03-12-2024, 01:52 PM
To me Sample isn't really good at contested catches, but he is good with screens and short routes where they get him in space. And obviously he's a good blocker.
He's our on the line tight end starter for sure.
Gesicki is a solid red zone target, intermediate route target, and 3rd down target. He's our starting tight end off the line.
Chase is obviously dynamic and does everything, playing slot, wideout, etc. Just don't bring him in as a running back... It's not working.
RB Chase Brown will grow into our dynamic every down back. Has breakaway speed and vision. Great in space. Can catch, run, pound the ball. He can do it all. We won't really see what he can do until we use him as an every down back.
Zach Moss is a great 3rd down back that runs well/hard, breaks tackles, is solid in goal-line, catches well, and most importantly blocks well. He will be a great number 2 back, and can certainly be successful as a number 1 back. It's nice that he's still young and doesn't have a tremendous amount of wear and tear due to him being a committe back.
We have some young options at receiver that could fill the slot role for us. I'd like to see us sign Irwin for depth in the slot and out wide. He's been solid and doesn't seem to drop the ball. Iosavas to me is a backup out wide. He needs development, but has potential. Charlie Jones has a lot of potential in the slot. But he hasn't played much, needs development, and needs to stay healthy.
Remaining skill player needs are another balanced tight end that can catch and block, and ideally is another red zone target. Maybe this is a draft pick. Maybe its a developmental player since we have a starting on the line tight end and a starting off the line tight end already.
Need number 2 Wideout to compliment Chase. This is our biggest need right now with Higgins likely traded. Bengals could go a lot of directions with this position as far as wide receiver types go. I assume we fill this need in the draft and pick up a late 1st or early 2nd combined with a mid-late round pick in the trade for Higgins. This would give the Bengals ample ammunition to find a solid number two. Do they go with another big bodied guy like Tee? Someone quicker? Someone who's strength is route running? I prefer a balanced wideout with some speed, height and route running ability that has a reputation of being clutch. If they can find someone like that it will make the offense very versatile. To me Tee got called for pushing off way more than I liked, so I'd prefer someone that can separate with route running ability.
Need a solid RT that can run block and pass block well. Huge need here. I'd be okay with Jonah here if the price were right. A more talented veteran would have been ideal. Someone with size to stand up to the elite rushers. Hopefully the Bengals can find someone in the draft to fill this need. Or someone on our roster like Carmon steps up big time. Either way they need to draft someone to develop.
How they fill the remaining needs at WR, TE, and RT will really put a stamp on what kind of offense the Bengals run. Right now we could play a variety of styles.
With the Zach Moss signing and Gesicki signing I'm guessing they still want to run the shotgun base with Moss staying in to protect, run draws, and screens/short passing routes. Gesicki lining up off the line of scrimmage a lot as well. They really like this style of offense and I'm guessing that's what they are wanting to run more often than not.
They do need to be able to run the balanced approach more successfully though. Adding some oline depth in the draft will be important and likely adding a promising TE that can catch and block. Building up strength in the protection/run game up front will improve the offense more than anything. Obviously they need a solid WR 2 as well.
My strategy would be to spend 2nd-5th round picks on wideouts and develop them. Keep Chase and Burrow long-term. Year 2-4 these skill players should provide great value for us and contribute on game day. This type of player can be signed to a maneagable contract to get a few more years out of them, or they can be sold via trade. Put the money and high picks into more valuable positions that we can afford to spend money on long-term. It doesn't make sense to draft a skill player in round one then let them walk 5 years later because we can't sign him. A corner, dlineman, or olineman make much more sense--as does spending money on those positions in FA. That said, if you have a skill player too valuable to pass up in round 1, maybe it makes sense to utilize him for 4 years and then turn around and trade him for a 1st round pick.
Overall though, we invest a lot in our QB and WR1. I'd spend the majority of the remaining money on Oline, Dline, and defense. Utilize buying low and selling high for the rest of the skill players.
Running backs are a position where the wise thing to do is draft a dynamic starter, then let them walk or trade them when it comes to paying them. (1) cant afford the contract (2) injury risk is high (3) It's easy to draft good backs and they are best when they are young.
