Hard Knocks observations

Doesn't the opening episode of Hard Knocks bring excitement and anticipation for the football season? Last night's debut of the 2013 edition of the show featuring the Cincinnati Bengals packed a great deal of insights into the team and training camp in Cincinnati right from the get go. Training camp has only been occurring for a couple of weeks now, yet it seems like so much has happened with the team. The first show with the Bengals was probably better than any of the Dolphins Hard Knocks episodes last season. Everyone on this year's Bengals team seems unified and determined to reach the goals set forth by the coaching staff. The players seem to be bonding along the way, and their enthusiasm for the game is evident while watching.

-Hue Jackson is an extremely involved Associate Head Coach. His experience with the Raiders in the top job gives him credibility to influence the team almost as much as Marvin Lewis. The players genuinely like and respect Jackson, even jawing with him throughout practice. Jackson has the perspective of working with both the offense and defensive sides of the ball, and he has relationships with each of the Bengals' players. The show reveals Giovani Bernard as Jackson's golden child, and he rightly wants to keep his rookie playmaker healthy. Jackson is a charismatic speech maker and is now on the short list of assistants to watch for in interviews for potential head coaching positions at the end of the year. 

-Watch out for Jermaine Gresham. Not only did Gresham dominate the Oklahoma drill by pancaking star defensive tackle Geno Atkins, but his overall attitude this season seems to be me against the world. I don't care if Gresham may have jumped off the line early in that drill. Taking Geno Atkins to the ground is no small feat. The Bengals are expecting a great deal out of Gresham, who is getting less attention than Tyler Eifert in a contract year. Gresham is determined to rebound after a tough playoff game in 2012 and has a chance to break out as a top five tight end. 

-Gio Bernard is getting a lot of attention. Especially from his teammates on defense, who have seemed to target the diminutive running back in practices. Vontaze Burfict even joked that Bernard is like a tackling dummy. The Bengals have a fierce defense that is not afraid to bring the hammer, so Bernard is getting a crash course in the physicality of the NFL every day in practice. This is the best way for the rookie running back to develop an AFC North running style. Bernard seems like a genuinely nice person who is a great addition to the locker room. 

-The pursuit of excellence. I thought that was the best line of the entire show last night. Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer made it known to his defense that this team has expectations to win the Super Bowl. Jay Gruden said the same thing to his offense. The return of most of the successful players from last year along with an in tact coaching staff makes that dream a possibility. Zimmer's defense may have to carry the Bengals early on with new weapons impacting the lineup on offense such as Bernard, Tyler Eifert, and Orson Charles, but the team on paper is one of the three most talented rosters in football. 

-The emotions of the NFL were shown in the grimmest of ways towards the end of the episode with the season ending knee and ankle injuries of Larry Black. Black, according to Jay Hayes, had the potential to become a solid NFL nose tackle, and now he might not be back on the field for a year. The Bengals placed Black on the waived/IR list, but he will have an opportunity to rejoin the club and rehab for the future. The raw disappointment on Black's face was evident in the trainer's room during Hard Knocks. Black was sobbing after calling his parents to let them know about his injury. The NFL is a cutthroat business, and Black is smart enough to realize this might have been his only shot at the league. Black's teammates are behind him as Domata Peko spoke for everyone by saying Black is part of the Bengals family. Hopefully Black can successfully heal and reach his dream of playing in NFL games. 

Rich Hidy 

Cincy Sports Spot

Hard Knocks: What to watch for in premier

The first episode of the Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals 2013 edition of the show premiers tonight at 10 p.m. on HBO. The Bengals are used to the Hard Knocks spotlight after participating in the documentary in 2009. Camera crews made up of tons of workers have been on the practice field and in Paul Brown Stadium during each practice filming every inch of team activities. The show will certainly focus on a number of story lines and players as the weeks of training camp progress, but the opening show will ultimately set the stage for what is to come.

AJ Green Injury: This might be the most interesting part of the show tonight. There's no doubt the Hard Knocks cameras got shots of Green taking an awkward fall battling Terrence Newman for a deep ball. Green injured his knee and will be out of the lineup over the course of the next couple of weeks. Look for Hard Knocks to capture the play itself with their advanced cameras and follow Green into the locker room to meet with the doctors to get a prognosis.

