The Cincinnati Bengals have a new catch phrase for motivation. Jeremy Hill knows what’s going on with the draft and he isn’t worried.
The weather is getting warmer and the smell of victory is in the air. Well, one out of two isn’t bad. Last season wasn’t a winning campaign for the Men in Stripes. But, the 2017 NFL Draft may be the antidote for the malady. After giving fans a dose of high blood pressure, the Bengals will lock-and-load for the new year. The new season, hopefully, brings a new attitude. If the Bengals’ latest mantra has any merit, Cincinnati’s 50th year should be one to remember.
Since Marvin Lewis took the reins as head coach, each year has seen a new phrase define the upcoming season. Recently, during the 2015 campaign, the slogan was “Bengals Revival.” Lewis wanted the staff to evaluate everything and shake up the status quo.
"“We kinda restarted things,” Lewis explained. “And I told the coaches after last season, ‘We gotta find a different way.’ Our way’s not good enough. We gotta find a different way. And we gotta push all the time. I think the guys have done a good job, the players have done a nice job of responding to that. They know that. They know that here is not where we want to be. We want to end up at the top.”"
The Bengals responded with a 12-4 record and just missed their first playoff win since 1991.
Last season, the catch phrase was “Pound The Rock.” The meaning got lost in translation and the Bengals ended the year at 6-9-1.
The offering this offseason is “Smart. Fast. Physical.” Sounds like a pretty accurate description of how the Bengals need to play to reclaim the AFC North.
Say What??
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Eventually, something was going to be said. Numerous articles have been written about the Bengals’ need to find consistency in the running game. Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette and Joe Mixon have each been within the walls of PBS. What was said? That’s an ancient Chinese secret (hated that commercial). But, there’s no secret about Jeremy Hill’s consecutive mediocre seasons. The pressure is on him to get it together.
Hill didn’t mince words when he was interviewed by NFL Network. He was quick to point out that any back the Bengals draft will be his backup. He isn’t concerned at all.
"“I sleep very well at night,” Hill said, smiling. “I’ve got a great opportunity coming up ahead of me and that’s why I’ve been grinding hard this whole offseason. If they want to draft a back high, go ahead and do it. They’re probably going to be my backup.”"
Actually, Hill has a serious amount of confidence, for a man with his job on the line. But, while Jeremy is taking the Hakuna Matata approach to things, the Bengals seem content to bring in potential replacements. Hill has struggled over the past two seasons. Whether it’s from injury or a sustained slump, his stat line hasn’t been the same since 2014.
How does Hill feel about the whole situation?
"“Bring ’em on.”"
No worries.