Bengals Safeties Mays and Sands Could See First Action Against the Bills

by Jason Garrison on Sep 30, 2011 12:02 PM EDT

Due to some minor injuries to backup safeties, Gibril Wilson, suffering from a knee injury, and Jeromy Miles, suffering from a groin injury, haven't practiced yet this week. This could open the door for some faces that we haven't seen yet to take the field for the first time as Bengals.

Taylor Mays, who was acquired via trade from the San Francisco 49ers before the season started, hasn't been able to make his way on the field yet. Mays, who seems to have all the physical tools to play safety in the NFL, was a Bengals fan favorite heading into the 2010 draft. He has been suffering knee injury for the last couple weeks.

When members of the media asked head coach Marvin Lewis about Mays during Wednesday's press conference, he responded by saying that Mays has a ton upside.

"I’m asked this question a lot by my boss. I’m happy we have Taylor, and at some point I’m confident Taylor will get out and play a lot of football for us. I’m glad he’s with us. He’s everything I expected and better. I’m happy he’s on our side and we’ll continue to coach him, and at some point hopefully I can get him out there and playing for us. I think he has a high upside."

Robers Sands was the Bengals 2011 draft pick out of West Virginia University. Sands is a tall and physical safety that wasn't afraid to hit hard in college. He finished his junior year with 53 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception and forced fumble.

It is unclear as to whether or not the Bengals will use Mays or Sands in week four against the Buffalo Bills but with the Bills' third ranked offense, the Bengals may decide that they want to play some more defensive backs to keep the Bills' passing game under control.

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really want to see Sands

I’m hopeful he can be the hard hitting saftey that needs to be feared when crossing the middle.

by JCompton41 on Sep 30, 2011 12:17 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

me too

I really like the tape i’ve seen of him in College and am really eager to see him make some plays for us sooner rather than later.

We’ve been missing a hammer @ safety for WAY too long….the Sandsman can be that guy (hopefully)

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by TruWhoDey on Sep 30, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

+...................2!

Would love to see both out there, will be a good test to see how far along they both are and if they’re ready for significant PT.

by The Van Buren Boys on Sep 30, 2011 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

so we're going to play 2 run-stopping safeties vs. a team that likes to throw

by ephram on Sep 30, 2011 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

No Crocker And Nelson are still good to go..

But the bills have been running well too… And we have Special Team needs..
(and vs a O the passes alot its good to keep guys fresh)

Now will they both be on the field same time probly not unless its a kickoff..

But what WR will want to catch a ball with these 2 roaming the field?
could in a year be the scariest S combo ever…

We Got Rey 58 Now we Have Mays and Sands While Nelson has earn his starting Spot Crocker has slipped a few times. if Mays gets healthy and more practice in he could take over the starting spot by years end…

Plus with S’s having a high injurey rate its good to get them involved early

by Bengalsfan024 on Sep 30, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

i don't disagree w/what your saying...

it’s just funny that the timing of playing Sands & Mays (guys known as big hitters, good in run-stopping, but with holes in coverage) coincides with the week we are playing a team that utilizes a pass-happy spread offense.

by ephram on Sep 30, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah but if our DL keeps rolling

Fitz wont have much time to throw. and both these guys have great closing speed.

by Bengalsfan024 on Sep 30, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

He doesn't really NEED that much time to throw.

He gets rid of the ball pretty quickly from what I’ve seen.

by Luke on Sep 30, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm scared to put Sands out there.

From the few preseason games that I have seen and reading upon his pro and cons. I’m not so confident that he will be an asset right now, seeing how the Bills WR’s are playing.

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by cilii_blog on Sep 30, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

i say put em both out there

If they can’t cover atleast maybe make a few giant hits. Not all game but a few times when the bills are gonna work short over the middle, why net put the hit squad in and crack some skulls?

by JCompton41 on Sep 30, 2011 3:36 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Let them play

Is this the year the Bengals going to the super bowl? No!!! Let these young guys get thier feet wet. We dnt know what we got till they play. Aint like they are starting.

by i am will on Sep 30, 2011 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

I would love to see them worked in slowly...

kind of like Nelson was throughout the season last year. I am getting a little impatient with the safety position though and am ready for change considering the fact that Crocker has a habit of making bonehead plays, whether it be taking out his own teammates while their in coverage and poised to make tackles (Denver, this year) or always having a habit of going after the receiver instead of the ball (Denver, 2009, Stokley TD catch, Crocker going head-hunting after Marshall instead of going for the pick). My point is I’d like to see what Sands and Mays can bring to the table but I don’t want them to be too heavily relied on right now. Mays does remind of a potential Troy Polamalu if utilized properly and I’m not just saying that because he’s from USC.

by dstacify on Oct 1, 2011 2:27 AM EDT reply actions