I get it. The Bengals are a very talented team and have been blessed so far with having little in the way of major injuries. I am by no means suggesting to change the successful formula. However as we approach week 13, I can't help but think it is time to see the likes of Dawson, Kroft, Hardison and particularly Alford a little. A few more plays here and there, especially, like Sunday when we had a comfortable lead. Some of the college rust should be dusted off and playbooks/system knowledge by now should not be an issue.

I single Alford out because I don't understand why we are keeping Tate active and leaving this talented and pacey returner inactive. We are barely using Tate on the field, and though I understand he has the ability to be clutch, we will never know what we have in Alford by letting him sit behind a player whose ceiling is evident.

Dawson showed a lot of promise in the pre-season and I can't see how 10-15 snaps taken off Hawk/Lamur/Rey would hurt the team majorly.

If this team is to be successful down the stretch I can't help but feel some of these rookies need to see more time. Even if only to keep some of the vets we have fresher.

There's not much reason I can see for playing Thompson over Hardison. Thompson is the exact same player he was when he was drafted. He's a gap shooting DT with a good step who has no idea how to turn that into productive plays most of the time. Hardison looked very promising in the preseason when they let him play DT.

Definitely agree with the Alford piece. Get him out there returning kicks if we're up by 14+ no matter what. Kid could be a Tavon Austin type of returner and we wouldn't even know it.

Maybe he's derping it up in practice or something.

(12-01-2015, 03:49 PM)BritishBengal Wrote: I get it. The Bengals are a very talented team and have been blessed so far with having little in the way of major injuries. I am by no means suggesting to change the successful formula. However as we approach week 13, I can't help but think it is time to see the likes of Dawson, Kroft, Hardison and particularly Alford a little. A few more plays here and there, especially, like Sunday when we had a comfortable lead. Some of the college rust should be dusted off and playbooks/system knowledge by now should not be an issue.

I single Alford out because I don't understand why we are keeping Tate active and leaving this talented and pacey returner inactive. We are barely using Tate on the field, and though I understand he has the ability to be clutch, we will never know what we have in Alford by letting him sit behind a player whose ceiling is evident.

Dawson showed a lot of promise in the pre-season and I can't see how 10-15 snaps taken off Hawk/Lamur/Rey would hurt the team majorly.

If this team is to be successful down the stretch I can't help but feel some of these rookies need to see more time. Even if only to keep some of the vets we have fresher.

Having these guys with experience and little to no wear and tear will be good for the future of this franchise. It's what good teams do. You let guys grow on your bench and bring them up once the vets move on. You will see most of them eventually.

Still, Josh Shaw will be making plenty of appearances here in the near future.

Also... Tate has played reasonably well lately. His return against Arizona kept us in that game.

I would like to see more of Dawson and Alford like you say when we're ahead 24 with 5 minutes to go. Get em in there get their feet wet.

We're playing for a championship right now so there really is no reason for the rookies to play major snaps unless they absolutely have to.

(12-01-2015, 03:49 PM)BritishBengal Wrote: I get it. The Bengals are a very talented team and have been blessed so far with having little in the way of major injuries. I am by no means suggesting to change the successful formula. However as we approach week 13, I can't help but think it is time to see the likes of Dawson, Kroft, Hardison and particularly Alford a little. A few more plays here and there, especially, like Sunday when we had a comfortable lead. Some of the college rust should be dusted off and playbooks/system knowledge by now should not be an issue.

I single Alford out because I don't understand why we are keeping Tate active and leaving this talented and pacey returner inactive. We are barely using Tate on the field, and though I understand he has the ability to be clutch, we will never know what we have in Alford by letting him sit behind a player whose ceiling is evident.

Dawson showed a lot of promise in the pre-season and I can't see how 10-15 snaps taken off Hawk/Lamur/Rey would hurt the team majorly.

If this team is to be successful down the stretch I can't help but feel some of these rookies need to see more time. Even if only to keep some of the vets we have fresher.

Our coaching staff is 9-2 in 2015 and have taken us to the playoffs 4 straight years. I trust they watch practice intently and with an open mind. I trust they know if a player is giving 120% every snap in practice and deserves an opportunity.

As far as Tate, I don't get the Tate hate by many. I see punts dropped every week in the NFL, game changing fumbles committed by returners. All Tate does is secure the ball and get positive yards. He has had 2 great returns nullified by penalty in 2015 which not his fault. I get we want to see the young guys and some fans see a lot of Austin in Alford, but even Austin was not ready and is just now starting to makes plays.

I think Hardison has some upside, but Thompson, Sims, Peko and even Clarke are all better than him I suspect.

I love the fact we have rookies learning on the bench and I think it is one of the reasons why we have been solid the past few years on both sides of the ball.

As for Dawson, I have high hopes for him also, but it appears he is lazy at practice (Lapham mentioned it to a group of us at an event a month ago) and as he stated, ML will not give time to a player who does not practice hard.

Tate is going to hold his job til someone takes it... period.

He is our fair catch guy and is good for returns if he has room.
He is also good for 2 or 3 great plays off the bench every year.

He is the prototypical role player. I see no reason to tinker with things that are not broken.

(12-01-2015, 03:49 PM)BritishBengal Wrote: I get it. The Bengals are a very talented team and have been blessed so far with having little in the way of major injuries. I am by no means suggesting to change the successful formula. However as we approach week 13, I can't help but think it is time to see the likes of Dawson, Kroft, Hardison and particularly Alford a little. A few more plays here and there, especially, like Sunday when we had a comfortable lead. Some of the college rust should be dusted off and playbooks/system knowledge by now should not be an issue.

