(04-11-2025, 09:11 AM)ochocincos Wrote: While some might appreciate seeing players put in the effort, I think many just really care if they are producing on the field.
And without seeing yet if that hard work has or will pay off, it can be difficult for some to get excited.


I want both of them to succeed.

I give more leeway to Jackson than Murphy though because 1) Jackson was picked 2 rounds later than Murphy, so he should be expected to take longer to develop, and 2) Murphy has been in the NFL a year longer.

Unfortunately for Murphy, he has to really do well this year to get his option picked up since that decision is next offseason. Or maybe he doesn't really care because if he does well by the end of 2026, he'll likely get a good deal somewhere even if not Cincy.

(04-10-2025, 03:11 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Nice article on Bengal's website. Yes, it is all words with some actions. But good to see Myles wants to get better and puts it all on himself. I know many dismiss Hobson, but to me we need at least one of the returning edge players to make a huge leap in 2025. Step 1 is knowing you have not been your best. Step 2 is take steps including diet to get better.

https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-edge-gets-a-new-look-as-myles-murphy-upends-offseason-regimen

"Murphy says he's not a fan of how he handled his rehab, so he "left nothing to chance," this offseason in his hometown of Atlanta. With the Bengals' offseason program set to start in 11 days, the 6-6 Murphy says he's coming in with newfound confidence surging through his re-constituted body. It's not like he was a burlap bag to begin with, but his recent reading of 13.8 body fat has him fired up."

Bengals Edge Gets A New Look As Myles Murphy Upends Offseason Regimen

He switched defensive line trainers. He added an extra day to his work week and goes Monday through Saturday. He prioritized not only his hands, but also the hands of his opponents. He revamped his diet with his own research that included interviewing nutritionists. He bid a bitter farewell to breakfast.

"I haven't eaten cereal in three months," Murphy says. "I feel that in itself, has changed me … because there's a lot of dense, packed sugar in cereal … which a lot of people don't think about. Most mornings, I just do some black coffee and I call it a morning."

"I'm not really worried about all that, let's be honest," Murphy says. "It's me versus me right now. Just trying to be way better than last year, for sure.

"I know I've got everything that it takes to dominate in the league. It's just building up the confidence to know I can make those plays that are ahead of me … (Working on) Being great at stuff that doesn't take talent or athleticism."

Start with the body. The one that made him the 28th pick in the draft two years ago. He admits his knee injury that wiped out last season's first four games "set some things back." He had flashed in his second training camp, but by the time he started playing games, "when I did come back, I knew that I wasn't where I was and where I need to be."

"I feel like I'm in one of the best bodies I've been in for years. Since sophomore year of college," Murphy says. "I ended the season at 282 and three weeks ago I was 265-267. Since then, I've been packing on muscle. Yesterday I weighed myself and I was 274. It's close to last year, but the body fat is different … I feel great … Losing that breakfast … I'm losing that sugar."

Murphy looks like he's partaking in the "Sweet Science," if you've caught some training clips on social media. But it only looks like he's boxing because his coach wears boxing gloves to simulate the offensive line using their hands.

"That's something a little new," Murphy says. "Most definitely working on the hands so I actually have my eyes in the right spot and swatting at hands and not just trying to time things up and sometimes just swiping on air. So just being more accurate with my hands.

"I knew if I started doing that earlier in the offseason it would be something that would come much more naturally once team stuff comes around."

(04-11-2025, 10:53 AM)BoomerFan Wrote: Things that don't seem to make much difference in the offseason: Physique changes, camps with other players or position gurus

Things that do seem to make a difference in the offseason: Booing someone when they show up for a charity event.


Look, I know it is a jerk observation to make but it kind does seem that way.

(04-11-2025, 10:53 AM)BoomerFan Wrote: Things that don't seem to make much difference in the offseason: Physique changes, camps with other players or position gurus

Things that do seem to make a difference in the offseason: Booing someone when they show up for a charity event.


Look, I know it is a jerk observation to make but it kind does seem that way.

(04-10-2025, 04:43 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: True so next question becomes why do players take plays off or try and pace themselves?

Simple answer is the are not as fit as they should be or are playing too many snaps because backups are not suffecient ad=nd coach has said you need to stay on the field.

