2019 Bengals Team Guide & Season Preview
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Dear Bengals Fans, IT HAS BEEN A LIFELONG DREAM OF mine to be a head coach at the highest level. I am excited for this opportunity and to bring great things to the Cincinnati Bengals franchise. We laid the groundwork this offseason, establishing a culture of high standards and clear communication. There is a lot of talent on this team, and we have the pieces to be very successful this season. It starts on offense with players such as Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon. On defense, we have a good mix of veteran leaders, such as Carlos Dunlap,
Geno Atkins and Shawn Williams, and emerging stars such as Sam Hubbard and Jessie Bates. The players are playing fast and with a lot of confidence. They want to be coached hard and held to the highest standards because everyone wants to win. That’s the bottom line. This team is hungry, and they are ready to be challenged every day. Football is a team game, and everyone plays a role in our success, including you, the fans. We invite you to come out to training camp to see the team in action and meet the players as they sign autographs
Bengals new head coach Zac Taylor provides instructions to wide receiver Cody Core during preseason workouts.
after every practice. A strong home-field advantage is paramount in the NFL, and that is why we need you in The Jungle every Sunday creating that loud, energetic environment. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing you during training camp and in The Jungle this fall. WHO DEY! Sincerely, Zac Taylor C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E 3
Taylor already scoring points with his new players BENGALS LIKE WHAT THEY SEE IN NEW COACH By Jack Brennan
Head coach Zac Taylor connected well with his new team during the offseason. 4 C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E
Andy Dalton
THE PLAYBOOK. THE PLAN. THE PRE SENTATION. THE PRECISION. Call those the “Four P’s” of the Bengals’ dawning Zac Taylor Era, as reported by those who work daily with the new head coach. They are four reasons to believe that Taylor can take an arguably underrated roster to a fifth “P” Bengals fans hunger for – a playoff run. “I am very excited; just look at the playbook,” All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Green said. “It’s basically the same thing they ran with the Rams. It’s all set up very sound with the running game, but I think we’ll be taking a lot of big shots, looking for bigchunk plays. I love being out here with an offensive-minded coach.” Taylor isn’t just any offensive-minded coach. He was quarterbacks coach for the 2018 Los Angeles Rams, helping lift QB Jared Goff to a season of multiple records, and the team won the NFC Championship while finishing second in the NFL in points (32.9) and yards (421.1) per game. At 36 years old as training camp begins, Taylor is young by traditional NFL headcoaching standards. However, he displays
Geno Atkins
a grasp of a head coach’s role that’s beyond his years. “Zac came to us with a real plan,” said Bengals player personnel director Duke Tobin, a key figure in Taylor’s hiring. “He had done a ton of work to know our manage-
ment and know our team. We had hours of pretty deep conversations about everything down to meeting schedules and how to manage players when they’re outside the building. He had easy, confident answers to our questions. He brings a lot of highC I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E 5
A.J. Green
Joe Mixon (28) with Giovani Bernard
end current success with the Rams, and he showed us very impressively how he wants to run things here.” Taylor also attracted serious head6 C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E
coaching interest from the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. His ability to communicate with today’s NFL players played a big role.
“His presentation to the team … he’s just really good in the front of the (meeting) room,” ninth-year QB Andy Dalton says. “It gets you excited, the way he implements everything. The leadership he’s going to have with this team is tremendous. There’s a reason for everything we do, and he makes it really clear to us.” And on the practice field, it’s all put into action. “Coach Taylor does a great job each and every day coming in with the new attitude and mindset,” third-year running back Joe Mixon said. “The level of competition raises your level of play. Everybody is trying to give their best effort whether they’re on the field or not. You have to cheer for your teammates and be their No. 1 fans and that’s what everybody is starting to do, and as long as we can keep that going, I think that will be great.” Playbook. Plan. Presentation. Precision. They are elements designed to light a spark on a roster with another “P” – potential. Despite missing the playoffs the last three seasons as head coach Marvin Lewis closed a 16-year, seven-playoff run, Cincinnati boasts a talent level that seems overlooked in national preseason forecasts.
