Arkansas Bengal Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Should the Bengals add Ted Ginn Jr. or Jacoby Jones? February, 25, 2015 Feb 25 2:30 PM ET By Coley Harvey | ESPN.com CINCINNATI -- One of the Cincinnati Bengals' greatest offseason needs involves getting receivers who also can provide good kick-return value. With the possibility that unrestricted free agent Brandon Tate isn't re-signed, and given the fact the Bengals haven't added a true return specialist in several draft and free-agency cycles, there are compelling reasons as to why they are looking for players this year who fit that mold. So can they just use free agency to address that need? It's possible. And this week, they've been given two good options of free-agent kick-returning receivers. But should the Bengals sign either Ted Ginn Jr. or Jacoby Jones, a pair of eight-year veterans who were released from their respective teams this week? No. Here's why. This year's draft class is full of speedy, athletic and productive pass-catchers who had success as kick returners throughout college. Unlike the near-30-year-old Ginn and the already 30 Jones, each of those players has projected upside and potential. Earlier this week, we looked at a few of them. Various times this offseason, offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has expressed an interest in going after fast wideouts who, like the 5-foot-11 Ginn, likely will be on the shorter side of the height chart. Only one of the prospect receivers in the link above is taller than 6-foot. Jones, at 6-2, is more of a bigger-bodied outside receiver. That alone likely rules him out. One of the reasons the Bengals are expected to go after smaller receivers is because they need wideouts to play in the slot alongside the bigger A.J. Green, Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu. In addition to Tate, fellow slot receiver Dane Sanzenbacher also is eligible for unrestricted free agency, and also might not be re-signed. If one or both is gone, there will be an opening that must be filled. The Bengals also favor smaller receivers because there is a belief that in the short-passing game, receivers of smaller stature are easily lost by the linebackers and safeties who might cover them. It's one of the reasons Cincinnati has liked lining up 5-9 running back Giovani Bernard in the slot and putting him on a linebacker. The times the Bengals did it last year, it worked. He caught two touchdown passes last season that were the product of using his speed to exploit such mismatches. Again, this draft has many receivers who can do exactly that. While the Bengals generally might be placing a greater emphasis on free agency this year, it doesn't appear they will be doing that with this particular position. Things can always change, but it seems they favor grooming a hybrid receiver/returner. Their approach at defensive end, however, might be different. In need of immediately bettering their anemic pass rush, veteran players there won't have to learn much. Their only charge will be to get after the quarterback. Because speed is the focus at receiver, there's always the belief that a faster wideout can be found anywhere, in Rounds 1-7 or even as an undrafted free agent. The same might not be the case for athletic edge rushers. Money won't be an issue for whoever signs Ginn or Jones. Ginn made $2.3 million this past season and Jones signed a contract extension last offseason that would pay him an average of $3 million across four seasons. The Bengals could afford that. But they also can pay a fourth-round or fifth-round draft pick significantly less, giving them slightly more to work with to sign free agents at other positions of need. http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alleycat Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Ginn fumbles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishBengal Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Who are the short quick WR/KR guys we should be looking in the draft? Haven't looked yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.B. Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 No and No. Stay away from the scrap heap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnickyCat Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Who are the short quick WR/KR guys we should be looking in the draft? Haven't looked yet.Tyler Lockett would be #1 on my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyrid Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Who are the short quick WR/KR guys we should be looking in the draft? Haven't looked yet. There are quite a few. Some of my favorites: Tyler Lockett, Philip Dorsett, Nelson Agholor, Stefon Diggs, Tre McBride Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 So is the general opinion Tate should go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|SF2| Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 So is the general opinion Tate should go? Not necessarily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turningpoint Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Not necessarily. Fuck, why? I'd rather have 38year old chad Johnson on our team then him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 There are quite a few. Some of my favorites: Tyler Lockett, Philip Dorsett, Nelson Agholor, Stefon Diggs, Tre McBride I am working on a mock right now, and looking at Dorsett, it doesn't seem he has done much in the return game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|schotzee| Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 No and No. Stay away from the scrap heap. Well said.I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredtoast Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 There are quite a few. Some of my favorites: Tyler Lockett, Philip Dorsett, Nelson Agholor, Stefon Diggs, Tre McBride Jamison Crowder. Averaged 90 catches per year over the last 3 seasons and has 4 punt return tds over the last 2. Lockett is by far the best of this group, but he will be gone before we use a pick on a WR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Ginn fumbles. Just let a little air out of the balls. