Second-year linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. is absolutely locked in, treating the Cincinnati Bengals’ upcoming joint practice with the Chicago Bears on August 20 like it’s a full-blown regular season game. This isn’t just a casual run-through; for many Bengals starters, including Knight, it’s probably the last shot they get at game-like reps before the actual season kicks off on September 13.
This Ain’t Just Practice, It’s The Real Deal
Forget the casual preseason vibe, Knight isn’t here for it. He’s approaching this joint practice session with the Bears with a laser focus, seeing it as a prime chance to get better. “If you’re not treating it like a game, you’re not taking it seriously,” Knight said. “You’re not (treating) it as a professional. You’re in this position to grow. You get a chance to go against another team, and it’s not an opportunity that you take lightly.” Last year, Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor skipped the joint practice idea entirely. This time, Taylor wanted it, and it lined up perfectly for the Bengals to host the Bears before their second preseason game on August 22.
The Film Study Habits That Are Raising Eyebrows
What’s truly different about Knight’s approach this year? His film study. He’s hitting the tape of the Bears’ run and pass games, digging into early down tendencies, all to know what he’s facing in practice. Get this: his film work doesn’t stop there. He was even watching film of the Detroit Lions before Cincinnati’s preseason opener on August 13! Now, watching opponent film is standard during the regular season, obviously. But for a *joint practice*? That’s not common at all, and it shows Knight is going the extra, extra mile.
Why Year 2 Is Hitting Different For The Defense
Knight’s intense preparation is no accident. Last preseason, he didn’t watch any opponent film. The whole focus then was installing new defensive coordinator Al Golden’s scheme. That’s actually why Taylor passed on joint practices last year; he wanted his defense fully dialed into learning their own system without outside distractions. “I think last year everybody’s trying to learn what to do,” Knight explained. “New DC, new coaches, and we’re trying to learn each other. First game gets here, we’ll just run our basic stuff.” But this year? Total shift. “But this time around, it’s like, hey, we are a second year in. We know what we’re doing. We know what our bread and butter is. Let’s find out what their bread and butter is and be ahead of it so it’s not surprising to us.” That’s the mindset of a pro ready to take a leap.
This approach is exactly what the Bengals need as they head into the second preseason game against the Bears on August 22. With the regular season opener looming on September 13, Demetrius Knight Jr. is clearly focused on making every single rep count, ensuring the defense is sharp and ready to roll from day one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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