02-23-2024, 03:58 PM
(02-23-2024, 12:30 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Spann-Ford definitely has the size and ability to block.
I'd be cool with him as a Day 3 pick to be TE2/TE3.
With that said, he's more of a safety blanket and plodder type of TE.
He'll be better in a run-oriented offense than a high-powered passing one.
I think fans would be unexcited if Spann was the only new TE added to the offense, but if you also added someone like Brock Bowers early or a FA like Noah Fant or Dalton Schultz, I think people would really like that scenario.
Then it would seem that people do not understand the role of the TE in the scheme that the Bengals employee. Many fans have shiny new toy syndrome. The TE is not a star in this scheme rather a blocker first, outlet second, and overall a role player. I understand that PFF claims that Bowers is like the most dominant blocker that college football has ever seen but the eye test sure says differently. Could it be his lack of snaps in the role works in his favor in this case? He will get destroyed by the DEs at the NFL level.
Hurst and Uzomah have played well in this offense because they understood the role and them excelling in the role should speak volumes as to why drafting an undersized TE with the 18th selection would be a waste in value.
Calling Spann-Ford a plodder I think gives credit to the lack of use of him as a receiver by Minnesota and discredits his abilities as a receiver. Watch tape of him catching the ball and in the open field and plodder is not the description that appears to be correct.
