Andy Lyons - Getty Images
5 months ago: CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 01: Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball and tries to avoid the defensive pressure of Dannell Ellerbe #59 of the Baltimore Ravens during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 1, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, who decided to stay in Cincinnati despite general interest for vacant head coaching positions in Jacksonville and St. Louis, joined Lance McAlister and Dave Lapham on Bengals Line Monday night. And let me tell you, if you haven't heard the interview you should, because Gruden is perhaps the most honest and humorous coaches we've heard interviewed in some time.
Gruden was asked about several things on Cincinnati's offense, ranging from Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and the overall development of tight end Jermaine Gresham. Before that however the guys asked what grade Gruden would give himself, quickly scoring himself with a "D".
"We got to get better and we will get better," Gruden said. "We just got to utilize the talent that we have better and get Jermaine Gresham down the middle a little bit more and we'll be alright." At that point Gruden plays to the crowd, who enthusiastically cheered.
Dave Lapham stayed on point with Gresham, asking what the starting tight end must do to get better.
"He's just got to continue studying, learn and rep, rep, rep, rep and rep. He's just got to mentally get into it and see the looks. He's very raw. He's never done this type of thing before where option routes, reading the safeties, two deep, three deep or whatever it might be. The more he sees the better he's going to be and once he gets it, he will be a dominate force."
Gresham finished the season with a career high in receptions (56), yards receiving (596) and touchdown (6).
0 recs | 101 comments
Why is it
Gronk and Graham seem to get it already and Gresham is still down on the learning curve? Is that his fault or the coaches? Gresham was supposed to be the most polished receiver in that year’s TE class.
EarthwormJim - January 11, 2012
yeah how come the Bengals keep drafting guys who "don't get it"?
Simpson = 3 years, most of his games still are under 50 yards receiving
Gresham = 2 years, still doesn’t get it?
Maualuga = says after having a kid he can’t be the same knucklehead he was
How about not drafting guys who you’re always waiting for them to "get it’?
occams_tiger_teeth - January 11, 2012
thats a bit drastic dont you think?
if this is greshams poor numbers, I can’t wait to see what they look like when he breaks out… because traditionally, the bengals TE never put up the numbers gresham did this year. Especially under marvin lewis, the TE never really has been used as a offensive threat, until we got gresham.
AMAS85 - January 11, 2012
his own coach says it
“once he gets it”
If I was GM I wouldn’t want to spend first round draft picks on guys who use up the first half or more of their rookie deal still waiting to “get it”.
occams_tiger_teeth - January 11, 2012
i took it as
Gresham is playing good but he can be playing at a pro-bowl level. I don’t think they are disappointed in him, but know that he can put up better numbers than this year.
I also think it is rare for any rookie to come in and get everything that is going on. I would imagine it takes most players a few years to get the ins and outs of the NFL playbook, looker room, etc etc etc
AMAS85 - January 11, 2012
I totally agree
I don’t think it’s about Gresham getting “it”.
sgiridharan1982 - January 11, 2012
Also remember
This is brand new to him this year with Gruden being here. Jermaine came in with Brat as the OC, had to try and learn that and then the next season he is given a whole new playbook with no offseason. I say Gresh ends up being dominant at his position. I liked the pick when we made it and still do.
Ben-GAL - January 11, 2012
Also...
let’s not forget Gronk has Brady and Graham has Brees…I mean, I like Dalton, but the pre-established offenses along with HOF qbs i think might play a role, haha.
M Shop - January 11, 2012
Good point
I hope to God one day we can put Dalton in the same category as those guys!
Ben-GAL - January 11, 2012
First off...I'm BACK!!! Second
He gets it did we all forget ,this is a different offense than Brat ran?
His job is now different.
Note he says “He’s never done this STUFF before where OPTION ROUTES,reading the safeties,two deep,three deep or whatever it might be”……….
OK…So what should you get from this?
In last years offense he did not have to do any of that.
He ran some tight end screens, blocked , and ran different routes than this year,and did not have to worry about reading the secondary on OPTION ROUTES……
Now remember if I am correct in my thoughts when they drafted him I thought he said that the offense that Bratt ran was close to the one he was in in college.
So,he in fact is learning a New offense on the fly……. Any body feel me on this?