I just find the 3rd answer less. I know some say these guys get paid huge money (a lot less since they implemented the rookie pay scale) and lose motivation once signed to big contracts, but these guys are elite going against elite and most of those with only money motivation get weeded out in my humble oinion. 

Murphy admtted he did poor job of rehabbing from a knee injury (he learned the hard way), was out od shape and had to develop better technique. I get it is just words, but at least he knows the right words. In contrast, does Jermaine Burton even know what he has done wrong? I hope he learned, but we don't know either way yet.

(04-12-2025, 09:19 AM)Speedy Thomas Wrote: I wish to announce that after an offseason of reducing my intake of nachos and beer by 25% (3 beers instead of 4, a slightly less heaping mound of cheese), my BMI has dropped below 30%.  I've got everything it takes to dominate all 3 downs from my recliner and I will be a leaner, meaner fan.  It's a contract year for Speedy, so now or never.

(04-10-2025, 04:43 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: True so next question becomes why do players take plays off or try and pace themselves?

Simple answer is the are not as fit as they should be or are playing too many snaps because backups are not suffecient ad=nd coach has said you need to stay on the field.

I just find the 3rd answer less. I know some say these guys get paid huge money (a lot less since they implemented the rookie pay scale) and lose motivation once signed to big contracts, but these guys are elite going against elite and most of those with only money motivation get weeded out in my humble oinion. 

Murphy admtted he did poor job of rehabbing from a knee injury (he learned the hard way), was out od shape and had to develop better technique. I get it is just words, but at least he knows the right words. In contrast, does Jermaine Burton even know what he has done wrong? I hope he learned, but we don't know either way yet.

(04-10-2025, 03:40 PM)samhain Wrote: Correct.  Getting into the extreme end of body composition probably does more harm than good.  If a player actively tried to maintain that as a priority during a 17 game season, It would likely hurt more than it would help.  I wouldn't quite call 13.6 extreme, but getting much lower probably isn't an awesome idea for an athlete playing a collision sport.  

(04-12-2025, 09:44 PM)125250 Wrote: Extreme end of low body fat? This thinking is why many Americans are overweight. 

(04-11-2025, 01:57 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I can think of one just one physique change that actually made a difference and that was because of also a positional change/committment. Michael Johnson came into the league at 266, Marvin wanted him to be a 4-3 OLB that he could use to blitz (a guy Marvin was always obsessed with getting, later leading to Dontay Moch), but every time Odom went down the first two years of his career he inevitably got moved to primarily DE despite preparing for 4-3 OLB the first two years. Even his second year of 2010 the Bengals announced he was going to be an OLB and he prepared the entire time that way but then Odom went down real early and Rucker went down later and once the season starts it's too late to change your body. So he was always like 10 pounds too heavy for OLB but 20-25lbs too light for DE. 2011 they brought Manny Lawson in to take that OLB role and it was the first year MJ spent the entire offseason preparing to play only DE and it showed.

(04-12-2025, 11:59 PM)Bilbo Saggins Wrote: Stuff like this is why some fans are so leery of certain archetypes. They have a history of not getting it right with tweeners. Same with safeties who may be the next Derwin James. Maybe Golden will come in and straighten all of that out. Or maybe he'll do stuff like try to play George Iloka at FS when he had always been a dependable SS. I could see a world where Dax Hill and Myles Murphy would look better with a perfect scheme fit. Both can chase in space and pursue pretty well. They just aren't necessarily good at say defeating blocks or playing with anticipation in coverage. Sounds like a disconnect where the big board isn't weighed enough for scheme fit. 

(04-13-2025, 12:45 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Maybe you were referring to someone else, but Murphy is taller and the same weight as Trey and the guy he needs to replace Hubbard who is only 265 lbs.

Murphy is 6'6" and 270

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4428985/myles-murphy

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HendTr00.htm - 
6'4" and 270

https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/sam-hubbard-player-bio
6'5" and 265

(04-13-2025, 12:01 PM)Synric Wrote: Myles Murphy is a 6'6 275lb long arm Strong side DE that can't hold his edge in run defense. Until he can set a firm edge and hold up against  double teams he won't see alot of snaps.