Bengals Camp Update: No Rest for the Weary
By Jason Marcum
July 28, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end DeQuin Evans (left) blocks with offensive tackle Reid Fragel (right) during training camp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Today was a day off for many of the Bengals’ best players and veterans, as cornerback Leon Hall, receiver A.J. Green, offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, guard Clint Boling,
Right tackle Andre Smith (calf), wide receiver Brandon Tate (hamstring) and backup long snapper Bryce Davis (illness) were all been cleared to work today, the biggest name of which being Smith. It’s been a tumultuous offseason for Smith, but all of that’s behind him now, and it was time to hit the field to do some work today.
There was some confusion thaT smith wasn’t practicing after this tweet:
Whitworth, Boling, A.Smith, Thompson and Goard also appear to be among those not practicing #bengals
— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) July 29, 2013
Joe Reedy later clarified that A. Smith was actually backup TE Alex Smith.
As for the rest of the team, most of the veterans were given today off, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some important positional battles going on, the most notable of which being at strong safety. In the first four practices, the Bengals rotated George Iloka, Taylor Mays and rookie Shawn Williams with the first-team defense, and today, Williams was the one shining in drills:
Shawn Williams jumps a BrandonTate route and picks off Skelton. #Bengals
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) July 29, 2013
The play after Mays has a breakdown in coverage, Williams picks off Skelton. Read it the whole way
— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) July 29, 2013
One position where there isn’t much question as to who will play, but more of who will be on the roster, is at cornerback. Leon Hall, Terence Newman and Adam Jones figure to makeup the top-3 CB rotation, while dre Kirkpatrick, Brandon Ghee and Shawn Prater fight for playing time. While Dre is the more highly-regarded ofthe three, Ghee has shown plenty of promise over the past two training camps, and he continued to do so today:
Terence Newman and Leon Hall also resting. Brandon Ghee and Adam Jones taking first-team reps. #Bengals
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) July 29, 2013
The team really likes Brandon Ghee if they are putting him with the ones over Dre Kirkpatrick, who has had a stellar camp
— Brennen Warner (@BrennenWarner) July 29, 2013
Ghee with really good coverage on Hawkins but Ghee didn't turn his head around. Hawkins elevates and plucks it above Ghees head
— Brennen Warner (@BrennenWarner) July 29, 2013
If Ghee can stay healthy, he’s a lock to make the roster as the 4th or 5th CB. That’s how talented he is, but injuries have unfortunately been the story of his career up to this point.
That’s not to say Dre didn’t have some highlights as well:
Kirkpatrick with an end zone interception of Dalton in red zone action. #Bengals
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) July 29, 2013
And here is a recap of the players who haven’t practiced yet this year as the team is scheduled to have Tuesday off:
Cedric Peerman (ankle), Chris Pressley (knee), quarterback Zac Robinson (elbow), and running back Bernard Scott (knee).
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