Tyler Boyd
Have the prognosticators perhaps forgotten returning AFC rushing leader Mixon? Or the presence of two 1,000-yard receivers from last season (Green and Tyler Boyd)? Or that Dalton is 18 games over .500 as a starter (68 wins against 50 losses), with the best career passer rating (88.8) in Bengals history? What about the presence of two returning Pro Bowl defensive linemen (Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap)? Or a stable with three veteran cornerbacks drafted in the first round (Dre Kirkpatrick, William Jackson and Darqueze Dennard)? Of course, there are areas in need of revamping. Offensive line and linebacker head the list, and the coaches have their options mapped out as training camp begins. “We feel we’re a talented team overall,” said Dalton, who has played in three Pro Bowls, “and I think that’s one of the reasons this job was enticing to Zac. We may not be getting much credit right now, but a lot of people win the offseason and don’t do all that much when it counts. “And the organization has done everything (Taylor) wanted. They’ve made changes in the building and hired the biggest coaching staff (21 assistants) this
Carlos Dunlap
franchise has ever had. They’re doing the things he feels are needed for us to win.” Much of Taylor’s early work has gone toward the establishment of what he simply calls “the culture.” Despite the Rams’ well-deserved reputation for flash and dash backed by cutting-edge technology, Taylor insists that his approach is “basically old-school.” “We are working every single day to set a sky-high standard,” he said, “and we expect everyone in the building to meet the expectations. It’s not just getting out here (on the practice field) and thinking we’ve got good players and good Xs and Os. It’s about holding each other accountable. That’s what I think of when people bring up ‘the Rams’ way.’ ” Taylor promises a strictly even-handed approach to those standards, which some might argue represents a huge breath of fresh air in comparison to days not so long ago, when it seemed there were always a couple of talented but problematic players too often allowed to go their own ways. “It’s everybody living up to the same expectations,” Taylor said. “It’s not some guys up here and some guys way down
low. It’s everybody. Practice the same way and conduct yourself in the meeting room the same way.” Almost across the board, Taylor’s newly brought-in players—from top draftee Williams through the undrafted free agents— boast resumes replete with repeated team captaincies, college degrees, weight-room superlatives and awards for perseverance, conditioning and toughness. “Our guys have to have the right stuff,” Taylor said. “We need a high football IQ and a showing that the team aspect is very important to them. Sometimes, you can trace those qualities back to multiple teamcaptain posts and that sort of thing. With guys like that, you believe they’re going to have the mental toughness and resiliency to get through the adversity you’re always going to face in a season.” With that comment, Taylor took his leave from an interviewer and started bounding off to his next task. Apprised of Dalton and Green’s comments before he left the immediate vicinity, he said: “I’m happy the players are excited about things. But we’ve got a lot of work to do before we play at Seattle in Week 1.” Q C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E 7
CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF NFL THE LEAGUE IS MARKING ITS 100TH SEASON WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS, INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS HONORING PLAYERS, FANS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. TRAINING CAMP KICKOFF IN DAYTON The Zac Taylor era officially kicks off as Bengals Training Camp opens on Saturday, July 27, at Welcome Stadium in Dayton—the first of 11 Bengals practices that are free and open to the public, with the remaining practices taking place in Cincinnati. To celebrate the NFL’s 100th season, the league is honoring Dayton as one of its 13 Original Towns by partnering with the Bengals to host the first training-camp practice of the season in Dayton. The first-ever NFL game was played in Dayton in 1920, featuring the Dayton Triangles and Columbus Panhandles – two of the league’s original 14 teams (Chicago had two teams). NFL Network will air live coverage of the practice from Dayton to pay homage to the historic city in NFL history and the league’s centennial season. In addition, the city of Dayton and the NFL are collaborating to build a turf field in the area to celebrate the city’s role as an Original Town and leave a lasting impact for years to come. “There have always been great Bengals fans in the Dayton area,” Bengals Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn said. “The Bengals are excited to get back to Dayton for a special practice opening the Zac Taylor era, kicking off the 2019 season and recognizing the history of the NFL and the first game played in Dayton at Triangle Park.” For more i n for mat ion a nd a f u l l list of training-camp practices, visit Bengals.com/camp. The NFL’s 13 “Original Towns”: • Akron, Ohio (Akron Pros). 8 C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E
• Buffalo, New York (Buffalo All-Americans). • Canton, Ohio (Canton Bulldogs). • Chicago, Illinois (Racine Cardinals, Chicago Tigers). • Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland Tigers). • Columbus, Ohio (Columbus Panhandles). • Dayton, Ohio (Dayton Triangles). • Decatur, Illinois (Decatur Staleys). • Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Heralds). • Hammond, Indiana (Hammond Pros). • Muncie, Indiana (Muncie Flyers). • Rochester, New York (Rochester Jeffersons). • Rock Island, Illinois (Rock Island Independents).