Bengals pep rally/family night: The Bengals had a rare opportunity to allow a large audience of fans into Paul Brown Stadium to get a glimpse of the players and coaches in the pep rally and the following family night for practice. It will be interesting to hear what the players thought of the events and see how they interact with the fans if the Hard Knocks crew chooses to document those nights. The practices inside Paul Brown Stadium probably aid the crew in taking better shots of plays because of the increase in space in comparison to the practice fields.

Marvin Lewis: It is interesting to witness Lewis' temperament and demeanor this summer. Lewis seems to be more relaxed and confident in this team than in many of the seasons past. Lewis even said he could cut his roster down to about sixty players at this very moment. Hard Knocks always does a thorough job in following the duties and personality of an NFL Head Coach. Not many Bengals fans truly know the real Marvin Lewis because of his nondescript press conferences and tendency to stay under the radar. I think viewers will be surprised to see Lewis loosen up during the show and rave about the 2013 Bengals, a team that he has the highest of hopes for to win multiple playoff games.

Adam Jones: We haven't heard much about Jones in the training camp practices thus far, but there have been reports of the Hard Knocks cameras following Jones into his home to see him interact with his family. Jones is coming off of his most consistent season as a professional in the league, and he is expected to fulfill his duty as the third corner and punt returner once again this season. Jones is eventually going to get a ruling from Commissioner Roger Goodell on whether or not Jones is looking at a suspension because of an incident earlier in the summer in downtown Cincinnati. The Hard Knocks crew will attempt to reveal the real Adam "Pacman" Jones, a man who might be different than the perception of the public eye.

Rookies: One of the best parts about the NFL is the initiation process of players just entering the league. The Bengals have two marquee draft picks who are going to impact the team right away in Giovani Bernard and Tyler Eifert. That doesn't mean those two and the other draft picks won't receive a little bit of hazing from the veterans. There may be a few surprise jokesters on the team. Maybe even a few of the leaders like Geno Atkins and Andy Dalton have funnier personalities than people think. Hard Knocks will help shed light on what the rookies have to do when they first enter the league and some of the pranks that are directed at them in the present day.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Depth chart released--Insights on the defense

The Bengals' defense is largely expected to take that next step into the NFL elite this season after retaining every key player on the unit and keeping underrated Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer. The offseason has been reasonably quiet in terms of positioning battles with the defense, so when the depth chart was released, a scan of the starting lineup looks similar to last season at each position group. There can still be movement and spots on the team up for grabs especially at the backup units on the defensive side of the ball, however.

-After receiving his forty plus million dollar extension, it seems Carlos Dunlap has finally been inserted into the starting lineup. Dunlap suffered a concussion in practice, but that won't keep him out more than a week. Dunlap and Michael Johnson on the other side of the defensive line can generated over twenty sacks in 2013. Domata Peko and Geno Atkins start at the inside spots on the defensive line, but expect Devon Still to get plenty of action next to Atkins this season.

-The linebacking starters have been known since James Harrison signed with the Bengals this offseason. Harrison, Rey Maualuga, and Vontaze Burfict can punish players with the ball, so expect some forced fumbles to show up on the stat sheet this season from that position group. Emmanuel Lamur is the fourth linebacker on the team and will be in on third down and longs over the course of the year. He is one of the best young prospects on the Bengals. Sean Porter is the only other linebacker on the roster who can earn snaps with the starters. Aaron Maybin and Vinny Rey have been in the NFL for a few seasons now and it is time for them to step up.

-Dre Kirkpatrick is somehow behind Brandon Ghee on the depth chart at this stage, but that could very well be for motivational purposes. Kirkpatrick has flashed ball skills during training camp and has provided a blanket of coverage that has to be recognized by the coaches. He is beginning to flash his first round potential. The cornerback position looks like it is pretty solid heading into 2013.

