Jim Owczarski

jowczarski@enquirer.com

After the fact, Tyler Kroft could smile about it.

In the moment, the Cincinnati Bengals’ second-year tight end’s instincts kicked in and he went diving to the turf to corral the ball that Vontaze Burfict had ripped from his hands, creating a two-man scrum in the end zone following a reception.

“There’s a reason why he’s been as successful as he is, because he goes out there and competes,” Kroft said. “The ball was tucked in and he got a hand on it. I was trying to make sure he didn’t end up with the ball so I had to get on it. He comes out every day with a little bit of fire, so it’s good to have.”

Tuesday afternoon’s 11-on-11 sessions outside of Paul Brown Stadium were the first that Burfict took part in during the organized team activities, and even in only shorts and a helmet the 25-year-old linebacker made his presence known on a defense that allowed just 15.9 points per game (including the playoffs) once he returned to the field in week 8 of last season.

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“You can tell the difference of him not being there for the first week,” defensive tackle Domata Peko said. “It was awesome to have that type of person behind that’s freakin’ hungry. Its OTA’s. It’s early. It’s good to have that type of attitude right now because it’s going to carry on to training camp and into the preseason. We’re a blessed team to have someone like that on our team.”

For Burfict, competing on each play, getting his hands on offensive players – whether it be center Russell Bodine on an inside blitz, or running back Giovani Bernard after a reception or stripping Kroft – is about setting an emotional standard for the defense.

“I just like to set the tone,” Burfict told The Enquirer. “ ‘G’ (defensive coordinator Paul Guenther) always tells us to strip the ball because we can’t tackle right now obviously, so go for the ball. That was my first, full, doing everything in practice and to come up with a turnover is huge for the defense just to set the tone. I’m looking for an interception and more fumbles.”

Burfict was able to spend this offseason training for football, a welcome departure from a year ago when he was rehabilitating his left knee following two surgeries, including a microfracture procedure, that caused him to miss the last 11 games of 2014 and the first six games of last season.

“I feel good,” he said. “I’ve been out here conditioning with my teammates (after) not being able to do it last year. I just feel better. I feel a step ahead this year. I was a couple steps behind last year because I wasn’t able to do this. It’s just great to be out there with my teammates competing.”

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There’s more to it for him, also.

“Working with the new guys, working with the young guys, developing them how you play, being a leader, setting a tone,” he said. “And just getting reps and doing the little things right that you can’t get right during the season because it’s late. Just perfecting your craft.”

Even though Burfict will miss the first three games of the season due to a suspension the NFL handed down following the playoffs, Guenther said being able to practice at the outset of the year is important.

“He didn’t do any of that (last year),” Guenther said. “He literally had one practice before the Steelers game and (Rey) Maualuga pulls his calf so he had to play (the whole game). But it’s good for him to do that. It’s like when we had Leon (Hall) in the past and he was coming off an Achilles and he’s coming into training camp not having any training.

"There’s a difference in rehabbing and getting ready for real football. That’s where it’s good for him right now. Obviously, he’s got to work through his conditioning, and really, everybody else. He’s doing good.”

Now entering his fifth season and with 45 starts to draw upon, Burfict says there is no previous comparison for how he feels right now, at the start of 2016 – even his breakout 2013 campaign when he finished with 171 total tackles and made a trip to the Pro Bowl.

“I think I’m at a different level,” he said. “I’ve experienced more, seen more, understand more. I’m the quarterback of the defense so I understand where my help is at now so I’ve just go to out there and make plays for the defense and just do my job.”

It’s a sentiment that Guenther agrees with.

“He’s played a lot of football early,” Guenther said. “He’s a young guy that’s played a lot for us. Every year I think he’s getting a better and better understanding of what he needs to do personally to continue to ply at a high level.”

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