Off-Season Thread

[Cincyfan78]

I know a lot of what you are saying is true. I just think Bates and Bell was more than could have been planned for. I like Hill. He has a lot of potential and I think you are right about maybe coming into his own and becoming a really good safety at some point, maybe even this season. But I think you easily point to the fact Lou plans his entire defense around Jesse Bates and his knowledge of the system, flexibility and leadership. Bates is what made this defense of Lou's work. So if we are going to keep Hill in that position, which is okay too, Lou has to figure out a new defense unless Hill shows real change this year.

I think a big issue was losing both Bell AND Bates at the same time...and though they drafted Hill his 1st year experience was almost entirely at the CB position.

Ideally - they would have been at least a year a part to allow for the rookie to get some snaps next to a veteran who could have helped show them how it was done that 1st year, and be ready to (hopefully) take over that 2nd year.

Again - if Lou and Co feel that Hill is not the long-term answer at S - then I have to trust that. I'm more eyeing the commentary where fans/media point the finger for the defensive issues last year at the S position and don't take into account anything outside of that. I think that's just because they lost Bell and Bates together and it becomes a high profile position. They don't take into account a rookie CB, where Apple and a healthy Awuzie help in the run game, or even in those deep quarter passing sets with the Safeties. They don't take into account CTB, who I think is going to be good, missing multiple games, forcing Awuzie into a lot of snaps off an ACL tear - where he was clearly still not himself. They don't take into account a DL that couldn't get stops on 1st down against the run, effectively throwing the defense for loops continually - or a pass-rush that, outside of Hendrickson, just couldn't generate enough pressure or get home enough to get sacks.

I don't disagree there is an opportunity to upgrade - I just don't want to upgrade because of the visuals listed in the paragraph above. If at all possible - I'd prefer that money spent elsewhere where there really isn't a plan in place: RT, DT - at the moment.

 

[redskinsfan1963]

how is burrow recovering from his injury?

 

[CrashDavisSports]

how is burrow recovering from his injury?

On track from what has been reported.

 

[redskinsfan1963]

On track from what has been reported.

that,s great.nfl is better with a healthy burrow.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Boyd is a titan.

possibly the best receiver on that team now, along with hopkins

 

[Cincyfan78]

Boyd is a titan.

possibly the best receiver on that team now, along with hopkins

Wish him the best - but I think his best days are behind him...there were too many instances last year where he really struggled to get open. At 29, that's not a good sign.

 

[cincygrad]

Boyd is a titan.

possibly the best receiver on that team now, along with hopkins

Good luck to him. If he has anything left, he could be a good security blanket for Levis.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Good luck to him. If he has anything left, he could be a good security blanket for Levis.

I think he's a guy that knows the offense and is bring brought in as a veteran leader for the WR room.

I wish him the best.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Wish him the best - but I think his best days are behind him...there were too many instances last year where he really struggled to get open. At 29, that's not a good sign.

the throws where the ball goes through his hands in the end zone are what got me. otherwise, he's contributed a lot here.

 

[cincygrad]

Wish him the best - but I think his best days are behind him...there were too many instances last year where he really struggled to get open. At 29, that's not a good sign.

I read somewhere that the coaching staff has been annoyed with his recent inability to block in the run game and screen game. I never paid very close attention to his role there and don't have any advance stats, so take it for what's its worth.... But if he was a liability as a blocker that would definitely help explain why those bubble screens have been so ineffective.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I read somewhere that the coaching staff has been annoyed with his recent inability to block in the run game and screen game. I never paid very close attention to his role there and don't have any advance stats, so take it for what's its worth.... But if he was a liability as a blocker that would definitely help explain why those bubble screens have been so ineffective.

I've not heard that, but that is interesting...

For me, though - it just seemed like he was starting to really run out of juice. He struggled to get open, and had issues catching the ball at times when he did.

Boyd had a heck of a run here. But, like all players - the end comes. I think he'll add a nice touch to the Titans WR room, and knowing the offense will certainly help him establish himself a bit early on while also helping to bring everyone else up to speed.

 

[Cincyfan78]

 

[Cincyfan78]

I should note - if you click on that - you'll see the other 4 thoughts....LOL My bad.

 

[cincygrad]

There are very few things one can conclude from watching guys play football in shorts, but you can tell that Mims is a very unique athlete. It's hard to imagine many other people his size that can move like he can move. He also somehow manages to look lean at 3.5 bills..... Technique and experience go a long way, but damn that dude has some good raw materials to work with.

 

[Cincyfan78]

There are very few things one can conclude from watching guys play football in shorts, but you can tell that Mims is a very unique athlete. It's hard to imagine many other people his size that can move like he can move. He also somehow manages to look lean at 3.5 bills..... Technique and experience go a long way, but damn that dude has some good raw materials to work with.

You don't get a RAS score of 9.59 if you're not a freak athlete. Mims can move - his only area that wasn't recorded as "great/elite" was his vertical - which could be impacted by his overall size. But his ability to move in space and laterally should play out very, very well at the NFL level.