-Reggie Nelson is the consistent starter at the free safety spot, but the news of the day is George Iloka getting the nod at strong safety. He is the right pick based on his coverage skills, which are better than the competition right now. Iloka has learned how to read the quarterback from Chris Crocker, who stepped in out of nowhere and played well in 2012. Iloka was one of the greatest defenders in Boise State history, and his rangy athleticism could hold off Shawn Williams and Taylor Mays until the start of the season, although I'm still not convinced the Bengals won't make a call to Crocker at some point.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Bengals cut Wharton, create more cap room

The Bengals made another trimming of the roster move on Monday after cutting Jamaal Anderson on July 10 by releasing offensive guard Travelle Wharton. Wharton was signed in 2012 as the first free agent of that year to agree to play for the Bengals with a three year contract, and he was expected to become the starter at the right guard spot with the departure of Bobbie Williams. Wharton then missed the entire season with a torn ACL, but was rehabbing properly since his surgery and would have been a quality backup at both guard spots this season.

The Bengals might have a corresponding move in mind after releasing Wharton, who at the very least would have fit well as a veteran in the Bengals' locker room after showing he could contribute in games for Carolina before joining Cincinnati. The move creates an extra two million dollars of cap space, leaving the Bengals in a situation of being almost eighteen million dollars below the salary cap. The releases of Jamaal Anderson and Travelle Wharton are due to one of two things.

First, the Bengals could be giving themselves as much financial flexibility as possible in order to re-sign Geno Atkins before the season and Michael Johnson after the season. Atkins will be due to make more than Haloti Ngata in 2014 based on his production with the team. Ngata signed a five year deal worth nearly fifty million with the Ravens, so the Bengals would probably have to start the negotiations at five years for at least sixty million to get Atkins to think about signing.

The second option the Bengals might be thinking of with the release of Wharton is bringing in either Kerry Rhodes or Chris Crocker to compete for the strong safety spot. Rhodes and Crocker would demand at least two million on a one year contract, so that could be why the Bengals released Wharton now instead of letting him play out training camp.

Crocker was a solid presence for the Bengals last season. Mike Zimmer really likes the security Crocker brings to the secondary, and since not everyone on a defense can be an All Pro, there is always room for a well traveled and savvy veteran like Crocker. Rhodes would be a big splash in free agency for the Bengals considering he was rated as a top ten safety last season. However, it may be difficult for him to learn the Bengals' defense in such short notice before camp and fit in with a new team atmosphere after playing in New York and Arizona throughout his career. Rhodes would also demand a little bit more money than Crocker for signing a contract, but would also probably provide Cincinnati with better statistical production in 2013-14.

Top 10 veterans to make an impact: Part 2

The top five veteran players on the Bengals will be expected to bear a heavy load to help carry the team to the playoffs for three consecutive seasons in the NFL, a feat that only the elite teams in the league such as Baltimore and New England can claim. These vets have experienced the successes in Cincinnati since 2011, and they are a large reason the Bengals have experienced a rebirth and culture change in the second half of Marvin Lewis' tenure. Here are the five players the Bengals will lean heavily on for production and leadership in the locker room.

5. Michael Johnson-Johnson is the most productive defensive end on the roster, and probably the most feared by opponents as well. Johnson earned $11 million this season after a career year in 2012-13 when he added muscle weight and collected fifty-two tackles and 11.5 sacks. Basically, the Bengals are expecting Johnson to duplicate what he did last season and will pay about a million dollars per sack if he reaches last season's career climax in his fifth year. Johnson is the type of menacing defensive end every team in the NFL covets. He is 6'7 and weighs 270 pounds and is built like Bears star rusher Julius Peppers. This might be Johnson's final season in a Cincinnati uniform, and that might motivate him to play even harder. Johnson knows the significance of a standout season in terms of financial reward, and there's no doubt if he can mimic what he did last year, someone will invest the future of a franchise in Johnson. 

4. Leon Hall-Hall could easily be the most underrated cornerback in the NFL. He is a versatile and athletic corner who can cover the opposing team's best receiver if given the assignment. Hall is also the leader of the defensive backs and has proven to be a playmaker since 2007 with twenty-two interceptions during that time. The secondary should be largely in tact this season, and with Hall gaining stability on his previously injured Achilles, he should easily surpass his total of two interceptions last season. Hall is the best lockdown corner in the AFC North.

