2025 Training Camp Thread

[AMPHAR]

There's upside with the OTs.  Durability is the big concern but Mims looks dominate out there.   Keep in mind its Training Camp.  Brown was healthy prior to Bengals and hasn't had a healthy season with the Bengals. 

Durability is the biggest concern of course which has been a repeating factor almost every year with Burrow.    Might have another AFC Championship with better OT health. 

 

 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

Agree, I really don't have any issue with either OBJ, Karras, or Mims.
I really expect Mims to continue to grow since he is younger.

I will remain cautiously optimistic about Fairchild until I have no reason to be.  Hopefully that was a Peter's pick and he knows something more, because I was a huge Ratledge who we could have had in round 2.  I won't fault a coach for wanting who he wants.  I also think Patrick and his Veteran presence will be enough, but we need him to stay healthy as well.  Can he be any worse than Cappa was last year?  Wait, don't answer that.

All the other OG's combined don't amount to much of anything more than depth that I hope never sees the field.

[ArmyBengal]

Going back to recent practices, I like hearing what’s being said about Stewart and it echoing some of the things I mentioned pre-draft.

I wasn’t down on the pick when it happened and am honestly really optimistic when considering his ability. Many times in the past the Bengals would draft “talented” guys with low athletic ability and they failed. Now we get an absolute freak of an athlete that needs to learn some more technique.

Color me excited with what Golden can get out of him. Couple that with Trey working with him despite holding in and I agree that we see him sooner rather than later. Looking forward to Thursday’s game.

[HoosierCat]

Dehner reviews the rookies after the first 10 practices. His bottom line on everyone:

Shemar:

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Analysis: The narrative sure changed fast here. Stewart’s holdout immediately took a back seat to just how disruptive and physical he’s been in every practice. His tenacity has wowed the staff. He’s consistently showing up every day, whether batting down a pass, getting a sack, showing off his athleticism by dropping into coverage or moving up and down the line. He’s becoming the versatile piece Golden coveted and will be a major factor in the plans for Week 1 in Cleveland, potentially as the starter opposite Trey Hendrickson.

Knight:

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Analysis: It almost feels weird putting Knight Jr. in the rookie report. Not just because he’s already 25 years old, even though that’s part of it. Rather, because he doesn’t act, play or impact teammates like a rookie. Players in the locker room were calling him a future captain before training camp even began. You hear Carter’s comment about his intelligence. His leadership levels, maturity and commitment to being great are off the charts for a rookie. The Bengals have never wavered in plugging him in as the starter since he was picked, and nothing that unfolded over the last 10 practices gave reason to doubt the decision. His execution further validated it.

Fairchild:

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Analysis: Taylor said Fairchild will play with the starters in Thursday’s preseason opener. When the starters go out, so will the third-round rookie. That shows exactly how they view him. He’s the guy. There’s no real competition from Cordell Volson or anyone else at this point. Does that mean he will be good enough? Time will tell. He’s looked OK to this point. There are plenty of reps he’s lost, and the offensive line as a whole has had its hands full with TJ Slaton and the rotating cast of interior pass rushers. The preseason games will be critical for Fairchild to build confidence that he can be the guy to handle this hefty ask. There’s a long way to go until he’s not viewed as the weak link that opponents will attack on this line.

Carter:

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Analysis: Carter will have veteran competition to land as the third linebacker and will likely spend much of the early portion of the season focused on special teams. Veteran Oren Burks would be the leader in the clubhouse for that spot given his track record, but there’s a real competition happening there. Carter has worn the green dot with the second team, and that can only add to the amount of drowning any rookie defender does out there. That’s been part of his learning curve, but coaches have liked his makeup. He just needs to show up more on the tape.

Rivers:

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Analysis: Rivers entered the NFL as a candidate to transition from a college career spent at tackle to move to guard. He started outside at tackle, and it’s been about what you’d expect from a fifth-round rookie tackle. He held his own, but there’s a thought that seeing how he looks at guard could unlock more value considering his slower movement skills paired with heavy hands. Inevitably, if he’s going to be a reserve on this offensive line, he’ll need to offer position flexibility anyway, but look for that to start soon as they search for an impactful spot.

Brooks:

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Analysis: Brooks has enjoyed a notable share of reps this camp as the staff tests out where he’s at. Brooks’ vision pops when you watch him hit the second level in practice. It’s not hard to see how he became the leading rusher in Texas Tech history. He’s caught the ball well out of the backfield, which will be imperative for any role he’ll have in this offense. Running backs are the ultimate players to judge in the games running the football, but from a passing game and pass protection standpoint, he’s proven up to the task, which will be critical for gaining trust of the staff.