Thats why he doesn’t get it … But no ota’s ,no getting with new coach until training camp, and the kid puts up those numbers in a position that did not get used often in this coaching tenure,I think is fantastic!!!!
Craig Da Dread - January 12, 2012
Its the system
If Gresh started in NE he would have the same numbers or better i theink. The Bengals ran a standard TE when Gresh came. Blocking was 1st. NE was pass 1st. NE TEs just broke out this year. JC will make Gresh a big weapon i believe. So its the system this time not the player.
i am will - January 11, 2012
not buying the excuses that gresham aint getting it
the offense spent too much time tossing jump balls to green, thats gruden and dalton that aint getting it.
palewook - January 11, 2012
agreed.
Maybe a little bit of both, but moreso the development of Dalton and having Green there that didn’t provide Gresham with the best environment for stepping up to elite-TE level this season.
Israeli - January 11, 2012
I don't agree with you
As I didn’t think the offense put Gresham in a position to make plays. Trying to has a run blocking TE in a WCO isn’t the smartest idea. We need to find an identity on offense and make use of the strengths of the players.
sgiridharan1982 - January 11, 2012
Crap...
USE COFFMAN ALLREADY!!!!
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
The fact that no one claimed him off our practice squad speaks volumes.
redrifle14 - January 11, 2012
not really
we havent shown him off in preseason at all..
havent let him on the field
and the showd him only being bashed on hard knocks (while practicing not recovered from a broken foot due to lack of TE’s)
The blame goes to J Hayes TE Coach. coffman while not a in line blocker beat gresham for best TE award in college the last year the both played(gresham didnt play his senoir year)
we have both and only use 1 its so dumb i cant stand it.
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
pretty sure Coffman is on the chiefs y'all
But I agree with what you said about him while he was here…
TruWhoDey - January 11, 2012 via iPhone app
He's still listed on the
practice squad
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
But his Wikipedia page
shows him as being on the Chiefs 2012 – present. Gonna do some more looking.
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
I did find this
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
Because you expect a Pats type offense in KC
I would expect Coffman to excel there. I wish the Bengals could have gotten him on the field b/c I think he’ll do well if his strengths are utilized. If he wasn’t talented, he would not have hung around this long.
WOOD98 - January 12, 2012
RE Gronk and Graham
Probably a lot easier to get it when you are in the meeting rooms and on the field with Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Those are two QBs and two coaching staffs that demand you get it 100%.
I see Dalton becoming that type of QB – one who takes complete ownership of the offense. What I don’t see is a structure starting at the top that demands this across the board form every player in uniform.
At the same time, I don’t think Gresham is squandering talent. He is still pretty good. Definitely would like to see him develop into more of a interior weapon and I think it will happen the more he works with Dalton in Gruden’s system.
Cedric Benson Boat Party - January 11, 2012
You just proved my point
This is a structural problem in the Bengals organization. We don’t have the infrastructure or culture to demand excellence from our players.
EarthwormJim - January 11, 2012
We have all known this for years.
TCfromDubVee - January 11, 2012
we also dont have a decent TE coach
our TE’s are either ready when they get here or never are.
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
The Hayes brothers...ugh
joeb69 - January 11, 2012
finally got brat out the door
can we replace PA with Munoz
and find somone to replace both hayes brothers?
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
we also dont demand excellence from Coaches
pray4gm11 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
I got an interesting thought pattern here.
Gresham came from a system where his patterns were strict and he never needed to block anything. Gronkowski played at a school where both skills were developed evenly and equally (no preference). Graham had no bad habits to break and learned the game on the fly.
Gresham is converting from an OC who knew nothing to and OC who is asking him to do more, without a minicamp or OTA to gain the knowledge. Bottom line, next year, an injury free season from Gresham will open up AG18 and Shipley with a new found running game. Look for 32 minute TOP again.
david in upstate SC - January 11, 2012
Is there a transcript for the interview?
Also, it’s “dominant,” not “dominate” as an adjective.
jsl413 - January 11, 2012
RE:
No. We take our own time to transcribe them ourselves, during our day jobs when we have time. So it’s a mistake on my part. Thanks for the heads up.
Josh Kirkendall - January 11, 2012
nsfw
enjoyable take on your situation from an old sinfest comic strip though
palewook - January 11, 2012
Thanks for the quote, then!
