Training camp observations: Plans to improve the Bengals' running game

On the first day of training camp, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan was asked about the next step for the Bengals’ offense, and he smiled.

"I probably don't want to give too much away,” Callahan said. “We've done a lot of self-reflection and a lot of studying around the league. We feel really good about the things we did gather about ourselves and some of the things we hope to add to our offense this year.”

During training camp practice on Sunday, the changes in the Bengals’ offense were more obvious than they’ve ever been this summer. They worked on their run game, including short-yardage situations near the goal line. Those drills couldn’t have looked more different than what they looked like at this point last year.

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From the start of the 2021 season through Week 4 of the 2022 season, the Bengals relied on an under-center, wide-zone rushing scheme that featured Joe Mixon more as a power runner. Then heading into Week 5, the Bengals scrapped that game plan, eliminated almost the entirety of their under-center run scheme and went all-in on a shotgun running game.

It was the biggest schematic adjustment of Zac Taylor’s head coaching career, and it saved the Bengals’ offense last season. In 2023, the Bengals are leaning even further in the direction of a shotgun running game. Even when they're trying to punch the ball in the end zone with their goal line offense, the Bengals are more effective running the ball out of the shotgun.

“It pairs up with what our offense is,” Bengals center Ted Karras said. “We’re a vertical passing team with the quarterback and receivers we have. And the offensive linemen that we have came from duo and gap scheme offenses. When you think of the traditional outside zone, under center, power rushing game, that’s not what we signed this offensive line to do.”

Before the big scheme change last year, the Bengals ran wide-zone runs that had Mixon trying to bounce outside of the tackles, make jump cuts and make defenders miss. Mixon wasn’t as good in those areas of his game last season, and the offensive line wasn’t consistent blocking those types of runs.

Last season, the Bengals had four new starting offensive linemen who the Bengals acquired because of their ability as pass protectors. The Bengals didn’t sign Karras, Alex Cappa and La’el Collins or draft Cordell Volson because of their ability to execute a power run scheme.

Early last year, the Bengals offense was predictable. When quarterback Joe Burrow lined up under center, there was a short run. When Burrow lined up in shotgun, there was a drop back pass.

“We felt truncated,” right tackle Jonah Williams said. “We were struggling in the first couple weeks. Some of that was us not playing well. But there were also some scheme issues. Once we got that figured out, you saw our offense take off.”

When the Bengals embraced their shotgun run game in October of last season, the entire offense changed. After Week 5, Mixon was the most efficient running back in the NFL. He ran downhill, followed the big blockers ahead of him and consistently kept the offense on schedule.

Burrow also found a few more chances to throw the ball deep on plays where the defense was expecting a run and the safeties crept closer to the line of scrimmage. After starting last season with a 2-3 record, the Bengals only lost one more game in the regular season.

During training camp this year, the Bengals have added new elements to their shotgun run game. They’ve been working on more types of run-pass-options, which became a big part of the offense by the end of last season. And they’ve been running more play action passes out of the shotgun.

“That’s one more thing that marries up to what we’re doing,” Williams said. “The point of play action is selling the run and then passing it. With a really effective running game out of the shotgun, that helps our play action game as the linebackers creep up. That’s a big part of our game. Teams have to defend it. It’s not a secret. Teams know it’s coming.”

The Bengals also expect shotgun runs and more play action passes out of shotgun to decrease the amount of batted passes at the line of scrimmage. Burrow’s lone weakness last season was when his passes got tipped by a defensive lineman. Sometimes, defensive linemen didn’t even engage with the Bengals’ offensive linemen and just dropped back to tip the pass.

The Bengals are confident that scheme changes with their running game will prevent those opportunities for defensive linemen in the passing game in 2023.

“When you’ve got big guys like this on our line who can move like this and cover up defensive linemen, there won’t be a lot of batted balls,” Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said. “We’ll have the ability to get the ball where it needs to be in RPOs and in the quick game. “

During training camp, it looks like the Bengals’ offense is borrowing elements from teams like the San Francisco 49ers, the Miami Dolphins, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. They’re using similar types of runs out of shotgun, but those offenses still look a lot different from the Bengals’ offense.