He's our on the line tight end starter for sure.
Gesicki is a solid red zone target, intermediate route target, and 3rd down target. He's our starting tight end off the line.
Chase is obviously dynamic and does everything, playing slot, wideout, etc. Just don't bring him in as a running back... It's not working.
RB Chase Brown will grow into our dynamic every down back. Has breakaway speed and vision. Great in space. Can catch, run, pound the ball. He can do it all. We won't really see what he can do until we use him as an every down back.
Zach Moss is a great 3rd down back that runs well/hard, breaks tackles, is solid in goal-line, catches well, and most importantly blocks well. He will be a great number 2 back, and can certainly be successful as a number 1 back. It's nice that he's still young and doesn't have a tremendous amount of wear and tear due to him being a committe back.
We have some young options at receiver that could fill the slot role for us. I'd like to see us sign Irwin for depth in the slot and out wide. He's been solid and doesn't seem to drop the ball. Iosavas to me is a backup out wide. He needs development, but has potential. Charlie Jones has a lot of potential in the slot. But he hasn't played much, needs development, and needs to stay healthy.
Remaining skill player needs are another balanced tight end that can catch and block, and ideally is another red zone target. Maybe this is a draft pick. Maybe its a developmental player since we have a starting on the line tight end and a starting off the line tight end already.
Need number 2 Wideout to compliment Chase. This is our biggest need right now with Higgins likely traded. Bengals could go a lot of directions with this position as far as wide receiver types go. I assume we fill this need in the draft and pick up a late 1st or early 2nd combined with a mid-late round pick in the trade for Higgins. This would give the Bengals ample ammunition to find a solid number two. Do they go with another big bodied guy like Tee? Someone quicker? Someone who's strength is route running? I prefer a balanced wideout with some speed, height and route running ability that has a reputation of being clutch. If they can find someone like that it will make the offense very versatile. To me Tee got called for pushing off way more than I liked, so I'd prefer someone that can separate with route running ability.
Need a solid RT that can run block and pass block well. Huge need here. I'd be okay with Jonah here if the price were right. A more talented veteran would have been ideal. Someone with size to stand up to the elite rushers. Hopefully the Bengals can find someone in the draft to fill this need. Or someone on our roster like Carmon steps up big time. Either way they need to draft someone to develop.
How they fill the remaining needs at WR, TE, and RT will really put a stamp on what kind of offense the Bengals run. Right now we could play a variety of styles.
With the Zach Moss signing and Gesicki signing I'm guessing they still want to run the shotgun base with Moss staying in to protect, run draws, and screens/short passing routes. Gesicki lining up off the line of scrimmage a lot as well. They really like this style of offense and I'm guessing that's what they are wanting to run more often than not.
They do need to be able to run the balanced approach more successfully though. Adding some oline depth in the draft will be important and likely adding a promising TE that can catch and block. Building up strength in the protection/run game up front will improve the offense more than anything. Obviously they need a solid WR 2 as well.
My strategy would be to spend 2nd-5th round picks on wideouts and develop them. Keep Chase and Burrow long-term. Year 2-4 these skill players should provide great value for us and contribute on game day. This type of player can be signed to a maneagable contract to get a few more years out of them, or they can be sold via trade. Put the money and high picks into more valuable positions that we can afford to spend money on long-term. It doesn't make sense to draft a skill player in round one then let them walk 5 years later because we can't sign him. A corner, dlineman, or olineman make much more sense--as does spending money on those positions in FA. That said, if you have a skill player too valuable to pass up in round 1, maybe it makes sense to utilize him for 4 years and then turn around and trade him for a 1st round pick.
Overall though, we invest a lot in our QB and WR1. I'd spend the majority of the remaining money on Oline, Dline, and defense. Utilize buying low and selling high for the rest of the skill players.
Running backs are a position where the wise thing to do is draft a dynamic starter, then let them walk or trade them when it comes to paying them. (1) cant afford the contract (2) injury risk is high (3) It's easy to draft good backs and they are best when they are young.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
