CINCINNATI (WKRC) – While there have been some mitigating factors for the Bengals slow starts in Zac Taylor’s tenure as head coach, he has also acknowledged this offseason that he has to change some things to try and eliminate another slow start, but he’s also facing a couple of distractions in the process.
Those distractions are standout defensive end Trey Hendrickson not participating in the NFL’s Offseason Program so far, and defensive end Shemar Stewart, the team’s first-round pick in the draft, standing in uniform and watching as he, too, is embroiled in a contract battle over when roster bonuses will be paid. On Tuesday, which was open to the media, Stewart stood next to a tackling dummy during one drill and for another was the “quarterback” that fellow defensive linemen used as a target as they practiced stunts and twists.
That’s not exactly a positive for a team that is learning a defensive scheme under new coordinator Al Golden, and both Taylor and Golden have said need to take advantage of every offseason rep possible to hit the ground running when training camp starts in July in hopes of trying to carry that momentum into the regular season. The Bengals are just 1-11 combined in the first two games in Taylor’s six seasons as head coach. While some of that was due to very poor rosters in his first two seasons, then to several injuries and physical issues quarterback Joe Burrow dealt with, and to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s hold-in over his contract situation last training camp, Taylor admitted he had to make some changes this offseason.
“We talked about as a team, you know what that actually means, not just saying the term ‘fast start,'” said Taylor. “I won’t get into it all here. Some of the stuff we’ll just keep for our team meetings, but I do think you got to be specific with what our approach will be going forward, training camp, season, some things that we’ve identified that we think we can prove that in ways to, you know, start the season off on the right foot.”
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he has noticed some changes.
“We’re running more as a team,” said Burrow. “This time of year is about the same. I would say we’re working a little harder in the weight room and running. At the end of the day, we just have to go out and play better early in the year. You can come up with all these different things to try to make that happen. I think playing in preseason games will help. We haven’t had those discussions yet, but based on the little that we have, I imagine we’ll be playing more, and I think that’ll help, but we’ll see. I think at the end of the day, we just have to take some ownership and come out of the gates and execute and play better.”
Taylor has been open to having starters play this preseason, which is something he hadn’t done much in his first six seasons.
“I think the one thing I do feel good about is playing our guys in the preseason,” said Taylor. “That’s always subject to change, depending on health and how things go with our team during training camp, but that’s one thing that we’ve openly talked about with our players, and I think will help us as we do it and so they know that we’ve talked about that, and we’ll go from there.”
While Taylor said he likes the progress Golden is making with the installation of his defense it comes with Hendrickson not even being on hand to watch and Stewart not taking any reps in the scheme.
“Hunger and urgency would be two words that I see from that group,” said Taylor. “They’re really eating up what those coaches are giving them. When you sit in on those unit meetings and you look at the pre-practice work and all the stuff that they’re getting as a unit going through practice, it’s a very hungry group and I can tell that they’re buying into everything that Al and those position coaches are giving to them. They’re eating it up. They’re prepared every single day. It’s really extraordinary to watch how much those guys have really looked at their iPads and looked at the installs and they show up and they’re already prepared. So, when it’s install, they’re already a step ahead, those players are. That gives me comfort seeing the hunger to learn from all of our guys – veterans and young guys. Al’s done a great job setting the standard in that room. The position coaches have followed suit, so I’m really excited about the direction that that group’s heading.”
Taylor said Stewart has, “done a great job in meetings,” but admits getting actual reps is important.
“It’s always good to be out there physically on the field,” said Taylor. “You know, mentally is one thing and he’s doing that. He’s in meetings, he’s studying, he’s been great about all that, and then the physical thing, you just don’t want to fall too far behind. You know every week that passes can be different, and you want to set yourself up for success. We expect a great year from Shemar, and so part of that will be getting up to speed when he gets on the field.”
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he likes what he has seen from Stewart even if he isn’t participating in practice, and was asked what advice he would have for him.
“Just work hard, develop a routine, find people that are going to help facilitate your success,” said Burrow. “Have great people around you. Go out and make plays, play really hard. Understand your job. Everything that I’ve seen from him in our short time together so far has been very positive. He’s always got some energy in his face, comes in ready to work. Obviously we’ll see what happens in the season, but I’ve got a lot of faith in him.”
Taylor said he has been impressed with the entire rookie class – the six draft picks and the undrafted free agents the team signed.
“It’s an impressive group as a whole, whether talking about the six draft picks, the undrafted guys,” said Taylor. “I think from top to bottom it is a class that you feel really good about. There has been no adversity that has come at them at this point. No pads on, no 11-on-11, no games or anything like that. They can’t control that. All they can control is what their attitudes have been. Their ability to take in the information given to them, their effort on the field and effort in the weight room. So far, so good on all those guys.”