HUDDLE FOR 100/ GIVE ONE FOR CINCY In honor of the 100th season, the Bengals are participating in Huddle for 100. The Bengals are encouraging fans, players, coaches and employees to choose a cause and donate 100 minutes of their time. The NFL’s goal is to inspire 1 million people to volunteer 100 minutes of their time. Volunteers are encouraged to share a photo on Twitter or Instagram using #BengalsHuddleFor100. For more information, visit Bengals.com/100.
Give One For Cincy is a digital platform launched to motivate and inspire all Cincinnatians to engage in some act of service for our city. The website promotes volunteer activities while also maintaining a count of self-reported volunteerism hours. More than 200 nonprofit agencies are listed with activities people can select. With help from corporate and community leaders, Give One For Cincy encourages individuals to give back one hour (or more) of their time each month.
FANTENNIAL WEEKEND The Bengals will host a Fantennial Weekend Oct. 18-20 to bring fans, players and Bengals Legends together to celebrate their love of football. A dozen former players will be honored throughout the weekend, with current players and Bengals Legends attending high school football games throughout the community that Friday night. Fans will get the opportunity to meet the Bengals Legends on Saturday at an event, as well as get their autographs before the Jacksonville game on Sunday. Additionally, the Legends will be honored during a halftime celebration. Q
‘Inspire Change’ BENGALS TAKE ON CITY’S EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, POVERTY ISSUES By Jack Brennan TUESDAYS WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR the Bengals this season. They’ll still be the players’ off days, the days primarily used for decades to pursue good works in the community. But this year, management and players are taking things up a notch – several notches, actually – with $300,000 powering the most unified plan in franchise history. It’s the local implementation of the NFL’s new “Inspire Change” program, with all the funds emanating from Paul Brown Stadium. A players’ “Positive Impact Committee,” formed late last season, sought financial support from the entire roster, and the players’ $150,000 total was matched by the front office. Inspire Change won’t replace all efforts pursued in the past by team community relations personnel and the players’ personal foundations, but it will overlay that work with a new level of commitment, marked by a strong emphasis on social justice. “Everybody put money in, and it was no small amounts,” said defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who is joined by QB Andy Dalton and CB Darqueze Dennard as committee members still with the team. “We’re doing stuff collectively, representing the Bengals. We’re going to get out in the area and actively disburse this money.” The NFL’s suggested guidelines emphasized three areas of social-justice work: 1) education and economic advancement, 2) police and community relations, and 3) criminal-justice reform. “We asked guys about their passions,” Dennard said. “We tried to find out what
TOP: From left, safety Shawn Williams, wide receiver Tyler Boyd, Michael Hill of City Gospel Mission, running back Joe Mixon, defensive tackle Andrew Billings and defensive end Carlos Dunlap visit Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School in Cincinnati’s West End as part of the City Gospel Mission’s JobsPlus program. ABOVE: Players mix with Taft students during the visit, which included a Q&A with the players and a group bonding activity.
they cared about. And then we chose the different causes we’re going to work for.” Those causes are: • Dive Right Flag Football. The Bengals are partnering with Cincinnati Police and the city’s Recreation Commission. The name is a shortened form of the motto “Diversity Done the Right Way.” The program is designed to ground young people in the community, with a teamwork focus on not only football, but on understanding implicit bias and learning conflict-resolution skills. • JobsPlus program. City Gospel Mission will use the new money to expand its JobsPlus program, a 10-week initiative that helps juniors and seniors at urban high schools navigate a successful career path after graduation. • Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) is an organization partnering with Cincinnati Public Schools, providing mentoring and resources to high school student athletes. ABC is a nonprofit that creates and manages more than 200 athletic and cultural extracurricular activities.
