Paul Dehner Jr.

pdehnerjr@enquirer.com

Geno Atkins only took three snaps in Friday’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings. The three-and-out was all that was necessary to remind the NFL he’s still pretty good.

In fact, after watching the film on Atkins’ sack and QB pressure and placing those next to the reps this training camp, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther sees the best player on his defense somehow looking even better than his All-Pro 2015 season.

“For a guy you don’t think can get any better he has,” Guenther said. “He’s raised his game. He’s running after the ball better. He’s quicker.”

Bengals Beat Podcast: Reaction to preseason opener

A scary thought for interior offensive lineman and coordinators, to be sure. Atkins wrecked offenses last year as a Pro Bowl captain, finishing with 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. His constant pressure up the middle acted as the key of the Bengals' defense, setting a franchise record for fewest points in a season.

On the first snap Friday, Atkins slipped off the block at the line and accelerated toward Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Though a stiff arm kept him shy of the sack, he still rerouted the play completely. On the second play, he pushed veteran guard Joe Berger into the backfield, then cut away from him and sacked Bridgewater attempting to flush the pocket.

Still in his prime at 28 years old, it appears his game is still on the rise.

“I told him the other day, he had a spin move the other day in practice he never used to have,” Guenther said. “It’s good. To me he’s the best inside rusher in the league and it isn’t even close. He plays the run good and rushes the passer.”

Much of the attention on the top interior linemen directs toward Aaron Donald of the Rams, but more series like Friday’s and the argument will side with Guenther.

ONE-MINUTE DRILL BLUES: A point of emphasis for Paul Guenther this season revolved around fixing the one-minute drill problems that contributed to losses against Arizona, Denver and Pittsburgh last season.

With the first opportunity to test the situation on Friday night as Minnesota took over at its own 35 with 40 seconds left, he saw an unfortunately familiar situation play out. The drive ended in a Blair Walsh field goal as time expired.

Guenther put the blame on one play in particular and didn’t view it as a violation of his emphasis. The big hit came on a 18-yard pass to LaQuon Treadwell to put the Vikings into field-goal range.

He said that’s a play where rookie Nick Vigil needs to sink deeper to prevent the route. But despite the error — and a missed tackle earlier in the drive by Vigil — Guenther liked the first professional tape he saw on his third-round pick.

“He’s the kind of kid that he kind of reminds me of Vontaze as a rookie,” Guenther said. “You tell him once he gets it. Next time he doesn’t mess it up usually.”

Vigil played middle linebacker, a spot he’s rarely played during camp, with only five linebackers up dressed.

“Typically from a rookie in their first game you see that flustered look,” Guenther said. “We stuck him in there and he didn’t blink.”

FAIL SAFETY: The biggest missed opportunity defensively in the opener came with the second-team defense in the game and the Vikings buried deep in their own end following the Bengals’ 12-minute drive to nowhere.

A two-yard loss on the first play set up a chance for a safety when Will Clarke and Marcus Hardison blew up the right side on a run in their direction. With running back Jerick McKinnon stuck looking for anywhere to run, he was able to cut back into open space for 10 yards.

The tape shows the two players responsible for plugging the cutback lanes - linebacker Paul Dawson and defensive end Margus Hunt - flowing all the way to the other side of the ball on the right.

Standing strong makes it a different game by two points.

“Yeah, we win,” Guenther said. “We are bad on the back side of our run fits. Paul is supposed to be off the edge there, he’s 10 yards on the other side of the ball with nobody in the cutback lane. It should be an easy safety.”