Joe Burrow isn’t treating training camp like a tune-up. He’s using it to chase cleaner execution, sharper timing, and a better feel for the season before it even starts. And on this summer’s Bengals defense, Dexter Lawrence has already given him something valuable: a pocket that feels real.
Burrow told Kay Adams that Lawrence has changed the way the pass rush looks and feels in camp. The veteran quarterback said the difference comes from Lawrence actually collapsing the space around him.
"During training camp it's typically hard to get the feel of a game-like pocket, just because guys are rushing but then are pulling up and they're not going full speed," Burrow spoke on the pass rush during training camp. "When Dex is in there, he's pushing that pocket, so it's giving me really a game feel."
That matters for a Bengals team that has made a habit of starting slow in the Joe Burrow era. Getting that kind of game-speed work before Week 1 gives Burrow and the offense a better chance to come out sharper right away.
Even with his place among the NFL’s top quarterbacks already secure, Burrow is still focused on tightening the details. He said the next step for him is refining his throwing motion and being more efficient with it.
"I'm just trying to perfect the throwing motion at this point, I'm always thinking about ways to be more efficient," Burrow spoke on what he wants to improve. "Thats what training camp is for, figure out what works, what doesn't, and then hone in on one thing for the season and let it roll."
Burrow’s target is simple: win a Super Bowl this season. And while plenty of people would call his passing game elite already, Burrow clearly believes there’s another level he can still reach. If he gets there, the Bengals may be looking at the best version of him yet, with MVP-level upside in the mix.
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