Training Camp Recap Day 9

The Bengals claimed the rookie Williams off waivers from the Lions last November and haven’t been disappointed. He returned punts solidly in the five-game winning streak that ended the season and in his first Bengals training camp he’s been a reliable resource for all quarterbacks, particularly No. 2 Jake Browning.

On Sunday, Willims made a marvelous touchdown catch on a long one from Browning when he basically scaled linebacker Shaka Heyward, jumped off, and caught the ball coming down while still tied up with Heyward.

It was nice toss by Browning, since he heaved it the other way rolling against the grain and catching Williams on a long-developing wheel route.

As good as Williams’ catch, that’s not what made it happen. It was his route. Williams sold his clear-out so well that Heyward, assigned to drop on the clear-out route, didn’t see the wheel route until the last instant.

“Based on the positioning, I wasn’t going to let it drop in the bucket,” Williams said. “I just wanted to go attack the ball. I just went to go attack the ball and made the play.”

“You just have PBUs on the line of scrimmage.”

Stewart continues to look like a first-rounder should. After wrecking Saturday night’s practice, he came back and got an early sack of Browning Sunday. No PBUs Sunday after racking up several in his first week of practice. But he did drop a few times in coverage, and he also lined up inside on some short-yardage plays.

Patrick saw it first-hand in one-on-one pass rush Saturday:

“I think what will make him special is his combination of speed and size. He hit me with an inside shake and then back outside. And I bit on it so hard because his speed and lateral quickness are very impressive to come inside, threaten my inside to make me go down and then rush outside.” …

Count new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden as a Burrow guy, too, after he talked to the media following Sunday’s outing.

“He’s so poised on the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t do anything fast. He tries to manipulate either the cadence or some kind of pre-snap tell. And he has so many answers,” Golden said. “The one thing that is underrated is some of those balls, if you were here (Saturday) night, some of those touch throws, the overs, just incredible throws. Guys are draped on (the receiver) and the ball can only be caught if it’s in one spot.

“I can’t remember the last time we had an interception on him, and I think that’s the greatest compliment you can give a quarterback. Because the ball will go out of bounds or he’ll eat it rather than give up a big play. And you’ve got to be mentally tough to do that.” …

Golden is also a big fan of safety Jordan Battle. Last year, Battle was embattled. Not now in a re-set with Golden.

“I think the biggest thing is he’s in really good physical shape, so that’s a starting point,” Golden said. “It allows him to play longer at a higher level. His communication is really well. He’s a better tackler than he was a year ago. I just think he has command of the defense right now. I feel him out there. He has the ability to play a lot of different positions for us, which is exciting.” …

Right tackle Amarius Mims didn’t want to talk specifics about the ailments that have kept him out a few days before he lined back up for Sunday’s four drives. He came out halfway through the last drive and said he’s working through some things. He may be, but he’s also working through a very solid camp.

Mims said he talked to offensive line coach Scott Peters about Peters’ desire to let him know how much they need him out there. He said he’s ready to go if they want him to play in Thursday night’s preseason opener (7:30-Cincinnati’s FOX 19) in Philadelphia.

“It’s a game of physical violence. It’s a game you can beat a man and not go to jail,” Mims said. “I’ll be in pain every day for the rest of my life. It’s something you have to fight through for the good of the team.” ….