Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Shemar Stewart begins to flash at Bengals training camp | Day 5 Training Camp Takeaways

Starting point is 00:00:00 Jamar Stewart, starting to flash for the Cincinnati Bengals as pads come on. Let's break it down. You are locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What up Bengals fans and welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. He's James Rapine. I'm Jake.

Starting point is 00:00:33 Let's go. We've been covered the Cincinnati Bengals here on. locked on Bengals since 2016. And we're here with another training camp recap video for you as Bengals put the pads on on Monday and got through another day here down at Paycor Stadium. And well, Shamar Stewart starting to show up, starting to show those flashes as the Bengals had to move the second part of practice into their indoor facility. Rain started to come down, lightning in the area. Unfortunately, we had an obstructive view for part of of that. So we don't have the full notes that we would normally have. There were a couple

Starting point is 00:01:11 11 on 11 periods that we didn't get to have a great view of at the end of practice, James. But what we did see when they went inside in particular, they were doing red zone work. And Shamar Stewart really starting to show up with a number of plays with the second team at that point. Shamar Stewart starting to show up. We hope you show up. Jake didn't know I was doing this. We'll see you Saturday after Bengals practice at the Holy Grail. Our official Locked on Bengals meet up. Official. 8.30 p.m.

Starting point is 00:01:40 Eastern. That's August 2nd. That's Saturday. Jake will be there. All the way from Canada, Jake will be there. I know a lot of you have been asking, hey, are you guys going to do something?

Starting point is 00:01:48 It was so much fun a few years ago. Well, Jake's back and so is a locked on Bengals meet up. Again, 8.30 Saturday. Maybe we'll get Shamar Stewart to show up. But he certainly showed up at practice, right? And I think that's the important thing is he showed up at practice. He flashed, you're right? Multiple times.

Starting point is 00:02:05 and I was talking to a veteran about this when it comes to Shamar Stewart. And it's something that you pointed out shortly after he was drafted. And I was like, man, he's just so gifted. And the way he wins and operates, I can't wait for him to learn from Trey Hendrickson. That was something that a veteran mentioned today after seeing Shamar in his first ever NFL padded practice. And he definitely stood out. I mean, he had a couple past breakups. The second one is a sack.

Starting point is 00:02:32 The second one, he takes Jake Browning. And he throws him from here to Canada, probably. And he was literally walking. He laughed about it. He was like, I was walking with just hands up. It looked like a guy closing out on someone in basketball that you just, you have no belief in that they're going to make the shot. You just slowly inch your way toward him. Well, Jake threw it and Shamar still was able to get a hand on it.

Starting point is 00:02:56 So really, really good to see that flash. And I think he needed it after all of the stuff that has gone on over. the past few months just to go out there, have a successful practice. He talked about how it felt so much better than it did yesterday. Even though I thought he was fine yesterday, it's not like there was anything bad. Having those splash plays today, I think, is going to help his confidence and remind everyone why the Bengals drafted him 17th overall. I think it was just a little bit gassed yesterday. If he was talking about, you know, feeling better today than yesterday, he played more today. Pad's on. He did more. It was climate control today, too. That maybe helps a little bit

Starting point is 00:03:33 once you get inside and they moved out of the rain. But there was the pass breakup, which was a clean pass breakup. Then the next play, like you said, there's a bootleg that there's no help on the back end for Shamar Stewart. Shamar recognizes that the quarterback still has a ball. That's either a sack or a throwaway, like you said. It ends up being a pass breakup. Those clips are out there.

Starting point is 00:03:53 I know you have that clip out there as well. And then in that same drive, he has a tackle for loss in the run game, probably. They're not actually tackling. there's no live tackling today, but very likely a tackle for loss there. So a couple of really nice plays going against the number two's still practicing against the number ones. It's not to say that he didn't get ruffs with the ones. He's still getting work with the first unit and did an 11 on 11 throughout practice as well,

Starting point is 00:04:19 but really stood out in that red zone period with a number of plays in a row. And the cool thing about it going inside is you really get to hear the reactions from the sideline. And so his teammates, the excitement, I mean, not just for him, but especially for him, I think, the excitement from his teammates on the sideline to support their show in as Shamar is showing up. What was nice to see as the Bengals were wrapping up their practice in the red zone there on Monday. And I think the cool thing about him having success is also, and whether you see the clips that I'll tweet or any other video, we talk to him after practice, which means you get to know.