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschooler Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Jim Wyatt @jwyattsports 3h3 hours ago Former #Ravens WR/Kick returner Jacoby Jones is sked to visit the #Titans on Tuesday, per a source. He's visiting the Bengals today. Coley Harvey @ColeyHarvey 3h3 hours ago A few different ways to read #Bengals' interest in Jacoby Jones. Here's one obvious thought: Brandon Tate's time in Cincy appears to be done Coley Harvey @ColeyHarvey 3h3 hours ago Tate set to be an unrestricted free agent next week. Jones would be upgrade at everything he does: back up at WR and return kicks #Bengals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatternMaster Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I guess swapping out Jones for Tate isn't the worse move they could make, at least Jones knows when to run out of the endzone and when to fair catch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyrid Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 I am working on a mock right now, and looking at Dorsett, it doesn't seem he has done much in the return game. Yeah, looks like he returned kicks and punts as a sophomore with good but not great numbers. He only 9 had returns as a senior. I think we are looking at Pacman to be the #1 punt returner and are mainly in need of a kick returner. He'd probably be decent at it since he has some experience and great speed. But he's definitely not one of the more accomplished return guys available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Alice Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 I am working on a mock right now, and looking at Dorsett, it doesn't seem he has done much in the return game. In the 1st? No thank you. He's far too "boom or bust". The most likely scenario for him is that he disappears for a couple years while he learns to run something other than go's and deep posts. Then he's got the physical ability to be a poor man's Antonio Brown. Big time speed guys that didn't excel as returners in college always worry me. It speaks to a lack of vision and functional agility. When you watch his highlights, what jumps out is that most of the big plays are him simply outrunning he coverage and making uncontested catches. That shit doesn't translate to the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyrid Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 In the 1st? No thank you. He's far too "boom or bust". The most likely scenario for him is that he disappears for a couple years while he learns to run something other than go's and deep posts. Then he's got the physical ability to be a poor man's Antonio Brown. Big time speed guys that didn't excel as returners in college always worry me. It speaks to a lack of vision and functional agility. When you watch his highlights, what jumps out is that most of the big plays are him simply outrunning he coverage and making uncontested catches. That shit doesn't translate to the NFL. I'm 99% sure Jason is talking about the 2nd-4th round. Nobody is projecting Dorsett in the 1st. Somewhat agree with you on Dorsett, he does seem boom or bust. Part of the reason he wasn't on returns after his sophomore year though was that they have Stacy Coley doing both kick and punt returns and he is a big time player. No real shame in losing the return job to Coley. A guy who really intrigues me is Tre McBride. He was a solid 6'0 210 pounds and ran an official 4.41 at the combine with an elite 4.08 shuttle (showing he has quickness in addition to the straight line speed). Check out his highlights, he makes some awesome contested catches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYdz1CEDlTw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyrid Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Another guy I like as a possible late rounder (4th-6th rounder) is Kenny Bell. He is a pretty good kick returner and ran a 4.42 at the combine. He reminds me a little bit of Marvin Jones coming out of college as a skinny, underrated deep threat with legit speed and a knack for making tough catches. Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5gathIyj0Y&spfreload=10 This little guy Mario Alford is probably like a 7th rounder, but he had a bunch of long kick returns for WVU and did a good job catching bombs. If we draft a WR earlier, he wouldn't be bad as a Tate replacement. Another low 4.4 guy at the combine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umITie6jAlI&spfreload=10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 In the 1st? No thank you. He's far too "boom or bust". The most likely scenario for him is that he disappears for a couple years while he learns to run something other than go's and deep posts. Then he's got the physical ability to be a poor man's Antonio Brown. Big time speed guys that didn't excel as returners in college always worry me. It speaks to a lack of vision and functional agility. When you watch his highlights, what jumps out is that most of the big plays are him simply outrunning he coverage and making uncontested catches. That shit doesn't translate to the NFL. :24: 3rd. And I went with Lockett. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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