AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Titans

Bengals

Incoming Bengals HC Zac Taylor will likely run a scheme similar to the offenses run by Sean McVay with the Rams and Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers and Falcons. 

“Nothing is created out of thin air,” Taylor said via Paul Dehner Jr of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “There is a lot of window dressing that can be put on it. A lot of different ways it can be used but at its core it is the same system that has been around. It’s just a different way of going about it. We’ve all coached with coaches that run similar systems.”

Dehner adds the scheme has had success with QBs like Matt Ryan and Jared Goff, which bodes will for Bengals QB Andy Dalton, though it doesn’t guarantee Dalton will stay through his current contract that expires in 2020. 

“You have to have high standards and help (the quarterback) understand the intent of everything,” Taylor said. “That is something Sean is great about and Jared is great about. If we are ever unclear about why we are doing something we immediately clarify that. We communicate the intent of why we are running a pass play, why we are running a run play and that makes it easy for everyone to understand and take it to a different level. That’s what’s special about our organization.”

• Jason La Canfora reports that Raiders QBs coach Brian Callahan is expected to join Zac Taylor’s Bengals staff as offensive coordinator. 
• According to La Canfora, Jack Del Rio is considered a favorite to become the Bengals’ defensive coordinator. 

Browns

• The Cleveland Plain-Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot reports the team has opened extension talks with WR Breshad Perriman, OT Greg Robinson, LB Joe Schobert and DB Damarious Randall.
• Cabot added WR Rashard Higgins wants to return to the Browns. 
• Scott Petrak isn’t hopeful CB Howard Wilson will be able to return to the Browns after suffering a broken kneecap and patellar tear in consecutive offseasons. 

Titans

Former QB Warren Moon thinks Titans QB Marcus Mariota should try to bulk up this offseason. 

“You have to take really good care of your body,” Moon said via Jim Wyatt of the Titans website. “I think that is something Marcus could probably do is put a little more time in the weight room to build himself up a little bit more. He has a long, thin frame, is close to 6-4, around 220 pounds. He can handle a little more weight than that. He could probably put on about 10 more pounds of muscle, which I think would help him, especially with the type of game he wants to play, running the football. And I think it also helps you mentally. It makes you mentally tougher when you know you have the strength and the bulk in your body. That would be one place I would maybe have him look at this offseason: ‘Do I want to put on a little more muscle and get a little bit stronger so I can handle the punishment that’s going to be out there?’ And maybe that will cut down on some injuries.”