Mock Draft Fell Nicely

[Cincyfan78]

he might not even be our best tight end statistically speaking this year.

he had a good year with alabama in 2018
he's been 'ok' since then.

my guess is that the Bengals really just look at tight ends as blockers, since we already have so many weapons in the receiving game.

I'd agree except that Hurst was more of a receiving TE than a really good blocker...he was ok. Smith is certainly not a great blocker. Probably adequate, but is more known for his ability to make plays catching the ball.

A few years ago, they did keep TE's in more, but the OL was horrendous. That trended down last year, and should continue this year as the OL continues to improve and add better players.

 

[Cincyfan78]

And just like that, Araiza is innocent as proof has been found that Araiza was not at the house during the time of the gang r*pe. He was telling the truth and the accuser was lying. Shouldn't there be punishment for women that lie and accuse a man of such a terrible crime that causes damage to his character and career? Kuntz in the 6th, Araiza in free agency. It would have been a better scenario talent wise.

Yes. If someone is falsely accused, there should be repercussions for the accuser. 100%. Araiza should be able to sue her for lost wages and lost service time.

As for the rest...again...eh. I get it, but it's really not worth this much space. Kuntz is a really deep project. I'm just not sold that the Bengals are interested in another guy like that when they have Assai who they've already invested a year in - and the issues the Kuntz has are all football issues. He doesn't catch well. Doesn't separate well at the bottom or at the top of his routes. Both are major issues considering he can't make contested catches. He's physically not strong enough, and would likely need time to put on adequate weight without also ruining his athletic ability.

Bengals likely felt like the punter is going to compete, and potentially win, the job this year. If you have a choice between upgrading your special teams right now, or stashing a TE on your team, or on the practice squad, for a year, or two, to see if he ever develops....you go with the special teams guy simply because this team is built to win now...while Kuntz would have been nice, I just can't really fault the punter pick. They liked the guy, and didn't want to risk not being able to get him in round 7 or as an UDFA - 6th and 7th rounds are perfect for those kinds of picks.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

he might not even be our best tight end statistically speaking this year.

he had a good year with alabama in 2018
he's been 'ok' since then.

my guess is that the Bengals really just look at tight ends as blockers, since we already have so many weapons in the receiving game.

If they look at TE's as blockers, they took the wrong TE in FA, because Smith is almost specifically a receiving TE that does a decent job of getting in the way blocking.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Yes. If someone is falsely accused, there should be repercussions for the accuser. 100%. Araiza should be able to sue her for lost wages and lost service time.

As for the rest...again...eh. I get it, but it's really not worth this much space. Kuntz is a really deep project. I'm just not sold that the Bengals are interested in another guy like that when they have Assai who they've already invested a year in - and the issues the Kuntz has are all football issues. He doesn't catch well. Doesn't separate well at the bottom or at the top of his routes. Both are major issues considering he can't make contested catches. He's physically not strong enough, and would likely need time to put on adequate weight without also ruining his athletic ability.

Bengals likely felt like the punter is going to compete, and potentially win, the job this year. If you have a choice between upgrading your special teams right now, or stashing a TE on your team, or on the practice squad, for a year, or two, to see if he ever develops....you go with the special teams guy simply because this team is built to win now...while Kuntz would have been nice, I just can't really fault the punter pick. They liked the guy, and didn't want to risk not being able to get him in round 7 or as an UDFA - 6th and 7th rounds are perfect for those kinds of picks.

I'm with you. Don't get me wrong, I understand the logic behind it all. I am doing a little Monday morning QB'ing here. Hindsight is always 20/20.

I just know how much of a potential need that position was that most of us mocked a TE between the 1st - 4th rounds for that position. I had Kuntz as a 4th to 5th round type of guy. The second we hit that 6th round, I was like, Kuntz is gonna be the pick. Then it was Andrei, and I am like, Kuntz will be this pick, nope, it was Robbins. I was like holy fuck, we aren't taking a TE!

It is what it is, I hope Robbins becomes the next Huber. I was just shocked. Now when Araiza was able to be drafted, I was like draft that son of a gun in the 4th or 5th! Fix the kicking specialists in back to back years for the next 10-15 years between McPherson and Araiza. Didn't know about accusation at the time.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I'm with you. Don't get me wrong, I understand the logic behind it all. I am doing a little Monday morning QB'ing here. Hindsight is always 20/20.

