Post by 77bengal on Jun 15, 2019 15:32:07 GMT -5
I had a rather lengthly post already to go about three weeks ago and I accidentally erased it. Needless to say, I wasn't in the mood in keying the whole thing back in. (I usually save as I type, but this time I forgot). Anyway, here's some quick thoughts on the Bengals draft.
First off, I think the Bengals did a fantastic job and drafted some really good players. What I like most about this draft is that Zac Taylor actually has a blueprint in place and followed it throughout the draft. That's the type of thinking that separates the mediocre teams from champions. The second aspect of Zac's draft that I really like is that he used a method I've dubbed 'block drafting' which is a term that I use when more than one player is drafted per position and/or group. The drafting of OT Jonah Williams and G/C Michael Jordan is one such example as is the drafting of LB's Germaine Pratt and Deshaun Davis. Block drafting is a great way of turning any teams weakness(s) into a strength or at least solidifying the position/group for the near future.
This may not be what one would call a 'flashy draft', but that's not the kind of draft the Bengals needed. They needed a draft that addressed some major holes (Williams) and depth (Finley). Basically, this draft was 'phase one' in building this teams foundation with more 'phases' to come. Now to the picks.
Round One: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama. I'm not gonna mince my words, I wanted the Bengals to draft LB Devin Bush, but the Steelers jumped in front of the Bengals and took him. However, I view this pick as a blessing and probably the smarter choice. It's no secret that the Bengals have had one of the worse o-lines over the last few years, so landing a player that was considered a top five talent at number 11 is a steal. If Bush would've been available when the Bengals were selecting at number 11, I think there's a good chance Zac Taylor would've selected Williams over Bush anyway. Taylor wants to build a big, strong and physical team and that starts up front hence the drafting of TE Drew Sample and G/C Michael Jordan as well as Williams. Williams is being touted by most football gurus as a great OT that should hold down the left side for at least the next decade. This was a great pick. A pick that starts to build a great foundation for years to come. If Williams pans out like most think he will, the Bengals did steal him at pick 11.
Round Two: TE Drew Sample, Washington. I think a lot of Bengal fans and so-called draft gurus in general that criticized this pick are gonna eat their words in due time. Not only is Drew Sample gonna help Bengal backs gain more yards and get to the outside more often, he's also gonna become a receiving threat as well. Sample may have only caught 25 passes in his entire college career, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he doesn't eclipse that total in his rookie campaign. Actually, I'll be disappointed if he doesn't. The drafting of Sample is a big clue in deciphering what type of team Taylor wants to mold - a big, strong and physical team that can carry the rock. Good character and leadership qualities are another trait that Taylor was looking for and he got it all in Sample.
Round Three: LB Germaine Pratt, NC State. I've wanted this guy since day one even if the Bengals would've drafted either of the top two LB's. Not as fast as the two Devin's, but plenty fast enough to be a true sideline to sideline player. Great tackler. Big and strong with decent instincts. Aggressive and plays with confidence. Always around the ball. Undervalued. A player that will make more big plays than many think he's capable of making such as rushing the passer. The type of player that may not 'wow' on a consistent basis, but could become a league leader in tackles. Pratt will give the LB'ing corps a big lift. If Malek Jefferson and Justin Evans play up to their ability, the Bengals would have a solid (not great) core group, but adding another top tier LB'er in the near future is paramount to success. Pratt is a solid start in doing just that.
Round 4 A: QB Ryan Finley, NC State. Ryan Finley was drafted to back up Andy Dalton, but it's possible that he could blossom and become the teams starter down the road. Finley may not have the strongest arm, but he has far more positive traits than negative traits. At minimum, he should make a great back up that's capable of winning games when the starter (Tua?) isn't able to suit up. Speaking of arm strength, Finley may not have a cannon, but he CAN and DID fit the ball into some tight windows on occasion throughout his career. He's also very accurate which is the most important trait any QB can possess. NC State fans swear by Finley's ability and they think the Bengals got a steal. I think they're right.
