John Ross

[SunsetBengal]

(02-26-2018, 09:44 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: That is completely accurate, but even with hindsight...who should they have selected?  Our offense still had the same issues, if not worse.  They needed a weapon that could take advantages of matchups provided by AJ, and they got Mixon and Ross.  I love the young pass rushers they got.  They drafted great athletes with the later picks, hoping they could convert some of that athleticism to the field.  

Maybe they just had too much faith in Paul Alexander.  He finally had the whole offseason with guys healthy and they were a disaster.  Maybe they should have traded up to get a tackle in the draft, but they were still trying to see if they could get anything out of their earlier first (Ced) and second (Fish).  

In the end, it seems as though they really just whiffed with those selections.  My guess is that the Bengals might try Boling at LT, Westerman at LG (since they seem against providing any challenger to Bodine), and Redmond at RG with Fish and a draft pick battling it out at RT.  They will likely give Ogbuehi every shot at LT again, and then turn to Boling when it isn't working (again) but hopefully they don't wait until their season is over.  I hate to say it, but maybe the kid deserves the shot with whatever blocking scheme the new oline coach and OC are instituting.  

I hate to pin so much on Ross, but the Bengals offense will go as he goes in 2018.  They aren't suddenly going to get Lafell to be a faster weapon, and I doubt they resign Eifert.  No offensive draft pick will come in and light up our team since most of our rookies get eased in to the game.  I would imagine you will see a third RB (Is Tra Carson still on PS?) and a lot or RPO.  It is a copycat league.  Hopefully, Ross does what I think he can....not to vindicate the pick, but to get the offense back to respectability. 

After being mostly quiet for nearly two seasons, that TD by Tyler Boyd at the end of the season gives me some hope.  That was the type of play that he was drafted in the 2nd round for.  I'm actually hoping that he is the one who steps up and unseats Lafell as the WR2.

I'm not ready to sleep on Josh Malone yet, either.  Now, I realize that 6 receptions on 17 targets with a TD and a long of 25 yds. isn't exactly "lighting it up", but I think he can light it up if given the opportunity.  They just need to get him more involved.

The continued development of those two players should provide enough cover for Ross to get healthy and get confidence from the coaching staff.  Guess we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out.