Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates is looking to produce an even better season than his strong debut year.
He’s not alone — an expert like Gil Brandt has already tabbed him as a breakout candidate.
And rightfully so based on his rookie performance. Now Bates has his eye on continued improvement this offseason.
“The grin hasn’t changed for me,” Bates said, according to Zach Groth of WPTA21. “I feel like there’s still a lot that I can do, there’s a lot of room for me to improve still.”
Bates was one of the brightest spots on the Bengals’ roster last year. The team had unexpectedly cut George Iloka so they could get Bates on the field and he excelled, leading the team in tackling at 111 and picking off three passes.
Now Bates has a full season and another offseason of training under his belt before getting to camp and going to work with new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who has a strong history as a coach of defensive backs.
As of right now, the sophomore year should be anything but a slump for Bates.
