Dan Hoard Interviews Zac Taylor (2016)

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(01-21-2019, 05:18 PM)psychdoctor Wrote: I know he did not pan out at UC but there could have been many factors there that hindered his outcome as the OC.  Taylor interviews well and I expect the Cincinnati press to get more details and less evasive responses to questions compared to Marvin Lewis.  I hope he brings a championship SB ring with him to Cincinnati.  I also hope he gets his first choice of coaching assistants.  A new culture is coming to the Bengals.  May take some time to get the personnel and talent however.

This is the logical thought process, but I can't help but think of how this new regime will get more out of the talent they have.  

I see only a couple glaring issues that prevent the Bengals from being a contender:  LB play and offensive line.  

The LB play was horrible, but when you look who was out there it makes sense.  Vigil is a solid LB that has good speed and instincts.  Burfict was one of the best I have ever seen, but he is unreliable and has lost more than a step.  I do not want to plan on him making a contribution.  I want the team to go on like he won't be there (draft a LB and get one in FA) and if he reverses the direction his career is heading by some act of God, great, but no way is he in my plans for next year.  

If a good LB is drafted early and the Bengals sign one in FA, I think you could see a Cowboy-like resurgence in the Bengals defense.

The offensive line might not be quite as difficult.  I see the coach as someone that will use a TE or a back to help on the right side on passing downs.  This seems so easy, but I didn't see if very often last year.  Yes, you are theoretically taking away a target, but if they help block and slide out as an outlet receiver they still must be accounted for by the defense.

I hope the Bengals have a better plan at RT than Bobby Hart.  I want a big, mean, tough guy next to Redmond and have short yardage issues be a thing of the past.  The Bengals were vastly improved last year in that category.  Where Hart really struggled was pass protection.  If the new coaches think they can plan around it and want his run blocking then I will support it, but I can't help but think our first two picks will likely be OT and LB, hopefully with the first pick on the LB White out of LSU.