Starting point is 00:05:00 Shamar a bit more and you get to realize that he's a good kid. That's that was the thing is through all this, this entire process, no one was worried about Shamar's character, whether it's in the building, whether it's any of his teammates. And if they were, you would have gotten hints of it. I would have gotten hints of it. That was never the case. And so I think that's important to mention. And I also think that being able to talk to him and have the fan base be able to interpret. interact with him and see him. It's going to give people an idea of who he is versus the guy that wouldn't sign the contract because of the clause, like all that stuff. And so today was a big day. It's an important day. Also, Zach Taylor talked before practice and made it clear

Starting point is 00:05:47 that, oh, yeah, Shamar could definitely be ready by the time preseason game number one rolls around. And I think that's something we expected next Thursday. It's a week from Thursday. So it's good to know that that's on the board and on the table. And I do think that's what's going to end up happening. Yeah. Is he plays and gets significant snaps. And he should because Jake, even after today, just watching yesterday and today, Shamar Stewart's going to matter for this team.

Starting point is 00:06:15 And they need him to. It goes without saying, right? He's a first round pick. But like, I wouldn't rule him being a starter at some point, maybe week one, but certainly at some point. And even if he doesn't. he's going to matter. He's going to be a really important part of this defensive front.

Starting point is 00:06:30 Yeah, I think he's showing that he's going to be pushing for snaps. We'll see how it shakes out when there's a game, obviously. Like everything we're talking about here in training camp, caveat always applies, and I'm sure I'll repeat this, they have to do it in preseason games. There's a guy, and we're going to talk later. At least I have written down a few fringe guys who I think are standing out, and it's just training camp.

Starting point is 00:06:52 They still need to do it when it comes to games. That also applies to, Mr. Mar Stewart is he's going to be competing for snaps, but they're finding ways to use him. He's working with the ones. He's working with the twos. He's working inside. He's working outside.

Starting point is 00:07:04 That's a theme in general for the defense, guys moving around a ton. Besides maybe T.J. Slayton, he's playing defensive tackle. He's not playing any end. But a lot of guys, especially on the ends, are kicking inside on the defensive front. And then outside of that at corner, you're seeing a lot of guys moving around quite a bit as well.

Starting point is 00:07:22 Josh Newton playing a lot outside, certainly playing a lot inside. Same is true. for Dax Hill. So you're seeing those themes on the defensive side of the ball. And it was another practice that seemed to finish with the defense finishing strong, despite the offense having some success early, James. And let's talk about some of our other practice takeaways here. The pads are on so you get a little bit more of an idea of what's going on in the trenches. We'll do that as we continue the conversation about this training camp practice coming up next. Today's show is brought to you by Game Time. Game Time is the app.

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Starting point is 00:08:27 And the thing I love about game time is the panoramic views from your seat. So you know exactly what it's going to look like when you get to that live event, exactly how it's going to be when you sit down. And there are no hidden fees. You go to checkout and boom, you're going to know the exact price. You're not going to get bombarded with hidden fees. So take the guest work out of buying concert and tickets to any favorite live event with GameTime. Download the GameTime app.

Starting point is 00:08:51 Create an account. Use code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account, redeem code. L-O-C-E-D-O-N-F-N-FLacked-N-FL-N-FLT for $20 off. Download the game-time app today. Last-minute tickets, lowest price, guaranteed. Well, James, practice notes. Early, again, there was some success for the offense.

Starting point is 00:09:18 Can I do the play of the day for the offense? Let's play of the day for the offense. You're going to say the Chase Brown touchdown. Spoilers, come on. Yeah. I'm going to say the other touchdown. And this is indicative of how good the defense was. I knew which play he was going to say and he knew what play I was going to say.

Starting point is 00:09:37 There's two. Because there's two touchdowns. And Isaiah Williams against Dax Hill, it just continues to make plays. He does. And when they claimed him from Detroit last year, you looked at his college profile and it's like, looks like a slot receiver and a returner and a little quick guy that they don't really have. And he's been that to this point. It's hard midseason to get in the mix and make plays.

Starting point is 00:09:59 But so far, so good for number 18. So keep an eye out for Isaiah Williams. He's had some solid days here. And you mentioned it yesterday. I think he's certainly put himself in position to make this team. We'll see if it continues. But it's a clip I tweeted and it is out there on socials. He climbed the ladder, made sure he caught a pass against Staxil.

