It goes with out saying that making an attempt to glean an excessive amount of data from preseason is a idiot’s errand. Taking deep dives right into a crew’s efficiency and making an attempt to extrapolate that out to common season success will solely make you appear like a dope. For almost all of groups they’re operating vanilla schemes, or making an attempt gimmick performs — typically each. That stated, what we will study from these video games is the 30,000 ft view, the massive image, seeing some developments that could possibly be promising, or worrying relying on what aspect of the coin you’re on.
Thursday night time gave us three video games all of which featured pretty stable groups who determine to both be contenders in 2025, or on the very least playoff hopefuls. Right here’s what we discovered from the video games, and the groups that took the sector final night time.
The Bengals get an enormous ol’ grimacing face emoji
So right here’s the deal: The Bengals’ first crew offense appeared improbable. Joe Burrow was on level, Ja’Marr Chase lit issues up, and every little thing was clicking. The issue is, they completely ought to have performed that contemplating the Eagles rested all their starters.
The concept for Cincinnati was to make this an announcement sport. It’s been a tumultuous offseason that’s nonetheless lingering with Trey Hendrickson sad together with his contract, and Shemar Stewart solely reaching an settlement on his rookie contract two weeks in the past. While you throw your starters out for vital time in Sport 1 of preseason you’re making an attempt to promote a fanbase on hope, and once you lose that sport it’s extraordinarily worrying.
What we discovered from the Bengals’ 27-34 loss is that the depth in Cincinnati stays a multitude. This crew falls off a cliff after its 1st crew is out of the image. When you can say that for many groups, the Bengals watched as their 1st crew was aggressive in opposition to the Eagles’ 2s, then received dominated after they moved to backups in opposition to Philly’s 3s — and so forth. Sure, we’re speaking concerning the Tremendous Bowl champions right here, however the vibes aren’t nice once you anticipated to come back out and run up the rating and simply dominate this sport.
There isn’t any planet during which Tanner McKee ought to be capable to go 20-for-25, throwing for 252 yards and a pair of TDs in opposition to your protection. Will Shipley averaging 6.9 yards-per-carry bodes poorly for the longer term. All-in-all the Bengals seem to have the identical points they’ve for years now, the place exterior of Burrow, Chase, and Higgins there’s not so much to hold your hat on — particularly on protection.
It’s not like we will say Cincinnati aren’t going to compete primarily based off this one sport, however we noticed in actual time how skinny they’re. Going deep within the playoffs inevitably means leaning on a number of key backups to hold the load, and primarily based on what we noticed Thursday, I’m undecided they’ve the expertise down the roster to do it.
I suppose the Colts shall be high-quality
Indianapolis had an unpleasant sport in opposition to the Ravens, however I stay pretty bullish on Anthony Richardson regardless of the restricted reps he noticed on Thursday night time. What I noticed from Richardson was a way more condensed throwing movement, and much better choice making with the ball in his arms. There wasn’t a whole lot of separation from his receivers, the vast majority of whom have been 2nd and third stringers, however he was nonetheless in a position to make performs.
There was one near-pick from Richardson on a 50/50 ball, which I are likely to suppose is extra attributable to an important play from DB Jalyn Armour-Davis, relatively than a real mistake on the a part of the quarterback. That stated, what I didn’t love was the Colts’ safety. There was far an excessive amount of edge stress coming by means of when Richardson was underneath heart, which is an even bigger drawback for the Colts than most groups on this place. Indy is within the technique of making an attempt to rebuild Richardson and take away his pocket jitters which are likely to make him escape too early, relatively than stand tall and undergo his development. Dangerous safety has an opportunity to make these traits relapse, and that may’t occur for the Colts this yr.
Daniel Jones was extraordinarily mediocre. I don’t understand how this may actually be a QB battle at this level. Jones had joyful ft within the pocket, hardly ever appeared comfy, and infrequently instances overreacted to perceived stress. He simply doesn’t look comfy on this offense and doesn’t have the arm expertise to make the frozen rope throws that Richardson tried into visitors.
I really like what Keaton Mitchell confirmed for the Ravens
Baltimore’s third string operating again placed on a present in opposition to the Colts, ending the sport with 9 carries for 68 yards and a TD. The Ravens have been blocking phenomenally for him, which was positively an element — however he additionally confirmed large poise with the ball in his arms. Mitchell’s potential to be shifty and course of the sector shortly might make him a sneaky weapon for the Ravens this season as a change of tempo again.
This can be a participant who’s lightning fast and has large twitch to his sport. Quite a few instances on Thursday night time he took what would have been a easy 4-to-5 yard acquire due to blocking, and opened it up into 10+ due to a transfer he made within the open area. I really like that trait to him, and I believe long run he could possibly be a weapon in key packages, doubtlessly evolving into a real RB2 behind Derrick Henry.
Jalen Milroe has an ‘it issue’
As a lot as I disliked the mammoth contract the Seahawks gave to Sam Darnold, a whole lot of that fear is ameliorated by them having Jalen Milroe ready within the wings. It’s clear that is going to be a piece in progress for the Seattle. Milroe’s large windup within the pocket is an issue, and easily received’t work within the NFL — however he confirmed some wonderful playmaking potential out of construction in restricted time on Thursday night time.
Milroe has an important potential to maintain his eyes downfield whereas scrambling laterally, not dissimilar to Bryce Younger with the Carolina Panthers. Whereas his mechanics aren’t practically as crisp, there are constructing blocks right here — and Milroe is infinitely faster when carrying the ball. I see this as a possible vibrant spot for Seattle transferring ahead, and if they’ll proceed to develop him.
Cam Miller may be a man to regulate
Yearly we get a darkish horse late spherical QB, and I actually liked what I noticed from Raiders’ third stringer Cam Miller. A sixth spherical pick of North Dakota State, he confirmed the arm expertise wanted to run a Pete Carroll offense higher than Aidan O’Connell did.
Naturally it’s simpler to look good in opposition to the back-end of the roster, however I actually liked what I noticed from Miller in restricted time. That is Geno Smith’s crew, and rightfully so, however I need to see extra of Miller in preseason as a result of the flashes have been vibrant sufficient to surprise if he can’t grow to be one thing greater than a QB3.