• Life Learning Center runs a 12-week program teaching individuals how to address barriers in all domains of life – including physical, relational, emotional and financial. Participants learn how to secure and sustain a better way of living through gainful employment and improved interpersonal relations. “I grew up in a small town where people had no access to programs like these,” Dennard said, in a reference to Dry Branch, Ga. “It’s great to have a chance to participate in making sure a lot of people here are going to be able to access this help.” Added Dalton: “This is a multi-year program. It’s going to be around, and it’s going to grow. We’ve already had a group go out to Taft High School as part of the City Gospel Mission program. I like the target of this because it’s different from what I do with my own foundation (benefiting sick and special-needs children). This covers a lot of areas, including education and poverty, and so many things are possible once you work on those issues.” Q C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E 9
FAN-TASTIC trips of a lifetime BENGALS THANK SEASON TICKET MEMBERS WITH A TRIO OF EXPERIENCES AT MAJOR NFL EVENTS IN THREE CITIES By Kevin Michell BENGALS SEASON TICKET MEMBERS are a rare breed, loyal through thick and thin and a great representation of what makes both the fan base and football in the region so special. For the past seven years, the Bengals have rewarded those stalwart fans with weekend experiences at the NFL Draft, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl. Three Bengals Season Ticket Members were selected at random last season—each getting two tickets to attend one of those incredible NFL events. The all-inclusive prizes serve as a way to thank fans for their loyalty, says Katharina Hiergeist, the Bengals’ manager of Season Ticket Member services. “All the feedback we’ve received from Season Ticket Members who have attended in the past, it just blows their minds,” Hiergeist says. Rick Webster won the NFL Draft experience. Hiergeist called him right around the time he and his wife, Juanita, were planning their 37th wedding anniversary. “I was telling (Katharina) we were thinking about going to Florida, Hawaii or somewhere just to get away for a week,” Webster recalls. “She said, ‘Well, that’s kind of funny—I’m calling you to tell you you’re going to Nashville!’” During their weekend there for the draft, Webster had the honor of handing the Bengals jersey for their eventual first-round pick, Jonah Williams, to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He and Juanita got to see the inner workings of draft day and the 10 C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E
Juanita and Rick Webster won a trip to the NFL Draft.
From left, Jason, Nathan and Dan Murphy experience the Super Bowl in Atlanta.
flurry of activity happening backstage in between picks. “We had a blast,” Webster says. “I can’t thank the Bengals enough for what they did for us. That was probably one of the best anniversaries that my wife and I have had in years.” The Pro Bowl experience winner, Patricia Baker, was attending the Nov. 25 home game against the Cleveland Browns when she was asked a trivia question on the instadium video boards during a break in the on-field action. When she correctly answered, she didn’t expect to get much more than a token prize. Then she was told she was getting two tickets and an all-expenses paid trip to the Pro Bowl in Orlando. “Oh my God, I jumped so high,” Baker recalls with a laugh. She is a lifelong football fan whose first game was at Riverfront
Stadium in the 1980s. “I w a s t he r e t h r ou g h Forrest Gregg, I was there for the Freezer Bowl,” Baker says. “I love the Bengals and any and all opportunities I can get to do anything associated with football, I’m going to take the opportunity to do it.” In Orlando, Baker stayed at one of the Disney resorts and was able to be on the field during the Pro Bowl’s Skills Showdown. She also met some of the participating players and many of the fans from the other 31 NFL teams who had won their own experiences. Baker still wants to attend a Super Bowl someday, with that on her bucket list alongside going skydiving for the first time. The Super Bowl experience was awarded to Dan Murphy, a Bengals Season Ticket Member for more than two decades. He, too, was surprised by the prize when he was given it at a Bengals Super Bowl anniversary event in September. “At the very end, I was getting ready to walk out, and they called my name to go up on stage,” Murphy says. “And I thought I’m going to get a T-shirt or something. But I get up there, and they told me I’m going to the Super Bowl.” Murphy almost attended the two Super Bowls the Bengals made in the 1980s. Even
Patricia Baker enjoys her time at the 2019 Pro Bowl.
