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From last month, but it sounds like the running game scheme is being tweaked again: DOWNHILL CHASERunning back Chase Brown likes how offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and Taylor have tweaked the running game this spring. With new offensive line coach Scott Peters sharpening double-team blocks, there's a whiff of familiarity coming downrange for Brown. "It's exactly how I ran it at Illinois. It will be awesome," Brown said after Tuesday's practice. "We're going to be a more downhill team this year. Eliminate some negative plays. Keep ahead of the chains. That's what matters in this league. Staying ahead of schedule. It's extremely important and I think it's going to help us a lot." The Bengals moved on from their run-game coordinator of the last few seasons, former offensive line coach Frank Pollack, and it sounds as if Taylor and Pitcher have been at the blackboard. A downhill game usually denotes safer, quick hitters designed for between the tackles. "Being more downhill lowers the possibility of a negative yardage play. That's kind of our mindset as a run unit this year," Brown said. "Those quick hitters can be big plays when you make guys miss."

Did Stewart change agents only after the Bengals decided to draft him with the 17th overall pick? I think the answer is a big fat NO.

W3 at Minnesota will be a really big game for Cincinnati. Minnesota has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. They really beefed up their OL in the offseason. It will all come down to QB play for them.

The Athletic: Potential breakout candidates for each team: Cincinnati BengalsCB Cam Taylor-BrittTaylor-Britt has been a candidate for this over the previous two seasons, but perhaps nobody benefited more from the fresh start under defensive coordinator Al Golden than the fourth-year cornerback. He’s proven he can play at a high level for stretches of his career, but he’s been unable to find consistency. He was benched multiple times last year, but his energy, athleticism and playmaking showed up in the offseason program. He sounds and looks more like the confident player who emerged on the scene in his first two seasons and less like the embattled and confused corner who scuffled through the ugly 2024 campaign. It could finally be his year to become a true CB1. — Paul Dehner Jr.

The nepo babies who work on these contracts should have made the sign-or-trade determination in March BEFORE the '25 draft. That means having a good idea of what it takes to sign Hendrickson to an extension, and whether they want to make that deal or not. If the answer is no, then you move the player in the spring before the draft. They clearly thought they could sign him to an extension so they chose not to trade him. So what do the Brown/Blackburn gang need to do at this late date? Sign Hendrickson. Any other outcome, now, is just gross incompetence.

Both of them by the start of training camp? I think the chances of that happening are far less than 50-50.

Guess some fans have just gotten used to 0-2 starts at this point. No big deal...unless you want to make the playoffs. But hey, maybe just barely missing the playoffs is also expected at this point.

Those annual 0-2 starts are the main reason for the 9-8 record.

Not really worried about Knight. The other two are a real concern though.

Need him to play a whole season. Hands are everything to an OL, and when Mims broke his last year it was enough to keep on the sidelines. He really needs more reps and experience to reach his full potential. The talent level with Mims is just staggering. Attitude is great too. Just needs to be able to play, that's all.

I certainly expect him to play out his contract here. Why wouldn't he? This is where Tee, Joe and Ja'Marr all want him to play. Because of the way that Joe likes to operate in spread-wide formations, and the fact that he will never be given much time to wait for receivers to get open - he needs big, sure-handed targets that are always where they need to be and can catch passes in very tight windows. He has total comfort with Tee and Ja'Marr. And one of these years Tee isn't going to have any soft tissue injuries that costs him snaps and games. This year, maybe? I don't think the defense will ever be elite. All we can reasonably hope for is close to average. To win games the Bengals are going to have to score a lot of TDs. McPherson needs to return to form in big situations. Also, Tobin doesn't make big trades.

The defense was obviously a huge problem last season, but the poor kicking game was a HUGE factor in missing the playoffs. The snapper-holder-kicker operation needs to get fixed by the opening game. There are going to be plenty of close games where a FG or lack thereof will be the difference. between winning and losing.

