The Cincinnati Bengals are taking same approach with Joe Burrow that LSU took
By Zach Ragan
Former LSU football quarterback Joe Burrow will be the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting quarterback in 2020.
The Cincinnati Bengals were wise to select Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft (instead of trading the pick for stockpile of future draft picks).
Burrow has the talent and the confidence to lead Cincinnati out of the abyss (the Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1990).
But simply selecting the right quarterback is only the beginning. Just having Burrow on the roster won’t help the Bengals if they don’t use him correctly. We’ve seen plenty of NFL teams squander talent over the years.
(Take the Miami Dolphins for example. They gave up on Ryan Tannehill and essentially gave him to the Tennessee Titans. Tannehill then led the Titans to the AFC Championship game.)
Fortunately for the Bengals, it appears they’re taking the same approach with Burrow that LSU took with the dynamic quarterback.
Cincinnati is building the playbook around Burrow, instead of making Burrow adapt to the playbook.
“They’re going to do things that I’m comfortable with, and that’s a great sign. They had me put down my top 10 plays that I had and send it to them, so they can study them and see if they [can] have them in the offense,” said Burrow during a recent appearance on Ian Rapoport’s podcast.
That comment sounds similar to comments Burrow made before the 2019 season at LSU.
“This is the kind of offense I’ve run since I was 13, 14 years old so this is what I know so I can have a lot of input in it and tell them what I like,” said Burrow last spring.
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron echoed Burrow’s comments a couple of months later.
“There’s so many things we can do with Joe. This offense is tailor made for Joe,” explained Coach O.
It’s clear the Bengals are committed to taking the same open minded approach with Burrow that LSU took.
Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor is young, innovative offensive coach — kind of like former LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady. Taylor will do what’s necessary to put Burrow in the best possible position to have success in the NFL.
Next. Coach O's brilliant recruiting ploy. dark
That approach paid major dividends for the Tigers. Perhaps it will for the Bengals as well.