03-19-2022, 09:35 AM
(03-18-2022, 11:55 PM)Au165 Wrote: Not knowing what your watching doesn’t mean it has value to have quantity, you like most fans understand a very macro level of the game for example dying on the hill of Hayden Hurst is a good blocker at all.
Do me a favor, go pull all 22 of the SF game (I’m guessing you don’t have it but maybe you do) last year. Watch Hurst anytime essentially he was in pass protection and you’ll see what I am talking about. One play that stood out specifically, second half there is an attempt at a seal block on a PA stretch where Samson Ebukam walks him back into the QB with barely any effort. As a team who runs that play often, that effort should scare the crap out of you.
I could go through tons of games and show you play after player where he just showed little interest in blocking anyone. The reality is, your are being optimistic because he’s a Bengal I am telling you what the tape actually says and it’s that he is a really bad pass blocking TE, a sometimes decent run blocking TE and an OK receiving TE.
I have all 22, enjoy sharing breakdowns with Mike Santaga, who needs to publish a report on Hurst, I know Sheeran and Goodberry and all the rest. Im also very aware of their initial comments vs their thoughts after actually watching some film.
I dont question your football knowledge and I hope you dont question mine, if anyone here has watched more 22 film than me and it is not your FT job you have a problem.
That said, I've followed Hurst prior to his arrival to South Carolina, I also watched CJ at Auburn.
These are 2 different players.
CJ has grown into a fine player. He came to Cincy very stiff, a poor route runner and an average pass blocker. He only caught 29 passes in 4 years at Auburn... CJ was a projected late round or even UDFA. In his 3rd season with the Bengals he was still the 3rd TE on the depth chart and a healthy scratch the first few games. He has improved and I dont want to take that away from him, but I also wonder how much was Joe Burrow.
Hayden Hurst is twice the athlete CJ ever will be. Neither are considered good blockers. But Hurst is a much better receiver and football player. He was a 1st round draft pick AFTER playing pro baseball. I believe his athleticism and football smarts will be evident, I can see him becoming Joe's safety valve. He can also run routes and make catches that CJ simply cannot.
I respect your football knowledge, but in my humble opinion this coming season may reflect a much wider gap in production between Hurst and CJ than you are predicting. I believe we not only saved a bunch of money but we have the better player and excellent fit for our system.
I believe I was the 1st to mention the guy as a potential take this offseason and definitely was the very 1st one to predict a noticeable improvement over CJ, so feel free to keep the receipt. I hope for us I am right.
