The Cincinnati Bengals chose to sure up their offensive skill weapons by drafting QB Joe Burrow’s LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase with the 5th overall pick in the 2021 draft. And Chase had an interesting comment after practice
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Even though the Bengals were not in need of a wide receiver, Chase is still an excellent player that will make the Bengals offense much better. Chase sat out the 2020 season, but was a stud in 2019.
He had an astounding 2019 season, catching 84 passes from Burrow for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. And was awarded the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented to the best wide receiver in college football.
Ja’Marr Chase
– 221 Rec yds vs Clemson (most ever in BCS/CFP title game)
– 20 Rec TD this season (most in SEC history)
– 1,780 Rec yds this season (most in SEC history) pic.twitter.com/IqDvCVxk16— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 14, 2020
Dispatches from Bengals camp have noted dropped passes, lacking separation from defenders, and losses on contested balls that have made for fewer highlights than the team would have hoped to see. But Tuesday’s practice was great for the offensive unit.
Ja’Marr Chase is committed to working on his craft.
Chase and Burrow finally had a successful day at camp. For the most part, all we’ve heard is about Joe Burrow’s issues returning from a torn ACL and how the offense has gotten beat by the defense repeatedly. But the duo proved why they were drafted as high as they were.
This route by Ja’Marr Chase 🤧
(Via @Dan_Hoard)pic.twitter.com/RmBF9t133t
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 11, 2021
“I thought we had a good day today as an offensive unit,” said Chase, the rookie wide receiver who flashed on a catch each in seven-on-seven and team and turned yikes into yards on the touchdown drive. “We capitalized last week on how we came out. Joe came out ready, all the receivers came ready. The running backs, the line. I think the majority did a good job.”
With that backdrop — and admitting he hasn’t been perfect — Chase preached patience.
“I’ve got to take it slow,” Chase said. “I realized this offense is very detailed. I had to take my time. The first couple of days, I wasn’t doing so well. Of course. I kept pushing forward. Me sitting out that year, I’m not going to be so fast getting back to my normal self. It’s all mental. It’s all mental right now.”
It is nice that two of his closet college friends are on the same side of the Bengals locker room. Burrow and tight end Thaddeus Moss.
“I talked to them about how I feel right now,” Chase said. “It was plays I knew I could make. I had some drops on them. Thad just told me to relax. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ That’s exactly what he told me. ‘Keep a level head.’ (Burrow) was saying how we both were out for a year and we have to come back completely different, stronger, faster. The main thing is about being on the same time and getting our stuff together.”
Ja’Marr Chase: I’ve got to take it slow, Rome wasn’t built in a day https://t.co/T4LWkTDMCX pic.twitter.com/lLmPxRaNEC
— Bengals Fans (@Bengals_News) August 11, 2021
