The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of breakout candidates in 2019 in large part because of a new coaching staff’s arrival.
Zac Taylor’s staff will make some tweaks for personal preference and also have the benefit of seeing where the previous coaching staff went wrong with the roster.
While guys like Carl Lawson and William Jackosn could get back to normal usage and superb play, they don’t classify as breakouts because they’ve shown it in the past. These guys do.
Auden Tate
Tate has been little more than a training camp hero to start his career.
That should change under Zac Taylor.
Tate only appeared in seven games last year as a rookie, catching just four passes. In a traditional (also: old-school, if not silly) offense, he’d have a hard time breaking onto the field because of a deep depth chart.
With a mind like Taylor leading things though, Tate might find a nice hybrid role that has him using his 6’5″ frame and high-pointing skills to create mismatches. It could lead to a massive season-long line by season’s end.
Sam Hubbard
Hubbard had a solid season a year ago after coming off the board in the third round.
But now some of the veteran clutter is out of the way on the depth chart heading into next season — meaning his six sacks from a season ago could merely be the beginning.
Hubbard now figures to get a starter’s dose of snaps even despite with addition of someone such as say, Kerry Wynn. That he’s forming a tandem with guys like Carlos Dunlap and Carl Lawson should only up the chances he makes national waves. Keep in mind the natural developmental curve, too.
Malik Jefferson
Jefferson was a dud last year when the Bengals needed him most at the roster’s worst spot.
But it is hard to throw too much blame on a third-round rookie, especially when the coaching staff was making repeated mistakes to the point its coordinator got fired midseason.
While the Bengals have high hopes for 2019 rookie Germaine Pratt, Jefferson has the advantage of a year in the pros and within what should be a similar system. His elite athleticism hasn’t gone anywhere, so if better coaching can help him along, he might be the biggest surprise candidate on the roster.
B.W. Webb
Webb has gone from insurance in case the team can’t get Darqueze Dennard back to helping coordinator Lou Anarumo teach the defense seemingly overnight.
While the former fourth-round pick has been a journeyman his entire career, Webb got a three-year deal from the Bengals.
Webb has already been a big subject of praise from Bengals coaches. Dennard will probably see more snaps, but it’s clear Webb has the talent and grasp on the defense capable of breaking onto the field and impressing.
John Ross
Ross quietly scored seven times last year over 13 games, though his effectiveness was strictly refined to the red zone.
That’s not a bad place to be effective, of course. But the Bengals are going to want more from a former top-10 pick heading into his third season.
Luckily for the Bengals, it feels like the majority of rookie high-profile rookie wideouts end up starting out as apparent busts before the developmental curve kicks in by the third or fourth year.
With Ross, the key is better usage. Bengals coaches to date haven’t exactly been creative or put the ball in Ross’ hands in a way that plays to his strengths. If Taylor can change that and Ross can stay healthy, unlocking his potential all over the field instead of in a mere niche area might come next.