Starting point is 00:10:17 So he was frustrated after the play, but a really good play by Williams. And what's notable about that to me, you're talking about the way he plays, the way you expect him to win is that's at the pylon. It's not in the middle of the field. It's not a slant. It's not an in-breaking route. It's not something where you're sitting down in a zone. It's win the ball at the pylon box out the corner.

Starting point is 00:10:38 And he did so. And so a strong play there for Isaiah Williams, who's certainly one of the standouts, one of the fringe guys I was going to talk about, one of the guys that still has to do it in the preseason, right? But they've seen him through last season, through the course of this offseason. And that's with Joe Burrow at quarterback.

Starting point is 00:10:54 So he's getting a lot of work with the ones, I think probably more, work with the ones on offense and Charlie Jones, but we didn't get to see the end of practice today, like I said. There was a wall. A wall of offensive players that unfortunately blocks out the 11 on 11 on the other side. There's a blocking joke that someone's going to make, but we'll let them make that. And that's actually an observation.

Starting point is 00:11:18 We're going to talk a little bit about blocking. I'm going to, anyway, a little bit later in the show. But the other play that stood out for the offense in the red zone period, was a Chase Brown rushing touchdown that featured Cam Grandi, speaking of fringe roster guys, who I think is making plays consistently throughout training camp, another guy who's going to have to carry it through the preseason, but they knew him last year.

Starting point is 00:11:42 He played in the regular season for the Bengals last year. I think he's almost at this point, in my mind, he's a lock for the roster unless things go really off the rails for him. But he was in that Eric Allroll on that Chase Brown touchdown run in the red zone where he cut across the. the formation and was moving with the direction of the running play, makes a key block on Josepho's side to seal the edge. You also had Dylan Fairchild pulling on that play, making a nice block.

Starting point is 00:12:10 You had a Marius Mims, washing out a defensive tackle inside. You had Drew Sample getting to the second level, nice block on a linebacker there. So a few blocking highlights in a day that generally I thought the defense had more wins, especially on the interior in the pass rush, and that was more visible throughout the rest of that red zone period. You had a clean win outside before they went indoors as well for Chris Jenkins working against Dylan Fairchild on a clip that reminded me that I have to keep rolling on the videos, James,

Starting point is 00:12:43 but still get to see the trenches on that play and saw Chris Jenkins with a clean win there that might have led to a QB hit. Might not have, but in terms of those red zone plays, Cam Grady, key block. Isaiah Williams touchdown pass, touchdown recession. A couple guys that are on the back end of this roster making plays with the number ones in the red zone.

Starting point is 00:13:04 And I would say, Randy's a roster lock because he can block and he's shown enough. I mean, there's a reason Drew Sample's been here for so long and they value him. And so I think Randy, it makes sense and is certainly someone, especially with Noah Fent now in Miami. I'm not sure he gets out of Miami.

Starting point is 00:13:20 Not sure he gets out of Miami now because that's not New Orleans. Like in Miami, they can tell you, oh, you're going to get big numbers, but you can be in Miami too. It's pretty easy. That's an easy sell there, especially. I mean, he's got to beat out Darren Waller there. You know, Darren Waller.

Starting point is 00:13:33 Anyways. It didn't know. Yeah, he's coming out of retirement. I think the one, day one in pads, you never know. But it was good to see. I thought the physicality was still there. The energy for me on the defense is just awesome. I mean, they celebrate.

Starting point is 00:13:54 They make a play. and it might be a routine play and it is whoa like it's just ah people are just so excited and i love that because when they make mistakes they're not pointing fingers but then they're celebrating each other when they're they have their their nice plays dj ivy with a really nice pass breakup on germain burton is a play that comes to mind where they celebrated for like 15 seconds and this is the second team It's like a team defense, like a team offense. And yeah, I just, I think that that's great to see back-to-back days where the defense is dominant in the red zone. A few days ago, it was the other way.

