Noah Fant Signed

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 10:29 AM)Au165 Wrote: I really like how this frees us up to move Mike G all around the (Slot/Outside) for the size advantage while still have a capable catch and run option attached to the line.

I think if anyone can revive Fant's career, it is JB and our offense. I agree he adds another element with hs abilities, not as good a blocker as Sample, but much better receiver than Sample.

Will we cut Sample possibly?

[TecmoBengals]

This is good news. I'm happy to see ownership and the front office were able to sign him. I'm sure Fant sees it as a nice investment in his own future earning by catching balls from Burrow.

[Bengalbug]

(Yesterday, 10:31 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Bengals FO continues to build a winning roster with Fant addition. Nice job FO. Now one OG vet please and get Trey extended to cap a great off season by the FO.

You mean a second OG vet, with Patrick on board. I’m messing with you, and yes a Risner/Hernandez type would give a little more comfort.

[TecmoBengals]

As I just posted in the other thread, this is awesome. I'm glad ownership and the front office were able to sign him. More options for Burrow is exciting.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 10:35 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: You mean a second OG vet, with Patrick on board.  I’m messing with you, and yes a Risner/Hernandez type would give a little more comfort.

How does that go


I'll have another, yes 2nd vet please at OG named Hernandez or Risner

[Bengalbug]

(Yesterday, 10:35 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: This is good news. I'm happy to see ownership and the front office were able to sign him. I'm sure Fant sees it as a nice investment in his own future earning by catching balls from Burrow.

My gut tells me they really really liked him in the 2019 draft, and there was a need at TE (sample drafted in the second).

I’ll be interested to see the details on the deal.

[BengalsLUFC]

As much as I bitched and moaned during FA, this is starting to look like a very good offseason providing Trey is signed.

We need a guard every man and his dog knows it but I just can’t see them going out and getting one to take us over the top.

[Nicomo Cosca]

Nice.

Now get Trey’s deal done and sign a guard and we’ll be in business.

[Sled21]

(Yesterday, 10:34 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I think if anyone can revive Fant's career, it is JB and our offense. I agree he adds another element with hs abilities, not as good a blocker as Sample, but much better receiver than Sample.

Will we cut Sample possibly?

I would think it would be Hudson or one of the lessor knowns on the chopping block

[*pally*]

(Yesterday, 10:41 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I would think it would be Hudson or one of the lessor knowns on the chopping block

Hudson plays…McLachlan doesnt

[*Synric*]

The majority of the players that have caught balls from Joe Burrow have received a Decent Contract afterwards.

The only ones that havent are Tanner Hudson and Trenton Irwin lol.

[*Au165*]

(Yesterday, 10:34 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I think if anyone can revive Fant's career, it is JB and our offense. I agree he adds another element with hs abilities, not as good a blocker as Sample, but much better receiver than Sample.

Will we cut Sample possibly?

No, Sample's role is secured. This just created more versatility to what we can do. We were running some13 personnel last year at times before All went down and I think they really wanted to do that but you need at least two of the three TE's to be legit receiving threats and we can do that now. Additionally, we can now be more fluid and multiple. We can come out in 12 personnel but it's kind of a cheat as Mike is a hybrid so we may come out in say singleback under center in a balanced formation with Fant and Gesecki attached, if the defensive personnel is heavy we then check to shotgun Trips sending Mike out wide forcing a LB to now follow him into. 

There is a lot you can do when personnel is multiple.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 10:47 AM)pally Wrote: Hudson plays…McLachlan doesnt

I don't see them cutting bait with McClachlan, he is only in year 2 and PS eligible.

I like Hudson, but he may be the odd man out or Grundy.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 10:48 AM)Synric Wrote: The majority of the players that have caught balls from Joe Burrow have received a Decent Contract afterwards.

The only ones that havent are Tanner Hudson and Trenton Irwin lol.

Bengals are learning from Ravens, grab a vet on 1 year deal, if he plays great worst case scenario, he helps us get a comp. pick in 2027.

