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Bengals Open Camp in Dayton

photo by Brendon D. Miller - Bluegrass Sports Nation

Zac Taylor era in Cincy begins at Welcome Stadium

July 27, 2019 – Fletcher Long – Bluegrass Sports Nation

One of the only other occasions, before today, the NFL was in Dayton, Ohio was October 3, 1920. That was the date of the very first NFL game played between the Dayton Triangles and the Columbus Panhandles.

Four-thousand or so spectators attended that first game and paid $1.75 to gain admission. Each player, whether scrub or star, made around $50.00 for their participation. Man, were they ever in need of better player vs. owner representation in those days.

The first TD was scored in that game by a player called by many The Demon Plunger. His given name was Lou Partlow and he was a RB for the Triangles.

Lou had an interesting training method, we learned in researching this article. He would lower his shoulder and ram into trees which he used, it would seem, as some sort of primitive blocking sled. For this, he was also known as Lou the West Carrolton battering ram Partlow.

The Triangles won the first NFL game over the Columbus Panhandles, 14-0. Wonder if the Columbus players were forced to “panhandle” their way the 72 or so miles comprising the trip back to Columbus from Dayton (Source)?

According to The Dayton Daily News admission is free at Welcome Stadium today but parking is $5.00. You had to know they would get us somewhere.

There are some interesting story lines entering camp. Not the least of which has to be the anticipation surrounding new coach Zac Taylor, the former Nebraska QB and University of Cincinnati assistant, and his regime’s opening of training camp upon the off season departure of Marvin Lewis.

QB Andy Dalton appears ready to get back under center for 2019. The Bengals were 6-10 a year ago, after getting out of the gate 4-1, and didn’t have Dalton for almost the entirety of game 12 through game 16.

Dalton, a former 2nd round selection (2011), injured his thumb early in the Bengals 12th game, not to return. In his 11 full games of action, Dalton finished with 2,566 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

The Bengals will have to withstand the deflating loss of top Draft pick, Jonah Williams, as he has been lost for the season with a labrum injury. Williams was expected to plug the left tackle hole, for the Bengals from day one, snap one. While being an inch or two shorter than most NFL counterparts at his position, projected to be LT, Williams received a 6.23 prospect grade from the NFL (instant starter). Williams, an Outland Trophy finalist in 2018, was a consensus All-American in college and the Bengal camp is excited about the prospect of his protecting Dalton from the blindside, upfield end-rush.

With the loss of Williams, the returning starter, Cordy Glenn, will have to put in work, and time will tell who will replace the now retired, Clint Boling at guard. The Bengals tried to address the O-Line during the off season, and their performance will likely again be a determining factors in the team’s success this year.

In any event, Bluegrass Sports Nation will be on hand to bring you the 2019 NFL action. With camp opening today, BSN is reminded of the words authored years ago by writer Alexander Pope in his An Essay on Man. As it did for Pope in 1734 and the West Carrolton battering ram in 1920, hope does spring eternal in the human breast.

As the Bengals embark on 2019’s journey through the NFL, let us all hope the opening of camp in Dayton, Ohio brings us the good fortune it brought the Dayton Triangles some 100 years ago.

This is Fletcher Long, reporting for Bluegrass Sports Nation reminding the Cincinnati Bengals to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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