Bengals Walkthru: Who's the breakout undrafted free agent? – Cincinnati.com
The history of undrafted rookie success and who could be next, plus, Tyler Boyd assessment, Ochocinco bolts Browns, draft comps, AFC champ odds, Tez runs and a fast food rant.
The Walkthru offers thoughts every weekday morning from Bengals columnists Paul Dehner Jr. or Jim Owczarski on Bengals news, personalities or wherever the cursor takes them. Follow throughout the day and season on Facebook, Paul and Jim on Twitter, Instagram or taking over the Enquirer Snapchat account at enquirersnaps.
Every year in training camp, a player few expected to be part of team’s future plans impresses the coaches and works his way either onto the 53-man roster or into their developmental priority pipeline on the practice squad.
No day should act as a better reminder to those current undrafted free agents than today as H-back Ryan Hewitt agreed to a three-year extension. Only two years ago at this time, Hewitt was making a name for himself and quickly displacing Orson Charles thanks to an eye-opening training camp. The Stanford product eventually took 44 percent of the offensive snaps as a rookie in 2014 and spearheaded a running game in front of Jeremy Hill that pushed the Bengals into the postseason.
Rags to riches can happen that fast. Take a look back at the last few years and Hewitt’s story doesn’t stand alone.
- Vontaze Burfict was an undrafted free agent in 2012. No need to go into his credentials.
- Don’t forget Vinny Rey earned his keep here as an undrafted player who impressed in camp. He signed a three-year deal for $10.5 million this offseason.
- Former undrafted RB Cedric Peerman eventually latched on through impressive training camps in Cincinnati and last year made the Pro Bowl as a special teamer.
- Last year’s star undrafted free agent was DeShawn Williams, out of Clemson. After a season on the practice squad and getting promoted to the 53 for the playoff game, he is currently running next to Geno Atkins in a battle for the first team nickel defensive tackle spot.
- Similar story for LB Trevor Roach – a year on the PS, called up for playoff game, battling for second team LB.
So, who will be this year’s breakthrough undrafted free agent? Nobody knows yet. And I’m not saying that because I don’t, I’m saying that because nobody does. I get the question all the time about “how does this guy or that guy look?” This stuff we are watching now only gives a sliver of the story.
They make their name in preseason games. That’s where the Bengals’ staff looks to find out who belongs and who should go about their life’s work.
Marvin Lewis reiterated the concept at his press conference to open training camp.
“I have tried to impress on the young guys right away, they are going to make the football team on how they play in these four preseason games. We are going to teach them when to do it, how to do it, why to do it out here on the practice field with our own guys. But our focus out here with our own guys is to get better and stay healthy. One-two. We go play the preseason games, now you need to win against the opponent, against the guys with the different color helmets on. That’s when you show the coaches how you can apply what we taught you and how you can play live football against those opponents.”
As for this year’s prime candidates, you have to think he will come from the receiver group or interior offensive line. Opportunity lies at those spots. Here are my initial thoughts on a few who I’d keep an eye on.
- WR Alonzo Russell: Looks the part (6-4, 206) and made a few nice plays in the early days of camp.
- OL Alex Redmond: Somebody could stick out of these interior linemen and Redmond (UCLA) has potential. Was spotted pushing around Andrew Billings a few times Monday.
- LB Darien Harris: When there are a litany of undrafted free agents already among the LBs, there’s always a chance for another.
- WR Alex Erickson: Not prototypical size (6-0, 195), but has been seen making his fair share of plays in the WR battle.
CAMP SCHEDULE
- Friday: 1,350
- Saturday: 1,950
- Sunday: 2,325
- Monday: n/a – practice closed to public, moved inside stadium due to rain.
- Tuesday: Practice, 3-5 p.m.
- Wednesday: OFF
- Thursday: Practice, 3-5 p.m.
- Friday: Practice, 6-8 p.m.
- Saturday: Practice, 1-3 p.m. (Family Day inside PBS)
TWITTER QUESTION OF THE DAY
Thanks for the question, Brian.
