Pressure on Rookies

[TJ528]

(05-06-2021, 06:39 PM)pally Wrote: Zac said "Ja'Marr Chase can be one of the great receivers over the next 10-15 years"  Pretty standard coaching line for a top 5 draft pick right?

ESPN NFL reporter Dianne Russini, using Zac's quote, tweeted "I never understand why any team would put pressure on ANY player who hasn’t played in one NFL game. It makes no sense to me. Nobody needs the extra pressure."

and when challenged on what she thinks Zac should have said responded “we expect him to come in here, work hard, be a great teammate, learn our system, and be a Bengal”

Now I am of the opinion that she is full of it.  If your bosses aren't pushing you to your potential you either don't have it or your boss doesn't care.  

Elite athletes EXPECT to be great. If they don't have that expectation they would never be at a professional level in the first place.

So, what do you think?  Is too much pressure being put on Joe or Ja'Marr?

Elite athletes expect to be great you are very correct on that.  

However, if you look at some of the past elite athletes we've drafted and you say to yourself damn they were a stud in college what the hell happened in the NFL.  

Lets take a look, John Ross, fast quick WR at Washington.  Really made the Washington offense excel the season he was there.  Came to Cincy and shit the bed.  

Peter Warrick stud out of FSU, played the Bengals for 4 years and never lived up to expectations. Was ultimately replaced by TJ Hous.

Akili Smith came in with all the confidence in the world.  Truly believed he was going to be the next star QB after 1 year of stardom at Oregon.  Came in and was a complete bust.  

I agree you can expect your players to be studs coming in especially the 1st rounders, but as you can see above just cause you were drafted high and a stud in college doesn't mean it's going to translate into the NFL.