Blog in the Back

Kelley and Lou bring you year-round NFL coverage

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

An interesting tidbit from Bengals OC Dan Pitcher’s sit down with @robertmays of @TA_FootballShow.

Dan Pitcher: “In Cincinnati, I don’t know how it is in every building, but in Cincinnati, at 10AM (on Monday morning) we (the HC and the coordinators) go up and we go over the game with ownership and the front office.”

He talks about presenting what issues went wrong and how to change things and move forward for the next week to the Bengals leadership.

I wonder how many coaching staffs are breaking down film and game plans with ownership on a weekly basis. We know Mike Brown is at practice every day, and they like to be very collaborative in all facets of running an NFL franchise. Very interesting note from Pitch.

Overall, the interview is very insightful into the daily life of an NFL OC. Must listen!

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Joe Burrow on the Bengals’ offseason additions: “We got better at a lot of positions. Signed the best free agent safety. Got the best D-Tackle in the league, in my opinion. You know we have a lot of depth now on the defensive line. That’s exciting… So we have everything we need in the locker room, we just gotta go make it happen.”

On what makes Dexter Lawrence so tough to deal with: “Bigger and stronger than everybody. And getting to know him, you know it means a lot to him. He wants to go out and perform well and assert his will. So when you have a guy like that, it’s gonna be exciting to watch, for me, and be a part of.”

On his immediate reaction to the trade for Dex: “Yeah I was fired up obviously.”

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Some elite concert + Bengals game road trip weekends possibiltles on the schedule:

Houston
Sept. 19 — Tame Impala + Dominic Fike at Toyota Center
Sept. 20 — Bengals at Texans

Pittsburgh
Sept. 25 — CAAMP at Stage AE
Sept. 27 — Bengals at Steelers

DC
Nov. 20 — Palace at The Anthem
Nov. 23 — Bengals at Commanders (MNF)

LA
Feb. 14 — Super Bowl LXI halftime show at SoFi Stadium 😉👀

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

I haven’t heard a peep from Shemar Stewart all offseason, and that’s a good thing! He has put his head down and worked privately with a pass rush specialist and showed up to every voluntary Bengals practice.

He’s been quickly dismissed both nationally and locally after a year where he hardly had any training camp and was not healthy for any game after week 1.

There is a weird energy with some Bengals fans almost hoping he fails to prove they were right.

While I never expected him to be elite, it’s rare to see the truly freakish athlete EDGEs taken in round 1 NOT become useful players. The Clowneys, Walkers, and Owehs of the world didn’t live up to the hype, but became plus players for a long time. Shemar can absolutely do the same. There’s a reason some of the most respected draft analysts were high on him.

As long as he’s willing to put in the work, I’m willing to give him a full camp and healthy season before I rush to any conclusions on his career. #Bengals

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Bengals draft grades are up.

Favorite Pick: Connor Lew
Best Value: Brian Parker II
Biggest Swing: Tacario Davis
Most Important Pick: Cashius Howell

What I liked, what concerns me, and grades for all 7 picks:
https://t.co/exSNBaswp0

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Interesting note from Todd McShay on Bengals EDGE Cashius Howell. It’s no secret Howell has elite bend. McShay says he reached 14.52 MPH while turning the corner in the pass rush drill at the Combine. Fastest pass rush speed since Will Anderson per Next Gen Stats.

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Happy Draft Day! Just dropped my final predictive 7-round Bengals mock draft.

Two athletic former 5-star defenders that check all the Bengals’ boxes, plus near-identical understudies for Orlando Brown and Ted Karras. And a few wildcards…

Read it here: https://t.co/1KuNvaZhqp

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

The only LB and CBs Schrager has going off the board are Styles, Delane, McCoy.

Bengals have the 9th pick of the 2nd round with this group in play:

- Jacob Rodriguez
- CJ Allen
- Anthony Hill Jr.
- Jake Golday

- Avieon Terrell
- Chris Johnson
- D’Angelo Ponds
- Colton Hood

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

On today’s show, the plugged in @BryanBroaddus told @timeforjeffrey that before the Dexter Lawrence trade, the Bengals planned to stick and pick Peter Woods at 10. As I said two months ago, Woods checks every box the Bengals value.

Dex feels a lot better than that scenario!

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

The true impact of Dexter Lawrence won’t just be recognized by his own production. His ability to take on double and keep the young LBs clean and collapse pockets for the young DEs is a bet worth making. You want to develop young players? Put them in good situations to succeed.

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Four of the most likely Bengals’ targets imo. All in the right range on Daniel Jeremiah’s final top 150. Two LBs and two CBs with slot flexibility.

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Todd McShay on Caleb Downs:

“Teams are higher on Downs by the way. Don’t get it twisted by the media… They’re not saying he’s going 5 to the Giants, but you absolutely DO need to consider him at 5. Multiple teams don’t think he gets past Cincinnati at 10.” #Bengals #Giants

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Todd McShay (@McShay13) discusses the possibility of Bain being the pick for the #Bengals and makes it sound like it’s either Bain or whichever top CB is left between McCoy and Delane. He doesn’t think either CB makes it to 12 after McCoy’s Pro Day reminded teams of his ability.

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Jeremiyah Love is one of the most explosive athletes in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Notre Dame RB won the Missouri Class 5 100-meter state title in 10.76, posted a 22-1 3/4 long jump, and that burst shows up all over the tape.

Dan Pitcher said at the Combine the Bengals need to be “a more explosive football team on first and second down.”

I just wrote about Love and other elite multi-sport athletes in this class below.

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Did you know?

Jermod McCoy was one of the best triple jump athletes in the country. Bryce Boettcher was a Gold Glove center fielder for Oregon baseball. And plenty more!

The 2026 NFL Draft class is loaded with real multi-sport stars.

NEW: https://t.co/XJvbpeS7Ep

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

ICYMI: My 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 is up.

All 32 first-round picks with full prospect breakdowns, scouting-based analysis, and team fits.

https://t.co/8eiXjmMovV

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

My 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 is live.

Broke down all 32 first-round picks with full prospect breakdowns, scouting-based analysis, and team fits.

The league is gonna be higher on some of these guys than people realize.

https://t.co/8eiXjmMovV

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

Jermod McCoy so far:

73rd percentile Vertical
78th percentile Broad
89th percentile 40

Good start. Hopefully we get some on field drills an abilities too.

[Kelley Peter @kelleypeter16]

@Marcus_Mosher @NoFlagsFilm Wrote about McNeil-Warren in my mock today. His 92.5 PFF Zone Coverage Rating was first among Safeties, and he allowed just a 9.5 Passer Rating in 209 zone coverage snaps in 2025. If used correctly, he can be a monster.