BENGALS NOTEBOOK Fun for fans Sunday, August 9, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Bengals will turn Tuesday's practice into a daylong festival when they work out at Centerville High School near Dayton.
Activities will begin at 2 p.m. and include an autograph session and interactive games. Youth football and cheerleading clinics, featuring Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz and the BenGals, respectively, already are sold out.
Practice will run from 4-6 p.m.
Last year's Centerville session drew approximately 12,000 fans. Admission is free; parking is $1.
No Wilson worries
Reinard Wilson is secure enough to joke about his playing status. Told that he's considered a virtual lock to start at right outside linebacker, he grinned and said, "I had it locked up for the first two games last year."
Then, Wilson was a confused rookie who proceeded to get benched. Now, he understands the defense more fully and is being counted on to fulfill the promise that led the Bengals to draft him in the first round.
"I know I'm not going to hurt the team making a lot of mental errors," said Wilson, who totaled three sacks "I think I can make plays instead of not even getting pressure on the quarterback."
Linebackers coach Mark Duffner said Wilson actually began to progress during last season's final five games.
"He was more decisive, and that allowed him to show the burst and speed and power that he has," Duffner said. "Early in the season he was thinking. He didn't know if he was lined up right.
"We talked about "Triple-A' -- alignment, assignment, adjustment -- that allow you to play aggressively. Well, he might have had the alignment but wasn't sure of the assignment. Or he might have had the assignment but he didn't know the adjustment. Once he got "Triple-A understood, he was able to play aggressively."
Wilson described his on-field comfort level by saying, "You don't even have to do too much to make a play."
Listed at 261 pounds, Wilson gained about 15 pounds since last season.
"He's always been strong but I think he's using his strength now that he understands what to do with it," Duffner said. "At times (before) he wouldn't have proper leverage or he'd be a little tall in his stance."
Seeking a niche
Damian Vaughn realizes he'll have trouble beating out any of the three veteran tight ends ahead of him on the Bengals' depth chart. So the seventh-round draft choice from Miami University will try to prove versatile enough to force coaches to keep him for other reasons.
"My objective is to find a role that's not specific," Vaughn said. "I'll definitely try to contribute on special teams." Besides playing tight end, Vaughn hopes he can make some inroads as a blocking fullback and perhaps even as a long-snapper.
Etc.
Mike Thompson was a last-minute replacement at starting nose tackle for Kimo von Oelhoffen, who strained his left groin muscle during warmups . . . Running back and special-teams ace Eric Bieniemy, center Darrick Brilz and cornerback Ashley Ambrose were Cincinnati's captains for Saturday's game. Bieniemy was the special-teams captain last year . . . Bengals players will have today off before resuming workouts at Georgetown (Ky.) College on Monday.
Game report