Meet the New Matt Schobel...

[HoosierCat]

...Tab Perry!

All 212 lbs. of him.

No, I ain't kiddin'. Per Geoff:

Part of the reason they didn’t panic (at not getting a TE) is because the cupboard isn’t as bare as it was four years ago at that spot. And another reason is wide receiver Tab Perry. They think he’s such a good enough blocker in the passing game that they can use him in Schobel’s spot on third down. So they could go with four-receiver sets and use Perry in a variety of ways to protect the quarterback.

But forget about Perry becoming a full-time tight end. After he came in as a rookie last year weighing 230 pounds, Perry diligently followed orders and started slimming down. Now he checks in at about 212.

Hey membengal, at least now we know why they didn't draft a TE! Eye-yi-yi. Put a 200-pounder on the o-line???

[Kazkal]

well hopfully he still blocks like he did when he was 230 be intresting though having him as our 3rd down TE lol

We really wanna get tab on the field

[princeton]

he'll outblock Schobel

[Stripes]

he'll outblock Schobel

No doubt.

I don't know if Geoff is just plain full of crap, but if not, this is a cool idea. It'd seem stupid to use him as a blocking TE though when he could be such a versatile receiver... Especially on 3rd down.

[CantStop85]

he'll outblock Schobel

No doubt.

I don't know if Geoff is just plain full of crap, but if not, this is a cool idea. It'd seem stupid to use him as a blocking TE though when he could be such a versatile receiver... Especially on 3rd down.

I like it actually...at least it's better than the Stacy Andrews at TE idea.

[HoosierCat]

he'll outblock Schobel

No doubt.

I don't know if Geoff is just plain full of crap, but if not, this is a cool idea. It'd seem stupid to use him as a blocking TE though when he could be such a versatile receiver... Especially on 3rd down.

I like it actually...at least it's better than the Stacy Andrews at TE idea.

Well, if you want to make Carson getting crippled an annual event, yeah.

I'm, sorry, but we're talking about putting a guy who be giving up pounds to safeties, not to mention LBs, DEs and DTs, on the o-line. I don't give a crap how good a downfield blocker he is, I have a tough time seeing this work as anything other than the occasional trick play.

I remember suggesting moving Warrick to TE some years back, and getting laughed out of the room because he was too light.

Tab at WR, great. Tab at safety? Might be worth a shot. Tab as the occasional trick play RB? Worked last year. Tab as our 3rd down TE? Yeah, I believe that one when I see it.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Actually, I've been thinking. We need ot move to the 3-4, and Sam Adams hasn't really played as a prototypical NT.

Here's your solution. Make Tab Perry the NT. We can't lose.

Also, let's cut that Anthony Wright scrub and let Opie start the season at QB. I also want to try out Sam Adams at gunner. He looks like he could get up some serious momentum.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Here's a novel idea: Just draft or sign a real, complete TE or Safety!!

Wa-lah!

[BlainThePain]

Not only will he probably outblock Schobel, he won't drop passes and will be able to fight for extra yards.

[HoosierCat]

Actually, I've been thinking. We need ot move to the 3-4, and Sam Adams hasn't really played as a prototypical NT.

Here's your solution. Make Tab Perry the NT. We can't lose.

Also, let's cut that Anthony Wright scrub and let Opie start the season at QB. I also want to try out Sam Adams at gunner. He looks like he could get up some serious momentum.

Nah. I think it's clear that Tab Perry is the prototypical football player at...well...everywhere.

I say we find some of those annoyingly clever South Korean geneticists, clone 53 Tab Perrys, and just field them as a team! Everybody is happy! I get my Tad at safety, membengal gets his Tab at WR, Hobson gets his Tab at TE, and you get your Tab at NT!

Can't wait to see Tab at QB!

The Cincinnati Bengals (Tabs?): All Tab, All the Time.

(I think I know who to approach about the naming rights, too... )

[ShulaSteakhouse]

And here's another novel idea, Bengals/Hobson, how about just letting Tab return kicks, play on coverage teams, and try to catch on as a 4th or 5th WR?

Surely there are some backup 0/D-lineman or Lb's or DB's that can be cut so that he can stay here and do that.

Reggie McNeal will probaby catch on if he plays well as a WR in preseason and training camp - but there's no reason they can't keep Chad, TJ, KW, Tab and McNeal, and then Henry whenever or if he returns.

The PSU kid will take a defensive spot as a DB, just like Myles, we don't need Anthony Mitchell or Bauman or Brooks etc.., that badly. If he's as good as expected on ST's.

[membengal]

That would make too much sense Steakhouse...stop that.

Eh, joisey, at least at TE he is still catching balls, something he is theoretically hired to do...(by the way, what weight did Shannon Sharpe play at during his heydey? I never got the impression he was a big man weight-wise)

At any rate, I continue to be with Shula on this, I wish they would let the man just do his job, he was pretty damn valuable in that role last year, and I see no reason why he can't continue to grow as a receiver and special teams ace.

[jjakq27]

I thought they should have tried the same thing with Kelley Washington. Give him some Frostee Rucker shakes from Wendy's for added bulk and we might have something there.

They (KW and TP) are both listed at about the same size but Washington seems a little bigger to me.

