09-01-2021, 09:45 AM
(09-01-2021, 09:26 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: I get what you are saying here. Whenever I think of draft evaluations, I always think of what Jimmy Johnson would say with respect to acquiring players. It was something to the effect of this:
I don't care if they aren't the biggest, strongest, or fastest, but I want PLAYMAKERS. He emphasized that some guys just had a knack for making plays and always seemed to find a way to get their hands on the ball.
I am not saying that I 100% agree with that philosophy, but I get where he is coming. I think some of that is coaching. Players need to play like their hair is on fire, not tentative and over-thinking.
Back to your point about ZT's first draft: I understand a team needs WOW players, but it also needs "nuts and bolts" or "glue" players. Yes, Jonah and Sample both had injuries their first year, and Jonah did his second year as well, but I see these guys as solid "nuts and bolts" players. Both have worked extremely hard since being here. Look at pictures of either one before and after a couple years here. Jonah survived an idiot offensive line coach, and Sample's projected role changed last year when Uzo went down. He did a pretty damn good job filling in as more of the receiving TE for Uzo.
Fast forward to ZTs 2nd draft:
Burrow- I think we can all agree that he is exactly as advertised and what he did in year 1, coming off COVID, with that roster, was nothing short of impressive.
Tee Higgins- I admit, I wanted a burner and thought Tee was too much like other WRs we had. Dead wrong. Playmaker. Stud. Arrow pointing straight up.
Logan Wilson- Performance was a mixed bag, but started as a rookie and behind one of the worst defensive lines in history.
ADG- The guy who lives life on here as an abbreviation. Inconsistent, but looks to be improving. Also played a lot as a rookie and a solid special teams guy.
Khalid Kareem- Rotational player at DE that seems to have worked his ass off this offseason. Setback by injuries as a rookie, but still got some valuable time next to a turd storm of DTs.
Hakeem Adeniji- Could have pushed to start this year and did start at OT a couple games in 2020. Bad luck injury this year, but is certainly in the mix at OT and even G moving forward.
Marcus Bailey- A lottery ticket that barely played his rookie season, but has worked his ass off and has made plays all of preseason and training camp. Solid depth in the LB corps.
That is 7 for 7 that are all still on the roster, and show potential to be in the long term plans. This draft looks to be outstanding. And although it is VERY early, ALL 10 DRAFT PICKS in the 2021 draft made the 53 man roster, with Ossai and Hubert sadly on IR.
Sure, 2019 wasn't all WOW, but 2020 sure looks to be and 2021 is trending in the right direction.
SHRacer, while i agree with the first half of you above, the 2nd half I just can't quite agree with yet.
I think you can say Burrow and Higgins were big hits in the 2020 draft class.
Wilson may be something but he wasn't Ray Lewis nor Burffect his first season. Kid can be a solid contributor but i don't think a difference maker personally.
Kareem, I liked what i seen in the first few plays i seen against the Dolphins and was stoked, and then i realized he got hurt....again. If you can't stay on the field your of no value to a football team. You may have all the potential in the world but that's all it is until you display it on the field in a game, of which he's not played but what 3 snaps?
Same can be said of Adeniji, and Bailey. Both are still here because the staff sees talent not because they've put something on tape and stood out.
So next season we could be look at this and saying well the Bengals drafted 3 LB, more OL, because Wilson, Bailey and Adeniji didnt pan out because they couldn't stay healthy.
I mean hell we aren't even touching on the 2019 draft and Jonah's ability to stay healthy. So we'll see in 2021 if he can stay on the field.
Notice a reoccurring theme with theme with this team? I'm wondering if Katie and Troy need to change up the medical team because i can swear is the same song and dance every year.
