Jungle Noise Head Count: Who Do You Want Tomorrow Night? (PLEASE VOTE)

[Murdock2420]

(04-29-2021, 12:16 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: I would agree if the draft was only one round. I love Sewell and will be stoked if they take him, but at the same time, I would completely understand picking Chase as well, especially considering that the options that should be available for interior players in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, which is where the focus should be...find a starting RG and another T to add to the mix. 

If they can do that, then the o-line should be in a lot better shape than people think. Adding Reiff was a solid move that should provide stability and leadership on the line this year. Allowing guy like Spain and XSF to compete at their more natural position of LG should also benefit the line. If Jonah can stay healthy and take the next step and Hopkins can come back and be consistent, things aren't looking so bad.

Bringing Pollack back is also a huge add, IMO. I don't think it can be understated how terrible Turner was. They just looked completely lost out there at times, a lot of confusion, missed assignments, poor technique at initial contact. Better / proper coaching should play a big part with the line this year, as will cohesion if they can stay healthy.

Read a piece written by Ben Baby that is a really interesting take on the future of the NFL talent that comes from the draft. 


Baby pointed out that the best college teams are placing more of an emphasis on the passing game, which means they are not investing as much into developing their offensive lines. He mentioned Alabama, Clemson, and LSU as teams that thrived without elite lines.

“The objective for Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney and all these coaches, Ryan Days, Lincoln Rileys, etc., are to build national championship winners, not to produce the best prospects for the NFL,” he said. “So that means they have to tailor their game a certain way. In turn, that will affect the type of elite prospects at programs that produce elite offensive linemen,” he continued.

Meanwhile, while Baby is high on Chase, he thinks that “you’re going to see more receivers like Ja’Marr in coming years.” He continued, “We just see every year, I think, elite level wide receivers. That’s just my school of thought when you look at the game and the way it’s changing. I don’t see it slowing down, this trend reversing, of great receiver prospects.” He pointed to a constant influx of 5-star recruits at the high school level.

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/4/28/22408088/bengals-draft-preview-penei-sewell-oregon-ducks-news-nfl-ben-baby



Certainly something that should be taken into consideration as he makes really good points. WRs like Chase seem to be happening more often these days, (Jefferson 2020, Metcalf and A.J. Brown in 2019, Sutton in 2018) not too mention the list of guys for the 2022 draft already lining up to be better and deeper then this year's WR class.