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| Tuesday, July 15 Updated: August 19, 12:31 PM ET Bengals: Training camp report Pro Football Weekly |
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In Pro Football Weekly's third and final installment of training-camp reports, we look at the good (biggest positive), the bad (biggest disappointment) and the ugly (injury update) factors surrounding every team halfway through the 2003 preseason. We also set our sights on a rookie to watch on each team, for whatever the reason. Parts 1 and 2 are below. Aug. 19 Biggest positive: The Bengals are in shape. We repeat, the Bengals are in shape. Score one for new strength and conditioning coach Chip Morton. Brought over from Washington by Marvin Lewis, Morton has turned the Bengals into a stronger, fitter bunch. Previously, the first week of training camp was when some players really started getting their weight down to what it was supposed to be. That's no longer the modus operandi in Cincinnati with Morton aboard. Biggest disappointment: So much has been made about the myriad changes Lewis has made in Cincinnati. But the Bengals' team that lost to the Jets Aug. 10 made some of the same maddening mistakes that hurt them a year ago. The Bengals really struggled on special teams, with both place kicker Neil Rackers and punter Nick Harris having to come up and make tackles. They also commited six penalties and four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions, both of which went for touchdowns). Injury update: Not too much to report. Rookie quarterback Carson Palmer partially tore a tendon in his right foot, but the injury is not regarded as serious. Tight end Matt Schobel missed the first week of camp with a hamstring injury. Both these injuries were problems before training camp. Both wide receiver Peter Warrick and running back Corey Dillon twisted ankles recently, but the injuries were not serious. Rookie to watch: Left guard Eric Steinbach looked like, well, a rookie vs. the Jets. The Bengals thought enough of Steinbach to reshuffle the offensive line to give him a starting job, and there's no doubt he has the skills to be a very good player. But he must have a short learning curve for the line to be at its best. Part 2, Aug. 12 Veteran to watch: With Takeo Spikes laughing all the way to the bank in Buffalo, linebacker Brian Simmons moves back to the outside, where he starred at North Carolina. Simmons' speed makes him an ideal fit at his old position, and new head coach Marvin Lewis is expecting big things out of Simmons. Don't be surprised if Simmons is on a few more highlight shows this season, because he has big-play potential. Player on the verge: Wide receiver Peter Warrick has lost weight and is the fastest he's been in some time. Warrick is benefiting from the tutelage of new wide receivers coach Alex Wood, a good teacher who is also very demanding of his players. Bengals observers believe this is the best thing that could have ever happened to Warrick. Strongest position: This could be a bit of a surprise, because this unit wasn't very good a season ago, but the Bengals' defensive line is much improved this season. The coaching staff believes defensive tackle John Thornton, signed away from Tennessee in the offseason, will do wonders for the interior of the line. Ends Justin Smith and Carl Powell are a solid pairing. The Bengals have solid depth, too, with defensive ends Duane Clemons and Reinard Wilson and serviceable defensive tackles Glen Steele and Oliver Gibson. If Wilson and Clemons can give the pass rush a boost, it will make the Bengals' defense better across the board. Weakest positions: Two areas stand out. On offense, the Bengals have a nice pair of tackles in Levi Jones and Willie Anderson, but there is not a lot of depth behind them. On defense, the Bengals have good safety depth, but they are in need of an impact player at that position. Part 1, July 18 Most significant changes: New head coach Marvin Lewis is fighting to change the league's perception of the Bengals. Signing solid free agents like DT John Thornton, LB Kevin Hardy and CB Tory James is a good start. Look for the Bengals to be more aggressive on defense this season. Reasons for optimism: The offense was sharp after QB Jon Kitna regained the starting job last season. Lewis has a reputation for quickly turning around defenses. Causes for concern: If Kitna falters, No. 1 pick Carson Palmer could struggle; the league rarely is kind to rookie quarterbacks. In addition, the offensive line lacks quality depth at tackle. Training-camp battles to watch: Palmer and Shane Matthews will compete to back up Kitna. On defense, the secondary promises to be the center of attention. Mark Roman (free) and Marquand Manuel (strong) are the favorites to start at safety but could be pushed. James should be one of the starting corners, leaving Artrell Hawkins and Jeff Burris to compete for the other spot. Don't be surprised if: The fired-up Bengals shock the Broncos and their new starting QB, Jake Plummer, in Week 1.
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Material from Pro Football Weekly.
Training Camp