Round 4 B: DT Renell Wren, Arizona State. A late bloomer, Renell Wren came on late in his career and really impressed at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. By all accounts, Wren is extremely athletic for his size with the potential to become a great DT. Possibly a pro-bowler. Many teams had him on their draft boards. Here's the bad news - I don't see it. I admit there isn't much video of Wren to go by on YouTube, but from what I've seen, I see a player that is blocked fairly easily because he raises up far too often instead of staying low and getting his pads underneath his opponent. Also, he only possesses one move, a bull rush. IMO, Wren has the athletic ability to be a great one, but he's merely a project at this point and will never make much of an impact until he learns to stay low and develops more pass rush moves. I also think he needs to do a better job of disengaging which hasn't been mentioned before now. However, disengaging is related to developing more pass rush moves so this problem can be fixed. As of now, Wren is a project and it may take a few years until he becomes as dominant as some anticipate. Then again, it may never happen. The ball is in his court and it's up to him to prove he belongs which is gonna take a lot of work.
Round 4 C: OG Michael Jordan, Ohio State. IMO, Michael Jordan was the Bengals first true 'steal of the draft'. I can't believe he was still on the board at this juncture. Jordan may not be a splashy player, but he played in the Big Ten against some really good competition including teams from the Pac Ten, SEC, Big Twelve, etc., and prevailed. A lunch pail type of player with good character. Solid blocker that doesn't seem to have any glaring weaknesses. Just gets the job done. Jordan can play multiple positions and he could actually push Billy Price at C. Jordan is another piece of the puzzle in building a team that is gonna pound the ball. Is RT in his future?
Round 6 A: RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M. Trayveon Williams is not only the Bengals second steal of the draft, he's a player that can come right in and actually contribute not only on special teams, but as a true HB. Williams may not be the fastest RB in this draft, but he's plenty fast enough and outran many would-be tacklers throughout his career. Williams has great cutting ability and is a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. He's also a decent blocker and is a threat to rip off big runs with every carry. Another good character player and another piece of the ground and pound team Taylor is building.
Round 6 B: LB Deshaun Davis, Auburn. Like Wren, I didn't see that much promise in Deshaun Davis when watching him play. Davis had a lot of tackles in college, but I don't know if that will transfer to the NFL because he lacks good speed, agility and athletic ability. Not much of a ceiling for Davis. What you see is basically what you get. Does he have enough intangibles to make it in the NFL? It will be interesting to see how Davis (and Wren) perform during the preseason. Fingers crossed.
Round 6 C: RB Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma. If Rodney Anderson can learn to stay healthy, he will be the biggest steal of this draft. Period. Anderson is basically a Joe Mixon clone concerning his size, running style and his pass catching ability. (Strange that they both played for Oklahoma). This guy is the whole package. A true three down back with speed, power and moves. IMO, first round RB selection Josh Jacobs of the Raiders has nothing on this guy other than durability. Actually, Anderson could prove to be the better of the two if he stays healthy. Another good character player, Anderson is also another piece of the ground and pound puzzle that Zac Taylor is assembling. An absolutely phenomenal pick for round six and if Anderson isn't able to overcome his injury woes, the Bengals only have a sixth round pick invested in him. Smart drafting.
Round 7: CB Jordan Brown, South Dakota State. Another steal, Jordan Brown made several great plays during OTA's and his game was solid in most aspects. Nice size and good speed. Has a nose for the ball. A big time playmaker in the mold of Bengal Darius Philips who the team drafted last year. Tony McRae, Brandon Wilson and Devonte Harris better be on top of their games if they're gonna beat this guy out. Brown is definitely gonna push them which is good for all.
This draft was obviously focused on improving the running game along with the team becoming more physical. Zac Taylor realizes that the entire offense will flourish if the Bengals become great at running the ball. This will help tremendously in opening up the passing game for Dalton and company until he's replaced (Tua)! He was also able to address arguably the Bengals weakest position group - linebacker. All in all, Taylor did a fantastic job of drafting players that match his blueprint along with building a solid foundation that can be as physical as any other team in the AFC North. The Bengals may not be there yet, but they're headed (finally) in the right direction. Comments?
