Chris Crocker and Roy Williams line up at safety during 11-on-11 Drills

by Kirkendall on Jun 18, 2009 2:43 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 9 comments

It's understood on my part that minicamp is minicamp. It's June. There's 43 days left until the start of Training Camp on July 31. There is as much implementation of system and plays as there are auditions for playing time; mainly projections of a rough draft, or initial, depth chart. During Thursday's session, the Bengals defense lined up in 11-on-11 drills, lining up people that have a leg-up on position battles.

While it wasn't shocking to see (read) that Chris Crocker and Roy Williams lined up at safety during 11-on-11 drills, it was somewhat of a surprise that Chinedum Ndukwe wasn't. Hobson notes that The Duke lined up in nickel defense, playing safety while Crocker shifted to nicklel back. In 2008, Ndukwe recorded three sacks -- tied for the team lead -- with an interception and was the only defensive player in Cincinnati to record multiple interceptions in a single game during the 2007 campaign. Ndukwe recorded 77 tackles (Bengals.com stat), finishing seventh on the team.

I need to point out that this isn't a campaign to suggest that Ndukwe should be a starter. Marvin Lewis, Mike Zimmer, Kevin Coyle and Louis Cioffi will put the best options on the field, based on the situation. Plus there's nothing to suggest that this is actually the team's starting lineup. It's just minicamp. It does, however, go to show the increasing depth this team has.

	Games	Tackles	T/G	Sacks	INT
Marvin White	12 (10)	68	5.7	0	1
Chris Crocker	8 (6)	34	4.25	1.5	1
Chinedum Ndukwe	11 (11)	64	5.8	3.0	1
Roy Williams *	15 (13)	92	6.1	0	2

* Used 2007 stat because of a season-long injury in 2008 in which he played three games.
Tackle numbers from NFL.com and "T/G" is tackles per game.

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Safety might be our best and deepest position...

We’re deep and great at LB too.

If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't

by trotanoy on Jun 18, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Which is good...

Might help keep the Bengals from getting burnt by the long ball the way they normally do.

by TheWalrus1971 on Jun 18, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For a team that historically loves WR’s and RB’s (despite not always trying to get blockers for them), it’s nice to see we have an abundance of servicable, quality nfl-caliber starting safeties and LB’s.

Even though N’DuckWeed was a 7th rounder, i’d like to see him play based on past performance. But of the other 2 are better, .i’m not going to complain if they play their 2 best safties!!! Ideally I won’t have to watch Marvin White bounce off of guys he tries to hit anymore than is necessary….

with the injuries we’ve had lately, depth is always a good thing. we have no defensive stars, but just a good collection of quality players.

Of course, if they generate the kind of pash rush they did last year, it won’t matter who plays safety because any nfl WR will get open when you give him enough time. But if it’s Braylon it’s o.k. if he gets open because he will just drop the ball!!! :-)

by ephram on Jun 18, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Marvin White will NEVER live down that hit, will he?

Usually, when you hit a dude so hard his helmet goes flying off, he doesn’t stay on his feet and go rambling into the end zone.

Live and learn…

by TheWalrus1971 on Jun 18, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nice picture!

Hopefully Marvin White will evolve from a ‘hitter’ into a ‘tackler’ some day…

The hard hits are nice…but when they don’t translate into tackles, they’re kind of pointless – like hitting a 300yd drive, but then 3 putting…

by ephram on Jun 18, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude.

We’re supposed to put everything that happened in 2008 into a small little box and drop it off on the Lost island.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Jun 18, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For some nice video of Crocker getting burnt on pass coverage...

http://www.bengals.com/media-lounge/videos/minicamp-highlights-61809/53313b5d-93e3-434e-906f-d27ee3d0c438

If the link doesn’t work, just go to the bengals homepage and click on the June 18th minicamp video highlights.

It’s a 13 minute video. The pass routes are near the end of the video clip.
At 11:30 he gets burnt by undrafted free agent Quan Cosby on a stop & go route.
At 12:35 he gets burnt by Andre Caldwell

In one of the clips between the 2 that show Crocker getting toasted, Roy Williams puts up some good pass defense (although against Maurice Pruify).

by ephram on Jun 18, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Where have you gone Eddie Edwards?

Without a pass rush, it won’t matter who the Bengals have in the secondary. It’s been this way since Louis Breeden and Eric Thomas. I can’t remember the last time the Bengals could bring consistent pressure (Alfred Williams and James Francis?). In the same way that Palmer can’t produce without being protected, the defensive backs need a pass rush or they’ll all get toasted. I’m just glad we won’t have to watch Justin Smith’s rush techniques this year. And I’m not going to buy into Michael Johnson until he’s in a real game.

by michaelallenstowe on Jun 18, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Assuming an improved Pass Rush and better D line...

…there should be an increase in interceptions from hurried throws. Having three solid safeties that can interchange is also key in the 4th quarter. We had very tired players in the 4th last year. The D was on the field for a loooooong time each game.

by UpStateMike on Jun 19, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs