Bengals John Ross shows speed at OTA’s

The Cincinnati Bengals have been praising wide receiver John Ross in camp this offseason and it continues with showing elite speed in camp.

The Cincinnati Bengals hosted their second week of voluntary OTA workouts this week and wide receiver John Ross continues to be a main focus of the headlines. After an incredibly disappointing rookie season, Ross has worked hard this offseason to get ready for a rebound season in 2018. Working out with wide receivers around the league, working with former Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and working hard in his first OTA’s (he was not available for OTA workouts last season), Ross has done everything to make Bengals fans feel confident.

Of course, there is still a lot to prove for a wide receiver that was drafted ninth overall last season and didn’t catch a single pass in his rookie campaign. Due to nagging injuries, Ross was never healthy in 2017. Coming into the offseason workouts fully healthy, Ross has taken advantage of every opportunity given to him and players and coaches can’t stop talking about the improvement they are seeing.

After setting the NFL combine record for fastest 40-yard dash time, Ross was a lock for the Bengals front office as someone that could come in and be a deep threat opposite of A.J. Green. He continues to show off his speed in camp as he was clocked running at 23.2 miles per hour while running a post route. Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com wrote about the speed of Ross in camp.

"John Ross ran a deep post late in Tuesday’s practice that GPSed him at 23.2 miles per hour. According to NFL.com, that by far would have been the fastest play in the league last season, which went to Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette at 22.05 miles per hour on a 90-yard touchdown run."

Of course, this was done in shorts while Fournette’s speed was clocked in full pads and during a game. Nonetheless, Ross has elite speed that could take the tops off of defenses. Green was also clocked above 23 miles per hour during practice on Thursday which shows that while he may be reaching 30 years old, he’s not slowing down anytime soon. Wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell had this to say about Ross’ performance during OTA’s:

"He’s really coming along. He’s learning the offense well and he catches the ball really well,” wide receiver’s coach Bob Bicknell said of Ross. “We’ve got two or three deep plays where he’s been in position that we haven’t connected on, which is what we have to do to really be effective. Using your speed and using certain things in different routes and timing and all that, he can work on that a little bit. But I’m really impressed with how into it he is … He’s taken every rep he can."

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The second wide receiver spot should be Ross’ to lose this offseason during camp and preseason. Given all that we have heard about Ross this offseason, it should be a sure lock. Wide receivers Tyler Boyd and Brandon LaFell will be competing for the position as well as the third wide receiver position, but Ross will almost certainly take that number two role.