With almost all of the starting spots set going into the final
week of the preseason, the one position for the Bengals that remains too
close to call is at strong safety between Taylor Mays and Jeromy Miles.
Said Miles of the competition: “I would be lying if I said it wasn’t important to both of us. I know for myself I see it as we help each other grow. It’s a great combination.”
Not many knew what to expect at the position coming into training camp, but both third-year players have been solid. Mays has made more headlines because of his physical hits, which have knocked out three players, including two on his own team, but Miles has made some nice plays in coverage.
•
That trend continued in the first half of the 27-13 loss to Green Bay Thursday. Mays made a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Packers tight end Tom Crabtree, but the flag was thrown over a misinterpretation of the defenseless receiver rule. Miles made a key stop in pass coverage when Aaron Rodgers tried to hit Greg Jennings on a bomb up the left sideline.
Earlier in the drive, Miles broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage that was intended for Cedric Benson.
“The whole time you are always looking for opportunities to go out there and compete,” said Miles of the play on Jennings. “I kept running and tried to get my eyes back and tried to play the football. You hate to toot your own horn and all that stuff, but obviously it’s a nice play.”
Both Miles and Mays have qualities that head coach Marvin Lewis likes. Lewis has been pleased with Mays’ physical presence, but has said Mays has become more confident in Mike Zimmer’s scheme. Lewis has also noted that Mays has become a better tackler, with the exception of one he missed during the first half of the Packers game.
Miles brings versatility because he can play some corner in nickel situations and might be the more consistent in coverage. In the Aug. 16 win at Atlanta, Miles dropped back in coverage and intercepted a Chris Redman pass in the end zone that preserved the lead.
Lewis also lauded Miles for how well he does blitzing, while last week he said that was the one area where Mays needed to improve.
Thursday marked the one-year mark since Mays was acquired from San Francisco for a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft. He saw the replay of the hit on Crabtree and said he has to do a better job of lowering his head more.
“I should. I weigh almost 240 pounds. I should be (physical),” Mays said. “There are some plays where I could have been more physical still, and if that’s the best part of my game I need to show it all the time.”
“I feel like I made a lot of strides coming from OTAs to minicamp. That was the most important thing, knowing what I needed to do and how they wanted me to play defense. I feel good where I am right now, but I have to keep pushing my game. I feel content right now, but I just have to keep going.”
How much work each will get in next Thursday’s preseason finale against Indianapolis remains to be seen. Whoever is on the first line of the depth chart for the Sept. 10 opener at Baltimore, both figure to get their share of work on defense and special teams.
“You want to have 16 or 17 guys who feel like they’re starters on each side of the ball, and then you’re a much better football team. And I think we’re going to have that defensively,” Lewis said.
Added Mays: “It’s been fun, but it brings the best players out. If I’m the best safety I can be, then I can live with that.”
Said Miles of the competition: “I would be lying if I said it wasn’t important to both of us. I know for myself I see it as we help each other grow. It’s a great combination.”
Not many knew what to expect at the position coming into training camp, but both third-year players have been solid. Mays has made more headlines because of his physical hits, which have knocked out three players, including two on his own team, but Miles has made some nice plays in coverage.
•
That trend continued in the first half of the 27-13 loss to Green Bay Thursday. Mays made a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Packers tight end Tom Crabtree, but the flag was thrown over a misinterpretation of the defenseless receiver rule. Miles made a key stop in pass coverage when Aaron Rodgers tried to hit Greg Jennings on a bomb up the left sideline.
Earlier in the drive, Miles broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage that was intended for Cedric Benson.
“The whole time you are always looking for opportunities to go out there and compete,” said Miles of the play on Jennings. “I kept running and tried to get my eyes back and tried to play the football. You hate to toot your own horn and all that stuff, but obviously it’s a nice play.”
Both Miles and Mays have qualities that head coach Marvin Lewis likes. Lewis has been pleased with Mays’ physical presence, but has said Mays has become more confident in Mike Zimmer’s scheme. Lewis has also noted that Mays has become a better tackler, with the exception of one he missed during the first half of the Packers game.
Miles brings versatility because he can play some corner in nickel situations and might be the more consistent in coverage. In the Aug. 16 win at Atlanta, Miles dropped back in coverage and intercepted a Chris Redman pass in the end zone that preserved the lead.
Lewis also lauded Miles for how well he does blitzing, while last week he said that was the one area where Mays needed to improve.
Thursday marked the one-year mark since Mays was acquired from San Francisco for a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft. He saw the replay of the hit on Crabtree and said he has to do a better job of lowering his head more.
“I should. I weigh almost 240 pounds. I should be (physical),” Mays said. “There are some plays where I could have been more physical still, and if that’s the best part of my game I need to show it all the time.”
“I feel like I made a lot of strides coming from OTAs to minicamp. That was the most important thing, knowing what I needed to do and how they wanted me to play defense. I feel good where I am right now, but I have to keep pushing my game. I feel content right now, but I just have to keep going.”
How much work each will get in next Thursday’s preseason finale against Indianapolis remains to be seen. Whoever is on the first line of the depth chart for the Sept. 10 opener at Baltimore, both figure to get their share of work on defense and special teams.
“You want to have 16 or 17 guys who feel like they’re starters on each side of the ball, and then you’re a much better football team. And I think we’re going to have that defensively,” Lewis said.
Added Mays: “It’s been fun, but it brings the best players out. If I’m the best safety I can be, then I can live with that.”
没有评论:
发表评论