3. AJ Green-Nobody disputes the ability of third year wideout AJ Green. In fact, many people are wondering what two players could possibly be ahead of Green on this list. Green has shown freakish talent since coming out of Georgia. He built on a fabulous rookie season with ninety-seven receptions for 1,350 yards and eleven touchdowns last year. Green should be expected to catch one hundred balls this year with more attention concentrated on talented targets Mohamed Sanu, Tyler Eifert, and even Giovani Bernard. Green does everything really well, but the thing that holds him back slightly from being the best in the league is his tendency to disappear at times in the game. If Green can consistently get open over and over again throughout the sixty minutes of an NFL contest, there's no reason he can't overtake Calvin Johnson for the best receiver spot.

2. Andy Dalton-I really like Dalton in year three. His quiet confidence displayed throughout the offseason tells me he is gearing up for a special year. Dalton now considers himself in charge of the offense and he will certainly demand more out of himself and the players around him this year, which include new additions Cobi Hamilton, Tyler Eifert, and Giovani Bernard. Not many quarterbacks have done what Dalton has his first two seasons in the league in terms of winning. Dalton transformed TCU into a Rose Bowl Champion, and now he is shifting Cincinnati from a laughing stock to a top five team. Look for Dalton to throw for over thirty touchdowns this season and cut down on the major thing that plagued him last year, interceptions. Dalton has gotten off to hot starts in each of his first two years but has faded down the stretch. With two full years under his belt, the "red rifle" should be more prepared for the long haul.

1. Geno Atkins-Atkins is one of the best players in the NFL, and certainly is the best defensive tackle the league has to offer. Since becoming a steal of a draft pick in 2010, Atkins has used his ideal pass rushing body type to confuse offensive lines. Atkins is one of the strongest players on the team at 6'1, 303 pounds, and creates leverage issues for opposing offenses, exposing mismatches and getting to the quarterback. Atkins had three games with two sacks last year and finished with 12.5 total sacks and four forced fumbles. Atkins is also in a contract year and is in line for a large extension possibly before the season. 

Cincy Sports Spot Awards: Part 1

The ESPY Awards show takes place tonight on ESPN heralding the best players, teams, and moments of the past year. Although there are no players from any of the Cincinnati sports teams nominated to receive awards on tonight's show, there are plenty of deserving players on professional and collegiate teams in the local area. Many players have risen to stardom and teams in the city like the Bengals and Reds have accomplished more than in the past twenty years with back to back playoff appearances and almost one hundred victories respectively. Now, Part 1 of Cincy Sports Spot's first annual awards for Cincinnati teams and players.

Best Athlete: Geno Atkins-Atkins collected 12.5 sacks to lead defensive tackles this past season, and could have easily been the Defensive Player of the Year if it wasn't for the amazing year JJ Watt had for the Texans. Atkins is already probably the best nose tackle the Bengals have ever had. Yes, that includes Tim Krumrie. He brings a rare skill set with his speed rushing and unbelievable leg strength. Atkins is almost impossible to block for an entire game.

Best Upset: Cincinnati over Marquette 71-69 (OT)-The Bearcats needed a signature win in mid January to make March Madness, and a victory over twenty-fifth ranked Marquette fit that bill. Sean Kilpatrick hit the game winning shot in that game with less than five seconds left during a dynamic scoring performance of thirty-six points. Kilpatrick hit five three pointers in the game for Cincinnati, who went on to make the tournament and lose to Creighton in the first round.

Best Male College Athlete: Semaj Christon-Christon was largely left to lead the rebuilding Xavier Musketeers in 2012-2013. The Musketeers had to play two walk-ons throughout the season, and Top 100 recruit Semaj Christon was the standout as a freshman. Christon almost single handedly willed his team to victory against ranked teams Memphis and St. Louis with thirteen and twenty points respectively. Christon became the nation's second best point guard heading into the offseason right behind Marcus Smart after he averaged 15.2 points, almost three rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Christon can easily play his way into the top ten in next year's NBA draft.