UDFA standouts (2):

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Bralyn Lux, CB, Texas Tech

Analysis: The 5-10, 180-pounder wearing the old number 21 of Mike Hilton is making the same type of impression Hilton did as an undrafted free agent throughout his career. Lux has the staff buzzing about the plays he’s been able to make, and he will receive a heavy workload in Philadelphia. The Bengals employ a large number of potential nickel corners (Dax Hill, Josh Newton, Jalen Davis, Lux), but if he can post a quality preseason on top of an impressive first 10 days of training camp, the 24-year-old could sneak onto this team at some point this season.

Howard Cross, DT, Notre Dame

Analysis: If there were a player to expect Golden to feature, it would be Cross, an All-American starter who played 65 games at Notre Dame. There are roster spots open in the back of the defensive tackle room and the reps suggest Cross is in position for one. He’s enjoyed a workload with the second team and illustrated a polish you would expect from an older rookie familiar with the defensive system.

 

[ArmyBengal]

Knock those first three picks out of the park and this team is fierce.

Yeah, that's me slowly becoming more optimistic, but this just feels more than fluff training camp speak.
Kay Adams has a bunch of interviews with players on YouTube from yesterday I think.
Sounds like Golden is really making his presence felt on the defensive side.  Feels Zimmer-like.
The way the players are talking, it just seems like something's in the air.

Everyone sees it.  Coaches, players, the media, the fans.  Literally everyone.
Impact rookies on the D-line, O-line and the LB corps?  GTFOH !!
There really isn't much more the fans could hope for.

[AMPHAR]

I think there's something there with Rivers.   However,  I would envision Cochran or Ford being 3rd tackle over him in regular season despite him "starting" while Mims is out in TC. 

 

[HoosierCat]

I think my biggest point of both hope and fear is the reports on Stewart.

On the one hand, him coming in and immediately being disruptive and productive, even if it is just practice, is great to hear. We need him to hit, badly.

On the other hand, given the reports on the oline, maybe he looks so good so quick because they completely suck ass?

My heart wants to believe it’s the former. My head says, wanna bet?

[ArmyBengal]

It may be both, but I don't know.  I haven't watched any of the practices.

I want to believe the coaches are basing the praise from a more technical standpoint.
Meaning, he's getting pressure, sacks, and dropping into coverage because he's executing appropriately?

Could the combination of rookies and shit RG options play into that?  Surely.
I like this whole "optimistic" vibe I have going on, so I'm going to stick with it !!

Going to buy a Stewart jersey to try to further the #97 Geno Atkins mojo.
Maybe... lol

[AMPHAR]

Level of competition is fair to question.   Mims dominated him early.  Mims has been dominate the whole camp.  Then Mims has been out a couple times and Stewart gets alot of reps vs. 2nd team.    However, Cochran is included among that group and he played decent and quite frankly the league is filled with Cochran level players starting at tackle.

 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

True as well. 

If there were enough above average OT's in the league you wouldn't see guys like Bobby Hart having a 10 year career in the league.

[COB]

Good to see the Bobby Hart Hate Train is still on the tracks.  TJ is the engineer, if I recall correctly.

[COB]

4 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

Knock those first three picks out of the park and this team is fierce.

Yeah, that's me slowly becoming more optimistic, 

 it just seems like something's in the air.

Everyone sees it.  Coaches, players, the media, the fans.  Literally everyone.
Impact rookies on the D-line, O-line and the LB corps?  GTFOH !!
 

This is me every year.  I read the local reporters blabbing about camp and I go out of my mind.

 “How can we even lose one game?   The division is a certainty, the conference is a probability, SB win more likely than not.”

I do it every year and this year is no different. 

[AMPHAR]

60% of the time Bobby Hart blocked everytime. 

 

[AMPHAR]

Local media fanboi'd  Volson and Robbins for sure.    They'd have all their clips on twitter.    I think/hope Stewart isn't a case of that but we'll see.  

 

[ArmyBengal]

12 minutes ago, COB said:

This is me every year.  I read the local reporters blabbing about camp and I go out of my mind.

 “How can we even lose one game?   The division is a certainty, the conference is a probability, SB win more likely than not.”

I do it every year and this year is no different. 

I won't claim that every year.  Certainly not predicated on the rookies.
Take last year for example.  I hated most of that entire draft class.
2023 was a little better.  2022 about the same.

This year however, I actually like the rookies for the most part.  Were there other players I liked more maybe?  Sure, but now we aren't just seeing those picks be made and hang out, we are seeing them looking at starting day one.  For quite some time I have said and heard people say, rookies probably won't get starting roles because they won't be able to beat out installed players.

This year, the #1 pick is reportedly pushing for snaps right away.  The 2nd rounder is starting and they let Pratt walk.  The 3rd rounder is starting and the pushed Volson aside.  When was the last time our first three rookies picked had a real shot at starting week 1? Probably 5 years ago after coming off a shit season and getting Burrow, Higgins and Wilson.

Yeah, I'll take the excitement of this training camp and hope it carries over into the season !!

[AMPHAR]

As Marvin would say the last 3 draft classes are going to get plenty of opportunity to put skins on the wall.