TE position

[*SHRacerX*]

(12-28-2016, 02:12 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Should the Bengals be placing a high priority on drafting a TE from near the top of this year's class?

With Eifert's latest injury being recommended for back surgery, there is a chance that he may never be fully right again.  I did a little reading on NFL players that have had disc surgery.  Stats show that 2/3 return to the field of play, for an average of around 3 years.  Average recovery time listed as approximately 9 months.  However, the majority of the stats they posted were related to disc surgery in the cervical region. (closer to the neck) I also tried to find greater details of Eifert's latest injury, and all articles simply stated back injury, surgery recommended, no additional specifics.

So, with Eifert's lengthy injury history, and no guarantee that he'll ever be 100% again, what should they do?  We have CJ Uzomah, who has shown himself to be serviceable.  Personally, I see Uzomah as a bit of a disappointment.  Given his size and athleticism, I would have expected him to emerge as a serious mismatch to opposing LBs and Safeties.  Tyler Kroft seemed to look like a nifty addition his rookie year, but he has seemed to settle into his role as the 3rd TE.  And then we have Ryan Hewitt.  Hewitt looked like pure gold his rookie year.  He was delivering crushing blocks from the FB and HB positions, as well as making some nice catches underneath the defense.  Since then, his role has decreased immensely.

Bottom line is that the Bengals have no one on the roster to fill the void that the absence of a healthy Tyler Eifert creates.  I don't feel like the Bengals should panic and reach for one of the top 2 or 3 of the TE class, but some of the mid round TEs are looking pretty good this year.

For example, I like Jordan Leggett from Clemson.  6'5" 258, hands like a WR, fluid route movement, and physicality to match his frame.

What do you think?  Should the Bengals be looking TE?

I said it in another thread that I like the players we have here, including Hewitt, but the OC seems lost on how to use them.  Red zone struggles are being addressed with two and three TE sets by other teams, while the TEs here run one route (seam) or stay in to block, which all are just average at.  

It isn't the player as much as the scheme.  They draft pass-catching TEs and don't send them out.  Hue loved TEs.  Can only imagine what he could do with Uzomah's athleticism opposite Eifert.