(03-09-2020, 04:07 AM)JerseyDD09 Wrote: Why doesn't everyone just calm down and let the kid play more than a season before calling him phenomenal, good, great or a bust?
I can definitely see the reasoning why they took him out of Washington. Maybe a little earlier than they had him projected; but, they knew he wouldn't be there for them in the 3rd Rd. They really loved him thru the drafting process (he won the tough guy award by his teammates on a loaded Washington squad), and wanted to emphasize running the ball (supposedly, but that didn't happen). Lol
The coaches also thought that Washington underutilized him in the passing game. He doesn't seem to drop balls so we'll see.
They had him pegged as the best in line blocking TE, so they took him.
From all reports, he was making a lot of plays in training camp, and he did get in the rotation throughout the year before going down with some games to go.
I'm one to wait until Year 3 before making decisions on these players.

(03-09-2020, 04:38 AM)TSwigZ Wrote: Pretty sure he was referring to Jesse Bates in the last paragraph. But as far as Sample goes idc what coaches or the FO says Sample would’ve still be there in the 3rd

(03-09-2020, 04:38 AM)TSwigZ Wrote:  But as far as Sample goes idc what coaches or the FO says Sample would’ve still be there in the 3rd

(03-08-2020, 01:21 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Ofc I don’t think rookie Eli would win a Super Bowl here. Or anywhere. You don’t draft a QB for only 4-5 years though. You draft him hoping he’s your guy for the next decade +.

And to say all he did was just throw up a jump ball is selling him short. The Giants DL was nasty both times, but Eli was also clutch. Hence 2 Super Bowl MVP’s. The second SB against NE he completed 75% of his passes, and had a 103.7 rating even though he was sacked 3 times.

(03-09-2020, 05:17 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: Even though your point of this post is to tout Eli, a QB; it's good to see you give any defense, any credit, ever. 

Kudos!

(03-09-2020, 03:02 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Again, phenomenal is a bit much. He’s good, not great.

(03-09-2020, 06:04 PM)J24 Wrote: He was a top 10 safety his rookie season according to PFF the guy is phenomenal when he is on. 

(03-09-2020, 06:10 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: And when you combine last season that’s more likely indicative of who he really is. One really good year, one bad. He’s probably somewhere in between.

We saw the same thing with WJ3.

(03-10-2020, 12:33 AM)J24 Wrote: He had a bad first half of the season last year then turned it around in the second half. Same thing with WJ3 in the 18 season. To me both are cornerstone players and any team would want them on their roster.

(03-09-2020, 04:23 PM)fredtoast Wrote: You have no clue if he would have been there in the 3rd or not.  You are basing your opinion on the same "experts" who said Mack Wilson would be gone in the 3rd.

(03-10-2020, 01:27 AM)JerseyDD09 Wrote: Sorry about the mix up on Sample and Bates.

My take on Bates is on a horrible defense, he was one of the only guys flying around making some plays, always seemed to be around the ball and had a few INTs.

I'll wait on any judgement for him after the Bengals first actually get some LBs who can and want to tackle somebody.

I wouldn't call him a phenomenal player though; but, he seems to be a solid NFL starting Safety.

As for you guys hammering on the Sample pick and where he was taken, I'd love to know all your "credible" NFL scouting sources telling you he was a 3rd/4th/5th round pick mostly? I'll take what the coaches said about their league sources over anyone on fan boards every time and twice on Tuesday.
Since when is it not worth it to take a Blocking TE high in a draft seeing how valuable they are for 2 SB teams this year?

If Sample starts blocking similarly to how Kittle does next year, and catches 30-40 balls for 3-400 yds and 5 TDs, and also plays FB for us and opens holes up for Mixon, would everyone change their tune on the pick? I think that's what this player is capable of. I'll wait to pass judgement on him until after Year 3 and not call him an over drafted bust quite yet. Many great players in the league had horrible rookie seasons.
Antonio Brown hardly played his rookie year! Lol

(03-09-2020, 10:18 AM)ochocincos Wrote: When most people were projecting Sample in Rd 5 or later, I will always have a hard time believing he wouldn't have been available in Rd 3 or that the Bengals couldn't have just taken a different TE who could be just as good (or better) if he wasn't available in Rd 3.

I've been wrong on draft picks before though.

(03-10-2020, 03:06 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: If you just switch Pratt and Sample it makes more sense lol

(03-10-2020, 08:21 PM)ochocincos Wrote: It would have been less criticized, honestly.