though the Bengals weren’t playing in this edition of the big game, the trip to Atlanta was the next best thing. “I was excited to go and all that, but it exceeded our expectations,” Murphy says. After arriving Friday with one of his two sons—the other joined them in the city the next day—Murphy experienced a weekend full of incredible events, including the NFL Honors hosted by Steve Harvey on Saturday. The experience culminated in being on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium field for a couple of hours before kickoff as players warmed up. “I can’t say enough about the NFL and the city of Atlanta and how they treated us,” Murphy says. “It was just really cool.” The Bengals w ill be awarding t he same three experiences to Season Ticket Members this season, as well as something special for the NFL’s 100th anniversary: a trip to London and its Wembley Stadium for the Bengals’ October game against the Los Angeles Rams. “We thought it would be an incredible, unique experience,” says Duane Haring, director of ticket sales and service. While details still are being worked out preseason, the London giveaway won’t be limited to Season Ticket Members. One lucky fan will win airfare, lodging, two tickets to the game and more. Q C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E 11
Players see some new faces at the top of coaching ranks Compiled by Pete Schramm
ZAC TAYLOR
HEAD COACH Zac Taylor comes to Cincinnati after spending the past two seasons with t he Los A ngeles Ra ms, where he served as assistant w ide receivers coach in 2017 and quarterbacks coach in 2018. The Rams’ QB play last season was a key component to their offense, which finished the regular season ranked second in the NFL in total net yards (421.1 per game), fifth in net passing yards (281.7), second in scoring (32.9), first in first downs (401) and fifth in third-down percentage (45.0). Los Angeles won the 2018 NFC West title with a 13-3 regular-season record and advanced to Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots. Taylor has prior experience in Cincinnati, having served as offensive coordinator at University of Cincinnati during the 2016 season. He’s also had coaching stops with the Miami Dolphins and Texas A&M Aggies. Born and raised in Norman, Okla., Taylor went on to star at QB for the University of Nebraska. He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006, and was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Taylor’s father, Sherwood, played football and later coached at the University of Oklahoma, and his brother, Press, played QB at Marshall University and is currently quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Taylor’s wife, Sarah, is the daughter of former Green Bay Packers and Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman. Zac and Sarah Taylor have four children: Brooks, Luke, Emma Claire and Milly. 12 C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E
BRIAN CALLAHAN
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR Callahan comes to Cincinnati after spending the 2018 season as quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders. Previously, he served as quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions in 2016-17 and in a number of different roles on the offensive staff for the Denver Broncos in 2010-15. He helped the Broncos to a Super Bowl berth in the 2013 season and a Super Bowl title in the 2015 season. Callahan played quarterback at UCLA, and he is the son of former Oakland Raiders head coach Bill Callahan. Callahan will lead an offensive staff that includes five new coaches — James Casey (tight ends), Jemal Singleton (running backs), Jim Turner (offensive line), Ben Martin (assistant offensive line) and Brad Kragthorpe (offensive assistant). He will also be joined by three assistants who are returning from last year’s offensive staff — Bob Bicknell (wide receivers), Alex Van Pelt (quarterbacks) and Dan Pitcher (assistant quarterbacks).
LOU ANARUMO
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Anarumo comes to Cincinnati after spending 2018 with the N.Y. Giants as defensive back s coach. He spent the previous six seasons (2012-17) with the
Miami Dolphins as defensive backs coach and was the team’s interim defensive coordinator for the final 12 games of the 2015 season. Before joining the Dolphins, Anarumo spent 23 years coaching in the college ranks, with stops at Purdue, Marshall, Harvard, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Syracuse and Wagner. Anarumo will lead a defensive staff that includes five new coaches — Mark Duffner (senior defensive assistant), Nick Eason (defensive line), Tem Lukabu (linebackers), Gerald Chatman (defensive assistant) and Jordan Kovacs (defensive quality control). He will also be joined by two assistants who are returning from last year’s defensive staff — Daronte Jones (secondary/cornerbacks) and Robert Livingston (secondary/safeties).
