Updated: 6:30 p.m.
GEORGEOWN, Ky. - The Oklahoma Drill, where the fullbacks and tight ends are supposed to come sweeping down plainly into the linebackers.
Call Saturday morning's version here at Georgetown College a success for two guys the Bengals desperately need to be more physical than they've ever been in their lives. Tight end Chase Coffman and fullback Fui Vakapuna are so completely different players than they were as rookies last year that it's almost like the Bengals gained another third-round pick (Coffman) and seventh-rounder (Vakapuna).
Vakapuna held his own against SAM linebacker Rey Maualuga twice and Coffman got push on second-year linebacker Dan Skuta and rookie Vincent Rey.
But Marvin Lewis' marquee matchup turned out to be the last one for the Twitter title, Maualuga vs. wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. "85 vs. 58" Lewis barked. They had been tweeting for weeks how they were going to take each other out and give The Ocho credit. He powered his shoulder right into Maualuga, but then it looked like he grabbed him to pull him down on top of him. Then he put Maualuga in a headlock.
"I ran him over. I'm sure he thought he was going to get the best of me and I got low, my base was good, I stunned him, I stunned him," The Ocho said. "I surprised him and when I hit him, his eyes got real big. It was like he was in "aw bleep" mode. That mode you're like when you get beat?"
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, who stood safety Roy Williams to a stalemate, shook his head.
"He can have that," he said. "Chad doesn't have any brains."
Also in the Oklahoma, middle linebacker Dhani Jones got the pop of the day when he ran over rookie fullback Joe Tronzo. Center Kyle Cook ended up pushing defensive tackle Domata Peko on his back, but Peko got no help from a running back that cut about two or three times before moving forward. Rookie cornerback Brandon Ghee really got into rookie wide receiver Dez Briscoe off the snap.
SLANTS AND SCREENS
» Special teams coach Darrin Simmons isn't happy with the inconsistency of his kickers, Mike Nugent and Dave Rayner. After Rayner was scattershot Thursday night and Nugent wasn't much better, on Saturday morning both were two of three with short misses, Rayner wide right from 30 and Nugent wide right from 36. Nugent hit the longest two, from 39 and 44, but Simmons wasn't giving the edge to either.
"If you go based off today. They both missed," Simmons said. "They're both equally as bad. That's good for about 32nd in the league. The competition is still on. We've kicked for two days and keep it ongoing. I need both of them to pick it up and neither felt right from the get go."
» Wide receiver Antonio Bryant (knee) didn't work for the third straight practice, but he may go Saturday night. He did say he would only go once in the two-a-days, and it figures he would be kept out of the pads practice.
» Former associate Bengals strength coach Ray Oliver, now director of the strength program at nearby University of Kentucky, may be bringing a special guest for Tuesday's 3 p.m. practice. There is a possibility overall No. 1 NBA draft pick John Wall will be onsite and hook up with The Ocho. They both wear Reebok shoes.
» Bengals first-round pick Jermaine Gresham at No. 21 is offically slotted.According* *to the Denver Post via ProFootballTalk.com, the No. 22 pick, Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. agreed to a five-year deal at $12.15 million that can be as high as $15.5 million with incentives. A total of $9.35 million is guaranteed.
