What if...

[*SHRacerX*]

(12-14-2020, 12:24 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: the Bengals lose out, badly. The coaching staff gets fired. They draft Sewell and hit on a couple other draft picks and pick up one of the 3 good guards out there in FA. They bring in what's considered a good, not necessarily great, young HC who is able to hire some experienced coordinators. 

Let's say, we look back 12 years from now, after a SB win or two with Burrow leading and Sewell anchoring the line and realize...








Zac Taylor was the most important hire in Bengals history. 

I love it, man!  You put a positive spin on all the doom and gloom.  We always said that you can't go halfway in a rebuild (although they sort of did by not getting picks for Green, Geno, and Dunlap earlier) but this is what you have to do sometimes to win big...lose big!  It wasn't intentional, but we also learned that there are some really good pieces here.  They evaluated a few young guys (Wilson, ADG, Kareem, Adeniji, Higgins) and have helped to foster a potential star (Bates).  

A solid draft (Sewell is a no brainer at this point unless some team offers a king's ransom for #3, which could still happen), sign a guy like Thuney, retain a few key pieces (WJIII, Alexander), and I believe the team can be very competitive.

A lot will say "No way", and focus on doom and gloom, but even with this line and two solid receiving options, I saw a brief streak where the offense looked really, really good.  

I have been watching Washington closely and their front four is insane.  I hope the Bengals use some FA dollars on Thuney, draft Sewell, and use their second and third round picks on the interior of the defensive line.  Spain (who got screwed on the holding call) can man the LG spot and I want to see Sewell at LT and Jonah at RT with Thuney at RG.  We would have guys like Johnson and Adeniji for depth (which isn't a bad backup crew at all) and the likes of Redmond, XSF, or even MJ (puke) as backup guards.

I have complete faith in Burrow in overcoming all odds.  Everyone said Palmer would never win after the history of the Bengals leading up to his drafting.  Then, after the quitter left and Dalton came in, the same sentiment existed.  Yet, they went to five straight playoff appearances.  Burrow will get them there too, but he will take them beyond the next step of just a playoff win.  This kid is going to win a Super Bowl.  And, yes, he will do it here in Cincinnati.