I single Alford out because I don't understand why we are keeping Tate active and leaving this talented and pacey returner inactive. We are barely using Tate on the field, and though I understand he has the ability to be clutch, we will never know what we have in Alford by letting him sit behind a player whose ceiling is evident.

Dawson showed a lot of promise in the pre-season and I can't see how 10-15 snaps taken off Hawk/Lamur/Rey would hurt the team majorly.

If this team is to be successful down the stretch I can't help but feel some of these rookies need to see more time. Even if only to keep some of the vets we have fresher.

problem with that is you have to deactivate someone that is producing well for us to give a rookie a shot...

(12-01-2015, 05:30 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: problem with that is you have to deactivate someone that is producing well for us to give a rookie a shot...

Knock on wood

It is a great problem to have not having key players injured (IR) or games lost so far in 2015.

I am hopeful our rookies are hitting the weights, the playbooks and keeping their bodies in football shape so they are ready of needed.

(12-01-2015, 05:57 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Knock on wood

It is a great problem to have not having key players injured (IR) or games lost so far in 2015.

I am hopeful our rookies are hitting the weights, the playbooks and keeping their bodies in football shape so they are ready of needed.

yeah their job is to be ready... until needed.

Tate is the type of guy that gets hated on and you want to upgrade but then he is the type of player that will come up big in the playoffs and everyone loves him.

As was said his return in AZ got the team going again.

(12-01-2015, 06:20 PM)brian5562 Wrote: Tate is the type of guy that gets hated on and you want to upgrade but then he is the type of player that will come up big in the playoffs and everyone loves him.

As was said his return in AZ got the team going again.

The problem with Tate is that he pretty much does nothing for an extended period of time and looks to be worthless and then he'll bust out a big play. That raises his worth to "I guess we should see if he can something else" and we proceed to repeat this the whole time.

I would really like the Bengals to actually invest in a real KR/PR this offseason.

I'd like to state I am a Tate fan. Always backed him, and think he is actually a good receiver who has made a number of big plays for us over the years. What I don't understand however is why you would draft a guy like Alford and not ever let him see the field?

(12-01-2015, 06:27 PM)BritishBengal Wrote: I'd like to state I am a Tate fan. Always backed him, and think he is actually a good receiver who has made a number of big plays for us over the years. What I don't understand however is why you would draft a guy like Alford and not ever let him see the field?

The only thing is that he must not practice well. That's the same reason we don't see Dawson out there.

I was amazed at how much he was hyped during the offseason as our new returner. It bled into TC and then almost every return was handled by Tate. No explanation given. Even the beat writers were confused.

(12-01-2015, 06:27 PM)BritishBengal Wrote: I'd like to state I am a Tate fan. Always backed him, and think he is actually a good receiver who has made a number of big plays for us over the years. What I don't understand however is why you would draft a guy like Alford and not ever let him see the field?

Because he is failing to earn playing time in practice... case closed.

Generally It takes time to learn the offense

and our Defense Zimmer had said takes about a year to fully understand as a player.

These young players will be better off having time to learn and practice before being thrown in the fire. and the Team is always better off when you dont have to rely on the rookies. Especially a 7th rounder..

Now guys like the 1st & 2nd rounders should be competiting for playing time. but neither Tackle is gonna boot Whit or Andre and even then Wintson is first up for now at least... Fisher has gotten playing time as a OT/TE hybrid.. And Ob has only been practicing for 3 weeks...

They'll get plenty of playing time next year after some of the 20+ free agents leave.

(12-01-2015, 06:25 PM)Bengal Dude Wrote: I would really like the Bengals to actually invest in a real KR/PR this offseason.

the last 3 or so years they have brought in guys from college that had torn it up KR/PR at their schools and none of them have unseated him..

Hes Decent @ Gunner.
Hes solid at KR/PR
Hes Usable on Offense. (we just generally dont have a spot on the field for him)

Someone has to replace all that. not just a punt or kick off specialist.

But Gunner and being able to Play their position to boot.

(12-01-2015, 06:32 PM)Bengal Dude Wrote: The only thing is that he must not practice well. That's the same reason we don't see Dawson out there.

I was amazed at how much he was hyped during the offseason as our new returner. It bled into TC and then almost every return was handled by Tate. No explanation given. Even the beat writers were confused.

He was quite rightly hyped. Dude had a good college career as a returner and receiver, beating people for speed consistently. We saw what Austin, a guy from the same college, same age, roughly same height and weight could do against us. I'm not saying Alford is the same talent as a receiver, but he certainly has similar athleticism. Get him on the field a few times, let him run some gadget plays. 

But as you said it must be a case of him not wowing in training, which I find odd, but whatever, who knows.

(12-01-2015, 06:40 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: the last 3 or so years they have brought in guys from college that had torn it up KR/PR at their schools and none of them have unseated him..

Hes Decent @ Gunner.
Hes solid at KR/PR
Hes Usable on Offense. (we just generally dont have a spot on the field for him)

Someone has to replace all that.  not just a punt or kick off specialist.

But Gunner and being able to Play their position to boot.

Considering how we've been replacing gunners lately, I don't think it'll be super hard to replace him there. Solid as a returner is as high as you can go when it comes to describing Tate. I'm sure a lot of people could fair catch inside the 10 or run through Peerman's signal to take a knee and run into the defenders. As for offense, shouldn't be too difficult for someone to play 2-3 snaps every few weeks.

Also, besides Alford what stud returners have we brought in? Alford is the first returner we've drafted to actually challenge Tate.