Irv Smith a Bengal

[*ochocincos*]

(03-29-2023, 11:18 AM)Synric Wrote: Alot of the guys you will see me talk about as receivers this year are YAC guys. Joe Burrow is arguably the most accurate QB in the NFL his timing and ball placement are nearly perfect every throw. He does a great job of giving his guys opportunities to make plays with the ball in their hands. While the Bengals were top 10 in YAC for a team the only player that really stands out in that regard is Ja'Marr Chase. (5.0 YAC/R and 10 broken tackles).


As for TEs. Darnell Washington is a very interesting prospect in the YAC department. He don't know how well he will transition to a runner but if you can get him the ball while he's running those long legs are gonna eat up 5 yards a step. 

Dalton Kincaid is a really smooth athlete and shows some shiftiness in space but I don't know how much he is going to shed guys physically in the NFL.

Michael Mayer is a really good solid receiver but he's more Tyler Boyd style middle of the field. Always open Always catches it but not very dynamic.

Luke Musgrave has the size burst and speed to be dangerous after the catch but we don't really know.

Sam LaPorta has some wiggle to him and does that kinda stuff alot at Iowa. Tested well he could actually look better in the NFL but even then I don't ever thing blocking is going to be his thing kinda like Hayden Hurst.

Tucker Kraft shows alot of YAC in the FCS but theres alot of work with Kraft he might not be a guy for a year or two.

Luke Schoonmaker tested very well but you don't see it in pads closer to Mayer but not the route runner. 

Brenton Strange is a YAC guy good burst and guys just bounce off him like they do Washington. He's shorter with a compact frame and a lower center of gravity.





Other YAC Receiving Options not TE.
Jahmyr Gibbs
Tyler Scott
Marvin Mims
Tyjae Spears

This has been pretty much my assessment of the TEs as well.

One thing of note is the Bengals don't deploy their TEs to pass block much at all.
Wilcox - 32 pass block snaps
Hurst - 16 pass block snaps
Asiasi - 16 pass block snaps
Sample - 9 pass block snaps
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Total - 73

They do quite a bit of run blocking though.
Wilcox - 285 run block snaps
Hurst - 149 run block snaps
Asiasi - 139 run block snaps
Sample - 18 run block snaps
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Total - 591

So the Bengals definitely depend on a TE being able to run block, but they have their TE go out on routes a majority of the time on passing snaps.
Bengals gotta get a TE who is willing and able to run block that is also not a liability as a pass catcher.

Mayer or Washington are two I feel comfortable getting, for sure.
LaPorta is my 3rd option, but a 2nd rounder only.
From tape I've watched on Kraft, he can block and can get YAC, but as you said he's coming from FCS and needs some development. Might not be ready to be TE1 as a rookie or even sophomore.
Schoonmaker reminds me of someone like Dawson Knox (optimistically) or maybe Tyler Kroft worst case. I think he'll be a solid TE2 with potential to be a solid TE1. But he's someone you take late 3rd or sometime in the 4th.
I see why some like Strange, but his YAC was just too close to Sample's to give me much confidence he'll be a 10+ YPC guy in the NFL. I feel like he'll be more in the 7-9 YPC range. If the Bengals don't mind that though, I think he can be an ok TE for the team. Same with Payne Durham.