HoosierCat

I think they most important question they have to ask when looking at RT in the draft is, can this guy clean gutters?

FWIW back in 2020 the Broncos apparently did some instructional videos for the local HS football community & the guy who they had do the one on offensive line pass protection was then-offensive QC coach Rascati. https://www.denverbroncos.com/video/o-line-pass-set-fundamentals-six-man-dropback-protection

Well, Rascati spent the last two seasons coaching the OL in Minnesota, so he may have something to bring there. They have a pretty respectable line. Beyond that we just have to wait and see what FA and the draft bring.

Kragthorpe getting Pitcher’s job, Kovacs advanced to Livingston’s spot, new guy Justin Rascati hired as “pass game coordinator.” https://www.bengals.com/news/justin-rascati-pass-game-coordinator-brad-kragthorpe-jordan-kovacs-promoted

Another coach poached. https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/2/7/24063031/robert-livingston-bengals-colorado-buffaloes-dc-deion-sanders

Rex Burkhead calls it a career. https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2024/02/06/former-bengals-rb-rex-burkhead-retires-from-nfl/

Has nothing to do with the depth chart, it's actual snap counts. The Bengals' actual use of Smith in the second half of the year was basically nil. Why would they bring back a guy they didn't even bother to play half the year?

From what Dehner wrote yesterday it sounds like they very much want Reader back. There was also this nugget: Sounds like a camp battle is coming for the FS spot.

Burrow’s calf has nothing to do with it. Smith was bad when the calf was bad and Smith was bad when the calf was good. He was so bad he got passed on the depth chart by a 29-year-old career journeyman and barely saw the field in the second half of the season. With the playoffs on the line, he was a fucking healthy scratch! He’s not worth spending a plugged nickel to bring back.

Nah, there was a lot of emotion over the TE situation midseason because Irv Smith sucked, and that's why the "platoon" happened. Prior to the week 8 game against the Bills, Irv was clearly the man at TE. He was the starter, with Sample as the No. 2. The only times Hudson got involved in the first seven games were in weeks 3 and 4 when Irv was out. And Irv sucked. Missed two games, had no touches in a third, and amassed just 57 yards, no touchdowns, and a lost fumble in the other four games. For the next few weeks they would platoon Irv, Hudson and Sample, and Irv was routinely the least effective. By the last month and half of the season, Irv had basically vanished and it was the Hudson and Sample show. I don't see any need to bring Smith back.

Good.

Well, how do you think he affords that Mercedes convertible he’s driving in his vids? If people were willing to pay for my yammering, I’d charge, too!

Yeah, Duke said in the bengals.com piece that he was focused on the lines. Honestly they could do worse than just using their first three or four picks on best available OL or best available DL every time they get on the clock.

Given how OL-rich the draft is shaping up to be, I can see Jonah's market being softer than it might otherwise be, but yeah, probably not soft enough to fit in the Bengals' pie tin. Tagging Higgins is as inevitable as the sun rising in the east.

Hobs gives us some Tobin channeling Mike Brown at the combine. I suppose “there’s a pie” is an upgrade from the whole “only so much corn for the hogs” bit, but still…

Joe puts a third round grade on Jenkins.

Yeah, Fuaga, Fautanu and Fashanu have all popped up on my OT radar. It’s really looking like a great OL draft class where there will be good value in rounds two and three if they are still skittish about a round one guy.

Great report from the Eat West practices here: https://www.giants.com/news/practice-report-notes-from-east-west-shrine-bowl-nfl-draft-2024 Let me put down a marker on NC DT Myles Murphy just for the name…

FWIW scouts were at the East West Shrine Bowl practices over the weekend, per Hobs. Also their assistant QB coach is there coaching the quarterbacks. Game is this Thursday. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-assistant-coach-kragthorpe-makes-room-at-east-west-game

Well that was trash. Crap Bowl ahead, then we can flush to the draft.

And the lions revert to form

All is well at the half

St Brown is pretty damn good

So wanted Gibbs. Ah well doing good with Detroit.

lol eat it ravens.