I think I speak for about 75% of America when I say, FOOTBALL IS BACK!!! It always a happy time of year when the boys of fall is back in between the lines. From things such as fantasy, tailgating, cheering for your team and hating others team, this time of year gives us such of high that make time fly. As they say times flies when your having fun. For many fans, even though their happy football is back, the preseason can be a really big tease. I used to be the same way, until I got in the coaching business, then I learned there is a certain way you have to watch preseason. You can't watch preseason as a fan, you have to watch it as an observer and evaluate the players play, to give credit and critique guys and you will know the move of your team as if you was sitting in coaches meetings.
This past Thursday the Bengals gave us a lot to observe, as they blew out the Atlanta Falcons. Mostly good not a lot of bad, but in preseason teams don't really worry about winning or losing, the preseason is used to fill out the roster, see your rookies in game action, and put players in situations where you think they can be used. This not, by any means, me saying as Bengals fans you shouldn't be happy, ecstatic, satisfied, and excited for your football team, cause you should. I'm just saying when you watch Hard Knocks tonight don't expect it all to be praise and good words. As I watched and did my observing I can tell you what you might here in meetings;
I think the brightest spot had to be that Bengals defense. Coach Zimmer has to be a happy guy, even though I can promise he won't show it, he has to be very pleased with how his Defense played and not just the starters, even the 2's and 3's. All around the D was, what he expected very dominant stingy, and aggressive.
I think the brightest spots on the D this past week had to be George IIoka at Safety. I think he was a guy the Defensive coaching staff had a close eye on, as he was playing with the first time, and let me say he had a great showing. He was all over the field, watch the game he was on every tackle it seem, always around the ball, and had no fear of coming up in putting his nose in the run offense. I think if the season started next week he has to be the Starting strong safety, he's everything Coach Lewis want in a strong safety, big, strong, aggressive guy, the same type of guy coach Lewis have been waiting for Taylor Mays to become. Mays, had the typical Mays type game Thursday and with Williams being the rookie, and Miles having a good game (2nd on team in tackles) and also being the better special teams guy, if Mays don't step it up I think this could be the year that Mays is released, he has been nothing but disappointment since he got here, and I think he is definitely running out of time and opportunity. Another guy that I think stood out on Defense was J.K. Schaffer. He also played extremely well in Atlanta Leading the team in tackles with 6, he also seem to always be able to be around the ball when he was on the field. In my opinion this linebacker core is the weakness of the D, and a guy like J.K. Schaffer could make this team and be a quality back up, playing the same role that Dan Skuta played. It just week one though so keep your eyes on these two guys, let's see if they can keep it up.
On the other side of the ball, the back up guys wow'd me with their performance, putting up 34 points was definitely not expected.
I think the undisputed bright spot of the offense had to be, no not Dane Sanzenbacher, but Josh Johnson the back up Quarterback. Yes, I'm calling it, after just one preseason game, Josh Johnson is your #2 quarterback. What more must he do? He made Thursday look like a game of pick up football, he picked the Falcons D apart not just in the air but also on the ground, leading the team in both categories. I think the only thing that will stop him from winning the back up job, is injury. The guy in the backfield with him for most the time Giovanni Benard on the other hand, can back up BJGE, but I think he can only be used on a third down basis. It's just week 1, which is good cause we get more time to see the Rookie, but one thing he clearly showed this past week is that he can't run between the tackles. If he ever expect to be the featured back he must learn how to be productive running in between the tackles, it still early and he's just a rookie, so he has the time to learn and get better at, however anybody who expected him to be the starting back this year, I doubt that's gone be happening this year. He'll get his share of plays, but if he can't show in the next 3 weeks a better ability to run between the tackles, his plays will strictly be on a third down basis.
Dane Sanzenbacher played out of his mind, if the coaching staff eyes wasn't open before, they definitely are now. I though when they signed Dane, they bring him in to strictly be a body for camp and eventually practice squad player. The best chance I though he had making this team was as a special teams guy, and no not a returner. Like the staff, he opened my eyes, and I'm sure he opened yours as well.
With Hawkins going down, everybody was wonder who would step up, nobody expected it to be this guy. However, he was the one and he has made himself a true contender to make this roster and gain a role on this team where he can be productive. With his performance Thursday, he has put a lot of pressure on this whole receiving staff except Green, Jones, and Sanu. I think his performance does the most damage to Hawkins. Receiver is the deepest position in Bengals camp as far as #'s go, I think there will be at least 3 cut come Sept, they may even cut 4 and Hawkins can possibly one them guys. I know nothing you may want to believe it, but if Dane keep this up, and Hawk stay out for an extended period of time he can and will be cut. Also with Dane being a threat as a returner, Ben Tate should be concerned too.
Preseason week 1 is in the books, and it is what it is, just week 1. As it may not be of an importance for you, for all the guys named above, every week counts, and every day is part of a job interview, especially gamedays. Keep an eye on these guys, as you watch Hard Knocks tonight, see how these coaches evaluate these guys, one thing for sure, competition has heated up in Bengals camp, and competition is never a bad thing, as a coach it makes the job a lot more difficult, but that a problem any coach would love to have. Bengals are 1-0 and only get a lot more interesting and complex when it come to evaluating these guys in these positions.
John G.Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com
