Training Camp and Preseason Thread 2023 - News and Obs

[COB]

If you have Sirius, Lap and Wilcots are doing the nfl radio training camp show on the bengals right now.  Just started.

[AMPHAR]

1. Carman - running with 2s at LT.   This will be interesting to see preseason game two. 

2. Smith - I'm not a believer in PFF grades unless they paint a positive picture of my favorite team.  His pass blocking grade was very high from Friday

3. Sunday practice -  Turner competes with Chase.  Chase wins his battle but Turner wins sometimes too. 

4. La'El - has gained attention for his work on the rehab field.   Not sure if that's a sign he'll venture off the PUP list.

La'el has a significant amount of money available to him for active game day bonus.  I'm not sure if this would lead him to push for coming off the PUP list.   It will be interesting to see if he's willing to come off that list or if the Bengals want him off that list to compete for the 3rd or 4th tackle spot.

[COB]

They interviewed Zack Taylor, OC Callahan, Lamar Chase, Sam Hubbard, Duke Tobin, Myles Murphy, and Orlando Brown Jr.  

[COB]

Lap said this is the best offensive line we’ve had in ten years, he was quite encouraging in his comments.  
 

Orlando Brown Jr - he came off as one of the smartest guys I’ve heard interviewed.  His comments about Frank Pollack seemed genuine and were very positive.  They were a legitimate counter to my negative comments recently.  

There is debate as to who is in a better position to evaluate our offensive line coach, me or Orlando Brown Jr.
 

 

[AMPHAR]

We'll see.   I think Pollack is out of excuses.   This line needs to be functional to allow for an increase in production.  Given the skill guys they should be nearing top 5 Offensive rankings.

Myles Garrett has feasted on Orlando Brown and Williams in the past so we'll know whats up the first week.

 

[HoosierCat]

So, it’s halfway through August and about 3.5 weeks before the real thing starts. I have just one question.

Where’s Burrow’s extension?

[ArmyBengal]

I just think it's so hard to really say how good or poorly Pollack is actually doing his job.  I guess on one hand some may say the proof is in the o-line rankings.  Then again, when was the last time we didn't have 2-3 o-linemen hurt and having to start backups at some point in time or another?  Some may then say that the backups should be able to come in and keep things together.  However, most teams have a hard enough time finding 5 quality starters, let alone backups, that have no business starting.  Doesn't Bobby Hart still play in the league?  Then what type of QB do you have playing for you?  Is he purely a pocket passer, or does he try to make plays with his legs when things fall apart?  Sacks, hits, and pressures aren't always the product of the o-line failing to block.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in the habit of handing out passes, but I simply think there is so much to what happens on the field (a QB that says "who cares about 3rd down sacks?") that it makes the evaluation of the guy who doesn't step on the field rather challenging.

[COB]

Week 1 will be telling. We started so slowly last year.  0-3 in the division.  I’d like to see some improvement.  The O line starting out strong would be a huge help.  Burrow was running for his life in early games the last couple years.

I’m not saying they should dominate Myles Garrett.  Just don’t get completely destroyed by him.

[AMPHAR]

19 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

So, it’s halfway through August and about 3.5 weeks before the real thing starts. I have just one question.

Where’s Burrow’s extension?

Good question. 

[ArmyBengal]

It will get done.

[AMPHAR]

Radio talking about possible preseason game 2 featuring some more starters.    I'm down for it.     Don't really care to see skill guys with a back up QB.   If Burrow was practicing then I would.

But Brown and Volson live reps is needed.  Jonah Williams/Cappa live reps is needed.   On the road is a benefit too. 

Not talking about going back to the old days of playing for a half, but that line has been so bad the first two weeks something has to be done.  Especially when you are staring at 2 division games to start the season.

 

 

 

[HoosierCat]

2 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

It will get done.

It is, effectively, done. The market has been set, we know what the numbers need to be. So…where the fuk is it?

I just want to see this particular elephant escorted from the room, because the longer it hangs around, the greater the chances are that it becomes an issue.

[HoosierCat]

2 hours ago, AMPHAR said:

Radio talking about possible preseason game 2 featuring some more starters.    I'm down for it.     Don't really care to see skill guys with a back up QB.   If Burrow was practicing then I would.

But Brown and Volson live reps is needed.  Jonah Williams/Cappa live reps is needed.   On the road is a benefit too. 

Not talking about going back to the old days of playing for a half, but that line has been so bad the first two weeks something has to be done.  Especially when you are staring at 2 division games to start the season.

Hilton was barking about wanting to play some in preseason last week so it sounds like there’s some sentiment in the locker room for the starters to gear up. I’m always leery of injuries in preseason but yeah, it might serve them well to risk the starters in a couple series.

[COB]

Jamar Chase in mid season form - already had to get a restraining order against a crazy lady stalker.

[AMPHAR]

41 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

It is, effectively, done. The market has been set, we know what the numbers need to be. So…where the fuk is it?

I just want to see this particular elephant escorted from the room, because the longer it hangs around, the greater the chances are that it becomes an issue.

I really don't think it will be an issue.   I'm curious just to know the numbers so we can play armchair GM.

This is not an overstatement.    Joe is a fucking idiot if he plays this season on his rookie deal and I will go as far as to say he's an idiot if he steps back on the practice field under rookie deal.  My uninformed speculation is the murky timeline is somewhat related to the deal timeline.    Then if the Bengals somehow blew up the Joe Burrow relationship they would have to move the team. 

The market is set.  The best way forward is with Joe.  Sure there is risk as always.   But IF the Bengals somehow burn that bridge.  Good luck trying to get any public support for a stadium renovation.  Fans would and should jump off so fast.  The only way they'd have a decent fan base would be to find a new city. 

