Camp Battles

[Whatever]

(07-19-2017, 03:30 PM)Benton Wrote: I'd be really surprised to see this happen on an every play basis. Maybe once a series plug Green into slot or Boyd outside, sure, I can't see them doing it every down or even every other. Those kinds of change up are designed to catch defenses off guard. If you're shuffling every player on every play, you aren't doing anything unexpected.

Like lining a lineman up at FB. You can catch a defense off guard lining him up and actually passing him the ball or handing it off, but if you line him up every play at FB, they're going to just treat him like a FB. A really bad, slow FB that you don't want to pass or run.


I agree with Mr. Wedge. Most likely Boyd will play slot, Lafell will be outside and Ross will see his time coming in for them and Green here and there. If he plays at game speed, then they'll start giving him more of Lafell's playing time; if he isn't getting it, he'll just stay in the rotation. Boyd, Lafell, Green... nobody is going to play every down of every game. Whether they need a break or get injured, they're going to need someone to step in... and, for now, that'll be Ross.

I disagree.  Ross simply changes the way the opposing defense plays with his deep speed.  LaFell was much more productive and is a better blocker than Boyd.  Boyd has proven to be a decent possession receiver, but that's it.  The fact that teams don't have to respect Boyd downfield makes it easier for teams to double AJ and put extra men in the box against the run.

At the start of the year, I see AJ and LaFell as the starters with Ross the primary #3.  Boyd will get snaps in relief to keep the top 3 fresh.  Ross will probably move into the #2 job as the season goes on.  Boyd might outplay LaFell for the #3 spot, or might lose snaps to Core and or Malone.  With the additions at the skill positions in the draft, it's obvious that the Bengals feel they need more speed out there on offense, and Boyd just hasn't displayed the tools to threaten anyone.