First off, I think the Bengals did a fantastic job and drafted some really good players. What I like most about this draft is that Zac Taylor actually has a blueprint in place and followed it throughout the draft. That's the type of thinking that separates the mediocre teams from champions. The second aspect of Zac's draft that I really like is that he used a method I've dubbed 'block drafting' which is a term that I use when more than one player is drafted per position and/or group. The drafting of OT Jonah Williams and G/C Michael Jordan is one such example as is the drafting of LB's Germaine Pratt and Deshaun Davis. Block drafting is a great way of turning any teams weakness(s) into a strength or at least solidifying the position/group for the near future.
This may not be what one would call a 'flashy draft', but that's not the kind of draft the Bengals needed. They needed a draft that addressed some major holes (Williams) and depth (Finley). Basically, this draft was 'phase one' in building this teams foundation with more 'phases' to come. Now to the picks.
Round One: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama. I'm not gonna mince my words, I wanted the Bengals to draft LB Devin Bush, but the Steelers jumped in front of the Bengals and took him. However, I view this pick as a blessing and probably the smarter choice. It's no secret that the Bengals have had one of the worse o-lines over the last few years, so landing a player that was considered a top five talent at number 11 is a steal. If Bush would've been available when the Bengals were selecting at number 11, I think there's a good chance Zac Taylor would've selected Williams over Bush anyway. Taylor wants to build a big, strong and physical team and that starts up front hence the drafting of TE Drew Sample and G/C Michael Jordan as well as Williams. Williams is being touted by most football gurus as a great OT that should hold down the left side for at least the next decade. This was a great pick. A pick that starts to build a great foundation for years to come. If Williams pans out like most think he will, the Bengals did steal him at pick 11.
Round Two: TE Drew Sample, Washington. I think a lot of Bengal fans and so-called draft gurus in general that criticized this pick are gonna eat their words in due time. Not only is Drew Sample gonna help Bengal backs gain more yards and get to the outside more often, he's also gonna become a receiving threat as well. Sample may have only caught 25 passes in his entire college career, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he doesn't eclipse that total in his rookie campaign. Actually, I'll be disappointed if he doesn't. The drafting of Sample is a big clue in deciphering what type of team Taylor wants to mold - a big, strong and physical team that can carry the rock. Good character and leadership qualities are another trait that Taylor was looking for and he got it all in Sample.
Round Three: LB Germaine Pratt, NC State. I've wanted this guy since day one even if the Bengals would've drafted either of the top two LB's. Not as fast as the two Devin's, but plenty fast enough to be a true sideline to sideline player. Great tackler. Big and strong with decent instincts. Aggressive and plays with confidence. Always around the ball. Undervalued. A player that will make more big plays than many think he's capable of making such as rushing the passer. The type of player that may not 'wow' on a consistent basis, but could become a league leader in tackles. Pratt will give the LB'ing corps a big lift. If Malek Jefferson and Justin Evans play up to their ability, the Bengals would have a solid (not great) core group, but adding another top tier LB'er in the near future is paramount to success. Pratt is a solid start in doing just that.
Round 4 A: QB Ryan Finley, NC State. Ryan Finley was drafted to back up Andy Dalton, but it's possible that he could blossom and become the teams starter down the road. Finley may not have the strongest arm, but he has far more positive traits than negative traits. At minimum, he should make a great back up that's capable of winning games when the starter (Tua?) isn't able to suit up. Speaking of arm strength, Finley may not have a cannon, but he CAN and DID fit the ball into some tight windows on occasion throughout his career. He's also very accurate which is the most important trait any QB can possess. NC State fans swear by Finley's ability and they think the Bengals got a steal. I think they're right.