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 10:54 AM)Au165 Wrote: No, Sample's role is secured. This just created more versatility to what we can do. We were running some13 personnel last year at times before All went down and I think they really wanted to do that but you need at least two of the three TE's to be legit receiving threats and we can do that now. Additionally, we can now be more fluid and multiple. We can come out in 12 personnel but it's kind of a cheat as Mike is a hybrid so we may come out in say singleback under center in a balanced formation with Fant and Gesecki attached, if the defensive personnel is heavy we then check to shotgun Trips sending Mike out wide forcing a LB to now follow him into. 

There is a lot you can do when personnel is multiple.

Good explanation, I love those with coaching insight.

[Nepa]

(Yesterday, 10:22 AM)Tomcat Wrote: Bengals signing Fant per Schefter.

Exciting!

[Nicomo Cosca]

(Yesterday, 10:48 AM)Synric Wrote: The majority of the players that have caught balls from Joe Burrow have received a Decent Contract afterwards.

The only ones that havent are Tanner Hudson and Trenton Irwin lol.

And Irv Smith.

[*pally*]

(Yesterday, 11:07 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I don't see them cutting bait with McClachlan, he is only in year 2 and PS eligible.

I like Hudson, but he may be the odd man out or Grundy.

McLachlan was on the active roster last year and was inactive for all but 1 or 2 games.  We shall see how it plays out.  I think Grandy is safe, the coaches and Joe seem to really like him

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(Yesterday, 10:31 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Bengals FO continues to build a winning roster with Fant addition. Nice job FO. Now one OG vet please and get Trey extended to cap a great off season by the FO.

Since All went down, I have been harping on the need for a TE who can block & catch. Who does not give the play away by their presence on the field. Sample/Grandy are virtually non-existent route runners, and Gesicki/Hudson are de facto slot receivers. Can barely play in-line. 

But the FA TE market was slim pickings, and most of the draftable TEs were gone before we picked (Warren, Loveland) or Gesicki types or we had other more pressing needs (OG, pass rush).

Fant isn't a stud, but he is at least a credible 2-way, in-line TE. I think he should help our offense in ways beyond his own blocking & catching. Now the D will have a harder time knowing what is coming. 

This off-season, I thought our highest priority was getting deals for Chase, Tee, & Trey done. After that:

Starters: OG (x2), pass rush (DT & DE), S, TE1, 
Depth: RB2 & OT3 

OG: Fairchild & Patrick + brought Ford back.

Pass rush: drafted Stewart, brought Ossai & C. Sample back, brought BJ Hill back brought in Bryan. 

S: nothing. We revamped LB instead. 

Run defense: Slaton. And maybe Knight.

TE: Fant + Gesicki & Hudson & Grandy re-signed.

RB2: Perine & Brooks 

OT3: Brought Ford back, drafted Rivers.
-----------------

Aside from S, each need has been addressed. Now, I thought our cap management (Tee & Chase, Burrow restructure) could have been better. And Trey's deal isn't done yet. And I can certainly quibble with some of the draft choices and the quality of some of the additions. And note that a lot of the moves were bringing back our own FA's........

But it is undeniable we have touched almost all the bases. And there were A LOT of bases to touch. It was almost gonna be impossible to touch them all. 

Assuming a Trey deal gets done, I don't see any way the off-season isn't in the B range. We got better. Even more so if you compare to start of FA instead of last year. And Golden and Peters will help, too. 

Gimmee one more smart vet signing (G or S) and it is surely B+/A-.

What this means for the TE room, IDK. We kept 5 last year. Gesicki is surely safe. And Fant. Fant is a better receiver than blocker, so this being bad news for Hudson seems the simplest conclusion.  McLachlan was at the bottom of the totem pole last year, he barely played, so you can make a case for him getting bumped. Grandy is probably the least likely to get claimed by another team, and Taylor can possibly fill his role backing up Sample has the blocker. But if we need cap space, it is probably Sample, and he graded out the worst (by a wide margin) of the 4 who played last year. 

[Luvnit2]

(Yesterday, 11:29 AM)pally Wrote: McLachlan was on the active roster last year and was inactive for all but 1 or 2 games.  We shall see how it plays out

TY

I think that tells us the team is not ready to give on a 2nd year draft pick in my opinion. I like Hudson, but not sure he can see the field if Sample, Gesicki and Fant are healthy. Maybe the Saints or Dolphins who are cap strapped would give us a 7th round pick for him, probably not but if they are in major need maybe.