Bengal TE strategy

[*SHRacerX*]

(07-29-2020, 02:48 PM)fredtoast Wrote: The following post is a compilation of different comments and stats from ProFootballOutsiders.

Taylor has a specific offensive scheme that he likes to employ.  Last year no team in the league used 3+ WR more often than the Bengals, and only one team used multiple RBs less often.  So it will be interesting to see how Taylor uses his TEs in the 2020 "Burrow Offense".  At LSU Burrow threw over half his passes to slot receivers, but in the LSU offense that included TE Thaddeus Moss.

Last year Eifert had 64 targets while Uzomah had 40.  While they were both listed as "TE", they were used in completely opposite manners.  Seventy-five percent of Eifert's targets came when he was lined up in the slot or out wide.  That was the 4th HIGHEST percentage among all TEs in the league (min 25 targets).  On the other had only 15% of Uzomah's targets came when he was slot/wide and that was the 5th LOWEST rate among all TEs in the league.

So even though Eifert played almost half of the offensive snaps last year (491) he was mainly a slot receiver or even a WR.  Uzomah played 644 snaps, but he was much more of a traditional TE.  So how will Taylor replace the snaps that Eifert had?  Since Burrow loves to look at the slot/TE so often I wonder if we will just use an extra WR instead of Eifert.  Or will Uzomah get more snaps lining up in the slot or out wide.  Or will Sample get the snaps when the TE moves out to the slot/wide position?

Thoughts?

Excellent question.  And while this is certain to draw the ire of a lot of folks that tell me being a TE isn't as easy as just putting on 20 lbs (thanks, I am aware of that) the manner in which Eifert was used will likely be replaced by two individuals:  Auden Tate and Tee Higgins.  Big-bodied, wide catch-radius receivers with good hands.  Neither is going to win many foot races, but with the likes of Ross and Green drawing coverage outside and deep, the middle of the field should be a feast for the likes of Mixon, Boyd, and Tate/Higgins.  Uzo will likely rotate with sample in being lined up as a traditional TE but still receive some targets.

My guess is Higgins and Tate because both have the talent to be on the field right now, but who do you sit?  Certainly not Green, Boyd, or Ross.  Having four WRs AND a RB in the pattern will give opposing defenses a choice:  blitz and be picked apart by Burrow or try to get pressure with your front four.