Bengals Training Camp Preview: CB
Players:
29. Cam Taylor-Britt
20. DJ Turner
21. Mike Hilton
23. Daxton Hill
35. Jalen Davis
38. DJ Ivey
42. Allan George
28. Josh Newton
39. Lance Robinson
After being eased into the role over the last couple of seasons, Cam Taylor-Britt is set to officially take over as the number 1 CB, following Chidobe Awuzie’s departure to Tennessee. Taylor-Britt was a bit of a risk/reward pick, but it seems to be paying off, as he has been outstanding for most of his tenure as a Bengal, thus far. Now that he is the unquestioned top guy, more theoretical responsibility falls on his shoulders, even though he had already been playing a lot against other teams’ top guys. If he can continue to take steps forward, he can be a true lockdown CB for the Bengals.
A battle for the second boundary CB position is set to take place this summer. DJ Turner is the front runner. He is extremely athletic and comes with great ball skills. The flashes have shown up on tape, but there have also been some inconsistencies, partially brought on by his lack of size.
Turner’s challenger will be Daxton Hill, who makes the transition over to CB after initially being drafted in the 1st round a couple of years back as a safety. Hill’s transition has reportedly been going well thus far, so it seems like this will be a legitimate camp battle between two players with a lot of talent.
The loser of that battle will occupy the fourth spot, but Mike Hilton is locked into his role as the slot CB. He is a steady presence both on and off the field. Anarumo loves his instincts. Hilton, despite not being the quickest athlete, seems to be able to make plays consistently at big moments of the game.
As for who backs up Hilton in the slot, there are a couple of options. Daxton Hill is one. He is battling for the outside spot, but also played in the slot a lot in college. He has the versatility to do either. The other option is Jalen Davis. He has always been solid when called upon. A reliable veteran depth piece, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back again. But he will face competition from some of the younger guys for a roster spot.
DJ Ivey is a name to watch. He is extremely athletic and has physical talent. In a very limited number of snaps last season, he made a couple of eye-catching plays. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his season just as he was gaining traction. But if he can pick up where he left off, Ivey is someone that can challenge for a spot.
We are getting deeper into the depth chart now, but talent still remains. Allan George has a nice skill set for a depth guy on the boundary and a special teamer. He hasn’t seen extensive action, but has had some solid moments. George will have to battle for either a roster or practice squad spot, but him being the seventh CB mentioned speaks to the depth that the Bengals currently have.
Their depth was expanded further with the use of a mid round pick on Josh Newton. Stylistically, he is very similar to Hilton. Newton also has some athletic shortcomings, but plays a rugged game. Hilton has been able to overcome his deficiencies, and Newton will have to do the same. He is a challenger for a roster spot, but I wouldn’t consider him a lock, even though he was a draft pick.
Undrafted rookie Lance Robinson rounds out the group. He seems to have good instincts, but is an average athlete. He allows too much cushion in off coverage, and it is hard to tell if he can man up consistently without giving cushion. Given the depth that the Bengals have at CB, the practice squad is probably his best hope.
Featured Image Via: Eli Marshall