Notes From Training Camp 2025

[Essex Johnson]

(08-04-2025, 03:49 PM)pally Wrote: I don't expect him to get a crazy amount of reps but running all of the ones in a series or 2 during preseason gives them a chance to play together at game speed.  The last couple of years, our starting OL and DL didn't come together as a unit until game one

Well it has worked well for Mahomes over the years

[Essex Johnson]

(08-04-2025, 06:44 PM)jj22 Wrote: It was a little messy for them to place Hendrickson 4th string on the depth chart. They know he sensitive. Why poke him.

I prefer Burrow and Stewart to sit out Thursday. See if the starting Oline can protect (Browning), and give Stewart 1 more week to get into “football shape”. No ota’s, no minicamp, the goal should be to have him ready for the opener not preseason game 1.

Watching the Oline in camp I need to see if they can protect before risking Burrow, already getting quickly bumped into in camp, taking unnecessary hits.

I believe  in sitting the rb (Brown) too. No need to add the extra mileage in preseason. Take a long look at the young guys 

Straight to the point, more of the same is what helped with 0-2 last two years, FO, Zac and Burrow have said we need to change it up, why go back to more of the same.. sorry does not make sense after two years of 9-8 records

[*pally*]

when 4 qbs aren't enough. It would be funny if Huntley outplays all of them

Sources: Browns are signing QB Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, who spent part of last season with Cleveland. With Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel nursing hamstring injuries, and Shedeur Sanders having a sore shoulder, the Browns need another arm. Enter Huntley. https://t.co/6nJ1w1AN8w pic.twitter.com/hLNJzbcWhQ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2025

[jj22]

(08-04-2025, 08:48 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: Straight to the point, more of the same is what helped with 0-2 last two years, FO, Zac and Burrow have said we need to change it up, why go back to more of the same.. sorry does not make sense after two years of 9-8 records

Even if they play in games 2 and 3 that’ll be more than usual. The elephant in the room is the Oline has not looked good. Why risk Burrow Thursday. Wouldn’t it make sense to see if they can even protect him? I say put them in front of Briwning Thursday. If they can protect Burrow can take snaps preseason week 2 and. 3

If they don’t. Then thank the football gods Burrow wasn’t back there. 

[Essex Johnson]

(08-04-2025, 08:54 PM)jj22 Wrote: Even if they play in games 2 and 3 that’ll be more than usual. The elephant in the room is the Oline has not looked good. Why risk Burrow Thursday. Wouldn’t it make sense to see if they can even protect him? I say put them in front of Briwning Thursday. If they can protect Burrow can take snaps preseason week 2 and. 3

If they don’t. Then thank the football gods Burrow wasn’t back there. 

we avg less than 250 yards last two years first two games, play the starters in preseason, can it get any worse ?? if you are worried about injuries so why not sit starters for first two games, less chance to be hurt later in season.. come on man.. think about it. 

PS Mahomes and Allen played in 1st preseason and they went to division finals... Bengals and Burrow need to change the culture of thinking and send a message early.

[jj22]

I’m worried about the Oline. Burrow has been running for his life and bumped and or “sacked” on many occasions. 

They may be starting two rookies and a known backup that has proven he can’t play guard. I’m not sold on them protecting Burrow in a meaningless game. 

See if they can protect. See if they grasp Peter’s teachings and new philosophy. Make them prove it game 1. 

[*pally*]

Will Hernandez had a visit with the Cardinals, his last team, today

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(08-04-2025, 09:13 PM)jj22 Wrote: I’m worried about the Oline. Burrow has been running for his life and bumped and or “sacked” on many occasions. 

They may be starting two rookies and a known backup that has proven he can’t play guard. I’m not sold on them protecting Burrow in a meaningless game. 

See if they can protect. See if they grasp Peter’s teachings and new philosophy. Make them prove it game 1. 

Me, too. 

We only have 6 guys with any appreciable NFL experience. And 2 of those are Ford and Volson. 

I am not sold on Fairchild, though he has some tools. Lee has no NFL snaps inside, and Ford is our only backup OT with significant experience. 

I bet Hernandez stays in AZ.

[Soonerpeace]

(08-04-2025, 09:13 PM)jj22 Wrote: I’m worried about the Oline. Burrow has been running for his life and bumped and or “sacked” on many occasions. 

They may be starting two rookies and a known backup that has proven he can’t play guard. I’m not sold on them protecting Burrow in a meaningless game. 

See if they can protect. See if they grasp Peter’s teachings and new philosophy. Make them prove it game 1. 

Well if the OL isn’t better then the whole group deserves the wrath of all of us. It’s like having a Lamborghini and no collision insurance.

[SunsetBengal]

(08-04-2025, 09:34 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Well if the OL isn’t better then the whole group deserves the wrath of all of us. It’s like having a Lamborghini and no collision insurance.

Or driving a monster truck on bald radials..

Seriously, the "starting" OL needs a lot of reps to get ready for the season. They need to play the entire first half of at least two of these preseason games.

[Luvnit2]

There is always concern for injury in any practice or presason games. I had a mindset to practice like I play a game. I felt to do anything half way was a recipe to get injured. My personal view is you can't live afraid something bad will happen. I think our team needs some work in preseason games on both sides of the ball.

