04-30-2019, 08:51 AM
Satisfied with the draft, personally.
For those who don't like Sample... pretend he was picked in the 3rd, and Pratt went 2nd.
There, it's supposed to be about the entire class and process... we didn't reach for Daniel Jones at #6 or anything, so no need to meltdown imo. :)
They did not entirely "fix" either the OL or LB groups through their selections, but they are at least showing that are not blind to the weaknesses and there is cohesive philosophical direction.... they want to be a running team, centered around Mixon, our best offensive player aside from AJ.
This team has been getting whipped in the trenches for several years now, and even our 2015 line, which was considered one of our better units.. still was not a dominant line. We could not take over a game on the ground. It was built more for the quick passing game, 3 seconds and out. Remember, Dalton was regarded as getting the ball out maybe 2nd or 3rd quickest in the league. The line appeared better than it really was.
I can't remember where or when the stat came out, but there was blurb maybe before last season or midway through, where Mixon was having to evade and create more of his own yardage away from penetrating defenders who were in the backfield, almost more than every other team. He was being hit something like on average of a yard and a half earlier than most RBs as they were trying to hit their holes. The O-Line was a turnstile, and it's amazing that Joe was able to compile so many yards.
It's not a complete product yet, but the O-Line should really begin to take on shape prior to next season, after guys like Glenn and Hopkins are likely replaced and these new guys can play together for a season.
Also.... as many have pointed out in other posts.... the regime is picking up a lot of character guys.. players who were captains on their teams, and/or highly regarded leaders without baggage. When was the last time that happened in Bengaldom?
I like to think that these are the kinda guys needed to break out of the Bengals' collective stage fright of falling on our faces in primetime and big games. We need to get away from the combine warriors and the projects.
For those who don't like Sample... pretend he was picked in the 3rd, and Pratt went 2nd.
There, it's supposed to be about the entire class and process... we didn't reach for Daniel Jones at #6 or anything, so no need to meltdown imo. :)
They did not entirely "fix" either the OL or LB groups through their selections, but they are at least showing that are not blind to the weaknesses and there is cohesive philosophical direction.... they want to be a running team, centered around Mixon, our best offensive player aside from AJ.
This team has been getting whipped in the trenches for several years now, and even our 2015 line, which was considered one of our better units.. still was not a dominant line. We could not take over a game on the ground. It was built more for the quick passing game, 3 seconds and out. Remember, Dalton was regarded as getting the ball out maybe 2nd or 3rd quickest in the league. The line appeared better than it really was.
I can't remember where or when the stat came out, but there was blurb maybe before last season or midway through, where Mixon was having to evade and create more of his own yardage away from penetrating defenders who were in the backfield, almost more than every other team. He was being hit something like on average of a yard and a half earlier than most RBs as they were trying to hit their holes. The O-Line was a turnstile, and it's amazing that Joe was able to compile so many yards.
It's not a complete product yet, but the O-Line should really begin to take on shape prior to next season, after guys like Glenn and Hopkins are likely replaced and these new guys can play together for a season.
Also.... as many have pointed out in other posts.... the regime is picking up a lot of character guys.. players who were captains on their teams, and/or highly regarded leaders without baggage. When was the last time that happened in Bengaldom?
I like to think that these are the kinda guys needed to break out of the Bengals' collective stage fright of falling on our faces in primetime and big games. We need to get away from the combine warriors and the projects.
