Terrell Owens on-field stuff

[membengal]

Look, I am as bemused by the circus as the next person, but I am far more interested in the Xs and Os impact of Owens, so, along those lines, I thought perhaps this thread might be a place to put that kind of chatter.

I will start.

I had not appreciated how big Owens is. He looms over Chad, and will be a nice target for Palmer indeed. But beyond that, and this is something HoF might like, perhaps Owens will make an impact blocking on the edge I had not considered.

On Total Access tonite, Faulk and Darryl Johnston both, in one of those on-set dealies where the hosts all pretend to be running a formation, both talked about Owens' impact as a physical blocker on the edge and that when teams only go six in the box that Owens can lock up the edge and get Benson to the outside. They also spoke of his presence as a blocker in the red zone.

Now, I have only ever been familiar with the pass-catching Owens, and after seeing him in practice tonite, and satisfied that despite his age, he can still do that part of it. But if he really can be a phyiscal blocking presence as well, now, that would be quite a nice addition to the field as well.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I'm excited to have a receiver who can rack up the RAC. I've never seed a receiver who was better at shedding and avoiding tacklers in the secondary.

But yeah, add a receiver who actually wants to block in the running game, that's great too. And ponder this - if Batman comes in blocking for the run, maybe Robin will finally be shamed into doing more than a half-assed (or quarter-assed) job at it too.

[membengal]

DC, yeah, YAC. I would like to see some of that. And I think IF Owens really can be a physical blocker then perhaps that will rub off on Ocho finally. Anything which helps the run game I am for, and perhaps this is a hidden help.

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, I love the fact that TO is not only a willing blocker, but a very good one. That will help our running game even more. His ability to get YAC and still run by people on end arounds is impressive as well. Something that won't show up on his stat report are the things that having him on the field will do for other aspects of the offense.

Think, having him and Chad on the field equaling a defense having to choose double teams. Think Gresham roaming free down the middle of the field. Think defenses not being able to stack 9 in the box, allowing Benson to do more damage and not having as much up front pressure coming Carson's way.

That's what I think people are missing when thinking about this signing. We already have a talented, deep roster and if TO were to put up the numbers he did last year in Buffalo, just getting the other things out of him while on the field will be a HUGE bonus for this offense that sputtered last year.

[COB]

T.O. is a YAC monster. Pretty brutal for a corner to try to take him down.

[HairOnFire]

On Total Access tonite, Faulk and Darryl Johnston both, in one of those on-set dealies where the hosts all pretend to be running a formation, both talked about Owens' impact as a physical blocker on the edge and that when teams only go six in the box that Owens can lock up the edge and get Benson to the outside. They also spoke of his presence as a blocker in the red zone.

Yeah, I like that Owens is a willing blocker, and his size and strength make him a YAC threat everytime he touches the ball. That said, I remind myself that Owens is 36 years old and his stats have steadily declined for several years...so I'm not willing to make too much out of either thing.

What I do like is the matchup problems Owens should be able to exploit as a Bengal player surrounded by this supporting cast. The way his presence, coupled with the other weapons the Bengals have, should be able to dictate coverages before the ball is snapped. And there's the rub because it isn't the addition of Owens specifically that will have a great impact on the Bengals running or passing games. Instead, I think we'll see one of those examples where the value of all of the individual parts is greatly exceeded by value of the whole. Sort of like the Beatles....or the cast of The Office.

In short, I don't see the addition of Owens as a prime mover, something that instantly makes everyone around him better. Rather, I see the other weapons the Bengals have as the vital ingredients needed to support a declining player to such a degree that Owens can remain productive enough to still have true impact.

Point blank, I think Owens needed this team, or a team built like this team, far more than this team needed Owens.

Finally, I think the biggest factor in the Bengals ability to dictate defensive coverages this season as opposed to last isn't the addition of Owens, Bryant, Gresham, Shipley, or anyone else you might mention. Rather, the health of Palmer's non-throwing hand brings with it the ability to play fake again....giving Palmer the ability to move defenders out of the area being targeted. Coupled with the all of the weapons that have been added Palmer can now dictate entire coverages and move the safety specifically......two important things that simply didn't happen last season.

[membengal]

From Hobson's morning notes:

One nagging concern in this corner. Can you still be a team committed to the run and run a lot of three receiver sets? Wilcots says not to worry.

"They crushed the Bears with three receivers last year," he said. "You can certainly do it. Your receivers have to block. T.O. is big guy who can block and Antonio Bryant is a tough guy that blocks."

Wilcots isn't looking for much blocking from The Ocho, but he likes the other two guys and how the three-receiver sets widens the running lanes.

