Shemar Stewart Hopes to Catch Up in Training Camp Quickly

Shemar Stewart Hopes to Catch Up in Training Camp Quickly

Risky Business

The Bengals’ first-round pick comes with a high risk, and the team hopes he will provide a high reward, as he immediately impressed defensive coordinator Al Golden. Following the selection, Golden was asked what stands out about Stewart, and he noted, “The overall athleticism, his effort, and his play style, his relentlessness. If there’s a word we want to define our defense with, we want guys that are relentless on all snaps. I think Shemar fits that to a T.”

While Stewart didn’t have a productive career from a sack perspective, he was a master in providing pressure to opposing quarterbacks, which Golden alluded to. The former Aggie will occasionally bookend Trey Hendrickson to garner more juice on the edges, so the interior of the defensive line can be more effective. Stewart has tremendous size and athleticism, and Cincinnati will waste no time in getting him in a rotation with incumbents Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy.

First Impressions

New defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery wasted no time getting Stewart fully immersed in the installation process on his very first day of camp, and said, “He’s got a lot of jobs we’ll ask him to do, it’s going to be a process. He hasn’t done any work or any fundamental stuff. But he has a lot of characteristics to work with. I’m excited about that. He’ll be fine.”

Straight speed is Stewart’s calling card, and he will need to work on his bend and hand placement if he’s to be successful at the next level. Cincinnati will put him on the fast track, but he’ll need to work his way up the depth chart throughout camp and the preseason.

Learning is Fundamental

The learning curve in the NFL is steep for those coming from college. Every player you go up against is trying to win on every rep they take. Stewart has a great support system behind him, as head coach Zac Taylor has built one of the best locker room cultures in the league. Bengals players are a bonded group that will push the prized rookie in the right direction. All of Bengaldom hopes it’s to places they’ve been dreaming of.