The new-look Bengals' offensive line, coached by newcomers Scott Peters and Michael McCarthy, looks more and more interesting as rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild got worked into the mix the first two days he was on the field for the voluntary offseason program.

Georgia teammate Amarius Mims is on the other side at right tackle, but he can feel him.

"Strongest dude I ever met in my life. Pound for pound," said Mims Tuesday, agreeing his friend doesn't seem to be intimidated by anything physical. "He has that factor about him. Not just in a game, but in regular life. I feel bad if he gets his hand on a regular pedestrian just walking down the street. If it's not a football player, he'll probably (do damage)."

Fairchild is lining up between two of last year's captains in left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and center Ted Karras. And the Cs are raving about the third-round pick. Brown has watched film of him and has been answering his endless questions.

"He's got a lot of questions, but that's good. That's what you want," Brown said. "I believe it's my responsibility to make him as comfortable as possible.

"His play strength is very unique. Just holding the bag for him, or being in front of him in a drill, holy hell, this guy has some heavy hands. There's reason they took him in the third round, and gave him the opportunity to be the guy at left guard. Just in terms of play strength, the right mindset, his ability to pass protect. For his size he's got a unique body in terms of his length, height, strength. In college, playing as well as he did in the SEC, and how consistent he was, it's what made him a hot commodity."

Karras also has taken it upon himself to make Fairchild comfortable. Quite literally. When Fairchild talked about wishing he could come early before rookies were allowed in the building last Thursday, Karras invited him to stay a few days at his pool house while they watched film.

"Great guest. Left it very clean," Karras said. "Just jump-starting some installs. He recently got married and I think that bodes well. He's kind of coming in as a grown man, a married man. It doesn't seem like the moment is too big for him. I figured if this guy is eager, I have the accommodations and I wanted to get my hands on him first.

"I think he's done a great job so far. We're two days in working with him. Made of the right stuff, played at a big-time program, and seems to be kind of a physical specimen. Excited to have him."

SLANTS AND SCREENS

Want an example of player development? During the spring drills, all the Bengals cornerbacks are lining up in the slot and on the outside for new defensive coordinator Al Golden.

"With a new scheme, you want those guys to understand the big picture of what and why it's being coached," said cornerbacks coach Charles Burks after Tuesday's practice. "Everybody in that room is going to have experience playing multiple positions. It's about building a defensive back, not a position." …

Burks says Josh Newton looks like he should after starting the last six games of his rookie year and taking 507 snaps after Dax Hill and then DJ Turner II went down.

"I like what he's doing at both positions," Burks said. "When you play early and you get thrown in the fire and figure out how to get out of it, that really helps the development. That's what he did. That really gives somebody confidence they can go and get better and that's what he's doing." …

Hill continues to take it easy as he rehabs his ACL …

NFL sack champion Trey Hendrickson surfaced on the sidelines at practice Tuesday, but he was there just to address the media as he and the Bengals deal with a contract extension impasse.