Those other offenses have designed opportunities for the offensive linemen to move the pocket from side-to-side and for the quarterback to roll out toward the sideline. The Bengals are still planning for Burrow to operate right in the middle of the field with a seven-yard drop back unless he needs to scramble.

The Bengals’ coaching staff sees a more consistent running game as the way to get Burrow more opportunities to throw the ball down the field. During a practice on Sunday where the Bengals focused on the running game, the difference in the Bengals’ running game showed the team’s plan to make that happen.

Last year, the Bengals rushed these scheme changes during the season. The Bengals had an entire offseason to build a shotgun running scheme into their offense for 2023, and they're expanding upon the adjustments that they made last year.

“We’ll have some new runs this year,” Karras said. “It’ll be fun. We added to our arsenal. We’ve got some really interesting ways to run the ball that I’m really excited about.”

Chris Evans gets creative to prepare for new role

During practice on Sunday, Bengals running back Chris Evans saw Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader break through the pocket, and Evans made the exact type of play that could get him more snaps in 2023. Evans spent his offseason working on ways to improve as a pass blocker. He showed his growth on Sunday when he lowered his shoulder, pushed Reader backward and bought time for quarterback Trevor Siemian.

How did Evans improve as a pass blocker?

“I did drop towers at the amusement park,” Evans said. “I got into the bite suit when the team visited Fort Knox. I went with the rookies. They said they were letting the canine out and asked if anyone wanted to go in the bite suit and run with it. Nobody wanted to do that. But I had to train my body to do what I don’t want to do.”

During the offseason, Evans saw former Bengals backup running back Samaje Perine sign with the Denver Broncos. The Bengals are still looking for a third-down back, and Evans wants to fill that role for the Bengals this season.

Perine is one of the best pass blocking running backs in the NFL, and the coaching staff has told Evans that he needs to improve as a pass blocker to earn more snaps.

“Pass protection is an attitude,” Evans said. “Once you train your mind to do it, you can do it.”But how do you train your mind to stay poised when a 300-pound defensive lineman is running right at you and trying to pummel you into the ground? Evans knew he needed more experience in uncomfortable situations.

“What can I do in my life where I shock my body so when I’m on the field and everyone is yelling, how can I get my brain right?” Evans said. “So I did the drop towers and the bite suit. You can’t practice pass protection during the offseason with someone trying to murder you. So I did this.”

The experience running in the bite suit and fending off the canine was so helpful that Evans did it twice.

“I remember looking back and seeing the canine nabbing at me,” Evans said. “It went well. He bit my arm. That dog was strong, man. It’s just the fact that everyone didn’t want to do it. I was standing there with the rookies, and I did it. Samaje is going to the Broncos. And I’m not saying that no one wants to pass block. But somebody’s got to do it.”

More observations from Sunday’s practice

-Defensive linemen Joseph Ossai and Cam Sample are taking regular reps as interior pass rushers. They’re both stronger than they were last year, and their strength shows up in these matchups.

-Rookie cornerback DJ Turner II is pulling away in the competition to be the Bengals’ backup outside cornerback behind Chidobe Awuzie and Cam Taylor-Britt. While Sidney Jones IV missed practice with an injury, Turner kept his strong training camp going with a leaping pass breakup in one-on-one coverage on a very deep throw over the middle of the field for Ja’Marr Chase.

-Bengals offensive tackle D’Ante Smith is turning heads with his pass protection reps. He has taken over a few one-on-one pass blocking drills, and Smith has been consistent in 11-on-11 drills.

-Tight end Irv Smith Jr. showed how he could be a useful piece in the red zone. He had a quick release off the line of scrimmage while lined up in the slot, ran a slant and got himself open for a touchdown catch.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Training camp observations: Zac Taylor showing Bengals' scheme changes