[Sea Ray]

I'd like to think Palmer's healed left hand will make a significant difference but I've been underwhelmed by his play action fakes even when healthy. I'd love to be wrong but I don't think Palmer's ever fooled too many LBs. Palmer attitude (and Brat's) has always been "here's what I'm going to do and you can't stop me because I'm better than you."

I've always thought that was a mistake and didn't give proper respect to NFL defenses but that's what I've noticed

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I remind myself that Owens is 36 years old and his stats have steadily declined for several years...so I'm not willing to make too much out of either thing.

Not that badly, actually. He was still a 1000 yard receiver in 2008, and he gets a pass for last year. Seriously, Jerry Rice in his prime wouldn't have had 1000 yards for BUF last year. But his YPC is still high, even last year. Sure Father Time always wins, but I think we'll be pleasantly surprised by what he still has.

I think we'll see one of those examples where the value of all of the individual parts is greatly exceeded by value of the whole.

Agreed. It becomes on of those things where the Bengals say 'OK, Revis can cover Chad 1:1, sure. But can your nickel corner cover TO? Have fun'. It's about the most exploitable matchup.

....or the cast of The Office.

You mean where a good ensemble cast is overwhelmed by one overrated clown? Wait, maybe that's too accurate.

[HairOnFire]

I wasn't going to mention this, but since Mem brought it up....

Was I the only Bengal fan who actually laughed out loud when Marshall Faulk said the key to making all of the new weapons in the Bengals passing game fit together perfectly was....(wait for it)....moving Chad to the slot?

[membengal]

I figured he was babbling at that point...

[HairOnFire]

I figured he was babbling at that point...

He most certainly was.

Even funnier, and I swear I'm not making this up........he repeatedly mentioned a player named LeBron Johnson.

[Wraith]

There is alot to complain about with T.O. off the field, (including on the sidelines) but the only critiique about T.O. on the field is his dropped passes and he has gotten better about that since he has left Dallas. T.O. is a very willing and very good blocker, he pratices his butt off, he keeps himself in great shape, he studies tape and runs excellent routes, he is an absolute RAC monster (case in point a 15.1 YPC average when Ryan Fitznoodlearm was his QB), he can get deep and corners have to repect his deep speed, he is impossible to cover with a safety.

[jjakq27]

I figured he was babbling at that point...

He most certainly was.

Even funnier, and I swear I'm not making this up........he repeatedly mentioned a player named LeBron Johnson.

Who the hell was he referring to?

[HairOnFire]

I figured he was babbling at that point...

He most certainly was.

Even funnier, and I swear I'm not making this up........he repeatedly mentioned a player named LeBron Johnson.

Who the hell was he referring to?

Good question. At the time Faulk was babbling on and on about Chad being a better candidate for the slot than Owens or Bryant due to his quickness, but kept referring to someone named LeBron Johnson. Since I had missed the first part of the show I wondered at first if there might have been an earlier joke I had missed, but each time Faulk mentioned LeBron Johnson his cohosts completely ignored the remark....leading me to believe Marshall might have led with his helmet once too often.

[jjakq27]

What an idiot.

[Sea Ray]

Just got back from practice tonight and they had a record crowd. Lots of enthusiasm as you might expect. One of the fans yelled at TO after a play "you look good in orange!"

The huge crowd backed up traffic to the main road off campus to get to their $15 parking spots which I later heard were full. I saw one lot just a few steps away from the main one that had $10 parking. I got off on the street before because I wanted to avoid the mess and look for parking on the street. I turned onto Main St and it had plenty of street parking available. I parked in front of the Catholic Church but actually there were spots closer. Just plan a few extra minutes to drive around and pick your spot. The neighborhood comes right out of the cartoon King of the Hill with tiny houses/yards and folks hanging out on their doorstep in sleeveless white t-shirts smoking cigarettes.

Practice went on for a full two hours. Of course Chad and TO were the main attractions. They were the last ones on the field and they stuck out due to their wearing orange whereas others were wearing black.

--Chad showed his "extra gear" chasing down a long bomb from Carson

--TO made lots of catches, some easy, some in traffic

--Shipley looked the most impressive to me. He caught everything seamlessly and in stride. It's hard to explain how gifted he is catching the ball but it's like a receiver catching a ball in a video game. Most guys catch it in their hands, cradle it, tuck it away and run. Not Shipley. He "envelopes" the ball. It's like the ball becomes a part of his body, like in a video game. He's so smooth you don't notice him catching it. He worked in the slot, special teams and returned some punts along with Quan and Adam Jones

--Otis Hudson played RG

--Roland and Collins rotated at RT

--Ndukwe was quite the disruptor

--Roy Williams seemed lackadaisical. Wouldn't surprise me if he got cut.