I just know how much of a potential need that position was that most of us mocked a TE between the 1st - 4th rounds for that position. I had Kuntz as a 4th to 5th round type of guy. The second we hit that 6th round, I was like, Kuntz is gonna be the pick. Then it was Andrei, and I am like, Kuntz will be this pick, nope, it was Robbins. I was like holy fuck, we aren't taking a TE!

It is what it is, I hope Robbins becomes the next Huber. I was just shocked. Now when Araiza was able to be drafted, I was like draft that son of a gun in the 4th or 5th! Fix the kicking specialists in back to back years for the next 10-15 years between McPherson and Araiza. Didn't know about accusation at the time.

Agreed on Araiza, I wanted him as well. Same thought process - imagine McPherson and Punt god on the same team....LOL

I think the Bengals really had their guy in the TE from the Raiders, who ended up finding out he had cancer. I think he was a good fit in the Hurst mold, more receiver than blocker, but good enough to block. When that fell through due to his diagnosis, Bengals pivoted to Smith and hoping the draft fell the way they needed to land someone they were comfortable with at the pick in which they were at...didn't happen.

I agree, he would have been an interesting add, but reading more on his negatives - I have a lot of questions, and clearly nearly all of the NFL teams had the same issues as he lasted until the 7th round. He test out of this world, but the tape doesn't show. Would be a HUGE red flag for me that he's a very raw project - probably 2-3 years - and would remind me of the TE version of Jerome Simpson....

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Agreed on Araiza, I wanted him as well. Same thought process - imagine McPherson and Punt god on the same team....LOL

I think the Bengals really had their guy in the TE from the Raiders, who ended up finding out he had cancer. I think he was a good fit in the Hurst mold, more receiver than blocker, but good enough to block. When that fell through due to his diagnosis, Bengals pivoted to Smith and hoping the draft fell the way they needed to land someone they were comfortable with at the pick in which they were at...didn't happen.

I agree, he would have been an interesting add, but reading more on his negatives - I have a lot of questions, and clearly nearly all of the NFL teams had the same issues as he lasted until the 7th round. He test out of this world, but the tape doesn't show. Would be a HUGE red flag for me that he's a very raw project - probably 2-3 years - and would remind me of the TE version of Jerome Simpson....

Acceptable comparison minus the 2nd round pick on Simpson and Kuntz would have been bottom 6th round. That is where we will continue to go around. Kuntz is a 30% boom candidate / 70% bust candidate, but that 30% with those athletic skills in the bottom of the 6th round? I am just saying a 6th round lottery ticket is very affordable, because from the 6th round through CFA, the talent is probably comparable and 6th - 7th are just about as likely to be cut as they are to make the team.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Acceptable comparison minus the 2nd round pick on Simpson and Kuntz would have been bottom 6th round. That is where we will continue to go around. Kuntz is a 30% boom candidate / 70% bust candidate, but that 30% with those athletic skills in the bottom of the 6th round? I am just saying a 6th round lottery ticket is very affordable, because from the 6th round through CFA, the talent is probably comparable and 6th - 7th are just about as likely to be cut as they are to make the team.

In a vacuum, I agree.

But because the Bengals also have a clear hole at punter, and not a clear hole at TE (depth, youth needed, sure, but they do have serviceable guys on the roster at least), this is where you take the guy who is most likely going to make the opening day roster over the boom/bust lotto ticket.

If he were still there in the 7th, my guess is they would have taken him over the WR...just a guess...but again....32 teams passed on him for 6 1/2 rounds...Bengals decided to draft a potential starter at the pick we are discussing.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

In a vacuum, I agree.

But because the Bengals also have a clear hole at punter, and not a clear hole at TE (depth, youth needed, sure, but they do have serviceable guys on the roster at least), this is where you take the guy who is most likely going to make the opening day roster over the boom/bust lotto ticket.

If he were still there in the 7th, my guess is they would have taken him over the WR...just a guess...but again....32 teams passed on him for 6 1/2 rounds...Bengals decided to draft a potential starter at the pick we are discussing.

