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Bengals put new wrinkles in the O

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By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer Updated 1:43 PM Sunday, June 28, 2009

CINCINNATI — The Bengals’ 2009 offense won’t be new. Just different.

It sure can’t get any worse. Its NFL ranking of 32nd last season — 245.4 yards a game — was as low as you can go. Dead last.

“I’m not going to describe anything,” offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. “You’re going to have to wait and see.

“We are going to be different. We’ve got some things that are changed, and we have things that are very similar, too. There are a lot of things we had on film that we’re going to be doing, and doing a lot better.”

Look for more shifting and motioning by the wide receivers and running backs in an attempt to create matchup problems for enemy defenses.

“We’re still running Brat’s offense,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “There’s really just a few new wrinkles. He’s inserted some different ideas and some different schemes to replace and fill in for some of the things we’ve cut out.”

Ready to pounce

Defensive ends Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom are back. End Michael Johnson was a third-round draft pick and defensive tackle Tank Johnson was acquired in free agency.

“We added guys who can get to the quarterback,” free safety Chris Crocker said. “We feel pretty good about what we have right now. But it’s just on paper. We have to come together and finish off what we’ve started.”

Close, very close

Palmer missed 12 games in 2008 because of a right elbow injury. How close is he to 100 percent?

“He’s close,” Bratkowski said. “Anytime you miss as much time as he missed last year, it’s going to take some time. Physically, he’s back. But in terms of mechanics and shaking the rust off, he’s still got a little bit to go.”

Playing catch up

Rookie second-round pick linebacker Rey Maualuga is backing up starter Rashad Jeanty on the strong side. Maualuga is also learning from middle linebacker Dhani Jones and weakside ’backer Keith Rivers, his teammate at Southern Cal.

“The veterans have that experience on me, but I’m catching up and I’m learning the defense very well,” said Maualuga, who leans on Rivers for advice. “It’s more so a comfort level knowing I’ve got an extra partner there next to me to help me out.”

Quote machine

“I don’t think (the defense) is that difficult. We’ve added and progressed over the course of the year. They’ve got a few more checks and stuff that they have to make. If you know where to line up and you know where to fit, it’s pretty easy.” — Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Bengals 2009 training camp

at Georgetown (Ky.) College

(Practice times are approximate. Admission is free. On-campus parking is $15 per car, $25 for school buses and passenger vans, and $50 for large buses.)

FRIDAY, JULY 31

Practice: 3-5 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUG. 1

Practice: 9-11 a.m., 7-9 p.m.

SUNDAY, AUG. 2

Practice: 3-5 p.m.

MONDAY, AUG. 3

Practice: 9-11 a.m., 7-9 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 4

Practice: 3-5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5

Practice: 9-11 a.m., 7-9 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 6

Practice: 3-5 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 7

Practice: 9-11 a.m.

Intrasquad scrimmage:  6:30-8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUG. 8

Black-Orange Mock Game: 1-2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, AUG. 9

Complex closed.

MONDAY, AUG. 10

Practice: 9-11 a.m., 7-9 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 11

Practice: 3-5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12

Practice: 3-5 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 13-SUNDAY, AUG. 16

Complex closed.

MONDAY, AUG. 17

Practice: 3-5 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 18

Complex closed, team breaks camp.

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I have to agree with Derrick. Brat needs to get his collective **** together THIS season. We've waited more than long enough for it all to "come together". Bratkwoski needs to be sat down and told that the fans are tired of his erratic play calling. If the Bengals don't see improvement in his offense THIS season, then he needs to be replaced with someone who can get it done. Maybe we can get Norm Chow??

Neil
12:50 AM, 7/2/2009

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Brat as O.C. still scares me. If he doesn't get it together this year, he had better be gone. As he says, "We'll have to wait and see." Now, that is a bold statement! (sarcasm)

Derrick
1:27 PM, 6/29/2009

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