Its just not going to happen.    It will get done. 

 

 

[AMPHAR]

36 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

Hilton was barking about wanting to play some in preseason last week so it sounds like there’s some sentiment in the locker room for the starters to gear up. I’m always leery of injuries in preseason but yeah, it might serve them well to risk the starters in a couple series.

Its football injuries are going to happen.   They make approx 38% of their revenue (according to COVID shutdown estimates) off preseason.   So its not going away.     If your forced into the games, its best to find away to use them so you can put best effort forward for 2 division games.  

IMO, if the league wants to have it both ways revenue stream + player protection.   Then don't schedule division or big conference games the first two weeks of the season.

Myles Garrett is going to be tough to block when you're in mid season form.   You have to run the risk and get some sort of snaps for the guys that will be trying to block him.   Otherwise its one "look out" block and your QB could be gone.

[COB]

I’ve been thinking the same thing - Burrow won’t play until calf is healed AND new deal is in place.  

[membengal]

Marlon Humphrey out for awhile after getting injured in a joint practice. Foot issue. Gonna miss at least a few weeks.  I am guessing Ravens would rather he have not played in that, in hindsight...

[ArmyBengal]

Why is it that every player on every other team is assumed to be in mid season form right now, while the Bengals are assumed to be high school players right now?  While they struggled last year, there were more than a couple reasons for that, including injuries.  Now we see Burrow with another injury and missing time.  While he may be a little rusty to start the season, he has never had a healthy offseason/preseason and has managed to take this team to back to back AFCCG, with a Super Bowl appearance.

 

[ArmyBengal]

Does anyone here really think this deal won't get done?
Is anyone thinking the team is going to absolutely fuck this up beyond all repair?

I literally don't have a single reason to believe anything of that nature.
I choose breathing and being patient.
 

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, membengal said:

Marlon Humphrey out for awhile after getting injured in a joint practice. Foot issue. Gonna miss at least a few weeks.  I am guessing Ravens would rather he have not played in that, in hindsight...

Yeah, Ya-Sin is down too and the secondary is all banged up.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38202886/ravens-cb-marlon-humphrey-foot-surgery-indefinitely

Looks like week 2 might be a good time to play them…

[HoosierCat]

45 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

Does anyone here really think this deal won't get done?
Is anyone thinking the team is going to absolutely fuck this up beyond all repair?

I literally don't have a single reason to believe anything of that nature.
I choose breathing and being patient.
 

Let me put it this way: I don’t think for a second that the front office intends anything of the sort.

However, as we all know, shit happens. Let’s assume for a minute that Amphar is right and the calf injury mucked up the timeline for a deal. The FO saw Joe hop off the field on one leg and immediately flashed back 20 years to when they made Carson the highest-paid player in the game, only to have Kimo rip his leg off a week later.

So now things slip into the season. And Joe being Joe, he plays, and a week or three in, something happens and he’s out for an extended prior or loses the whole season.

Well, that likely kills any deal this year. And next year is the cusp of free agency and suddenly people are throwing around having to use the tag and yadda yadda yadda.

This is what I mean by an issue. I don’t think Joe is asking for too much, I don’t think the Bengals are being cheap, I think both sides have a good relationship and no one intends anything other than a deal to get done. It’s just that as the old saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Pay Joe now, Bengals. Don’t give shit time to happen.

[HoosierCat]

2 hours ago, AMPHAR said:

I really don't think it will be an issue.   I'm curious just to know the numbers so we can play armchair GM.

This is not an overstatement.    Joe is a fucking idiot if he plays this season on his rookie deal and I will go as far as to say he's an idiot if he steps back on the practice field under rookie deal.  My uninformed speculation is the murky timeline is somewhat related to the deal timeline.    Then if the Bengals somehow blew up the Joe Burrow relationship they would have to move the team. 

The market is set.  The best way forward is with Joe.  Sure there is risk as always.   But IF the Bengals somehow burn that bridge.  Good luck trying to get any public support for a stadium renovation.  Fans would and should jump off so fast.  The only way they'd have a decent fan base would be to find a new city. 

Its just not going to happen.    It will get done. 

Re Joe playing I gotta say I’m with you. I mean, the guy drafted right behind him hasn’t even won a playoff game yet and just got enough money to buy a small country, while Joe is looking at playing this year for approximately 10% of his actual market value.

[ArmyBengal]

34 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

Well, that likely kills any deal this year. And next year is the cusp of free agency and suddenly people are throwing around having to use the tag and yadda yadda yadda.

Specific to the above, there won't be ANY talk of using the tag because he's under contract next year.
That's my point.  The Bengals could in fact sit on a deal this year and wait.  While I think they would be stupid to do that, a deal is not something that is a "must". They could get to the point of using a tag, but that won't be until 2025.  Then that's when I could see something ignorant happening like a holdout, but I'm not willing to place a bet on that scenario.

Outside of that, I don't necessarily disagree with you guys, but this front office has not given me a reason to think that's the road this will go down.  Mike Brown and team don't strike me as the kind of people that will do something simply because of what another team has done either.

 

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Specific to the above, there won't be ANY talk of using the tag because he's under contract next year.

 

Of course there will. 2024 is a contract year for Burrow. He will have every incentive not to sign with the prospect of FA in 2025, unless the Bengals break the bank even more than they already have to. (And note this would be a horrible position for the Bengals to put themselves in and I can’t believe they would do it, for exactly this reason.) So the certainty of a 2025 franchise tag if he doesn’t sign will instantly come up. And in my humble opinion even the talk of a tag is a nightmare.

I agree with you that neither side has given any indication that they’re headed down this road. I still think a deal gets done and that it gets done before week 1. I would just be happier were it to happen, like, today.