futurecoach

The Bengals could have a real shot to be a top 5 running team in the NFL this year imo. Which should open up the play action and give them shots down field. Hopefully these new coaches can get him to hit that deep ball better with it. Could be an explosive offense if so.

Overall solid first draft for Taylor. No need to discuss my feelings on qb anymore. So here is hoping the system Taylor uses brings out something new and great with Dalton and they can win a title together. Dalton is a great person, he is a person you want to see win. So hopefully he proves me wrong and leads this team to a title. Imo they have done a very good job putting pieces around him again and fixing the line. Should have a strong running game. So that should help him and the passing game too.

See I feel like the Bengals will be better than people think. I mean the Bengals were horrible last year and all kinds of injuries and still won 6 games and didnt draft top 10. For them to have the 4th pick they will have to win only 3 or 4 games and I don't see that happening. As much as I want them to move on from Dalton. There is talent on this team and he is an average qb. So they will always be at worst a 6 win team and at best a 10 win team just never good enough to get over the top and never bad enough to have a top pick. That's why I was disappointed they didnt take advantage of how it played out this year. Obviously if they got Tua that be awesome. I am honestly a big Fromm guy and I hope he has a fall like a Haskins or Lock and they get him. But I think we will see 4 qbs taken in the top 10 next year, and the Bengals won't be in position to get him or any of them.

I do really like the William's at running back pick. I believe this is Giovanni Bernard's last year on his contract. They drafted Walton last year to eventually replace him. I think this William's pick is now to do that.

They definitely reached to get the TE in the second round. Other than that it has been a solid draft. Only thing they should have done different imo was trade that second round pick for Rosen. Chances are their 2nd round TE would have still been there in 4th round. So essentially could have have had Rosen instead of Finley. However, the Bengals don't like to make Dalton feel uncomfortable or even the slightest bit of pressure for his job. Zac Taylor said he wanted high character guys when he was introduced. He definitely seems to be following the blueprint he wants. So he is doing it his way which is good, and I hope Dalton does awesome with him and shuts me up on the Dalton thing lol.

Yep and that's going to get him ready to only be a backup. I like him and even said that is who I wanted if the Bengals drafted one mid rounds. How it played out though is why I'm disappointed. He is drafted to be backup, not a guy to push Dalton. I don't think he even was drafted to replace Dalton in 2 years when his contract his up. They had 3 guys who they could have had, that could have pushed Dalton some and actually would have had more upside than Dalton. Finley is Dalton.

Yes if your starter was a true franchise qb. Doesnt make sense to draft a backup who is similar to your already very average and always will be average starting qb. Instead just like it has been during Daltons whose tenure, they don't want to do anything that could maybe make Dalton worry even a little bit. Which wouldn't be the worst thing, and maybe could even make him step up his game if he felt like his job may be on the line. I honestly like Finley, but with just how the draft played out. Its disappointing that they didnt grab someone that could have truly at least pushed Dalton in Haskins, Lock, or Rosen.

Most people have said the same about Price and how his natural and best position is guard. Both only played center their last years at OSU. So definitely good to have guys who are versatile, and helps that they played next to each other before too now.

Well I guess I just need to hope that having an offensive head coach for the first time. Will help make Dalton something different than we ever seen, and become a qb who actually helps his team in the moments he has failed in most of his career. I do think the Bengals will be better this year. So they won't be in position to take any of the top qbs next year. So Dalton needs to show he can take the next step, or else the Bengals have just set themselves back about at least 4 years in terms of getting to the ultimate goal of winning a super bowl.

Agreed solid pick. I wonder if it is making them think about possibly moving Price to a guard, which may fit him better. If he doesnt make strides at center this year.

As we discussed he was the one I wanted if they took one in the mid rounds. However, how this draft played out I'm disappointed. They had a chance at 3 different qbs with 1st round talent, who would bring a different dynamic with a live arm. They could have has Haskins, Lock, or Rosen. All bring something different and would at least push Dalton some and make him have to step his game up. Dalton knows Finley isnt ever taking his job the next 2 years, and probably beyond. Finley is similar to Dalton good accurate rhythm passer but not a strong arm. Which is what Dalton is. Which imo has held back Green because he could have been an even bigger deep threat most of his career than he has. Plus honestly need a bigger arm qb to utilize Ross more. So I like Finley as he was my favorite QB in the mid rounds. With how this unfolded though I am disappointed he is the qb they got in this draft. They literally could have gotten Rosen with their 2nd round pick, and most likely still could have got the same tight end they drafted in the 2nd round in the 4th. So they literally could have the exact same guys but flip flop Rosen for Finley.