JB needs his starters out there with him if he is going to play any snaps. I think our OL changing 40% needs even more time in preseason games than JB so I hope they stay a few more series with Browning or maybe one with both Riddler and Browning.

Sae for the defense, we have guys coming back from injury who are rusty plus still getting back into football shape. I hope our 1st team defense plays into the 2nd quarter. I hope our rookie draft picks play into the 3rd quarter, they need NFL experience.

There is chance someone cany get hurt, but that chance magnifies once the season begins when they play 4 quarters.

[Luvnit2]

(08-04-2025, 09:27 PM)pally Wrote: Will Hernandez had a visit with the Cardinals, his last team, today

He had said he wanted to stay in Arizona so no surprise. If he signs, no surprise, but if he does not it will be interesting to see if other teams like Ravens, Lions, Cowboys and us reach out.

If he does sign it may start a domino effect, next Risner and Scherr (if he does not retire).

[Nepa]

(08-04-2025, 08:54 PM)jj22 Wrote: Even if they play in games 2 and 3 that’ll be more than usual. The elephant in the room is the Oline has not looked good. Why risk Burrow Thursday. Wouldn’t it make sense to see if they can even protect him? I say put them in front of Briwning Thursday. If they can protect Burrow can take snaps preseason week 2 and. 3

If they don’t. Then thank the football gods Burrow wasn’t back there. 

Burrow should just throw it away immediately if the OL fails to protect him. It's only the preseason, so no need to stand in there and take the hit. I understand Mahomes like to take a hit in preseason and Andy Reid likes to play his starters so they get used to the speed of the game. Mahomes played in the first preseason last year and half of the second game. But Burrow has had an injury history, so throw it away at the slight hint of the OL failing him. But put him and the starters in for one series on Thursday to get used to the speed of the game. It will make practice real as well.

[Sled21]

To everybody saying Burrow, Chase and all the other starters should play in the pre-season, you're getting your wish. Just be ready to deal with the consequences without blaming Zac for playing them in meaningless games.

[Essex Johnson]

(08-04-2025, 09:34 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Well if the OL isn’t better then the whole group deserves the wrath of all of us. It’s like having a Lamborghini and no collision insurance.

or when you buy a Lamborghini (ie Burrow) you might want to make sure you upkeep  the engine  (OL)  instead of spending too much on the paint job and gadgets (WR/TE). 

[Essex Johnson]

(08-04-2025, 09:47 PM)Nepa Wrote: Burrow should just throw it away immediately if the OL fails to protect him. It's only the preseason, so no need to stand in there and take the hit. I understand Mahomes like to take a hit in preseason and Andy Reid likes to play his starters so they get used to the speed of the game. Mahomes played in the first preseason last year and half of the second game. But Burrow has had an injury history, so throw it away at the slight hint of the OL failing him. But put him and the starters in for one series on Thursday to get used to the speed of the game. It will make practice real as well.

I agree one  to two series Thursday , then close to halftime next week and sit or one series last game.   

[Soonerpeace]

(Yesterday, 10:08 AM)Essex Johnson Wrote: or when you buy a Lamborghini (ie Burrow) you might want to make sure you upkeep  the engine  (OL)  instead of spending too much on the paint job and gadgets (WR/TE). 

Exactly. I know I’m wearing this subject out but ‘21-‘23 our drafting just didn’t produce enough good starters or even the number. Looking at Philly KC, & Baltimore there’s tell the reason why they have the best rosters. They produced a lot of starters. ‘23 & ‘24 look better.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 08:15 AM)Sled21 Wrote: To everybody saying Burrow, Chase and all the other starters should play in the pre-season, you're getting your wish. Just be ready to deal with the consequences without blaming Zac for playing them in meaningless games.

I would hope you think the door swings both ways. If they don't get hurt we give Zac credit for taking a risk to make sure we are ready to go full speed week #1.

[Nepa]

(Yesterday, 08:15 AM)Sled21 Wrote: To everybody saying Burrow, Chase and all the other starters should play in the pre-season, you're getting your wish. Just be ready to deal with the consequences without blaming Zac for playing them in meaningless games.

You don't want the starters to play at all in the preseason? After starting historically bad the last three seasons (0-3, 0-2, 0-2)? The Bengals should use Andy Reid as the expert in preseason. His teams are playing in February and then he has them playing in the preseason. His reasoning is that practice is not sufficient to get players ready for the speed and rhythm of the game. 

There have been a lot of players of other teams with season-ending or extensive injuries in just the practices this year. In some cases little or no contact. These things happen.  But the Bengals have missed the postseason by one game each of the last two years and the 0-3 and 0-2 starts, against beatable competition, were factors in those failures. Last year, New England was ready in game 1 against the Bengals, having played their starters all three preseason games. The Bengals were not ready at all.

[J24]

(Yesterday, 10:08 AM)Essex Johnson Wrote: or when you buy a Lamborghini (ie Burrow) you might want to make sure you upkeep  the engine  (OL)  instead of spending too much on the paint job and gadgets (WR/TE). 

What players would you have spent on instead of Tee and Chase?