Bengals Bytes (7/9): The future is now

Bengals Bytes

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vincent Rey most effective on pass plays
One might make the argument that Vincent Rey is the most effective linebacker among the Bengals, which would probably raise some eyebrows with Vontaze Burfict playing nearby, but football heads at Pro Football Focus probably wouldn’t argue. They sure like Rey as a pass defender.

C.J. Uzomah working to make another jump in third NFL season | AL.com
Former Auburn standout C.J. Uzomah went from one reception during his first NFL season in 2015 to 25 in his second campaign as a tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals. "I have some things to work on - blocking assignments and being fundamentally sound in everything that I do - but I felt like I really came along in my second year," Uzomah said. "In my first year, I thought that I was timid and played a little slower not knowing where everybody was going to be. But last year, I was able to unload and kind of relax, let loose and have fun out there."

Oakwood's Cameron Lee set for big opportunity with Bengals - Wandtv.com, NewsCenter17, StormCenter17, Central Illinois News-
OAKWOOD -- Cameron Lee's NFL dreams got a major boost late last month when the Cincinnati Bengals came calling. The former Illinois State walk-on turned starter is now just weeks away from his first NFL training camp.

Teaching Tape: Cincinnati Bengals and the RPO | NFL Analysis | Pro Football Focus
Last offseason, the PFF analysis team went back and graded the entire 2006 season. While it wasn’t terribly exciting, pouring over games that occurred almost a decade prior, there were a handful of interesting insights to be gleaned. By far the most noticeable difference was the use of shotgun and the yet to be implemented pistol. Nowadays, any third down longer than three yards is ran from the gun. Back then, there were third and 10+ situations that were taken under center.

Bengals' Jeremy Hill: Still figures to have a role - CBSSports.com
Hill figures to remain involved in the offense despite the offseason addition of second-round pick Joe Mixon, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports. While Marvin Lewis typically doesn't ask much of his rookies, running backs have been a clear exception, with Hill and Giovani Bernard (knee) both topping 225 touches in their respective debut campaigns. Mixon's draft status and well-rounded skill set should help him earn an immediate role -- and possibly even the starting job -- but that doesn't mean Hill will completely disappear from the offense in his contract season.

Bengals' Brandon LaFell: Roster spot seems safe - CBSSports.com
LaFell's roster spot with the Bengals seems to be in safe standing, ESPN's Katherine Terrell reports. LaFell, who caught 64 passes for 862 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season, inked a two-year contract to remain with the Bengals in March.

AFC North Bytes

Steelers Fan Playa Hatin' Semifinals Results: No. 1 Burfict vs No. 12 Blount - Behind the Steel Curtain
The vitriol is strong for Vontaze Burfict. With apologies to Diane Chambers, Steeler Nation hates this guy with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns. Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely no love lost for LeGarrette Blount either as evident by his receiving 13% of the vote against a guy who seemingly maims for fun. One commenter said it all with a mere three letters about Burfict...P.O.S. I agree but I would replace the word piece for pile.

Predicting the Pittsburgh Steelers 53-man roster by position: Linebacker - Behind the Steel Curtain
The linebacker position is central to the success of the Steelers defense. In this installment of The Final 53, we break down which players will make it past cuts at a very crowded position.

It looks like Myles Garrett will indeed be ready for Browns training camp - Dawgs By Nature
After Cleveland Browns minicamp ended in mid-June, the Browns said that first overall pick Myles Garrett would be ready for the start of training camp despite having a lateral foot sprain. The last time we had seen Garrett, he was seen by a fan in a walking boot at the airport.

PFF ranks the Ravens as the 26th best passing offense - Baltimore Beatdown
Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 NFL franchise’s passing offenses. They analyzed the quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs, but did not include offense lineman in this ranking. The Ravens are listed as seventh the worst passing offense in the league.

Random Bytes

The NFL Network might’ve cost TCU a 4-star recruit. Wait, what? - SBNation.com
The network dipped its toe into amateur football, and according to one report, accidentally made a wave.

NFL games will no longer feature those awkward erectile dysfunction drug commercials - SBNation.com
NFL broadcasts are definitely going to better in 2017 than they have been in a long time. How do I know this with the season still more than two months away? Because the endless ads for boner pills will no longer be lurking at every commercial break encouraging you to ask your doctor how you, dear older man, can get better at throwing a football through a tire or emasculating those of us who don’t have twin bathtubs in the backyard.

What football will look like in the future
Something is terribly wrong...

Culture, history some of the biggest draws for Denver’s newest veterans | Mile High Sports
The Denver Broncos didn’t make the biggest free agency splash in 2017. They didn’t have to make a big splash. Instead, they did their best to fill the holes they believed existed on last year’s roster. With each new player the Broncos added this offseason comes a unique view of the organization. For Domata Peko, a defensive lineman who spent his first 11 seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, the move to Denver has been one he’s enjoyed so far.

NFL Coaches Hot Seat Going Into 2017 Season
NFL Coaches Hot Seat Going Into 2017 Season. Here are the coaches whose seats are hot and who desperately need to perform well in 2017.