--Briscoe seemed a step behind which I would attribute to getting adjusted to the speed of the NFL

--TO separated from Adam Jones on a long overthrown pass but I don't know if that says more about TO or Jones

--Caldwell looked good in the slot but I still think he's miscast there. He sure looks like a burner to meand not an over the middle guy

--They ran a TE screen to Reggie Kelly. Can't say I really want to see that one during the regular season

--No Bryant sightings

--Dhani played MLB with Rey playing strong side

--TO and Chad on the ends with Caldwell/Shipley rotating at slot

--Coats was at FB and Coffman and Reggie Kelly rotated at TE with some snaps going to Darius Hill

I saw the ambulance take someone off on a stretcher on the sideline but I can't say for sure who it was or even if it was a player. I didn't see any injuries on the field. This guy was hurt pretty bad. He had a neck brace and had a leg wrapped. He was a big, black guy so if he's a player, he's a lineman. I'm wondering if maybe he was a fan that fell out of the stands. We will see

[volcom69]

Just got back from practice tonight and they had a record crowd. Lots of enthusiasm as you might expect. One of the fans yelled at TO after a play "you look good in orange!"

The huge crowd backed up traffic to the main road off campus to get to their $15 parking spots which I later heard were full. I saw one lot just a few steps away from the main one that had $10 parking. I got off on the street before because I wanted to avoid the mess and look for parking on the street. I turned onto Main St and it had plenty of street parking available. I parked in front of the Catholic Church but actually there were spots closer. Just plan a few extra minutes to drive around and pick your spot. The neighborhood comes right out of the cartoon King of the Hill with tiny houses/yards and folks hanging out on their doorstep in sleeveless white t-shirts smoking cigarettes.

Practice went on for a full two hours. Of course Chad and TO were the main attractions. They were the last ones on the field and they stuck out due to their wearing orange whereas others were wearing black.

--Chad showed his "extra gear" chasing down a long bomb from Carson

--TO made lots of catches, some easy, some in traffic

--Shipley looked the most impressive to me. He caught everything seamlessly and in stride. It's hard to explain how gifted he is catching the ball but it's like a receiver catching a ball in a video game. Most guys catch it in their hands, cradle it, tuck it away and run. Not Shipley. He "envelopes" the ball. It's like the ball becomes a part of his body, like in a video game. He's so smooth you don't notice him catching it. He worked in the slot, special teams and returned some punts along with Quan and Adam Jones

--Otis Hudson played RG

--Roland and Collins rotated at RT

--Ndukwe was quite the disruptor

--Roy Williams seemed lackadaisical. Wouldn't surprise me if he got cut.

--Briscoe seemed a step behind which I would attribute to getting adjusted to the speed of the NFL

--TO separated from Adam Jones on a long overthrown pass but I don't know if that says more about TO or Jones

--Caldwell looked good in the slot but I still think he's miscast there. He sure looks like a burner to meand not an over the middle guy

--They ran a TE screen to Reggie Kelly. Can't say I really want to see that one during the regular season

--No Bryant sightings

--Dhani played MLB with Rey playing strong side

--TO and Chad on the ends with Caldwell/Shipley rotating at slot

--Coats was at FB and Coffman and Reggie Kelly rotated at TE with some snaps going to Darius Hill

I saw the ambulance take someone off on a stretcher on the sideline but I can't say for sure who it was or even if it was a player. I didn't see any injuries on the field. This guy was hurt pretty bad. He had a neck brace and had a leg wrapped. He was a big, black guy so if he's a player, he's a lineman. I'm wondering if maybe he was a fan that fell out of the stands. We will see

Awsome thanks for the update. How did Hudson look at RG he seems like he might be a good player down the road. Awsome news on Shipley hes the one im watching this preseason and cant wait to see him play. I doubt they cut Roy, but then again you never know. They were saying that Jones was looking good at corner, and was able to keep up and tip passes, so he might turn out to be pretty good. I guess he was also doing KR. I like Kelly, but man i would love to see Gresham out there playing, and they were also saying that Coffman was looking good.

They said Rey got carted off the field because he cramping maybe thats what you saw

[Sea Ray]

Awsome thanks for the update. How did Hudson look at RG he seems like he might be a good player down the road. Awsome news on Shipley hes the one im watching this preseason and cant wait to see him play. I doubt they cut Roy, but then again you never know. They were saying that Jones was looking good at corner, and was able to keep up and tip passes, so he might turn out to be pretty good. I guess he was also doing KR. I like Kelly, but man i would love to see Gresham out there playing, and they were also saying that Coffman was looking good.