Russell Wilson was drafted and given a chance to compete for a starting spot. Cousins was drafted to be a backup and only a backup to a guy named RG3 they took in the first round of that same draft. Prescott was drafted and was the 3rd string qb, was not thought of really to ever be a starter for then. The backup Kellen Moore broke his leg, then Romo got hurt. So yeah mid round picks can become good starting qbs. Howver, someone suggested drafting one and just letting him develop. Most qbs who get drafted mid round are never drafted to be starters, they are just to be backups and never become anything. So that is why I suggested I hope that is not their line of thinking. Plus in Wilson and Prescotts case they at least brought a different dynamic to their team. The Bengals drafted a guy who I like but his skill set is the same as Dalton. Good rhythm passer with arm concerns. He was not drafted to compete or push Dalton. Just drafted to be a backup. Bengals are content with their average safe qb.

They must be hoping they found their George Kittle. Kittle was the top run blocking TE when he came out and only had 20 receptions his last year in college. Literally about the exact same stuff as the guy the Bengals picked. Kittle is now one of the top TE's in the game and had 80 receptions last year. So they must be thinking they found someone similar. Which is all good and all, but still doesn't mean they should have taken him that early. Ugh.

Yep! If he was a 4th round pick, I wouldnt have minded it at all. Could have traded 2nd round pick for Rosen. Instead they reached and took a guy who may have some upside as a reciever, but is more known as a blocker. Ugh.

I'm glad I also have been recording on NFL network too. Both times tonight I had it on ESPN when the Bengals drafted tonight and both times they literally said nothing about the players.

I know nothing about him and ESPN literally said nothing about him after he was drafted.

Talent wise not a lateral move at all. Talent wise Lock is definitely superior. Now would he have played to that is the question. We know what Dalton is, we don't know what he or someone else would do with this team. That is the same thinking that led to Marvin being here so long. Fear of getting a new coach that may be worst. That line of thinking always keeps you average.

They could cut Dalton at anytime and not lose a dime now. So if they drafted him could have had him only sit one year and then trade or cut Dalton.

I believe it was a 4th rounder not a 5th.

I hope that is not their thinking. I am not sure who the last qb that was taken in 3rd or 4th round or later just to develop for later on that ended up being anything to special. Most qbs in the league starting right now are 1st round qbs because of their talent. So I hope they dont take a qb like Finley or Grier in second round, when they could have had Rosen for a second.

Money is basically slotted in the NFL draft these days. So wouldnt really have changed much financially no matter who they drafted in 2nd. Plus he took Carson first overall to sit for a whole year. So that kind of goes against your statement.

Drew Lock fell to the Bengals and they traded back instead. I really hope neither Haskins or Lock end up being stars or anything. Or else the Bengals literally just let both of them go to keep Andy Dalton.

If I knew for sure the Bengals could land one of the top qbs coming out next year. Then I would be ok with things. But I do think this team will be better than people expect and be at least around 8 and 8. So they will be no where near where they need to be to get one of the top guys next year. Plus there is a lot of teams eyeing those qbs coming out next year. So would have to outbid people to move up, which would be tough. So it's not as easy as some make it out to be saying build other areas up and then get a QB next year. This year played out perfect for them in 2 differen't ways. First Haskins fell to them, and even if they didnt draft him. You have Rosen who is there to be had, with only the Dolphins being competion for him. Which the Bengals have a better 2nd round pick to offer to get him. So the Bengals were in a perfect spot this year to get their qb, and not really have to worry about next year or following years if they will be in a spot to get a top one if they decide they are ready to go that route then.

Which I guess from a brand new coach perspective I understand it some what. It is like well with Dalton he knows he isnt good, but isn't horrible. So that gives him job security because he should always be between 6 to 10 wins every year with Dalton. Wouldnt matter about playoff success, because much like with Lewis if he can be around that many wins each year. He will have a job here for a long time. Having Dalton is almost like having a franchise killing QB. Not good enough to ever get you to the ultimate goal, but not bad enough to where you want to risk moving on and getting someone worst possibly. It just keeps you at average, which can kill a franchise because it makes you stuck for years.

I always hated that one year out of 8 that people go back to. IMO his injury probably helped him. There is a very good chance even with a healthy Dalton they still lose to Pittsburgh in the regular season. Really no reason to believe based off of 8 years of data including two prime time losses that year with Dalton that year already, that they beat Denver in Denver in primetime. Then really no reason to believe based off of data that they beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs, in primetime in the rain. So I truly believe that injury may have saved Dalton. If Dalton doesn't get hurt and they lose the exact same games that they lost with McCarron, which would be very likely. Then people wouldn't be able to refer to the well but in 2015 Dalton was this. Which I know you are not saying that, you are saying Taylor may believe that. I just hate how everyone goes back to 2015, when if he finishes out the season. Chances are the averages of what we saw for 8 years evens out and he loses the exact same games. Which takes away the well but Dalton in 2015 conversation.