Bratkowsi's new playbook using new TE

[icehole3]

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Man that was funny. A little too accurate, but funny. Do you think his playbook is in crayon?

I will say, though, this is the offseason. If ever there's a time for optimism, this is it. We'll probably have 4 solid months to curse Brat's name.

[icehole3]

Do you think his playbook is in crayon?

he said after drafting Gresham he started jotting down plays

[COB]

Take that play down before the Ravens and the Steelers get ahold of it.

[coupdayta]

It looks like Bratkowski doesn't have enough men on the field in his playbook.

[redsbengalsbucks]

It looks like Bratkowski doesn't have enough men on the field in his playbook.

Like we havnt seen those plays before.

[derekshank]

Well, this offseason, he said he was redeveloping the playbook to improve the passing game in the same way he did last year for the running game.

Last year he brought in the unbalanced line... perhaps due to the TE injuries, but you can't argue that it wasn't creative and successful. This year, I have no problem believing that he'll be able to make good use out of two high caliber receiving TEs. I just hope they don't abandon the running game that led them to the playoffs last year.

I don't mind a little more balance to take the pressure off of Benson, but personally, I loved the clock killing ability of a dominant running game last year, and am not quick to wish it away.

Hopefully they'll leave it alone for the most part, but the passing game will help them finish drives that stalled out last year resulting in numerous FG attempts.

[princeton]

if you look at first-year stats from current top TEs, they aren't that impressive. It takes a while to learn the NFL from that position.

Gresham might impact, but I wouldn't re-write the playbook completely. And re-signing Kelly should have been done yesterday.

[derekshank]

if you look at first-year stats from current top TEs, they aren't that impressive. It takes a while to learn the NFL from that position.

Gresham might impact, but I wouldn't re-write the playbook completely. And re-signing Kelly should have been done yesterday.

It depends what you mean. If you mean it's going to take a few years for Gresham to put up Antonio Gates numbers... I agree. I'm not sure he ever will reach that. But I'm not sure anyone has those expectations. We're looking for an upgrade over Coats and Foschi. He would bring that with one leg.

Looking at 1st round TEs in their first season, it's pretty common to see them get around 400 yards, up to around 600 yards. Since the Bengals TEs last year managed 410 yards combined... and Gresham has a skill set that neither of them could hold a candle to - it's fair to add a few plays to feature those skills.

Combine that with a (hopefully) healthy Coffman, and a veteran in Kelly, and I'm betting that the TE position for the Bengals doubles last years production.

[HairOnFire]

We're looking for an upgrade over Coats and Foschi. He [Gresham] would bring that with one leg.

Hopefully true, but couldn't the same thing be said about a dozen other guys, including the one selected 185th? (Anthony McCoy)

[derekshank]

We're looking for an upgrade over Coats and Foschi. He [Gresham] would bring that with one leg.

Hopefully true, but couldn't the same thing be said about a dozen other guys, including the one selected 185th? (Anthony McCoy)

Absolutely. And he's the guy I wanted later on the draft to open up the 1st round pick for a defender like Dan Williams.

Of course that's neither here nor there, because it didn't happen. We have to make peace with the players they have... and Gresham, despite my protest, should help the passing game immediately.

[princeton]

if you look at first-year stats from current top TEs, they aren't that impressive. It takes a while to learn the NFL from that position.

Gresham might impact, but I wouldn't re-write the playbook completely. And re-signing Kelly should have been done yesterday.

It depends what you mean. If you mean it's going to take a few years for Gresham to put up Antonio Gates numbers... I agree. I'm not sure he ever will reach that. But I'm not sure anyone has those expectations. We're looking for an upgrade over Coats and Foschi. He would bring that with one leg.

Looking at 1st round TEs in their first season, it's pretty common to see them get around 400 yards, up to around 600 yards. Since the Bengals TEs last year managed 410 yards combined... and Gresham has a skill set that neither of them could hold a candle to - it's fair to add a few plays to feature those skills.

Combine that with a (hopefully) healthy Coffman, and a veteran in Kelly, and I'm betting that the TE position for the Bengals doubles last years production.

I doubt it.

I think that the positive immediate impact of Gresham will be teams over-scheming to take him away, thus softening coverage on the outsides. hopefully, sheer reputation helps, for a while.

on the negative side: blocking whiffs.

[JoePong]

I'm just glad we finally have a decent TE so Brat can utilize one like he was able to in Seattle. Now we just have to convince Carson to throw to the TE.

[derekshank]

I think that the positive immediate impact of Gresham will be teams over-scheming to take him away, thus softening coverage on the outsides. hopefully, sheer reputation helps, for a while.

Perhaps. If so... that's an important role as well. One that the Bengals desperately needed last year. But I'm willing to be that he will be open, because the Bengals will for the first time have the roster to run the 2 TE sets that Brat has been wanting to use since they signed Utecht - to no avail.

Gresham will be a good weapon, because a 2 TE set is primarily a running formation... but the Bengals will have a lot of weapons to throw to out of those formations as well. If nothing else, it's difficult to gameplan against.

on the negative side: blocking whiffs.

Evidence? Not trying to be a dick... but seriously, show me.

I know he wasn't asked to block in college as often as he'll be asked to do it in the NFL... but I haven't found much negative about his blocking. In fact, I've read that he was a very effective run blocker, but sometimes gets too high. Basically, he just needs to be coached up. He's got the frame for it, the strength for it, and the willingness to do it.

My concern with him is with his knees. But if he stays healthy, he's going to be a good weapon for Palmer... immediately. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to get 400-500 yards out of him... with Coffman and Kelly combining for another 300-400 yards on top of that.