Another guy to keep an eye on is the 7th round pick, Matt Lee. RAS score of 8.66 - knock on him is his size/weight - but he can get off the line as his explosion great was "elite" and his speed is "great". If the Bengals can get him up in weight a little bit, they may have something, size was graded as "good", but with some added weight could get up into that great category.

These 2 guys pretty much (well definitely in Mims' case) become the top 2 most athletic guys along the line. One of the biggest issues that the Bengals have had along the OL is a real lack of true athletic ability. Mims solves that, and Lee helps at least in a depth capacity.

Burton is a 9.09. Another great/elite addition. Though, no agility grade - I would be curious how he would have graded out here...

Moving to the other side of the ball - Jenkins is an 8.99 on the RAS - his nickname "The Mutant" pretty much says it all about his athleticism. He's a freak.

A guy to keep an eye on from this side: DE Cedric Johnson - RAS score of 9.28. His speed and explosion are both elite - so that is a big plus, but he's a bit smaller than the Bengals have had at DE at 6'3" and just 260. But, his athleticism is going to be a big plus along the line.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

You don't get a RAS score of 9.59 if you're not a freak athlete. Mims can move - his only area that wasn't recorded as "great/elite" was his vertical - which could be impacted by his overall size. But his ability to move in space and laterally should play out very, very well at the NFL level.

Another guy to keep an eye on is the 7th round pick, Matt Lee. RAS score of 8.66 - knock on him is his size/weight - but he can get off the line as his explosion great was "elite" and his speed is "great". If the Bengals can get him up in weight a little bit, they may have something, size was graded as "good", but with some added weight could get up into that great category.

These 2 guys pretty much (well definitely in Mims' case) become the top 2 most athletic guys along the line. One of the biggest issues that the Bengals have had along the OL is a real lack of true athletic ability. Mims solves that, and Lee helps at least in a depth capacity.

Burton is a 9.09. Another great/elite addition. Though, no agility grade - I would be curious how he would have graded out here...

Moving to the other side of the ball - Jenkins is an 8.99 on the RAS - his nickname "The Mutant" pretty much says it all about his athleticism. He's a freak.

A guy to keep an eye on from this side: DE Cedric Johnson - RAS score of 9.28. His speed and explosion are both elite - so that is a big plus, but he's a bit smaller than the Bengals have had at DE at 6'3" and just 260. But, his athleticism is going to be a big plus along the line.

Dwight Freeney says hold my beer.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Dwight Freeney says hold my beer.

Right - I didn't say it was a concern to me, just that it wasn't the typical Bengals MO on drafting a DE.

 

[cincygrad]

You don't get a RAS score of 9.59 if you're not a freak athlete. Mims can move - his only area that wasn't recorded as "great/elite" was his vertical - which could be impacted by his overall size. But his ability to move in space and laterally should play out very, very well at the NFL level.

Another guy to keep an eye on is the 7th round pick, Matt Lee. RAS score of 8.66 - knock on him is his size/weight - but he can get off the line as his explosion great was "elite" and his speed is "great". If the Bengals can get him up in weight a little bit, they may have something, size was graded as "good", but with some added weight could get up into that great category.

These 2 guys pretty much (well definitely in Mims' case) become the top 2 most athletic guys along the line. One of the biggest issues that the Bengals have had along the OL is a real lack of true athletic ability. Mims solves that, and Lee helps at least in a depth capacity.

Burton is a 9.09. Another great/elite addition. Though, no agility grade - I would be curious how he would have graded out here...

Moving to the other side of the ball - Jenkins is an 8.99 on the RAS - his nickname "The Mutant" pretty much says it all about his athleticism. He's a freak.

A guy to keep an eye on from this side: DE Cedric Johnson - RAS score of 9.28. His speed and explosion are both elite - so that is a big plus, but he's a bit smaller than the Bengals have had at DE at 6'3" and just 260. But, his athleticism is going to be a big plus along the line.

They definitely leaned into getting more athletic through the draft. As noted many times, increased athleticism is a desperate need on the offensive line. I'm intrigued by Burton - We need more speed and separation at wide receiver. Tee wins because he's freakishly big, not because he runs by people. Boyd was limited. Irvin is limited. Our tight ends have been limited. And Chase Brown was limited by the coaches not playing him. Good players, but not enough explosion. Burton will help.

 

[Cincyfan78]

They definitely leaned into getting more athletic through the draft. As noted many times, increased athleticism is a desperate need on the offensive line. I'm intrigued by Burton - We need more speed and separation at wide receiver. Tee wins because he's freakishly big, not because he runs by people. Boyd was limited. Irvin is limited. Our tight ends have been limited. And Chase Brown was limited by the coaches not playing him. Good players, but not enough explosion. Burton will help.

Chase, Burton, Jones...all 3 guys can fly past defenses....you take the top off, and that screen game, run game with Brown and Gesicki in the middle are going to have a lot of room to operate.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Chase, Burton, Jones...all 3 guys can fly past defenses....you take the top off, and that screen game, run game with Brown and Gesicki in the middle are going to have a lot of room to operate.

they gonna have to play 2 deep and zones.