DARRIN SIMMONS
SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR T he longesttenu red coach on t he Benga ls’ s t a f f, Si m mon s in 2019 enters his 17th season leading the Bengals’ special teams units. Considered one of the most respected special teams coaches in the NFL, Simmons was one of seven coaches retained from the previous staff by new head coach Zac Taylor. Simmons this season will again work with assistant special teams coach Brayden Coombs, a Cincinnati native and Colerain High School graduate who is in his eighth year in a full-time coaching position with the team. Q
2019 Draft Class Compiled by Pete Schramm, Bengals media relations manager
Jonah Williams Offensive Tackle No. 73
Drew Sample Tight End No. 89
Round 1 11th pick overall 6’5” 302 pounds Alabama
Round 2 52nd overall pick 6’5” 255 pounds Washington
Williams played three seasons at Alabama, one of college football’s most powerful programs, and was the picture of stability and reliability along the Crimson Tide’s offensive line. The Bengals’ coaching staff says Williams can play both the guard and tackle positions at the NFL level. “All we kept coming back to was his character. And, obviously, there’s the talent and all the things he brings to the table, and the production of blocking everybody in the SEC the way that he did. There’s other guys that can block well too, but then when you put the character in, which is an A+, he’s a great fit for any line room.” — Offensive line coach Jim Turner
Sample gives the Bengals a big and physical presence at tight end. He was widely praised by scouts for his run-blocking ability, which was highlighted in Washington’s run-heavy offense, but Bengals coaches also see the tools to contribute in the passing game. “He does a lot of things well. He runs well, he catches well, he blocks well. He’s tough, he’s smart — he’s exactly the type of character guy that we want in our locker room and on our team, and he checks all the boxes in that regard. He has a skill set that’s going to bolster our tight-end room and make that position more valuable and versatile for us in our system.” — Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan
Germaine Pratt Linebacker No. 57
Ryan Finley Quarterback No. 5
Round 3 72nd pick overall 6’3” 240 pounds North Carolina State
Round 4 Pick A 104th pick overall 6’4” 213 pounds North Carolina State
Pratt gives the Bengals size and speed at linebacker (4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine). He played safety during his first two seasons at N.C. State and is considered strong in coverage, but his team-high 104 tackles last season (9.4 per game) helped prove to scouts that he’s a reliable tackler as well. “He’s a multiple-position guy. We feel like he can play all three linebacker spots. He brings size, speed and very long arms, which is good for a linebacker to shed blocks. (He has) over 33-inch arms. That aids in allowing him to be a multipleposition guy.” — Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo
Noted by scouts for his accuracy, production and football intelligence, Finley compiled the third-most passing yards (10,505) in ACC history while playing just three seasons at N.C. State. An Arizona native, he began his collegiate career at Boise State before transferring to N.C. State for his final three seasons. “Ultimately, what you see in Ryan is a kid that makes really, really good decisions. He’s also very accurate, and he throws on time. Those are three things that we always value in the quarterback position: Decision-making, timing and accuracy. He displayed all three of those at a high level at N.C. State.” — Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan
Renell Wren Defensive Tackle No. 95
Michael Jordan Guard/Center No. 60
Trayveon Williams Halfback No. 32
Round 4 Pick B 125th pick overall 6’5” 318 pounds Arizona State
Round 4 Pick C 136th pick overall 6’6” 312 pounds Ohio State
Round 6 Pick A 182nd pick overall 5’8” 206 pounds Texas A&M
Given the nickname “Mount Wren” by Bengals defensive line coach Nick Eason, Wren adds a massive physical presence to the interior of the Bengals’ defensive line. As a senior at Arizona State last season, he totaled 43 tackles, including 4.5 for losses and one sack. “He’s going to give you some pocket push. He’s a smart kid, and he’s been a team captain out at Arizona State University. His coaches (at Arizona State) like him and have a lot of good things to say about him. He’ll be great for the organization, and great for the (defensive-line) room. He’s a great character guy. He’s going to work hard and play hard.” — Defensive line coach Nick Eason
Jordan, who was born in Fairfield, Ohio, is considered a massive physical presence and punishing run-blocker. He switched from guard to center for his final season as a Buckeye, and Bengals coaches think that he can play both positions at the NFL level. “The size of Mike, he’s close to 6-6, 310 pounds. He’s a massive human being, but he also has a 32-inch vertical jump. ... Those inside linemen, when they’re big, it helps. He has that width. They have the body type to be a big mass inside. He’s got that. The other big thing for him is intelligence. He’s a smart player. He started his freshman and sophomore year at guard, and then moved to center.” — Offensive line coach Jim Turner
