Building of the Bengals (offense)

[Be Weary of Query]

To add or not to add a veteran WR to the mix. For the sake of *comparison:

2012 Bengals vs. 1990 Cowboys

QB - Andy Dalton (2nd year...24 years old)
QB - Troy Aikman (2nd year...24 years old)

RB - BenJarvus Green-Ellis (5th year...26 years old)
RB - Emmitt Smith (rookie...21 years old)

FB - Chris Pressley (4th year...25 years old)
FB - Tommie Agee (3rd year...26 years old)

WR - A.J. Green (2nd year...23 years old)
WR - Michael Irvin (3rd year...24 years old)

WR - Sanu or Jones (Rookie...22 years old)
WR - Kelvin Martin (4th year...25 years old)

TE - Jermaine Gresham (3rd year...23 years old)
TE - Jay Novacek (5th year...28 years old)

LT - Andrew Whitworth (7th year...30 years old)
LT - Mark Tuinei (8th year...30 years old)

LG - Travelle Wharton (9th year...30 years old)
LG - Crawford Ker (6th year...28 years old)

C - Kyle Cook (5th year...28 years old)
C - Mark Stepnoski (2nd year...23 years old)

RG - John Gesek (4th year...27 years old)
RG - Kevin Zeitler (Rookie...22 years old)

RT - Andre Smith (4th year...25 years old)
RT - Nate Newton (5th year...29 years old)


1991 Draft: Dallas - 3 first round picks and 1 second (one of the picks is Alvin Harper)

2013 Draft: Cincinnati - 1 first round pick & 2 second round at least. Potentially 2 first round picks and 1 second (one of the picks is hopefully a franchise RB).

It's pretty much the model the Bengals are following (either on purpose or that they lucked into or both) and it is heavy on youth. Now the #2 WR. Yes, he did have 100 NFL catches going into that season (Martin) but he was also replaced the following year by Alfredo Roberts, whom played TE before whom was then subsequently replaced by 2nd year player Alvin Harper on the Super Bowl team.

The Bengals have a veteran on the roster that compares to Martin (at least in measureables but not production) in Brandon Tate, 3 year veteran who is 24 years old with 24 NFL catches and 10 NFL starts. Is that the veteran they want to roll with, bring in a Braylon Edwards or simply throw a rookie out there with a full offseason? Plus, the Bengals have something that the 1990 Cowboys didn't have: two potential (emphasis on that word) Alvin Harpers on the team right now.

Honestly, it's a tough call. That Cowboys team with all of that veteran presence opposite of Irvin did go 7-9 after all. As of today, I am still leaning towards going with what is on the roster and not adding to it...barring injury, etc.

*This is just a comparison, by no means am I equating the success of the early 90's Cowboys to projected success of the current and near future Cincinnati Bengals. If you can't see that, don't bother participating in this thread. Thanks.

 

[vancelot23]

Seems like a good plan to follow to me. You know my stance on the WRs