PLAY OF THE DAY
NT T.J. Slaton and RT Amarius Mims
You had to wait until Sunday’s last snap, just as a few sparse raindrops began to spray the Kettering Health Practice Fields.
Quarterback Joe Burrow had sifted the Bengals defense all morning. In both team periods and seven-on-seven, the ball had been on the ground less than your best silverware.
Until head coach Zac Taylor opened the last part of the low red zone, and new defensive coordinator Al Golden’s chippy crew bounced back and shut it down.
On Burrow’s last chance to throw it in for a touchdown from about the 2, Slaton, the veteran nose tackle from Green Bay, did what he’s been doing all four practices: Making the middle uncomfortable.
With defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. working a play with right edge Joseph Ossai, the 6-5, 340-pound Slaton penetrated enough to hurry up Burrow just enough to short-circuit the play.
Slaton, it turned out, provided the foreshadowing of a classic novelist. It was the last play before the pads come on for the first time Monday, and the big boys finally get their days in the plot twists. And it was a true vet play because on the snap before, Slaton was caught offsides.
“He’s just been a force on the run or pass,” Jenkins said. “He makes his presence known. Very athletic.”
The early-camp storylines have revolved around Golden and a new-look defense that has been a feisty foe for Burrow’s elite offense. Slaton adds muscle and zest to the new mix.
“We’re not going to let you get in in practice,’ Slaton said. “If we let somebody in in practice, they’re going to get in during the game. So when it’s the red zone, nobody gets in. But it’s only day four. We’ve still got work to do. We’re still getting things together.”
One of them is getting first-rounder Shemar Stewart into the lineup after he signed his rookie deal Saturday. One of his first 10 plays or so came on that last snap as he lined up over Mims at right tackle.
Mims did what he’s been doing all camp, too, which is pretty much not letting anyone breathe on Burrow, never mind flushing him from the pocket. After the snap, Mims chatted with Stewart as Taylor called them up to end the workout.
“I was in his shoes last year,” Mims said. “First-round pick. A lot of expectations. I was just telling him it’s practice. This is the time where you get better. Just learn from the older guys. Perfect your craft. It’s not easy out there. it’s his first day. Just giving him encouraging words.
“He got a few plays under his belt. I feel like he’ll trend up every day. You’re the 17th pick in the draft for a reason. You have to be good.”
Mims should know. He was the 18th pick last year and overcame his own share of adversity with a preseason shoulder injury to log an impressive rookie year. He spends time talking and texting with Stewart and has a good feeling about him after some long chats.
“He’s a good guy. He’s young. He doesn’t know everything yet. We’re here to help him with that,” Mims said. “I think he’ll be a good player for us. Versatile. The defensive coaches are going to like working with that.”
Stewart, who didn’t practice during the spring during contract talks, arrived as advertised. A chiseled 6-5, 267 pounds who can move up and down the line.
On Sunday, he lined up on both edges and slid inside on goal-line.
“He’s got a lot of jobs we’ll ask him to do,” said defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery. “It’s going to be a process. He hasn’t done any work or any fundamental stuff. But he has a lot of characteristics to work with. I’m excited about that. He’ll be fine.”
Stewart had a few welcome-to-the-club moments, but he pretty much shrugged them off. Such as when he got caught in the middle of three offensive players on his first snap.
“That’s football. You just got a man up, get up off the ground, dust yourself off, and the next play,” Stewart said.
Or when lined up over left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
“I’m like, ‘Time to buckle up,'” Stewart said. “Then he put his hands on me, and I’m like, ‘You know what, this ain’t right.'”
Source link
