2021 Training Camp and Pre-season News and Chatter

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15 laps, Ossai.

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Dehner's piece post-practice:

Bengals training camp: Four plays that breathed life into Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Burrow and the offense – The Athletic

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The old days of the mock game or intrasquad scrimmage have disappeared along with two-a-days and the Oklahoma drill.

But if there was a 2021 version of the team scrimmage, we got it Saturday at Bengals training camp.

Fittingly, on a day quarterback Joe Burrow spoke about his frustrations finding comfort in the pocket, we then saw the first signs of answers on the field.

Burrow and the offense had three drives of first team versus first team. Two ended in three-and-outs but they sandwiched a 14-play, 75-yard drive that included the first signs of explosion in the passing game painstakingly missing from the first week-plus of camp.

The drive concluded with Joe Mixon powering in up the middle from the 1-yard line, but a series of plays before that created important sparks of momentum the staff hopes can blossom into a primary weapon of the franchise.

During the three 11-on-11 drives, Burrow completed 11 of 13 passes for 80 yards, a vast improvement from the less than 50 percent completion rate that had been par for the course.

Let’s take a closer look at the most important plays that unfolded and illustrated growth, and some that showed the obstacles that still exist, on a day Burrow looked more comfortable than at any point thus far.

1. Third-and-15: 16-yard deep out to Ja’Marr Chase

During the early portions of practice, Burrow went through the mundane drills, throwing different routes to receivers, nobody else with them. Every time Burrow dropped back, quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher or offensive coordinator Brain Callahan stepped in or leaned down by his knees and feet to give a feel of pressure around him in the pocket, as he still struggles with that comfort. Then, on this play, you saw the skill translate perfectly.

With push coming into Burrow’s face as left guard Michael Jordan was shoved back into the pocket, Burrow took a slight slide, step forward and delivered a strike to the sideline that narrowly buzzed beyond the reach of cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and into the hands of Chase. The catch looked close as Chase toe-tapped the sideline but the NFL officials on hand ruled it a completion.

Also, the throw showed off the increased velocity often discussed in the offseason

 

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One play does not unlock an offense. One play does not change all the issues Burrow and Chase are working through physically and mentally right now. But this was undeniably an important building block, putting that on tape.

2. Fourth-and-5: 29-yard reception by Tee Higgins

Going for it from the 35-yard line, Burrow dropped back and saw 6-foot-4 Higgins running with 6-foot Winston Rose on his inside hip down the sideline. Burrow opted to put the ball where only Higgins could go get it and the 2020 second-round pick did just that. Taking advantage of the elite traits of his receivers will be critical for Burrow to invigorate the deep ball that struggled so much last year. This throw and catch served as an encouraging sign of that.

 

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Also, a prime example of the kind of plays the Bengals expect Higgins to make on a weekly basis this year.

3. Second-and-6: Incomplete deep to Ja’Marr Chase

Despite that connection to Higgins, another deep opportunity between Burrow and Chase fell incomplete.

On this particular play, Chase started with a hesitation move against Tony Brown and exploded out of the cut to leave Brown two steps behind. Burrow unloaded deep down the sideline but the ball came in underthrown and over the outside shoulder. Chase attempted to readjust, but it allowed Brown to catch up and make the play.

The good news: This was a fantastic move by Chase to show off his change of speed and acceleration to break free. The bad news: It’s still taking time for Burrow to find that connection.

“It’s the first time we have repped that play live against a defense,” coach Zac Taylor said. “We’ve done it plenty on air. It’s August 7 and we will get that five more times before we play a game. Get the timing down. That’s what practice is for, that’s what makes training camp great, what you missed last year. So far ahead from a year ago. Just get a chance to clean up all those explosive-play potentials and get on the same page before the first game.”

4. Third-and-goal from the 1: Joe Mixon touchdown run

No, this has very little to do with Burrow in a physical football sense. Credit actually goes to the interior of the offensive line and Mixon for getting push and barreling into the end zone.

The reason this otherwise mundane play stood out was the reaction of teammates, even on the defensive side of the ball, when the Bengals pushed it in for the score. A line of people congratulated Burrow and gave him a tap on the helmet or pat on the shoulder pads. Leading a long drive that included overcoming two third-and-longs, a first-and-20 and a fourth-down conversion meant a lot.

“It’s great just to be able to sustain a drive. I feel like we are progressing,” Taylor said. “We got a lot of time left. That’s good to see. Lot of completions, lot of third-down conversions, which you’ve got to have to win these games.”

Earlier in the day, Burrow talked about his football frustrations. To see the drive finished in the end zone likely was important to Burrow and visibly meant something to his teammates.

“Joe is the leader of this team,” Taylor said. “He’s going to lead us to great things.”

Four notes

Ossai shows up (a little too much)

For one of the first times in camp, third-round edge rusher Joseph Ossai showed his impact. Ossai made his way into the backfield regularly, but his biggest moment came on Burrow’s play of the day. Faced with third-and-long, Ossai came flying off the left edge and hit Burrow in the back for a sack.

Yes, you read that right. He hit Burrow. I’m not sure if Taylor ever caught his breath the rest of practice. Defensive tackle D.J. Reader pulled Ossai to the side after talking about ways to practice better.

“In the moment, that’s not how we want to practice,” Taylor said. “Young guys just have to learn that sometimes. He’s a great guy, he doesn’t mean anything by it, but we want to protect our quarterbacks.”

We’ll see if Ossai can stack practices, but an up arrow for the rookie Saturday.

D’Ante Smith on guard

Fourth-round pick D’Ante Smith spent time with the first team at offensive tackle this past week due to multiple injuries of players in front of him on the depth chart.

With Riley Reiff back, but guard Quinton Spain not practicing with a minor ding, Smith kicked inside to play left guard. The Bengals are still searching for depth and if Smith is going to make this team (he is), he could use versatility in his toolbox when the season starts.

This bodes well for what the coaching staff thinks of him thus far, even if a guard move won’t be permanent. What also bodes well: That Smith could toss a defensive tackle during individual one-on-ones, for one of the more impressive individual reps of the day among linemen.

“D’Ante has shown a lot of promise,” Taylor said. “He’s got a high football IQ. He loves to do it and we give him opportunities, see what fits.”

Smith did have a false start at one point. Burrow could be seen immediately after talking to the rookie, pretty clearly discussing the hard count the QB started using again, which caused a slew of false starts Friday.

Run defense shows up

The run defense continues to be consistent and flash splash plays the Bengals just didn’t have enough of last year (or the year before that).

Khalid Kareem made a great play setting the edge on a Mixon run for a 5-yard loss. Logan Wilson caused a no gain flying through the line to meet Mixon on a pitch to the right. Kahlil McKenzie was at the center of a group that stopped Trayveon Williams on a fourth-and-1 run up the middle.

Throttle down

After Saturday’s focus on competitive 11-on-11 periods, Sunday’s practice will shade more toward special teams as all eyes turn to the Aug. 14 preseason opener against the Buccaneers in Tampa.

There still will be 11-on-11 periods, but shorter and not with the obvious attention Saturday’s show put on for the 1,000 fans in attendance.

 

 

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