Bengals’ Chase masters details to become one of the NFL’S best
If Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Ja’marr Chase ran the exact same route two months earlier, it likely would have resulted in a 10-yard reception and another nice moment in an impressive rookie season.
Against the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday, the Bengals were down 14-0 in the last minute of the first quarter. Facing soft zone coverage, Chase
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was supposed to go all the way to the left edge of the field. Burrow would have hit him in stride for a first down in that
scenario. But Chase saw the opportunity for more.
Chase cut his route short, so he wouldn’t run into the Chiefs defensive back guarding the sideline. He identified the weakest part of the zone, caught the ball with room to run and then sprinted 72 yards for the score.
It was a season-changing touchdown.
“Versus zone coverage, he has gotten a lot better over the last half of the year,” Burrow said. “You saw it on his first touchdown. He’s running an out route, felt the flat corner getting ready to trap, and he settled into that zone. That’s the sign of a smart receiver who really understands what he’s looking at.”
Chase’s ability to time his routes, adjust his speed and be at the right place at the right time have all led him to the next stage of his career.
He started the season as a deep threat. He’s finishing it as one of the best receivers in the NFL.
“That’s what I’ve learned, being able to execute at the right speed,” Chase said. “Playing receiver, you have to know when to play fast, and that’s another thing I’ve learned. I’ve been watching a lot of film. (Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters) has been helping me with that. Playing fast at my own speed.”
Chase’s evolution has been about mastering details. He has spoken about getting a better sense of what read he is on every play and using the routes being run around him to his advantage. If wide receiver Tyler Boyd is running up the field when Chase is in the slot, Chase now has a better sense of what he can do to get open against a zone.
Meanwhile, the Bengals began moving him around the field when his stats dipped in November.
“I want to be smart with the offense,” Chase said. “Knowing more and more positions. Knowing what everybody has to do. Just get the small things for the defense down. Even our cadence calls. I want to get those down perfectly. That might give me speed or release off the ball. Little things. All that can play a part later.”
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says it’s typical for a first-year receiver to
hit the rookie wall and not bounce back until the following season. Chase’s progress in the smallest areas of the game have led to him playing his best football in the Bengals’ most important games.
“It’s easy for young guys to come and explode onto the scene early and then fade as the season goes,” Taylor said. “As it gets harder, it’s taxing on your body and it gets taxing on you mentally. It can be exhausting for a lot of guys. (Chase) just maintained his standard throughout.”
Chase ranks fourth in the NFL with 1,429 receiving yards and second with 13 receiving touchdowns. He’s 11 yards away from breaking former Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson’s franchise record for single-season receiving yards, and Chase has become the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Taylor said he’s just as proud of Chase’s blocking in the run game. One of his favorite plays of the season was the second snap against the Denver Broncos, where Chase blocked a safety into the turf on a short run.
“What he’s done as a rookie has been tremendous,” Taylor said. “If he got that award that would be one of the least surprising things in my life, because he’s earned it.”