Starting point is 00:14:32 The offense just carved them up in the red zone. And so the Bengals defense has responded in a big way, and they do it in the first day of pads. Do you want to give breakdown your play of the day? I did buy a play of the day. Did you break it down? Yeah, talked about Cam Grandy on the blog. Oh, that's right. about what what what bill of fair child polling yeah we got all okay good you know why because i need to talk

Starting point is 00:14:54 about the real play of the day okay the real play of the day is tweeted from our official lockdown bengals account jake do you know what play it is now well i'm jake with the hands i'm i'm videoing and i get my left hand out there and jake goes just my ball his ball and so that's the play of the day check it out on on twitter on x and uh that doesn't get much better than that. That really is the play of the day. We had already been rained on. We had already transitioned from outside to inside, the elements, all that stuff, didn't get in the way of Jake making the reception on the sideline, which is really big time. And honestly, after those two touchdowns for our plays of the day, I think that that's the best

Starting point is 00:15:41 offensive play we saw. There was. There was a nice play to Jamar Chase outside, the one that I stopped recording too early on. That catch is out there. That was outside. That was outside. Yeah. Yeah, there were, there were a few nice plays for the offense outside. I think Charlie Jones might have had a catch. He did have a catch. When we were walled off, he couldn't see it. Mike is sick he had a catch too. Couldn't see it. Also heard T.J. Slayton have his name yelled at some point. I'm assuming he had a nice play when we were walled off from things. So I think T.J. Slayton is going to matter. Yeah. We'll continue with the rest of our post practice observations and takeaways here coming up next.

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Starting point is 00:17:20 ways to draft and more ways to win the fun starts on August 4th. Stay tuned and get started by creating or joining a fantasy football league at Yahoo! Fantasy.com slash locked on NFL. That's Yahoo! Fantasy.com slash Lockdown NFL and make this fantasy season the best one yet. Let's get to the rest of our practice observations here and wrap up this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. We have, I mentioned Josh Newton moving around a lot. That really does continue to stand out to me the DB's very versatile moving around the field consistently and as that theme continues we continue to see the defense holding up and there are some issues that are showing up there to me on the interior of the offensive line and this is what I was talking about earlier.

Starting point is 00:18:12 Dylan Fairchild has been up and down as you would expect him to be. Cody Ford has been up and down as you would expect him to be and with the depth issues they have there it's a same question we've been asking the whole time. There's nothing new I'm going to say here about it, but the guard position continues to be an area of caution, let's say, for me as I look at this team. No doubt. Guess what ESPN's Jeremy Fowler asked me today in the locker room. It wasn't about, hey, man, how's Joe look? It was the big questions. And on offense, it's obviously the guard position. And did they do enough at guard? I mean, I think that's what people around the league are talking about. That's what you're talking about. That's what we've talked about. And the answer is no.

Starting point is 00:18:51 now maybe it works out but they have not done enough at guard what did they do they used a third round pick on a guard they didn't use their fifth round pick on a guard they don't they're not putting jalen rivers there and then they sign lucas patrick who remains out for now like when you say that it's like well that's it that's what you did they'd say oh well we brought back cody ford and and then that's where it kind of ends too like they didn't do enough does it work out maybe maybe it works out but it doesn't feel great now and it doesn't feel great especially when you look at this Bengals defense, and I still, I'm not willing to be like,

Starting point is 00:19:24 oh, well, this defensive front is going to be a huge strength, especially on the interior, maybe on the edge. If things go right, then you could feel pretty good about it. But the interior at best, you're hoping for league average from a pass rush perspective. And so it doesn't feel great. Even though I do think T.J. Slayton is going to matter, and I have been impressed by him. They have not done enough to address the guard spots around,

Starting point is 00:19:49 Joe Burrow and Ted cares. And I do think that Chris Jenkins has taken a step as well. At least that's how it appears. We'll see how it goes against other teams for all these guys, right? This is always the caveat that applies. But Chris Jenkins with a number of pass rush wins in the two days that I've been here, James, with pads on, especially noteworthy,

Starting point is 00:20:04 that those things start to mean a little bit more. We might see some one-on-ones on Wednesday. We didn't see any today. A little bit of a teaser there for those of you who are looking to attend some camp practices. I guess, wait, are they off Wednesday? No. What day is it? Today's Monday. They're off Tuesday. We're back Wednesday. Yeah. Days are still a struggle. We're getting better, though. We may-

Starting point is 00:20:26 But we're going to see you Saturday. I know that. That's the day I do know. That day is the weekend. Holy Grail. Did you know that Saturday is going to show up on Thursday. I'm just going to be camped out there. He's not going to miss it. I'm just going to sleep there. It'll be fine. But I do think that we're seeing potentially some improvements from from Chris Jenkins. He's talked about the fact that he's feeling healthy, has use of that thumb that he dealt with all year last year. Being able to use your hands, obviously, a big deal in the past rush. What else stood out to you, James, is you were watching practice today. Yeah, I think outside of that, what?