Best Coach/Manager-Dusty Baker-As much as fans like to give Baker grief for some of his decisions in regards to lineups and pitching changes, not many people can argue with the results of a manager who has become one of the winningest managers in the history of baseball. The Reds finished with 97 wins in 2012, making the playoffs and winning the first two games before losing the next three to the World Series Champions. Baker currently has the Reds in a Wild Card spot with the Reds sitting pretty comfortably in third in the NL Central eleven games over the .500 mark.

Best Moment: Bengals defeat Steelers 13-10 in Week 16-Just before Christmas, the Bengals got an early present by clinching a playoff spot with a win over the Steelers. The game decided a Wild Card spot and clinched the Bengals' second straight playoff appearance for the first time since 1981-82. The game was extremely ugly and low scoring as the Bengals rushed for just fourteen yards, but Andy Dalton hit AJ Green near the sidelines at the right time with under a minute left in the game to set up a game winning field goal by kicker Josh Brown. What an exciting victory for a historically playoff starved Cincinnati Bengals franchise.

Best Comeback-Leon Hall-Hall suffered a season ending Achilles injury after playing in nine games in 2011, and made it back after a commendable rehab period to play in fourteen games in 2012. Hall collected two interceptions, including one for a touchdown against the Steelers, and also earned a pick against the Texans in the playoffs. Hall has become a marquee cornerback in the league, and he does it the right way by being a consummate professional. Look for Hall to only improve after a full year back from the injury.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Bengals d-line returns in tact

The Bengals defense finished in the top 10 last season in large part due to generating a total of 51 sacks. The majority came from 2 contributors in the starting lineup, Geno Atkins and Michael Johnson. Atkins is widely considered the best defensive tackle in the NFL. He had a total of 12.5 sacks and was virtually unblockable last year. The scary thing for opposing NFL teams is that Atkins hasn't even reached his prime as a player yet as a 25 year old player in his fourth season. If Atkins continues to improve and stay healthy, he could end up a Hall of Famer at the end of his career.

Atkins on the inside opened up rushing lanes on the outside of the defensive line with Michael Johnson's 11.5 sacks. Johnson is a physical specimen with his 6'7, 280 pound frame. He took a huge step in 2012 and earned the franchise tag this offseason. The Bengals are hoping Carlos Dunlap steps up and earns the starting gig opposite Johnson in his contract year. Dunlap is probably the team's most talented lineman since being drafted out of Florida in the second round in 2010. Dunlap has shown flashes of being dominant, especially in his rookie season. He finished last year with 6 sacks, but his main problem is staying healthy and productive on the field. Dunlap can't just be a third down specialist this season if he wants to cash in and receive a long term extension.

What makes the defensive line the Bengals' deepest position group is the second unit of linemen, who can support both the pass and the run. This veteran group knows what it takes to be consistent in the NFL. Robert Geathers and Wallace Gilberry will return to the team after both earning new contracts. Geathers has been a Bengal for his entire career, and although he isn't the same pass rusher he once was, he is a dynamic presence in the locker room. Gilberry bursted onto the scene last year with his best season as a pro. He was picked up during the season and ended up third on the team with 6.5 sacks.

Domata Peko is a rock solid run stopper whose infectious personality makes him one of the primary leaders on the team. Peko is joined by Brandon Thompson and Devon Still, 2 second year players looking to make an impact. Still could be a starter this year if he can improve on his pass rushing skills, which helped him get drafted in the second round in 2012. Thompson has a similar style to Peko, and a combination of Still and Thompson on the field in a 4-3 set to give Atkins a breather could be an effective second unit.

The final lineman that could push this team into a category of one of the best position groups of all time is rookie Margus Hunt. Hunt, a 6'8 former track and field star out of SMU, will be molded to play like Michael Johnson if Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer has his way. Hunt will work his way on the field in third down packages, probably across from Johnson. Imagine trying to throw the ball over those two huge linemen with their hands up.

The Bengals have a lot to work with on the defensive line. The defense could be dominant this season if the line steps up like last year in the battle in the trenches. A standout defensive line makes the entire defense better, including a weaker secondary, which the Bengals could have if Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick are not on the field.