Boyd held steady as the most popular new piece at camp, and understandably so. He’s generally lived up to expectations thus far. Each of the first three days, he made at least one standout play. On the first day, he launched the perfect WR pass to Brandon Tate. On Day 2, he made a spectacular leaping grab over top of Darqueze Dennard on a deep ball. On Day 3, he made a number of nice plays, including a slick back shoulder reception from AJ McCarron. He didn’t shine in the same way yesterday, and in fact slipped coming out of a break, which led to Andy Dalton getting picked off near the spot he should have been in. It happens. For the most part, a quality first week from the second-round pick out of Pitt.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Love writing stories like this one. After 609 days, James Wright finally clears milestone to return to practice. Respect isn’t given in an NFL locker room, it’s earned. Wright earned it.
Jim with a beefy Bengals notebook on Josh Shaw seeing time at safety and making a splash, Jake Fisher’s expanding role, Dre Kirkpatrick with two picks in three days and Darqueze Dennard testing his health.
Our review of the day at camp, with one of my favorite pictures so far. The photogenic nature of Floyd Raven’s hair is reason enough to keep him around as long as possible.
AROUND THE DIVISION
Browns: Chad Johnson bolted Browns camp but may be coming back, to which Hue Jackson dropped this gem: “It was good for me to have him around. Chad is very close to me as we all know. At the same time, I think he found out that this business is rough. There are a lot of hours that we keep, and I don’t think Chad’s used to that.”
Ravens: Former Browns RB Terrance West making an early impression in Baltimore.
Steelers: Second-round pick CB Senquez Golson missed all of his rookie season with injury and only made it four practices into his second season before suffering another one.
TWEET OF THE DAY
From Colts beat writer Zak Keefer. Maybe those taking quality Bengals drafts for granted could use this perspective. Bengals have six of nine still on team and three extended or exercised 5th-year option. That’s how you sustain.
Bengals 2013 draft
- 1. Tyler Eifert — Pro Bowler/5th-year option
- 2a. Giovani Bernard — extended
- 2b. Margus Hunt — on team
- 3. Shawn Williams — extended
- 4. Sean Porter — cut
- 5. Tanner Hawkinson — cut
- 6a. Cobi Hamilton — cut
- 6b. Rex Burkhead — on team
- 7a. T.J. Johnson — on team
- 7b. Reid Fragel — cut
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Our Sam Greene caught Adam Jones’ daughter Triniti stopping by camp. The two lined up for a race.
DEGENERATE CORNER
Taking a peek at the odds to win the AFC. The Bengals and Broncos tied for the third. Considering what a healthy Andrew Luck could be for the Colts, I’d hop on the +1200 in a quick minute. While I don’t believe this will happen, you should always take a risk on a quality quarterback with long odds. San Diego with a big reward for little risk.
- New England Patriots: +275
- Pittsburgh Steelers: +550
- Cincinnati Bengals: +800
- Denver Broncos: +800
- Kansas City Chiefs: +1200
- Indianapolis Colts: +1200
- Oakland Raiders: +1200
- Baltimore Ravens: +1400
- Houston Texans: +1800
- Jacksonville Jaguars: +2200
- Buffalo Bills: +2800
- New York Jets: +2800
- Miami Dolphins: +3300
- San Diego Chargers: +3300
- Tennessee Titans: +4000
INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY
Because I’ll continue to be asked about what Vontaze Burfict is doing during practice. Here he is running in the end zone. Feel the excitement.
RANDOMNESS
Aaron Rodgers’ estranged little brother, Jordan, won the Bachelorette last night. Football and reality dating storylines come together! Wish them both health and happiness for their 15 minutes of fame life together.
McDonald’s is trying out a weekend “walk-thru” for those too drunk to drive in North Wales. Why do we need this? Never understood why you can’t walk through the drive thru. What would you be hurting in this scenario? It’s not like you don’t cover ground fast enough. If I sat in a strangers’ passenger seat, I could get a breakfast sandwich, but not standing in front of it? I could go on about this for hours.
The history of animals interrupting news reports. Thank you, Internet.
Jon Bon Jovi told Hillary Clinton to make him Secretary of Entertainment. Forget Trump or Clinton, this is not an America I could live in. Do we all just gather around to hear him come up with new lyrics for the awful “Power to turn back time” commercial? Stop it, Jon. Just sing You Give Love A Bad Name and go to bed early.
AND FINALLY
This song dominated the cool factor. Let’s all remember the good times.
