On Friday, January 13, 2023, during practice at the IEL indoor practice facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, secondary coach Charles Burks (left) and wide receiver Cam Taylor-Britt ran a drill.

Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator for the Bengals, first noticed Charles Burks when he was coaching the Dolphins’ cornerbacks in the Senior Bowl three years prior.

Now in Cincinnati, Burks is Anarumo’s secondary coach, but despite instructing the national team’s cornerbacks, he is approaching the week as if he were the defensive coordinator.

Burks claims that Zac Taylor, the head coach of the Bengals, suggested he be considered for that position at the most important college all-star game ever. As is his custom, Burks has been considering his strategy since the Vikings’ current defensive backs coach and coordinator of passing games, Daronte Jones, a former cornerbacks coach with the Bengals, won the championship.

In preparation for Sunday’s NFL Network game at 1 p.m., Burks said on Monday, “I’m going to try and treat it like I’m the defensive coordinator for an NFL team.” His squad practiced on Tuesday morning at Hancock-Whitney Field.

“I’ll be watching the defensive lineman closely. I will be focusing on the linebackers. After practice, I’m going to compose my own reports. I can always set goals for myself and get ready for the next phase of my work, regardless of my title.”

Since Zac Taylor took over as head coach five years ago, the Bengals have selected 12 players from this game in the draft. The coaching staff is no longer present, but Burks intends to return with a ton of information for the scouts in an effort to attract a few more.

I’ll make an effort to observe the ball from both angles. Make an effort to follow both teams. Get acquainted with the names,” advises Burks. “One thing you have to do when you go from being a coach to a coordinator is to look at the big picture with all the names and details and familiarize yourself with the team as a whole.”

Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo, who is ranked sixth on the NFLDraftBuzz.com CB board, is another starting cornerback Burks has selected this week in the first or second round. Burks already had one starting cornerback selected from the Senior Bowl when the Bengals selected Cam Taylor-Britt in the 2022 second round. Additionally, he ranks ninth in Kalen King of Penn State.

There’s more to the 6-0, 196-pound Mitchell and the 5-11, 191-pound King than just running 40 yards in 4.5 seconds. Draft rumors claim that Mitchell is incredibly strong, having achieved 21 225-pound bench presses, and that King is a skilled and adaptable player.

However, Burks claims that he finds underappreciated players in prestigious programs—like Rutgers’ Maxx Melton, Notre Dame’s Cam Hart, and Washington State’s Chau Smith-Wade—to be intriguing.

Burks states, “There are a number of good secondary players in this draft.”

SLANTS AND SCREENS: The hardest workers in show business have to be on Sirius NFL Radio in the form of “Moving the Chains,” hosts Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan, if it’s not Bengals radio voice Dan Hoard. They arrived on a Crack of Dawn jet in time to film Monday’s show after working Sunday’s AFC championship game in Baltimore.

These opinions about the Bengals are theirs.

Miller: “How can you not enjoy it? For many people in that division, Joe Burrow remains the finest quarterback. You always have a chance when you have a guy like that. It’s similar to Patrick Mahomes. Talent exists. Hendrickson Trey on defense? He is listed as an All-Pro.”

KIRWAN: “To continue this, who are you bringing back? Higgins Tee?Boyd Tyler? For you guys this offseason, those seem to be the key questions. Who are you going to retrieve who is unattached?”

The Bengals’ longtime East Coast scout Andrew Johnson is excited about this week’s practice and game battle between FBS and FCS players. Andre Iosivas, a wide receiver from Princeton who went to a little school in his neighborhood last season, made a big impression on the big guys this week en route to being selected by the Bengals in the sixth round as their most successful offensive rookie.

On Monday, Johnson declared, “Andrei was the perfect Senior Bowl player.” “This game genuinely demonstrates that to you. Can those players who didn’t face tough opposition play like this every day down here?”

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Who will succeed Iosiva? Johnson visited the University of New Hampshire campus in order to sign Nationals running back Dylan Laube, who stands 5-95 and weighs 210 pounds. Although he isn’t as big or quick as an Iosias, he was incredibly productive while at Durham.

Firstly in all-purpose yards and second in total touchdowns and scoring in the country. No. 8 in total kick returns and receptions per game, and No. 3 in kick returns. and No. 16 in all-purpose yards while accruing 2,095 punt returns.

It is the most difficult thing to project. How will those individuals perform in the professional ranks? It’s what you adore learning about.”.

There are just no small-school nuggets in the East. Running back Isaiah Davis of South Dakota State is lined up for the Nationals, while Jalyx Hunt of Houston Christian is playing for the American squad.