CB, not WR, but yes, I can agree with your assessment. Like I said, hindsight 20/20. We will see what Kuntz is doing in 3 years.

 

[Cincyfan78]

CB, not WR, but yes, I can agree with your assessment. Like I said, hindsight 20/20. We will see what Kuntz is doing in 3 years.

Yes...CB, Ivey...my bad..LOL

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Yes...CB, Ivey...my bad..LOL

It's all good. Some people don't like to be corrected, I actually prefer to be corrected so I don't continue to be wrong. I hope that doesn't offend you. You seem like a reasonable, good dude. If you were an asshole I probably would have left it alone unless I really disliked you. lol Then it wouldn't have just been a correction, it would have been an all out assault. hahah

My biggest problem is I am usually the one that is wrong. haha

 

[Cincyfan78]

It's all good. Some people don't like to be corrected, I actually prefer to be corrected so I don't continue to be wrong. I hope that doesn't offend you. You seem like a reasonable, good dude. If you were an asshole I probably would have left it alone unless I really disliked you. lol Then it wouldn't have just been a correction, it would have been an all out assault. hahah

My biggest problem is I am usually the one that is wrong. haha

Hey, if I'm wrong I'm wrong. Can't refute actual facts...LOL Don't mind the corrections at all - I'm with you, I'd rather be told the correct facts than continue to think something is correct when in fact it is not.

I try to be reasonable - I always tell people: I'm the nicest asshole you'll ever meet.

LOL

 

[cincygrad]

Another big factor in taking the punter that we grabbed was that he was the holder for the best field goal kicker in the country. I know this seems trivial, but we've heard that Darren Simmons is very particular about the snap/hold operation and it takes him a long time to develop trust in players to perform these tasks. With the Michigan punter, we know what we are getting in this regard.

I'm sure Araiza would have been fine but he was learning it last preseason.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Another big factor in taking the punter that we grabbed was that he was the holder for the best field goal kicker in the country. I know this seems trivial, but we've heard that Darren Simmons is very particular about the snap/hold operation and it takes him a long time to develop trust in players to perform these tasks. With the Michigan punter, we know what we are getting in this regard.

I'm sure Araiza would have been fine but he was learning it last preseason.

When you punt a ball like that - I'll even hold an extra spot just Huber to come in and hold...

Give him the vet minimum to just be a holder....lol

 

[cincygrad]

When you punt a ball like that - I'll even hold an extra spot just Huber to come in and hold...

Give him the vet minimum to just be a holder....lol

I think it depends on what you are looking to do. No doubt that Ariaza can flip a field. His scouting reports says that teams with bad offenses will really like him because he'll flip fields after 3 and outs. But he also doesn't offer much in terms of directional kicking, inside the 20 kicking, and he cares more about distance than hang time. My assumption is that he could improve all 3, but Simmons has been pretty clear that he wants guys that can kick directionally and have adequate hang time to prevent returns. That is why Chrisman will no longer be employed.

Robbins has almost the opposite report. There are questions about whether he'll punt for big distance, but everyone agrees that he has great hang time, is a good directional kicker and he had a bunch of punts downed inside the 20. With our current roster, he is the right type of punter.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I think it depends on what you are looking to do. No doubt that Ariaza can flip a field. His scouting reports says that teams with bad offenses will really like him because he'll flip fields after 3 and outs. But he also doesn't offer much in terms of directional kicking, inside the 20 kicking, and he cares more about distance than hang time. My assumption is that he could improve all 3, but Simmons has been pretty clear that he wants guys that can kick directionally and have adequate hang time to prevent returns. That is why Chrisman will no longer be employed.

Robbins has almost the opposite report. There are questions about whether he'll punt for big distance, but everyone agrees that he has great hang time, is a good directional kicker and he had a bunch of punts downed inside the 20. With our current roster, he is the right type of punter.

Excellent points. No argument here.

 

[DanBengalfan]

my prediction: by the end of the season Christian Trahan will be the starting TE

Smith will be injured, the rest of them same ol same ol

 

[Cincyfan78]

If this is what he does on a consistent basis....Chrisman has no shot....damn...(see post #2 in the section)

 

[DanBengalfan]

well, that's good.

 

[DanBengalfan]

I hope Irv Smith returns to his Alabama performance level.