Taking Those First Steps

No pads were worn and there was no hitting during the Bengals rookie minicamp but head coach Marvin Lewis came away with enough knowledge about his new men to feel pretty good.

“I was pleased with the draft picks, I really was,” said Lewis on Sunday after the final of five practices over a three-day period was complete. “I get to spend 15 minutes in a room with them in Indianapolis (at the Combine), we can bring some of them here, which we did, we can have our coaches spend time with them on their campus and extra time in Indy, but you don’t really see if they can handle a 5-(practice) installation. … Secondly, timed 40 speed is one thing but actually playing football at football speed, 11-on-11, is a big difference. That matters.”

The Bengals had all 10 draft choices plus eight other undrafted free agents and four first-year players participating in the camp, as well as 23 other players who were unsigned but brought into the camp on a tryout basis. Defensive tackle Antwon Barton, linebacker Dan Howell and wide receiver Clyde Logan impressed the coaching staff enough that they were signed to contracts after their work this weekend.

Wide receiver and kick returner Glenn Holt began his Bengals career by earning a contract and training camp invite following a tryout in the rookie minicamp of 2006.

The Bengals begin OTA workouts on May 13. That will be the first opportunity for coaches and players to work together on the field in a practice setting. Rookies, by league rule, will be able to join the workouts after May 16, which for the Bengals means Tuesday, May 20.

First-round draft choice Keith Rivers didn’t disappoint.

“Some of the things he did are innate, by gathering the group and every time he’s not in a meeting he’s watching tape,” said Lewis. “I think that has impressed me about him. He already gets ‘it’.”

Three drafted linemen also grabbed Lewis’ attention: defensive tackles Pat Sims and Jason Sherry and offensive tackle Anthony Collins. “When they lay hands on you they have hands on you,” said Lewis. “I think those are some things you don’t get a chance to see; how much ‘Man’ is in that punch. Those three big guys are big strong men.”