08-22-2021, 12:55 PM
I'm still not overly concerned here. Chase is going to be a victim of both insanely high expectations and people questioning the Bengals' lackluster approach to building the line this past offseason in the wake of the Burrow injury. Criticism of that plan is valid, but Chase is A. what we have here and now and B. a rookie receiver who hasn't played competitive football in a year.
Draft status and measurables have some ready to label him a bust for not being Steve Smith in his prime from day 1. That kind of judgement is either willfully dishonest (because people hated the pick to begin with) or just plain silly. Every rookie reciever isn't going to be AJ or Julio in year 1. There almost never used to be wrs that came in and succeeded as rookies. Last year, both Lamb and Jeudy were considered elite prospects, and both underwhelmed early. Ruggs wasn't special, either.
Chase, much like the Bengals as a whole is still a work in progress. I think he deserves time before enduring beatings from people still upset over the pick. Ask yourself what's likely to happen here. Is he likely to set the league on fire from week one, catch 12 TDs and have 1200 yards as a rookie? No. Is he likely to be the second coming of Ross and demonstrate that he has zero business in the league? No. Is he likely to play like a rookie early and show gradual improvement over the course of the season? Very. It's unfortunate that many seen eager to use very typical rookie adjustments as a reason to bail on player that still has a strong likelihood to be a big part of the team's future.
Draft status and measurables have some ready to label him a bust for not being Steve Smith in his prime from day 1. That kind of judgement is either willfully dishonest (because people hated the pick to begin with) or just plain silly. Every rookie reciever isn't going to be AJ or Julio in year 1. There almost never used to be wrs that came in and succeeded as rookies. Last year, both Lamb and Jeudy were considered elite prospects, and both underwhelmed early. Ruggs wasn't special, either.
Chase, much like the Bengals as a whole is still a work in progress. I think he deserves time before enduring beatings from people still upset over the pick. Ask yourself what's likely to happen here. Is he likely to set the league on fire from week one, catch 12 TDs and have 1200 yards as a rookie? No. Is he likely to be the second coming of Ross and demonstrate that he has zero business in the league? No. Is he likely to play like a rookie early and show gradual improvement over the course of the season? Very. It's unfortunate that many seen eager to use very typical rookie adjustments as a reason to bail on player that still has a strong likelihood to be a big part of the team's future.
