There are only like two players left from the Marvin Lewis era...

[Shake n Blake]

(02-03-2022, 05:56 PM)tms Wrote: I'm one who believes we give waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much credit (and blame) to coaches for their drafts.

Here's Zach's 2019:

1 - Jonah Williams, OT
2 - Drew Sample, TE
3 - Germaine Pratt, LB
4 - Ryan Finley, QB
4 - Renell Wren, DT
4 - Michael Jordan, OL
6 - Trayveon Williams, RB
6 - Deshaun Davis, LB
6 - Rodney Anderson, RB
7 - Jordan Brown, DB

*5 of the 10 are gone. Wren is basically PS fodder and Trayveon doesn't see the field. Which leaves Jonah, Sample and Pratt. To his credit Pratt has emerged recently but he was never a game-breaker before. Sample's seen as one of the worst second-round picks in history. Jonah is... well... he's the kind of LT around whom three years into his career we still wonder whether he's even playing the right position. Best case, he's a serviceable blindside protector who stays in his lane. Worst case, he's the leader (by default) of a line that tops the league in sacks allowed.

I don't mean to lay it all at the feet of Zac. Quite the opposite. I think the common thread around all these guys who have surprisingly begun to contribute is... wait for it... JOE BURROW. It's not rocket science. When you have a legit franchise quarterback all your players look better. Likewise, all your coaches look better. All your drafts look like you have the secret sauce. In reality a lot of it comes down to pure luck. Heck, I remember reading that Zac was partial to Penei Sewell in the war room, but got overruled. So can you even give him credit for Ja'Marr Chase?!

The greatest draft expert for this team is Burrow. Just like it was Brady in New England, Peyton in Indianapolis and on down the line. Not to take anything away from Palmer or Dalton, but Marvin Lewis never had that luxury.

Great QB does make everything look better, sure...but we've signed/drafted the following players in the last 2 years:

DJ Reader
Larry Ogunjobi
BJ Hill
Trey Hendrickson
(We suddenly have an elite dline now)
Logan Wilson
Awuzie
Hilton
Bell
Chase
Spain
Etc

Joe Burrow is great. Lots of credit to him...but I get triggered when people go overboard. He didn't make these guys great players. He didn't identify if they were a fit and go out and sign them.

They deserve credit for their own greatness without us assigning it to Joe Burrow instead. Same with the FO. 

Joey is the same guy he was last year when he went 2-7-1. We just put a cast around him that's worthy. Now we're seeing his (and everyone else's) true ability.