Team news: Carolina Panthers | Page 98

Tyler Eifert lined up here, there and just about everywhere during his first practice with the Cincinnati Bengals. Felt like old times.

The Bengals got started on their new tight end-heavy passing game yesterday at the start of a weekend rookie minicamp. A lot of the focus was on Eifert, chosen in the first round to give quarterback Andy Dalton another target.

Eifert lined up in a lot of different spots at Notre Dame. Judging by the first day of practice in Cincinnati, he’s going to be doing the same thing in the NFL.

“A lot of the things I’m learning are a lot of the same plays we had in with two tight ends — move me around in different positions,” Eifert said. “Today I was out in the slot quite a bit. I think I’m picking it up pretty fast.”

Bengals WR Mohammed Sanu confirms 100 percent: 'No nagging pain.'

Sanu never broke the 50-yard mark in 2012, but he did score four TDs in three games and could surprise as the Bengals' WR2 in 2013. He'll benefit from all the attention teams will pay to A.J. Green and Andy Dalton is a capable quarterback.

Cincinnati Bengals

OUT
CB Dre Kirkpatrick (kne)

DOUBTFUL
DE Carlos Dunlap (knee), RB Bernard Scott (hand)

QUESTIONABLE
CB Jason Allen (quadricep)

PROBABLE
QB Andy Dalton (right biceps), DE Robert Geathers (knee), TE Jermaine Gresham (knee), TE Donald Lee (thigh), LB Dan Skuta (head)

Baltimore Ravens

DOUTFUL
T Jah Reid (calf)

QUESTIONABLE
CB Asa Jackson (illness)

PROBABLE
S Sean Considine (head), LB Courtney Upshaw (shoulder)

Bengals QB Andy Dalton (right biceps) took full practice reps again Friday. Dalton should be good to go for Monday Night, but hopefully you aren't in the position of having to start him against the Ravens.

Bengals QB Andy Dalton (right biceps) took full practice reps Thursday.

Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham can be a Rob Gronkowski type, OC Jay Gruden believes. But it will take time. It’s not as easy as drawing a play and practicing it. Gresham needs to study defenses on film, grasp what’s going on around him, develop the trust with Andy Dalton that Green has. Then. . .

"He’s still very important as a blocker," Gruden said. "Jermaine’s a good blocker. Fantasy football people forget that."

How much of a fantasy is it to see Gresham assuming the Gronk Lite role? The Bengals need a second receiver, to take some of the heat off Green. (Though, Green did get to the Pro Bowl last year with Jerome Simpson on the other side, so maybe it’s not as huge a deal as we’re making it out to be.)

TE Jermaine Gresham has become the latest Cincinnati Bengals player to exit a preseason contest due to injury.

The tight end appeared to hyperextend his right knee late in the first quarter of the Bengals' matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Andy Dalton connected with Gresham, who made pretty spin move before being pulled down after a 25-yard gain.

Gresham was limping on the sidelines, but didn't show any signs of having a serious injury. The Bengals quickly announced he would not return to the game.

Reports seem to indicate it's not a serious injury and the team is just being cautious. Be sure to monitor his situation heading into your draft. We rank Gresham 9th among our TEs, and is a nice option to wait on as higher rated TEs likely go off the board early and often. He's someone to consider if you didn't want to use a high pick on the TE position and has an ADP of the 11th round.

One person who is not fazed, three practices into camp is quarterback Andy Dalton.

“It hasn’t been perfect but that’s what camp is for, trying to find the mistakes and correct them,” Dalton said.

Over the weekend, it seemed to be a combination of everything – timing, drops, balls tipped at the line by defensive linemen. Being as though we are only three practices in, it’s not something to get overly concerned about yet, but most thought that the offense would be a little further ahead right now.

When it comes to the deep routes, Dalton has been inconsistent so far. The only receiver he has been consistent with is A.J. Green.

Greg Cosell of NFL Films on QB Christian Ponder:

There were a number of throws in which Ponder showed the essential ability to move within the pocket to avoid the pass rush, maintain downfield focus and then deliver with accuracy. He also provided the added dimension of getting outside the pocket in response to pressure and using his speed to generate explosive gains.

Ponder must improve as a progression reader. Last season, he had a tendency to pre-determine throws — a common problem for young, inexperienced quarterbacks.

When I re-visited Ponder last month, I found myself more intrigued by his pure throwing ability. That arm strength is a real positive, just like I figured it would be when Ponder was coming out of Florida State.

Ponder, however, is not as advanced as Bengals QB Andy Dalton when it comes to anticipation and accuracy.

Greg Cosell of NFL Films on Bengals QB Andy Dalton:

He clearly played well; that’s inarguable. He was poised and composed in the pocket, threw with timing and anticipation and was consistently accurate. His quick, compact delivery, in tandem with his natural anticipation, compensated for his arm-strength limitations. It was evident breaking down the tape that Gruden did an outstanding job maximizing Dalton’s efficiency. The route combinations and reading progressions were more elementary than advanced. That played to Dalton’s strength as a timing and rhythm passer with touch and accuracy.

Yet, there were instances in which his inability to drive the ball with velocity was a negative factor. As is always the case, those situations tend to arise more frequently, and are magnified, in the more important late season and playoff games, against better defenses. When the 2011 season ended, I viewed Dalton as a good young quarterback with defined strengths and some limitations.

When I returned to Dalton last month and drilled down deeper, I was more impressed. Here’s why: Quarterbacks who are not strong, power throwers must have two attributes in order to compensate: anticipation and accuracy. And they must possess those traits to a highly refined degree to be top-level NFL signal callers. Dalton routinely displayed outstanding anticipation. There were many intermediate throws in which he pulled the trigger well before the receiver began his break. What must supplement that kind of anticipation is precise ball location. Dalton had it. Time and again, he hit the strike point, putting the ball right on his receivers’ hands.