06-05-2022, 05:39 PM
(06-05-2022, 01:09 PM)Housh Wrote: Tyler Boyd accepting the WR3/slot role with no ego after Chase was drafted was a HUGE part of building what became the 2021-2022 AFC Championship Cincinnati Bengals. We all respect and love Boyd but i don’t think it’s ever really been a deep dive on what hes actually did the past 3 years.
2018-2020(3 seasons) he was our target leader. No matter who was QB, they were throwing to Boyd. He sees 3 straight seasons of 105+ targets each. When you need a 3rd down, you are looking his way 1st. When you need 4th and short he’s the guy you look to to route up a DB and get that ball. That feels good to a WR. His stats don’t jump off the page TD wise but he builds a reputation in the slot, league wide, as a top 5 slot WR and to many, the BEST slot WR in the league.
Then we draft Chase. But it’s not just drafting Chase. It’s drafting 2 WRs in back to back years in the top 2 rounds. Both with the ability to become better than Boyd. Tee was not better than Boyd day 1 but Chase was unanimously better than Boyd the second he arrived. Boyd goes from being THE GUY, getting all the targets, all the LOVE, all the commercials, all the stadium promos, all that comes with being a team’s beloved WR. And he loses it all within a 10 second podium announcement draft Thursday. It isn’t just targets he lost. He lost TV time. He possibly lost contract leverage, as he likely would’ve had 1 more big contract in him if he was still being used like 2018-2020. He lost the QB’s gaze. Not only did we draft a WR, we drafted Burrow’s FAVORITE WR from college. Chase is Burrow’s first look and EVERYONE knows it.
He’s not asked how he feels about it, or nothing. It just happens.
Then 2021 camp happens. And he puts on his hard hat and he gives his all to the team from day 1. Chase didn’t gradually become Burrow’s top guy over the 16 game season. He was that guy since day 1 of camp and Boyd knew it.
HE TOOK IT IN STRIDE. He took it upon himself to help Tee and Chase and he accepted the role he was cast in. He plays the 2021-2022 and it had to be frustrating. I remember a play, against Baltimore i believe where Boyd is in a bunch slot position to the right and ends up getting a step on the DB with the safety running to double Chase on the left. Burrow throws it to Chase instead of bombing to Boyd and Chase catches it for a 10 yard 1st, that could’ve been a TD to Boyd. Boyd doesn’t go to Burrow mad. He doesn’t do that BS WRs do where they slow sulk to the huddle with bad body language. He fist pumps because we got a first. He did that ALL SEASON.
I think we all acknowledge the loss of targets but i wanted to highlight what else being the guy at WR comes with and what Tyler Boyd willingly left behind. I am pretty sure Boyd could’ve forced his way out if he wanted but he didn’t even try. I always joke and say that he was just tired of facing number 1 cornerbacks for so long.
But i just wanted to make a TB thread because he was a big part of 2021-2022.
Nice thread in honor of Tyler Boyd. He deserves it no question Housh. You know, he always reminded me of Housh with his
clutch play but as you say here, dude is just completely unselfish and all class. Like you said cannot say that about most WR's.
I remember seeing a few plays last year like you mention where Boyd was wide open and Burrow passed it to Chase instead
when he could have had a TD with Boyd. Hope Burrow watches the film and sees these plays and adjusts so Boyd gets the
ball in these situations this season. Think Burrow will do just that and Boyd has a bigger year than last year if he stays healthy.
Boyd should feast underneath along with Hayden Hurst with both Chase and Tee getting the most attention.