Round 4 B: DT Renell Wren, Arizona State. A late bloomer, Renell Wren came on late in his career and really impressed at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. By all accounts, Wren is extremely athletic for his size with the potential to become a great DT. Possibly a pro-bowler. Many teams had him on their draft boards. Here's the bad news - I don't see it. I admit there isn't much video of Wren to go by on YouTube, but from what I've seen, I see a player that is blocked fairly easily because he raises up far too often instead of staying low and getting his pads underneath his opponent. Also, he only possesses one move, a bull rush. IMO, Wren has the athletic ability to be a great one, but he's merely a project at this point and will never make much of an impact until he learns to stay low and develops more pass rush moves. I also think he needs to do a better job of disengaging which hasn't been mentioned before now. However, disengaging is related to developing more pass rush moves so this problem can be fixed. As of now, Wren is a project and it may take a few years until he becomes as dominant as some anticipate. Then again, it may never happen. The ball is in his court and it's up to him to prove he belongs which is gonna take a lot of work.
Round 4 C: OG Michael Jordan, Ohio State. IMO, Michael Jordan was the Bengals first true 'steal of the draft'. I can't believe he was still on the board at this juncture. Jordan may not be a splashy player, but he played in the Big Ten against some really good competition including teams from the Pac Ten, SEC, Big Twelve, etc., and prevailed. A lunch pail type of player with good character. Solid blocker that doesn't seem to have any glaring weaknesses. Just gets the job done. Jordan can play multiple positions and he could actually push Billy Price at C. Jordan is another piece of the puzzle in building a team that is gonna pound the ball. Is RT in his future?
Round 6 A: RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M. Trayveon Williams is not only the Bengals second steal of the draft, he's a player that can come right in and actually contribute not only on special teams, but as a true HB. Williams may not be the fastest RB in this draft, but he's plenty fast enough and outran many would-be tacklers throughout his career. Williams has great cutting ability and is a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. He's also a decent blocker and is a threat to rip off big runs with every carry. Another good character player and another piece of the ground and pound team Taylor is building.
Round 6 B: LB Deshaun Davis, Auburn. Like Wren, I didn't see that much promise in Deshaun Davis when watching him play. Davis had a lot of tackles in college, but I don't know if that will transfer to the NFL because he lacks good speed, agility and athletic ability. Not much of a ceiling for Davis. What you see is basically what you get. Does he have enough intangibles to make it in the NFL? It will be interesting to see how Davis (and Wren) perform during the preseason. Fingers crossed.
Round 6 C: RB Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma. If Rodney Anderson can learn to stay healthy, he will be the biggest steal of this draft. Period. Anderson is basically a Joe Mixon clone concerning his size, running style and his pass catching ability. (Strange that they both played for Oklahoma). This guy is the whole package. A true three down back with speed, power and moves. IMO, first round RB selection Josh Jacobs of the Raiders has nothing on this guy other than durability. Actually, Anderson could prove to be the better of the two if he stays healthy. Another good character player, Anderson is also another piece of the ground and pound puzzle that Zac Taylor is assembling. An absolutely phenomenal pick for round six and if Anderson isn't able to overcome his injury woes, the Bengals only have a sixth round pick invested in him. Smart drafting.
Round 7: CB Jordan Brown, South Dakota State. Another steal, Jordan Brown made several great plays during OTA's and his game was solid in most aspects. Nice size and good speed. Has a nose for the ball. A big time playmaker in the mold of Bengal Darius Philips who the team drafted last year. Tony McRae, Brandon Wilson and Devonte Harris better be on top of their games if they're gonna beat this guy out. Brown is definitely gonna push them which is good for all.
This draft was obviously focused on improving the running game along with the team becoming more physical. Zac Taylor realizes that the entire offense will flourish if the Bengals become great at running the ball. This will help tremendously in opening up the passing game for Dalton and company until he's replaced (Tua)! He was also able to address arguably the Bengals weakest position group - linebacker. All in all, Taylor did a fantastic job of drafting players that match his blueprint along with building a solid foundation that can be as physical as any other team in the AFC North. The Bengals may not be there yet, but they're headed (finally) in the right direction. Comments?
