[h=1]Marvin Lewis thinks Jessie Bates could be the guy at safety “real quick”[/h]
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[h=2]Lewis and staff are pushing Bates to get him ready to play.[/h]
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2018/8/15/17690630/marvin-lewis-jessie-bates-safety
“We have been pushing him in early, and you want to see him take command when he has to take command,” Lewis said of Bates during his August 14 press conference. ”He could end up being the guy back there real quick. You have to keep urging Jessie to move forward.”
Bates did not start in the Bengals’ preseason opener, but he was one of the first defensive players subbed in during the first quarter, and he impressed Lewis with his performance.
“He came up in some nice fits in the run game and made some good tackles.”
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“He’s physically gifted and as talented as we expected,” Lewis stated. “He’s what we wanted. He’s demonstrated in practice how to get to the right spots on the field, and we just have to keep moving.”
Lewis believes in what Bates can do physically and that he just needs to get comfortable with the defense.
“He’s more of an analytical-learning type of person. He takes it all in and hears what you are saying and now needs to come out the other end that way,” Lewis said.
Getting action in the preseason will help Bates to develop as a leader in the secondary.
“The biggest thing for him is handling the different ins and outs of the game,” added Lewis. “The situation, the down and distance, field position and all of those things.”