Bengal fans take note

[*ochocincos*]

(11-20-2017, 04:31 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: Well they hadn't really played enough at that point to know if they would pan out.. Many a player has struggled their first couple years before pulling it together

That's debatable.

Argument For - Ogbuehi was hurt most of rookie year and then playing RT for most of last year. He had only had a few games at LT. Perhaps the jury was still out and all that was really known was he couldn't be a good RT. Fisher played 6th tackle as a rookie and only played sparingly last year until toward the end of the season. Similar to Ogbuehi, not a full season as a starter yet.

Against - Ogbuehi has not shown any quality play in his first two seasons and his scouting leading up to the draft indicated as much that he would struggle at OT in the NFL. He couldn't handle power and sucked at LT in college. There wasn't really any evidence through two years with the Bengals that would give confidence he would become a quality OT. It was really just faith/hope. Fisher was a bit more promising, but also struggled with power in college.

I understand the desire to get them both playing time and putting trust in Alexander who has been the OL coach for great players like Anderson, Jones, and Whitworth. But the big concern was there was very little insurance in terms of depth in case neither Ogbuehi nor Fisher panned out. Smith can only play one spot, so if both of those guys suck, one side will be a liability.

Even if the Bengals do want to stick with Ogbuehi and/or Fisher as a starter next season (for whatever reason), they need to sign/draft at least one OT that can push them to at least be better or supplant them as the starter.