Every time an NFL team adds a new position coach, there’s new terminology and new talking points during practice.
Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack tells the linemen to “master the mundane.” New Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters tells his receivers to “run through the catch.”
But for new Bengals running backs coach Justin Hill, his biggest talking point has nothing to do with running the ball. According to Bengals backup running back Samaje Perine, Hill frequently talks about pass protection.
“It’s all about the initial strike,” Perine said. “If you strike and attach, lock on to him, (the pass rusher) is going to worry about you and not the quarterback.”
Last season, running back Giovani Bernard was the team’s best pass protector in the backfield. On passing downs, Bernard thrived at chipping a pass rusher near the line of scrimmage to buy quarterback Joe Burrow more time.
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Since the Bengals pass the ball as often as they do, and since Bernard now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bengals are looking for another player to step into that role.
When asked how he’ll create the rotation at running back behind starter Joe Mixon, Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan immediately stressed the importance of blocking for Burrow.
"You've got to have guys who can protect (the quarterback), first of all,” Callahan. “All these guys can carry the ball. All the guys on our roster are good enough ball carriers but there's a whole lot of other things that go into it. You've got to be able to protect.”
Since Mixon missed most of the 2020 season with an injury, Bernard became the starter and got most of the carries on early downs. As a result, Perine stepped into Bernard’s role later in the season.
Perine showed his ability to protect the quarterback, and as a result he’s the favorite to back up Mixon in 2021.
“Samaje's kind of a proven commodity, one as a ball carrier and two as a pass protector,” Callahan said.
But Mixon is also expected to be more of a three-down back since Bernard is no longer on the roster. Heading into his fifth season, Mixon said he understands the importance of pass blocking to stay on the field as much as possible.
"I take people's heads off when we're in the pass game," Mixon said. "At the end of the day you're not going to win every rep, but I always take the initiative of protecting the quarterback for sure. When Andy Dalton was here I tried to protect him the best way I can. Now with Joe Burrow I have to do the same thing, especially with him being the franchise.”
Perine said the best way to work on pass protection is repetition, and that has been a focus for the running backs during training camp. During one-on-one drills, Hill has shown the running backs new blocking techniques to lock onto a pass rusher.
According to Perine, it’s clear to the running backs that they need to protect the passer to stay on the field.
“It really doesn’t have to be said,” Perine said. “We all know. We’re all professional athletes, and running the ball is our job, that’s what we get paid to do. But your ability to block is a part of that as well. We all take pride in it and try to get better at it every day.”
Ja'Marr Chase working through it
Bengals rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase hasn’t played in a competitive football game since January, 2020.
During the first two weeks of training camp, Chase has dropped passes during one-on-one and 11-on-11 drills. He has only made one deep catch on a fade down the field. And he has battled through tough matchups against the Bengals starting cornerbacks, who have been the team’s best players in training camp.
“Me sitting out that whole year definitely showed when I got back out here,” Chase said. “I thought everything was going to be fine for me and then that was one thing of the game phase I was having trouble with."
Especially after missing a year of competitive football, Chase said the biggest challenge has been regaining his quick reaction time. His focus is on the quick decisions has to make as he tries to gain separation.
Chase is expected to start the season opener, but he’ll be one of the Bengals most important players in the preseason as he continues to develop.
“I know a lot of people want to see me play,” Chase said. “I've been out for a whole year and they want to see what I've been doing this whole time. Just for me to come out and make a mark on myself and prove to everyone else who I am."
Cincinnati Bengals preseason question
PRESEASON QUESTION: During the regular season, Bengals defensive backs Eli Apple and Ricardo Allen could be the first players off the bench in the secondary.
Neither player has practiced this week, and that could give a few younger players more reps in the Bengals preseason opener in Tampa Bay. Tony Brown, Jalen Davis and Kavon Frazier are three players competing for the last roster spot in the secondary.
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