01-30-2017, 04:40 PM
(01-30-2017, 04:34 PM)ochocincos Wrote: That seems fair. Charlton has a high ceiling just like Dunlap. Both also had good final years in college, but both still left stats on the table so to speak. However, whereas Dunlap had 9.0 sacks in his final two seasons at Florida, Charlton had production more in line with MJ and Hunt in college. This type of production was mediocre stats every year until their final years in college where each individual had 8.0+ sacks.
It's clear the Bengals have a mold they desire in their ends, which is 6'6"+ and 265+lb. Big and long. They also seems to go for those early-mid round rushers who haven't quite had a stellar full collegiate career but did have a big jump in production their final year in college. This likely has prompted the Bengals to think, "Gee, this player made a big improvement by the time their final season in college, so they should be able to make similar growth in the NFL." And so while the drafted player doesn't contribute right away, they think they can get that player to be a very good DE by Year 3 in the NFL.
I hope that the Bengals get a DE that can contribute immediately in the rushing department, but a big and tall DE that they plan to groom for 2016-2017 and become an eventual starter in 2018 seems more Bengal-esque.
I think Thomas gives us production year 1, but don't think he fits the mold of our DE. The only Caveat there is he can kick inside and outside so they make a concession there ala Wallace Gillberry.
I think Charlton is better than stats may show. He did get 5.5 sacks his junior year while only playing in 10 games instead of 13. I like him if we are going for our "mold", but I can see him not being more than a pass rush specialist year one and eventually replacing Johnson the following year.