If you have the whole thing somewhere, I’d love to read it.
jsl413 - January 11, 2012
its new things compaired to the old offense
Under brat he never had to read the d, he just would run the out route. The wco requires him to read the defense more. Gresh seems like a smart guy, so by next season I would be willing to say he will have it down.
JCompton41 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Exactly!
He’s saying option routs which is probably something he never did under Brat. Gresham is a BEAST, I love seeing that guy run over LBers and drag 2 guys down the field with him. IMO he will be dominant no mater if he gets it. Worst thing is they dumb it down and still get him the ball. He’s one.of the best TE’s I’ve ever seen in stripes.
Bigcatdaddy - January 11, 2012 via Android app
hmm
little early for me to proclaim gresham one of the best TEs to every be in orange and black. i will say the thought crosses my mind and i hope his career plays out like that. we really need a dominant TE and Gres appears to be the answer.
palewook - January 11, 2012
Just curious
Who would be your top 5 TE from 1980 to present day?
Bigcatdaddy - January 11, 2012 via Android app
not fair to date it, otherwise you can just point the year to post mcgee and it makes your point
if you are thinking all time bengal te:
holman
mcgee
trumpy
ross
kelly (who didnt get the glamor assignments)
would i put gresham at #6, sure. does he need a couple of seasons to climb up that ladder, yes. will he finish his career as the all time bengals te reception leader? we can only hope.
palewook - January 11, 2012
I was just curious, no debate
I put a date on it because in my post I stated he was the best I’VE ever seen in stripes. Born in the late 70’ s I’m a late Anderson into Boomer era fan. The Bengals haven’t been big on TE’s in the past. They’ve always used them as a blocker more than receiver. I liked Kelly alot he was a great blocker, had good hands, and was a great leader.
Bigcatdaddy - January 11, 2012 via mobile
breaking em down
holman was the most complete te to every wear a bengals uniform.
mcgee was consistent in a decade when the bengals werent.
trumpy was old school paul brown style.
ross had the best hands on the team. (better than collinsworth. damn you usfl for taking ross away.)
kelly was all heart and smart too.
palewook - January 11, 2012
Kelly was a small OL guy
he was really only half a TE blocking was his only strenght..
Why have our recent TE’s failed? poor coaching or poor talent?
Chase has been here 3 years and we know he can catch anything thrown his way but sense we dont have a TE coach he will never develope
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
bengals took the wrong approach with chase
you draft a guy for his hands, you utilize that strength. you don’t sit him on the bench and go, “well, we can’t play him since he can’t block.”
that’s poor coaching and poor drafting. if you weren’t going to use a hands guy, you should have never taken him.
palewook - January 11, 2012
How great could Ross have been
had he not jumped to the Boston Breakers, who immediately moved to New Orleans and finished in Portland?
david in upstate SC - January 11, 2012
i'm biased
think ross would have finished in the top 5 all time nfl TEs. he might have the best hands of any nfl TE to ever play the position.
palewook - January 11, 2012
Ross
Rated way too low there.
McGee not that good.
occams_tiger_teeth - January 11, 2012 via mobile
they are ranked according to yards received
not by a subjective choice of mine =)
palewook - January 11, 2012
+1
if our o-line is fixed in the offseason he will be able to be sent on routes more often with maybe just a chip block before heading down field. Reading the defense is obviously new to him and he should pick it up quickly.
ItsAlwaysSunnyInDayton - January 11, 2012
Glass is half full here guys...
…in his second season he was second on the team in receptions. He is in a new system with a new QB. Comparing him to Gronkowski or Graham just isn’t fair.
We are still transitioning to a WCO offense. It was pretty clear to me that our offense was very vanilla this year for obvious reasons. If Dalton gets a pass receiving threat out of the backfield next year to complement Gersham and Green, our offense will be tough to stop.
goffchile - January 11, 2012
and you really can't compare the pats offense to the bengals offense
their offense is centered around their TEs and they get way more looks. Im sure if we would toss it up to gresham that many times and make him the center piece his numbers would be up there too!
AMAS85 - January 11, 2012
i wish the bengals offense looked like the pats offense..
it is what it is though, grass is always greener.
palewook - January 11, 2012
Just ask Ocho...
