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Hard Knocks...again


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The new kid on the espn block, Coley Harvey, drops this little HK tidbit for those of you wondering if the most recent big news would make the cut:

Finally, HBO's "Hard Knocks" cameras got really good access. Like many of you, I spent the last four weeks watching the Bengals on the television show. It was actually a great cheat sheet for me, as I got familiar with faces and personalities. While at practice, I saw how close the cameras got on their last day of shooting. For instance, they got right in an impromptu huddle around Atkins as his teammates congratulated him on his new deal. The last episode airs at 9 tonight.
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Yeah, how do you go from the 2nd episode where Charles isn't cutting it, to being handed the job ??

I like Charles, but I don't like how things worked out in this regard.

They must be planning on running a ton of 2 TE sets and need the depth.

That being said, I think they got too cute with this decision.

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Connor wasn't competing as a TE, so it doesn't matter in that regard.

The way I saw it was Charles should have been competing with Alex Smith for the 3rd TE spot, not to be the H-back / 4th TE.

I think the choice should have been between those two with Connor sticking at FB.

They could still run plays with Charles as the H-back and had that devastating blocker up front with Connor.

Does anyone really think that much of Alex Smith ??

I'm not all crying in my Wheaties over it. I simply think it was the wrong decision.

Then again, i'm not the coach, so who cares what I think ??

I hope Charles has a pro-bowl season.

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I didn't see the episode, but from the writeup by Hobson, it sounds like Gruden preferred Connor. So it's not a case of Charles suiting the offensive plans better... who knows better than Gruden the offense that we'll be running?

I also think that you ALWAYS keep a free agent that far outplays a draft pick. It raises the level of training camp competition and allows you to attract the top free agents (eg Dimanche) every spring

So... it was dumb to cut Connor. I'm hoping that they'll drop Charles or Smith in week 2, and add the Terminator.

the dynamic between Hue Jackson and Gruden will be interesting to watch... I now expect Hue to be OC next season.

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The whole thing about making the player you kept, watch tape of the guy you cut to show him what they want just screams stupid.

I get Charles being a better pass catcher and understand what they are wanting to do with the 2 TE sets, but that just stinks.

Just goes to show the business side of things as well.

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Gruden didn't care about which player stayed, he stated both would work. It came down to playing time, and special teams. I hate this move as well, I said before I wish Conner and Charles would have stayed, with Alex Smith cut. I'm not even sure Alex Smith caught a pass, he was hurt for a good part of camp. It just came down to snaps though, and Charles would be getting more. I see a ton of 3 TE sets this year.

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We don't use the FB that much and Charles offers versatility catching out of that H-Back role, and he would've definitely got claimed by someone. Pretty simple business IMO.

Not so much with Alex Smith though. If he was claimed, would anyone care ??

I have yet to hear anyone really sing his praises outside of being a "good vet presence".

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We don't use the FB that much and Charles offers versatility catching out of that H-Back role, and he would've definitely got claimed by someone. Pretty simple business IMO.

Not so much with Alex Smith though. If he was claimed, would anyone care ??

I have yet to hear anyone really sing his praises outside of being a "good vet presence".

If there was no talk about cutting him, then that alone speaks pretty highly of the coaches opinion of the guy.

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We don't use the FB that much and Charles offers versatility catching out of that H-Back role, and he would've definitely got claimed by someone. Pretty simple business IMO.

Not so much with Alex Smith though. If he was claimed, would anyone care ??

I have yet to hear anyone really sing his praises outside of being a "good vet presence".

If there was no talk about cutting him, then that alone speaks pretty highly of the coaches opinion of the guy.

The coaches were the ones stating they liked his "Reggie Kelley" presence he brings, I get that.

I just can't say as i've heard anything from the fan standpoint about the guy.

I'm not trying to argue at all and certainly not about whether Charles or Connor should have been the decision.

My contention is that the choice should have been between Connor and Smith, with Smith losing out.

I've heard the arguements about it being a passing league and the FB being phased out and i'm good with it.

I just don't personally feel it was the right way to go.

And again, I could be wrong. Maybe they convert a high percentage of 3rd or 4th and short.

Maybe they get those goal line rushing TD's. Maybe we end up with 4 stellar TE's and they dominate.

Maybe not.

I just like what Connor brought to the running game more than what Alex Smith brings with his "presence".

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If this was a fore gone conclusion, then they should have let Connor go sooner.

As I stated earlier, I just hope we aren't lamenting our ability to salt a game away in the fourth quarter because we can't make a third-and-one with our H-back/full back guy.

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