yesterday. He shows it why. Dump pass to Chatman to the 34. Now to Perry, down to the 23. 3-2. Perry up the middle for three. Utecht in now. Again to Perry. Brandon Johnson and Dhani Jones for a loss of 1. 3&8 -- Palmer to Chatman diving in the end zone for a touchdown. No PAT, but a point for the 20+ pass. 9-3 offense.

Third series -- 2nd offense

Johnson pinballs off a tackle, but it's no gain. Fitzpatrick incomplete on a naked boot. Fitzpatrick gain of 5. Stop. 9-6.

Fourth series

James Johnson, again, pinballs, but again no gain. Flag. Delay. They will replay that. Stays 2&10. Sack -- Michael Myers. So it's 9-7 according to the scoreboard. Another sack. so 4 points. Michael Myers. 11-9 defense.

Fifth series

A defensive penalty for holding on Johnson's 4-yard run. They give them the yards for both the run and penalty -- a 1&10. Perry for 2 and then 3. Fitzpatrick completes to Jerome Simpson for 8. First down. 11-11. Wow. What a great catch by Simpson. Diving catch into the end zone beating Deltha O'Neal. What an incredible catch by Jerome Simpson. Touchdown and 43 yards. 18-11.

Brad and Lap were rather excited over the Simpson catch. Must have been quite something.

[membengal]

From the radio, Brad and Lap are real impressed with Brandon Johnson. He's apparently all over the field...but, sure, take your time getting into camp, Keith Rivers.

[membengal]

Curnutte's recap of the first half:

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/s....cincinnati.com

After several offensive series in the Bengals' intra-squad scrimmage, the offense has scored on two diving touchdown receptions.

First, wide receiver Antonio Chatman got behind cornerback Leon Hall in the corner of the end zone and dove to catch a 21-yard pass from Carson Palmer. Hall had good coverage, but Palmer's throw went where only Chatman coulpd get to it.

With the second-team offense and defense on the field, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 43 yards to a diving Jerome Simpson, who beat cornerback Deltha O'Neal on a fly pattern. Again, the coverage was solid, but Simpson dove, landed on the 1 and rolled into the end zone.

On the previous play, Simpson caught an 8-yard pass from Fitzpatrick on third-and-5.

Tailback Chris Perry has so far run six times for 20 yards and had two receptions 16 yards. Palmer is 4-for-5 passing for 45 yards and one touchdown.

[membengal]

Most of the rest from C. Trent:

http://www.thelotd.com/ctrent/

Sixth series

Jeff Rowe at QB. 1 D. James Johnson for 1. Inomplete. David Jones breaks up a pass to Maurice Purify. Shovel to White. for five. But that's it.

Seventh series

Rowe still in. 1&10 from 40. End around to Andre Caldwell, Brandon Johnson breaks up the play, Dhani Johnson finishes it off. Rowe dumps it off to fullback Daniel Coats, and he's blown up by Brandon Johnson. Coats hangs on. Gain of 6. Caldwell is being attended to by trainers. Can't really tell. Rowe to Chatman, he slips a tackle, but comes up just short.

Eighth series

Rowe stays in. 18-17 offense. Glatthaar straight ahead for two. Rowe to Caldwell, who throws a couple of spin moves and picks up a first down to the 19. 9 yards. Glatthaar the lone tailback. John Thornton and Frostee Rucker hit him in the backfield, but Glatthaar gets back to the line of scrimmage. Purify drops one at the sideline. Dexter Jackson blitzing. The sacks are kind of a judgement call. It's 3&10. Rowe deep hits Travis Brown at the 14 for a gain of 5. 20-19 defense

Ninth series

Palmer back in with the first O. Perry stopped by Daniel Shirley. That's a big man. Gain of 1. Perry again. Fanene with a good stop. No gain. Palmer throws to Utecht and Kyries Hebert hits him and it's a drop.

10th series

Palmer again. 1&10 from the defense 17. Perry stipped for a loss by Michael Myers. Palmer pitches to Perry He breaks a tackle down to the 11 for 9. Palmer misses Holt at the goalline. Another stop. Palmer talking o Holt. 26-19 defense.

11th series

There's a truck with a giant inflatable Steeler honking its horn from a field by the stadium. Crazy. Palmer still in. Palmer incomplete. Antwon Burton with the pressure. Palmer swing to to Coats gain of 6. O'Neal with the tackle. Another pass to Perry in the flat. That's another turnover on douwns. 29-19

Special teams break.

30 yard FG attempt by Graham. Good

35 yard FG attempt by Graham. Wide right

40 yard FG attempt by Graham. Good.

46 yard FG attempt by Graham. Wide right

48 yard FG attempt by Graham. Good.

52 yard FG attempt by Graham. Good.

12th series

Jordan Palmer in for the Bengals. Glatthaar straight ahead for 5. Glatthaar again, this time on the stretch for 1. 3&4. Nice block by Glatthaar. Purify drops on a David Jones hit. 32-19 defense.

13th series

Glatthaar straight ahead, nowhere to go. No gain. Simeon Castille blitz, sack. 33-19. Scramble to Nate Lawrie and a nice open-field tackle by Castille.

14th series

Glatthaar for 2. Palmer to Lawrie. John Beasing with a nice tackle. Gain of 2. Pass to Uritia, incomplete. i think it may have been tipped. 39-19

15th series

Palmer still in. Scramble. Gain of 9. James Johnson for 1. First down. The first points for the offense in a while. 39-20. Swing pass to Clyde Logan -- Corey Lynch and Logan hit each other pretty good. Glatthaar stopped. No gain. 3&1 from the 11. Pat Sims jumps, penalty.

OK, it's time for me to get on the field, looks like this could be over soon

The scrimmage ended with a Lynch interception of Jordan Palmer. It actually sounded like Lynch made a number of nice plays from the safety slot as the scrimmage ran down.

[membengal]

A few quick thoughts from Curnutte:

Carson Palmer said the MVP of the first week of camp was linebacker Brandon Johnson.

Tonight in the intra-squad scrimmage, Johnson starred, collecting five tackles, 2.5 for loss, unofficially. Johnson is starting as the weakl-side linebacker in place of first-round holdout Keith Rivers.

In a live field-goal drill, kicker Shayne Graham was 4 of 6, converting from 30, 40, 48 and 52 yards. He was wide right from 35 and 46 yards.

For the night, tailback Chris Perry ran 10 times for 33 yards and caught three passes for 17 yards.

The defense played well all night, stopping the offense on three-and-out several times.

[HAPPYJAQ]

The Bengals may have found a gem with Johnson, but whatever happend to Blackstock??? I also think the James Johnson has a chance to beat out DeDe as the 4th RB (if they keep that many). The Castille/Jones/O'Neal battle is quickly becoming the best of camp. It almost seems like O'Neal might be the #5 CB right now. Sadly, with another injury-marred camp, Kilmer may be on his way out. He has a lot of catching up to do, as he is a full time corner now.