Helmsy - January 11, 2012
15 receptions 276 yards 1 td
what are the odds he’ll be a free agent in 2012?
palewook - January 11, 2012
Oh I'd say pretty dang good
Helmsy - January 11, 2012
Ocho to the Bengals in 2012
:-)
WOOD98 - January 12, 2012
And I would say
The Pats wished their defense looked like the Bengals defense. Don’t get me wrong, their O is great, but if they don’t put up 30+, they have a great chance of being beat with that defense.
Ben-GAL - January 11, 2012
As an OU fan.....
I’ll stick up for Gresh here and say that he never seemed like a slow learner, or anything like that, while in college. And we ran a pretty sophisticated offense with him on campus, b/c we were also enjoying Sam Bradford at QB.
I’m not blaming the coaches or anything here, but I don’t like putting this on Gresh as something he needs to get. He should know enough, and coupled with his athleticism, he should be more of a weapon. Hopefully he will be next year.
Stanley1 - January 11, 2012
more to the point
of andy dalton being a rookie and the OL not giving enough time to travel thru progression to get to gresham
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
agree here.
Dalton played really well for a rookie, but I don’t know how many times I saw him dump balls when a receiver (sometimes Gersham) was wide open. Yes, better than a pick, but still a rookie mistake. I foresee Dalton’s completion percentage jumping 5 points next year with Gersham being the main beneficiary of that.
goffchile - January 11, 2012
I like when he said that he wants Andy to show some more emotion. Yell at somebody, cuss at somebody, slap an official…
quickslant - January 11, 2012 via mobile
lol everyone wanted to slapp an offical on new years day
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
Here's my take
Gruden in my mind is thinking that Gresham takes plays off, ok…I’m thinking it, lol, how many false starts did he have this year? Look, the kid has got great talent and he gets it, but you can’t reward him for making mistakes in crucial situations, I’m not saying he’s not trying on the plays that aren’t designed for him, but i don’t think he’s got the same kind of focus. When he “get’s it” that he has to be focused on every play and not just his, he’ll be all pro.
joeb69 - January 11, 2012
well said
I agree…that is what separates AJ Green and Santonio Holmes….AJ plays hard every play…not just his designed play…..to be a pro…you have to know and execute your job on EVERY play…
ticalcaldwell - January 11, 2012
I disagree that he takes plays off
i think its more to the point of them never using him thru out the whole game and its hard to stay focused when you know its not coming to you ever. he can get better but dalton has to do a better job of using his playmakers not named green..
which in his second year should improve.
and do rememer gresham was used as a FB a lot of his rookie year
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
i agree but can you really blame him?
Like you said, Dalton will get better as he gets more expierence.
AMAS85 - January 11, 2012
Anybody taken in the first round
has to be held accountable the second he signs his contract. Great expectations go along with the big money. I was shocked this season why we didn’t see more ownership of the middle of the defense, now I know why.
BENGALS69 - January 11, 2012
cause we were using caldwell
in the slot…
also a reason for 7 of the 13 regular season picks
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
Coaches not helping!
It’s not, guys don’t get it, it’s more that you need playing time we’re hurting our own team not playing guys. Practice can only go so far. Gotta let the young guys play!
ashunte23 - January 11, 2012 via Android app
Next year...
Ugh. every time I hear someone say “next year _ will be better” I throw up in my mouth a little.
EarthwormJim - January 11, 2012
Everytime someone can't see the positives in someone I do the same.
TCfromDubVee - January 11, 2012
Who said they can't see the positives
I like him, I think the organization is holding him back
EarthwormJim - January 11, 2012
The orginization with the Rookie QB and OC?
Graham and Gronk got dropped into pass happy offenses that have been good for years.
I know the orginization has flaws. They have had flaws for years. No sense re-hashing it.
TCfromDubVee - January 11, 2012
Of course there is sense re-hashing it
Those who ignore the problems of the past are doomed to repeat them in the future.
EarthwormJim - January 11, 2012
You talking to the front office about this?
That’s where it needs to be re-hashed
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
The only way to get the FO to hear it
Is if the fans/media are vocal about it.