Foschi had 260 yards in 13 games. Coats had 150 yards with all of those drops. Neither of those guys were good enough to be on the roster before injuries crippled the depth chart. You really doubt Gresham, Coffman, and Kelly's ability to improve on that?

[Sea Ray]

I'm just glad we finally have a decent TE so Brat can utilize one like he was able to in Seattle. Now we just have to convince Carson to throw to the TE.

I wouldn't worry about that. Carson did throw it to the TE last year unfortunately it was often dropped or fumbled

[BengalByTheBay]

I'm just glad we finally have a decent TE so Brat can utilize one like he was able to in Seattle. Now we just have to convince Carson to throw to the TE.

I wouldn't worry about that. Carson did throw it to the TE last year unfortunately it was often dropped or fumbled

Exactly, I recall many "underneath" reads (too many to be honest) by CP last year. I don't see any recent evidence he's unwilling to use the TE. When Coats is the receiver, however, those stats. aren't going to look real good.

[princeton]

on the negative side: blocking whiffs.

Evidence? Not trying to be a dick... but seriously, show me.

[derekshank]

I'm just glad we finally have a decent TE so Brat can utilize one like he was able to in Seattle. Now we just have to convince Carson to throw to the TE.

Carson's willing to throw to TEs. The stats over the years prove that the playbook has been designed to benefit the WRs for years.

For instance, in 2007 Palmer threw the ball to his TEs only 42 times. Housh and Chad were thrown to a combined 345 times. The remaining WRs were thrown to another 95 times. Of his 575 passing attempts, only 7% were to the TE. But the Bengals starting TEs were Kelly and Coats. Blocking TEs to help the running game. The playbook reflected the talent they had on the roster.

Last year, in spite of losing their two starting TEs before the first snap of a game, Palmer threw the ball to his TEs 68 times out of his 478 attempts. That means that despite having 100 fewer passing attempts, he actually threw to his TEs 26 more times. And he did it in spite of the fact that neither of them should have been starters, and are better known for their blocking skills?

The playbook is different, because the roster is different. They don't have Chad, Housh, and Henry anymore. And now, they have two TEs who had prolific college careers as receivers. He'll throw them the ball... and he will love the mismatches because they've never featured talented TEs before. And maybe, just maybe, Chad and Bryant will be a little more open too because of it.

[derekshank]

on the negative side: blocking whiffs.

Evidence? Not trying to be a dick... but seriously, show me.

rookies and assignment mistakes go hand in hand, especially at the TE/WR positions. it'll happen.

Really? That's your argument that he'll be a bad blocker? Nothing from game tape or scouting reports that he gives little effort and lacks pop. Just... "he's a rookie."

I'm not saying he's going to be Antonio Gates or Jason Witten out there... but rookie or not - he's a huge upgrade over what they had last year. He'll be fine, and he will help the team with much more than "reputation" as long as he's healthy.

[HairOnFire]

That can't be Brat's playbook. There's no shovel pass.

[Kazkal]

Last year he brought in the unbalanced line... perhaps due to the TE injuries, but you can't argue that it wasn't creative and successful. This year, I have no problem believing that he'll be able to make good use out of two high caliber receiving TEs. I just hope they don't abandon the running game that led them to the playoffs last year.

interesting thing that they hinted reason we ran so much unbalanced was because of the injurys at TE...so with having TE's this year i'm hoping to see less of it.

[ArmyBengal]

Last year he brought in the unbalanced line... perhaps due to the TE injuries, but you can't argue that it wasn't creative and successful. This year, I have no problem believing that he'll be able to make good use out of two high caliber receiving TEs. I just hope they don't abandon the running game that led them to the playoffs last year.

interesting thing that they hinted reason we ran so much unbalanced was because of the injurys at TE...so with having TE's this year i'm hoping to see less of it.

You and me both Kaz, because nothing said running play like seeing Roland's big ass go in motion.

[kingwilly]

Last year he brought in the unbalanced line... perhaps due to the TE injuries, but you can't argue that it wasn't creative and successful. This year, I have no problem believing that he'll be able to make good use out of two high caliber receiving TEs. I just hope they don't abandon the running game that led them to the playoffs last year.

interesting thing that they hinted reason we ran so much unbalanced was because of the injurys at TE...so with having TE's this year i'm hoping to see less of it.

You and me both Kaz, because nothing said running play like seeing Roland's big ass go in motion.

I'd like to know the avg rush per play when they used that formation/motion. It seemed to always net positive yards.

Also, regarding the images from Brat's playbook, where is the end-around?

[Kazkal]

Last year he brought in the unbalanced line... perhaps due to the TE injuries, but you can't argue that it wasn't creative and successful. This year, I have no problem believing that he'll be able to make good use out of two high caliber receiving TEs. I just hope they don't abandon the running game that led them to the playoffs last year.

interesting thing that they hinted reason we ran so much unbalanced was because of the injurys at TE...so with having TE's this year i'm hoping to see less of it.

You and me both Kaz, because nothing said running play like seeing Roland's big ass go in motion.

True that when we barley used it is when it seemed most effective but when we used it 10 or more times a game would always seem like we'd get less yards then without it.

I'd like to know the avg rush per play when they used that formation/motion. It seemed to always net positive yards.

Also, regarding the images from Brat's playbook, where is the end-around?

See well I don't doubt it was always positive I also remember alot more runs going for a yard or two,when I had the games still on my Tivo I went back and counted several games and our unbalanced was about as effective as running to the right side last year.