The Bengals did very well in the 2011 draft. They replaced their QB, and they replaced a Hall of Fame caliber Wide Receiver with another. They added a speed rushing Line Backer, and upgraded the interior Offensive Line with a player that should have gone a round higher. They added one of the biggest Safeties in this draft, and added to their depth at Receiver, Corner and Running Back to finish off. They had a very good draft as I said, but this is not the most impressive part.
Maybe people can change, in some respects anyway. Giving Mike Brown even a scrap of credit is a major Bengal fan faux pas, but I have to give it when due. Not one guy taken in this draft has a character issue in their background. No Odell Thurman's, or Chris Henry's, or Jason Shirley's, or anyone else. In fact, these guys all seem like really quality young men. GOOD CHARACTER GUYS! Who would've thought?
And the other thing that really, really jumped out at me about this draft is that Marvin Lewis already has a ton of trust in Jay Gruden and James Urban, new Offensive Coordinator and Receivers Coach respectively. Jay loves AJ Green and Andy Dalton, and had them #1 respectively by their positions (AJ was #1 overall). But it's one thing to let your new coordinator evaluate, and it's quite another to act on those evaluations. Especially considering the turmoil this franchise and coaching staff have faced the last year or two. I'm blown away by what I just saw.
Marvin trusts Gruden so much that AJ Green and Andy Dalton will be the starters week 1. Pretty incredible considering he's only had Gruden on staff a matter of months. Again, you have to give Marvin some credit here.
I really like this draft, and it's continues a string of very good drafts since the 2005 debacle. If Dontay Moch and Robert Sands can contribute next year, I love this draft. And I am very, very impressed by what Jay Gruden and Urban bring to this team. There is a new energy. It is clear that the organization is turning the page not only on Carson and Chad, but on the whole Bratkowski era.
Much has stayed the same, but much is different. It looks like for the better.
No comments:
Post a Comment