EarthwormJim - January 11, 2012
They've been vocal about quite alot for the last 20 yrs
and it’s all still the same. And somehow I doubt the front office reads Cincy Jungle
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
Actually I think MB is secretly amongst us.......
Helmsy - January 11, 2012
LOL
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
You're right
As soon as I read the headline on this story I said to myself “It’s that damn Mike Brown’s fault”.
I am glad others are on the same page as me.
Yarin - January 11, 2012
Re hash it with the front office then.
Not the Cincy Jungle, we know it.
TCfromDubVee - January 11, 2012
i think the TE coach is holding him back as far as "getting IT"
i think playing with a rookie QB this past year hurt him.
like playing with chad and to hurt him the year before.
with the offseason gresham and dalton will have time to develope that timing and trust
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
Well it's always been "next year" with the Bengals
so you must have a bad acid reflux problem
Oregonbengalsfan - January 11, 2012
always next year
or the year after or..
palewook - January 11, 2012
WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!
There’s a problem because this is the 2nd Offense in 2 years for the Young guy, if Graham and Gronokowski had 2 different system in the same year it would be different just let the guy stay in one system so he can focus
thank you
Touhue Cha - January 11, 2012
well said T-Cha, lol
I think as he matures aa a player we are gonna have fun times…;)
joeb69 - January 11, 2012
as*
joeb69 - January 11, 2012
thank you joe
Touhue Cha - January 11, 2012
no problem
joeb69 - January 11, 2012
Need to Replace the Hayes in charge of TE's
and Gresham might have a chance to get it.
Bengalsfan024 - January 11, 2012
Maybe we could ger
Todd Christensen out of the MWS broadcast booth.
Bigcatdaddy - January 11, 2012 via Android app
*get
Bigcatdaddy - January 11, 2012 via Android app
Really good interview with JG. I liked his honesty.
thesaddler - January 11, 2012
Fans expectations
of tight ends have risen to an all time high because they are seeing what Gronk and Graham are doing. Tight ends are expected to perform on par with wide receivers now. Everyone wants to have a tight end that catches for at least 10 TD’s and 1000 yards. They are rare but extremely valuable assets in today’s NFL and those team that are fortunate enough to have them need to know how to exploit defenses with them. Is it realistic to place expectations on Gresham to put up numbers like Gronk and Graham?
Gronkowski had 1,327 yards this season and 17 TD’s. That is just filthy for a TE. I guess my point is that everyone wants to have a Gronk or Graham but the numbers they are putting up now are just plain ridiculous so our expectations might be a tad high as a result.
n8dogg - January 11, 2012
well I don't think anyone really expects Gresham to do what Gronkowski did year in and year out
but Gresham definately has the ability too. I think thats the whole point.
AMAS85 - January 11, 2012
Gresham has to get stronger also!!!
Whenever I seen a safety or linebacker jam him at line he has a VERY DIFFICULT time getting off line. But he’s still top 5 te in NFL. But Chase was best te I’ve ever seen in college. He don’t have to block to been in game. His hands are I know 2nd best on team. If wanna Ho to Championship level we have to get a new running back, tight end, linebacker, and secondary coach.
pray4gm11 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Coffman
Please, Please, Please get off the Chase Coffman is the answer at TE bandwagon. If he was an NFL caliber TE he would have been on somebody’s active roster by now. He hasn’t gotten on the field in three years. That speaks volume. It’s not the TE coaches fault that he’s been beaten out by the likes of JP Foschi, Colin Cochart, Reggy Kelly, Donald Lee, Dan Coats, etc. I wish Chase the best in life but I don’t see him as a starting TE in the NFL.
JADefense - January 11, 2012
Well maybe it is coaching
It takes a lot of our players years before they finally figure it out.
pray4gm11 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
hes just a third round bust
occams_tiger_teeth - January 11, 2012 via mobile
probably so
I just said he was best pass catching te I’ve ever seen in college. Broke almost every record. So the talents there if u can’t get 1nfl catch from a person with that resume u shouldn’t ve coaching flat out.
pray4gm11 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
chiefs practice squad....
Unless I’m crazy.
TruWhoDey - January 11, 2012 via iPhone app
I trust Gruden's opinion over anyone else's at where Gresham stands
and i trust gresham will continue to grow and learn
BeWarned - January 11, 2012
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