[HoosierCat]

And here's another novel idea, Bengals/Hobson, how about just letting Tab return kicks, play on coverage teams, and try to catch on as a 4th or 5th WR?

Blasphemer! How dare thou suggest a limited role for the Great TAB!!!

Tab sees all...knows all...scores all. KNEEL before TAB Prostrate thyself before the altar of TAB and beg forgivness!

Did thou not realize that TAB spelled backwards is Bat, like God spelled backward is Dog? More proof of his Divine Blessing!!!

REPENT THOU! The day of the TAB is at hand!

[HoosierCat]

Eh, joisey, at least at TE he is still catching balls, something he is theoretically hired to do...(by the way, what weight did Shannon Sharpe play at during his heydey? I never got the impression he was a big man weight-wise)

Well, heck, he could still catch balls as a safety, right?

Sharpe's last listed weight was 228, but I think you could tack on a few pounds. But in any event at least he wasn't giving up anything versus DBs, and perhpas just 30 or so lbs. versus 50-ish against linebackers. If Perry gets back to 230 he'd at least have a chance, but at 212 he's a feather in the wind.

[CantStop85]

What's wrong with having Tab Perry as the third down TE? Odds are if he's in at TE, we'll be throwing so he won't even have to block, just run his route. It would allow us to have one more receiver every play. Of course he wouldn't be a blocking TE, that would be Reggie Kelly's job; Tab would basically take Schobel's occasional pass catching duties and still be able to come in as a receiver on other downs.

[HoosierCat]

What's wrong with having Tab Perry as the third down TE? Odds are if he's in at TE, we'll be throwing so he won't even have to block, just run his route.

Go back and read Hobson's bit in the initial post. He is not talking about him catching passes, he is talking specifically about him as a blocker so they can put in 4 WR sets on 3rd down. That's 5 OL + 4 WR + Tab + poor about-to-be-crippled Carson in an empty backfield.

As the occasional change-up? Sure. As a regular thing? Are you nuts?

[Stripes]

As a regular thing? Are you nuts?

Hobson's a crackpot. There's no way anyone really plans on using a lanky kick returning wideout as a blocking TE!

[membengal]

Just went and looked up Shannon Sharpe's last playing weight, apparently somewhere in the neighborhood of 228 pounds...

[GROIIIDayton]

tab could play the h-back role in the no huddle perfect

[peteroseforpresident]

yeah! whoopee! another matt schoebel. great. no. not really. Tab will be better than him at TE, if Perry does get time at TE, which I don't see really happening.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Eh, joisey, at least at TE he is still catching balls, something he is theoretically hired to do...(by the way, what weight did Shannon Sharpe play at during his heydey? I never got the impression he was a big man weight-wise)

Well, heck, he could still catch balls as a safety, right?

Sharpe's last listed weight was 228, but I think you could tack on a few pounds. But in any event at least he wasn't giving up anything versus DBs, and perhpas just 30 or so lbs. versus 50-ish against linebackers. If Perry gets back to 230 he'd at least have a chance, but at 212 he's a feather in the wind.

Yeah, but for Sharpe, 30 pounds of that was his mouth, so he was really playing close to 200.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

As a regular thing? Are you nuts?

Hobson's a crackpot. There's no way anyone really plans on using a lanky kick returning wideout as a blocking TE!

NOONE IS SAYING THAT TAB IS GOING TO BE A FREAKING TIGHT END!!!!!!!!!

Hobson just said basically that *gasp* like Peter Warrick used to do, Tab Perry can block better than Matt Schotodroptheball.

[derekshank]

I thought they should have tried the same thing with Kelley Washington. Give him some Frostee Rucker shakes from Wendy's for added bulk and we might have something there.

They (KW and TP) are both listed at about the same size but Washington seems a little bigger to me.

I was thinking the same thing last year. KW looks like he could add weight just fine... and is one of the best blocking WR's on the team. That makes him leaps and bounds better than Schobel.

Oh well... I doubt KW would be willing to make such a change to get on the field. He doesn't seem the type. He wants to be a big-time WR somewhere. If Tab wants to bulk up a little bit, I'd be okay with it... but my guess is that this would hurt his value as a kick returner, and frankly that is an incredibly undervalued commodity.

[TecmoFever]

Why don't we just officially start running the Run 'N' Shoot offense? It's obvious that the Bengals don't really believe in such things as Tight Ends, and we really love WRs, so why not?

It worked wonders for teams in the late 80's and early 90's. How else could a team lose a 32-point lead in a playoff game?

We are the Bengals and we don't believe in conventional wisdom. When many teams are overvaluing the TE spot, we choose to ignore it and stock up on WRs. Safeties? What? We'll run the 4-4-3. Forget the 3-4 / 4-3 debate; we're going to trick everyone with the 4-4.

While we're being tricky, we like to convert positions as much as possible. Draft a QB, turn him into a receiver, draft a WR and turn him into a defensive back...two years in a row. Oh yeah, draft a 340-lb. shotputter and try him out at TE and if that doesn't work, then we'll switch to our WR-turned-safety and put him at TE. And don't forget, we can also take the best DE in the draft and turn him into a linebacker.

DAMN, WE'RE SMART!!!