01-12-2018, 08:56 PM
(01-12-2018, 07:29 PM)fredtoast Wrote: :
Yes, but still not as common as some here like to claim.
And 2 of those 52 were guys PA turned into starters (Livings, Cook).
The claim that all NFL coaches are consistently finding starters that are either undrafted or picked in the fourth round or later just is not true. And when you look at the numbers PA was as good as most coaches in finding and developing this type of talent.
During one 12 year stretch ('97-'08) the Bengals used a total of 3 picks in the first two rounds of the draft on O-linemen, and only 2 more on third rounders.
This is a bit misleading though, because we had great anchors on the line through much of that (Willie, Braham, Levi, Steinbach, Whit) and we also used Free Agency to plug holes with guys like Bobbie Williams, Richmond Webb, Matt O'Dwyer etc.
We had plenty of talent during those years, and that's a big reason WHY we weren't drafting linemen. That's like having Drew Brees and claiming the Saints QB coach had nothing to work with because they didn't draft a 1st round QB for awhile.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