Starting point is 00:21:03 Evan McPherson had a miss on Sunday. He had another miss on Monday. That I thought was good, but apparently wasn't. Yeah, it was a hair off, apparently. But overall, I think Evan McPherson is checking the boxes, and especially because there is a long snapper battle. that we don't, I mean, unless you have something on it, there's not much on that right now. That's a huge battle because the Bengals, you know, Evan, they believe in Evan. They think the tweaks he made are going to make him and help him become a real weapon.

Starting point is 00:21:32 But again, like he was during these runs, deep playoff runs for the Bengals a few years ago. But the long snapper issue needs to be solved, whether it's Calatomitis or whether it's the undrafted free agent that you just looked up, I hope. Oh, I didn't. but his name is William Wagner, named, of course, for the pitcher, Billy Wagner. Yeah. I don't know if that's true. It's not. I don't think it is.

Starting point is 00:21:54 But William Wagner, top long snapper on the Bengals Big Board. He was the top long snapper on the Bengals Big Board, so you never know. He might be the guy. My last note today is I talked with someone with the team on the way back into the stadium and just asked a little bit about some undrafted guys. And a couple guys standing out so far to keep your eye on, Jordan Moore, the wide receiver from Duke. Cut a touchdown today. You did?

Starting point is 00:22:18 I don't know if we're talking about roster spot for Jordan Moore. We'll see what happens in the preseason there. But in terms of guys challenging the veterans, those six guys that were almost certain are making the team, Jordan Moore standing out there on the defensive line. Interested to see a little bit more from Eric Gregory, the defensive tackle from Nebraska. See if he can get a little bit more working with the number twos

Starting point is 00:22:43 as the weeks go on here for training campaign. I think they're really excited to see Seth McLaughlin as soon as he's ready to go. And it sounds like still a couple weeks away for McLaughlin. So excited. And that's why, one, you want Matt Lee healthy too. Just throw him in a card for just to see. Yeah. Just to see.

Starting point is 00:23:04 You know, I mean, because it would do wonders. So, yeah, Seth McLaughlin, he's still recovering, still rehabbing all of those things. But he's around the team. He's in meetings. and yeah, I'm hoping, I'm hopeful that we see him. The other note from me, I talked to Eric all in the locker room. He's progressing well. Had surgery in April, just to be clear.

Starting point is 00:23:28 So he feels good. He feels like he's making strides definitely envisions himself playing. He didn't rule out this year, of course. But, you know, I think that's a mindset where it's kind of unknown at this point. I don't expect him to play this year. But I just want to see him healthy a year from now for training camp because we know what Eric all can be. So he's been at practice.

Starting point is 00:23:50 He told me he's going to be around. And I think he's just excited to be back around the guys. And I know he was chomping at the bit to hit some guys since it was pads on today. But it'll be a little bit before he can do that. It's got to be tough mentally, especially for a guy like Eric Hall and the mentality, you know, he brings the game. I guess I did have one more last note. Jalen Rivers, I think, has shown that he.

Starting point is 00:24:14 can be an NFL player at the very least. I'm excited to see him get some competition in the preseason against some other teams as well because when I've zoomed in and I have a few times to just watch a trench battle in isolation, he stood out in a good way and yesterday really held up quite nicely against camp samples. Hopefully we get those one-on-ones tomorrow or not tomorrow on Wednesday in the trenches. There's no practice tomorrow. Don't show up here tomorrow. There'll be no one here.

Starting point is 00:24:39 We're going to be there Saturday as well. We're with you all week long. So make sure that you subscribe on YouTube. Make sure you check us out wherever you get your podcast if you haven't done that. That's going to do it for this episode of the Lockdown Bengals podcast. Until next time, thanks for listening. Who day? And have a good one.

Starting point is 00:25:01 What day is it? I don't know, man. I forget.

Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - Shemar Stewart begins to flash at Bengals training camp | Day 5 Training Camp Takeaways

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