They said Rey got carted off the field because he cramping maybe thats what you saw

No it wasn't Rey. He's very easy to recognize. The guy I saw was worked on for about 20 minutes and was in really bad shape. The fact we haven't heard anything leads me to believe it wasn't a player. If it was a player he'd likely be out for the year. It was that bad.

I couldn't really tell that much about Hudson since they weren't playing tackle football and all but I think you'll see a lot of him at RG vs the Cowboys next wk.

Nice to see guys like Coffman, Kelly and Odom out there doing all the normal stuff again.

[jjakq27]

Awsome thanks for the update. How did Hudson look at RG he seems like he might be a good player down the road. Awsome news on Shipley hes the one im watching this preseason and cant wait to see him play. I doubt they cut Roy, but then again you never know. They were saying that Jones was looking good at corner, and was able to keep up and tip passes, so he might turn out to be pretty good. I guess he was also doing KR. I like Kelly, but man i would love to see Gresham out there playing, and they were also saying that Coffman was looking good.

They said Rey got carted off the field because he cramping maybe thats what you saw

No it wasn't Rey. He's very easy to recognize. The guy I saw was worked on for about 20 minutes and was in really bad shape. The fact we haven't heard anything leads me to believe it wasn't a player. If it was a player he'd likely be out for the year. It was that bad.

I couldn't really tell that much about Hudson since they weren't playing tackle football and all but I think you'll see a lot of him at RG vs the Cowboys next wk.

Nice to see guys like Coffman, Kelly and Odom out there doing all the normal stuff again.

Sure it wasn't Rey?

» Less than 24 hours after he left the field on a cart with cramps, SAM linebacker Rey Maualuga was back on the field and provided the hit of the camp Sunday during the Bengals’ second practice in pads. He got running back Bernard Scott on the sidelines at the end of a sweep, lowered his shoulder, and sent Scott flying through the air with not exactly the greatest of ease.

/>http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Sunday-notes-Good-times-roll-Big-Play-Rey-Hey-19/c64cc32a-cd37-4f2e-a178-41ed41b9fe87

[jjakq27]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/cincinnati-bengals/09000d5d819674b0/Scout-s-take-Analyzing-T-O

From NFL.com

"Analyzing TO" .Bucky Brooks dissects the Bengals' acquisition of Terrell Owens and how he fits in the offense.

[Sea Ray]

Awsome thanks for the update. How did Hudson look at RG he seems like he might be a good player down the road. Awsome news on Shipley hes the one im watching this preseason and cant wait to see him play. I doubt they cut Roy, but then again you never know. They were saying that Jones was looking good at corner, and was able to keep up and tip passes, so he might turn out to be pretty good. I guess he was also doing KR. I like Kelly, but man i would love to see Gresham out there playing, and they were also saying that Coffman was looking good.

They said Rey got carted off the field because he cramping maybe thats what you saw

No it wasn't Rey. He's very easy to recognize. The guy I saw was worked on for about 20 minutes and was in really bad shape. The fact we haven't heard anything leads me to believe it wasn't a player. If it was a player he'd likely be out for the year. It was that bad.

I couldn't really tell that much about Hudson since they weren't playing tackle football and all but I think you'll see a lot of him at RG vs the Cowboys next wk.

Nice to see guys like Coffman, Kelly and Odom out there doing all the normal stuff again.

Sure it wasn't Rey?

» Less than 24 hours after he left the field on a cart with cramps, SAM linebacker Rey Maualuga was back on the field and provided the hit of the camp Sunday during the Bengals’ second practice in pads. He got running back Bernard Scott on the sidelines at the end of a sweep, lowered his shoulder, and sent Scott flying through the air with not exactly the greatest of ease.

/>http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Sunday-notes-Good-times-roll-Big-Play-Rey-Hey-19/c64cc32a-cd37-4f2e-a178-41ed41b9fe87

Yeah, I'm sure. This guy was over 300 lbs and had a neck brace on among other things. Rey is easy to spot with his hair and tatoos

[ArmyBengal]

T.O. on field stuff. Focus people focus...

[jjakq27]

Yeah, I'm sure. This guy was over 300 lbs and had a neck brace on among other things. Rey is easy to spot with his hair and tatoos

Good enough. I haven't seen anything about it on Bengals.com or the Enquirer. Hopefully that guy is OK.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I just caught Chad and Terrell on ESPN being interviewed together, and I have to say these two guys have chemistry together. I really shouldn't say "these two guys" because Carson was a big part of this bit and seems to be a catalyst here in this equation. It really gave me high hopes for the offense next season.