12-08-2016, 01:50 AM
(12-07-2016, 11:12 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Hill IS solid at catching, and we had to wait for Gio to be injured to learn that...
Which is my point in all of this. The self-scouting that apparently isn't done whatsoever. When Hill was in the game with an extra blocker, stack the line. When Hill was in the game without an extra blocker, run-blitz...either you get Hill protecting Dalton or you get the run stuffed. When Gio was in the game, the opposing defenses largely only had to worry about swing passes to Gio.
The bottom line is predictability. From formations and personnel, you knew what was coming...every damn time. When you are facing that kind of opponent, you need PERFECT execution and they are far from that.
My point? More passes out of the extra TE formation. More passes to Hill out of the backfield on first down. And I still for the life of me can't understand why we don't have more two and three TE formations in the red zone and short yardage. Kroft has had zero opportunity to develop as a pass catcher. Uzomah showed promise, but has not had many chances since.
It is all about not being so damn predictable.
Truth. We have so many versatile players, yet they always seem to get pegged into specific roles. If Hill is in, it's most likely a run. Gio is used in some of the most unimaginative screens. I was watching the Giants vs Steelers and the Giants threw a screen to Rashad Jennings that fooled everyone, including me. It took me a second to see where the ball actually went, then Jennings had 2 blockers ahead of him. I see those kind of plays almost every time I watch a non-Bengals game, but creative plays seem few and far between for our guys.
Like how often do we see a Bengals receiver WIDE open because the defense got fooled?
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