I think most NFL fans are trained to think that QB value can only be measured by playoff appearances and especially Super Bowl rings. Stats don't matter, injuries don't matter, front offices don't matter, coaching staffs don't matter, supporting casts don't matter...only playoffs and Super Bowl rings matter. Everything else? Just empty excuses to protect your overrated QB.

The other teams in the division are beefing up on CBs, in part to slow down Burrow. Meanwhile, the Bengals are sitting on plenty of salary cap space but seem interested in doing very little to improve themselves through trade or free agents still available. From The Athletic: Cincinnati BengalsCould the Bengals add another veteran at guard? The battle at both guard spots runs deep. Veterans Cody Ford and Lucas Patrick were competing on the right side during OTAs, with rookie Dylan Fairchild and Cordell Volson largely in the mix on the left. New offensive line coach Scott Peters sounds content with those battles, and there hasn’t been a clamoring to add another body to the mix. However, with veterans such as Brandon Scherff, Dalton Risner and Will Hernandez all still available and the Bengals owning an abundance of cap space, would they add a more proven starter to the mix and let the others compete for the remaining spot? I’d say it’s unlikely, but a move they should be considering. — Paul Dehner Jr.

You mean their record is better than a combined 1-11 in the first 2 games of the season for the last 6 years? Must be nice.

The Athletic - What we learned from each team in offseason workouts. Cincinnati BengalsThe Bengals found exactly what they were looking for in second-round pick Demetrius Knight Jr. The linebacker was slotted into the starting spot alongside Logan Wilson immediately and brought stability despite this being his first time on an NFL practice field. He’s older (24) with more experience, which made his addition look and feel more like a free-agent signing than draft pick. Players view him as a future leader of the defense already and with all captains gone from last year’s group, defensive coordinator Al Golden is on the hunt for exactly that. — Paul Dehner Jr.

Travis Hunter signed his contract today. So Shemar Stewart is the only unsigned 1st rounder left. Mims was the last 1st rounder to sign last year, but I can't what the date was last summer when an agreement was reached.

Stewart will be the last 1st rounder to sign this year, just as Mims was the last to sign last year. Seems to be a trend developing.

I get that overall, but a talented 25 year old rookie linebacker is a safer bet than it would be for many other positions.

You answered your own question here before you even asked it...

Jury is still out on Murphy, but they picked up the 5th year option on Hill because of how well he played at CB before his unfortunate knee injury. Maybe Hill should have been a CB all along.

Paul Dehner - The Athletic: Knight Jr. deliveringIf picking one winner from the rookie class, linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. would be running away with the title. The 24-year-old second-round pick opened eyes across the locker room with how quickly he blended in and became a stabilizing force next to Logan Wilson. The Bengals have him starting, and his leadership as a more mature player entering the league was exactly what the defense sought. He’s been used in different spots — blitzing off the edge, stacking behind the line — in any way defensive coordinator Al Golden has wanted to tinker. Golden sought versatility from the position and Knight is bringing it. “Just consistent energy,” Golden said. “I love his approach to the game. He makes everybody around him better. He’s a live wire. He just enjoys the game, and he’s got a grateful heart.” It was even mentioned in the locker room how Knight already feels like a leader of this defense for the next generation. His maturity and drive make it like the Bengals added a linebacker in free agency instead of the draft. That’s a large reason why they had him valued much higher than the public perception.

I hate the Ravens, but you have to give them credit. They never stop trying to improve. That's a really strong secondary.

Iosivas is now up to 220 pounds. Geoff Hobson article excerpt: The guy puts on about 15 pounds over the offseason and finds out he's better than ever at 220. "I think it's helping me," Iosivas says. "I'm stronger out of my breaks. Quicker. I can put more power into the ground so I can push off faster. People's bodies are built differently. When I put on the weight, it was beneficial to me. Not detrimental. I'm still fast. If I'm the same speed, but heavier, who cares? Run through some tackles."

Doesn't 5th rounder Chase Brown count? Hope we haven't forgotten how productive he was after he finally became the featured back. I think Chase Brown is an ascending star.