Williams led the powerful SEC in both rushing yards (1,524) and TDs (15) last season. And while he will enter training camp as the shortest Bengal on the roster at 5-8, he has a compact build — 206 pounds — and has speed to burn. “He’s an extremely productive back. Our offensive line coach (Jim Turner) came from Texas A&M, so it’s always great when you have some familiarity with a player walking in the building. There’s not many unknowns there. He and Rodney (Anderson) both will provide some depth and competition at that running back position. That position is really thin right now, since we only have three guys on the roster. ... It was important to get some depth at that position.” — Bengals head coach Zac Taylor
Deshaun Davis Linebacker No. 48
Rodney Anderson Halfback No. 33
Jordan Brown Cornerback No. 26
Round 6 Pick B 210th pick overall 5’11” 234 pounds Auburn
Round 6 Pick C 211th pick overall 6’0” 224 pounds Oklahoma
Round 7 223rd pick overall 6’0” 201 pounds South Dakota State
Davis was a team leader and three-year starter at Auburn, and left the school as one of the most productive linebackers in program history. He totaled 266 career tackles, and as a senior last season, he led the Tigers in tackles (116) and notched double-digit stops in six of his 13 games played. “That guy is fun to be around. The No. 1 thing is that he commands the huddle. He’s a MIKE (middle linebacker). He wants to call the plays and wants to be the signal-caller. You don’t always see that. He has great instincts and very good recall, and he asks all the right questions.” — Linebackers coach Tem Lukabu
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Anderson compiled 1,285 career rushing yards at Oklahoma, despite missing all or most of three seasons (including 2018) because of injuries. As a junior in 2017, his only full season, he rushed 188 times for 1,161 yards (6.2 average) and 13 TDs. He also hails from the same hometown (Katy, Texas) and high school (Katy) as Bengals QB Andy Dalton. “During the times he played, he was really a difference-maker for Oklahoma. He’s a really talented back. He’ll be coming in off of an injury, so he might not be ready right away, but we felt like it was important to add depth at that running back position. We needed some competition in that room.” — Head coach Zac Taylor
In four seasons of action in college, Brown totaled 148 career tackles, including six for losses, to go with eight interceptions and four forced fumbles. Before switching from wide receiver to cornerback early in college, he was a teammate and frequent target of Bengals fourth-round pick Ryan Finley at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix. “You like Jordan’s size and his length, and you like his athleticism and ability to play the ball. He’s a former receiver, and that definitely shows in his ability to attack the ball at its highest point. He has good ball skills, he had good production in college, and he’s a smart player.” — Secondary/ cornerbacks coach Daronte Jones
Schedule & Ticket Info 1!&#"3*#
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IN THE JUNGLE SEASON TICKETS:
Fans interested in season tickets should call the Bengals Ticket Hotline to schedule an appointment to view available seats in person at Paul Brown Stadium. With seats starting at just $400, Season Ticket Members receive the lowest price per game, best seat locations and playoff priority, along with several other exclusive benefits.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS - NO FEES: Single-game tickets can be bought with NO FEES by calling the Bengals Ticket Hotline or by visiting Bengals.com and selecting mobile tickets as your delivery option. Fans can also buy tickets through the box office at Paul Brown Stadium (see ticket office hours below).
GROUP OUTINGS: Planning an outing with 10 or more people? Bring your group to a Bengals game and receive discounts over single-game-ticket pricing. Ask about having your group name recognized on the scoreboard during the game. Call the Bengals Ticket Hotline to start planning your outing today.
BENGALS TICKET HOTLINE:
PRESE A SON at Kansas City at Washington N.Y. GIANTS INDIANAPOLIS
Sat. Thu. Thu. Thu.
Aug. 10 Aug. 15 Aug. 22 Aug. 29
Sun. Sun. Sun. Mon. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun. Sun.
REGUL A R SE A SON Sept. 8 at Seattle Sept. 15 SAN FRANCISCO Sept. 22 at Buffalo Sept. 30 at Pittsburgh Oct. 6 ARIZONA* Oct. 13 at Baltimore* Oct. 20 JACKSONVILLE* Oct. 27 at LA Rams (UK) Nov. 3 BYE Nov. 10 BALTIMORE* Nov. 17 at Oakland* Nov. 24 PITTSBURGH* Dec. 1 N.Y. JETS* Dec. 8 at Cleveland* Dec. 15 NEW ENGLAND* Dec. 22 at Miami* Dec. 29 CLEVELAND*
8:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 4:05 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 8:15 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 4:25 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM
ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN *SUBJECT TO FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
BENGALS TICKET HOTLINE: 513-621-8383 BENGALS.COM Published by
(513) 621-8383 or Toll-Free at (866) 621-8383 The Bengals Ticket Hotline is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
2019 BENGALS TEAM GUIDE
BENGALS SOUTH TICKET OFFICE: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, the Bengals South Ticket Office is located on the Paul Brown Stadium Plaza Level near Gate E. At the ticket office, fans can buy tickets that will be mailed in August, in time for all games.
TICKET OFFICE: One Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, OH 45202
, July 2019, is published by Cincy Magazine. Copyright 2019 by Cincy Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or pictorial content, in any manner is prohibited. Editorial, advertising and business offices: 30 Garfield Place, Suite 440, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Publisher & President: Eric Harmon Editor: Bill Ferguson Jr. Design: Katy Rucker C I N C I N N AT I B E N G A L S T E A M G U I D E 15