Bengals UDFAs Official Thread

[BURROWorBUST]

(04-27-2020, 09:58 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Good stuff...In the past I would have strolled right by this thread as I would never have thought any of them had a legitimate shot, being UDFAs.  Not that they didn't have the talent, but that the Bengals (Marv, in my mind) would have always gone with a veteran dud.  Sure, Burfict was a huge UDFA for us and likely the best defensive player we have had in a decade, but even he was sitting on the bench until an injury.  

I really liked how Zac started Michael Jordan and Damien Willis last year.  Sure, they both struggled and Willis ultimately didn't show in the regular season, but he was the best option based on what we saw in the preseason.  Jordan struggled, got injured, but then returned to play very well down the stretch.  If he never played, we would be back at square one if he had simply started a dud like John Jerry as a stop-gap.  Sometimes you just have to take your lumps to improve.  I always use the example of Andrew Whitworth.  He struggled mightily early, as a guard, but worked hard, improved, and now I believe should be in the HOF.  

Maybe there is a diamond in the rough in this group of UDFAs.  Maybe there isn't.  But I know this:  They will get a shot and if they end up being a talent that everyone missed, but the Bengals got and turned in to a productive starter....well, that is huge.  

Yeah, Baby Hawk, Vinny Rey, and Burfict jump to mind when I think of UDFAs who made the team under Marvin over 16 years. Was Tate a Marvin guy? Zac does seem a little more willing to give guys a shot though. I was pulling for Damian Willis last year. He didn't do too much. I have to wonder how much of it was him, and how much it was Andy.