I found two encouraging tidbits about Jake Kumerow today. The Bengals pretty much have no proven talent at WR after A. J. Green; Rex Burkhead could also be in the mix to be their slot receiver:
Tidbit number one: 73. As the Bengals look for a complement to top receiver
A.J. Green, expect 2015 practice squad WR
Jake Kumerow to get a lot of action this summer. He and rookie
Tyler Boyd will be heavily used in the preseason. --
Coley Harvey
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...yan-fitzpatrick-eddie-lacy-jj-watt-von-miller
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Tidbit number two
: One reader question still focused on wide receiver, but it was an internal option that triggered the query. And, as always, Bengals fans are looking at how to improve the center position. One specific free agent was on the mind of another one of our readers. We start at internal receiver options.
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Thomas Bryant @thomasbryant650
@CincyJungle @Josh_Kirkendall Does Kumerow Help Bengals this year. Got a feeling the kid is going to kill it
It's hard to say. Some fans are making the radical proclamation that he's ready to step in and assume No. 2 receiving duties this year, while others still have him as an afterthought. Regardless of one's current feelings on the big kid, he's deserving of conversation because of what he flashed in last year's Training Camp.
On one hand, Kumerow was making plays left and right as Training Camp began, and fans were loving his hands and size. A guy who is 6'5", 210 pounds and made plays along the sideline, as well as across the middle, was deserving of the praise he received. His 33 touchdowns at Wisconsin-Whitewater in his final two collegiate seasons proves his red zone abilities too.
But, the kudos for Kumerow faded after the first week or so of camp and the big stars then came out to shine. His early success in practices and scrimmages only translated to six catches for 65 yards in preseason play, and he was deemed expendable by the time final cuts rolled around. His chances of making the 2016 roster hinges on three facets: attrition at the position, another solid camp and more opportunities in preseason play. The first of the three has already occurred.
It's a difficult stance to have with Kumerow and fellow wide receiver James Wright. Rely on the potential, extremely limited sample sizes and trust your scouting at very deep levels with players who were late picks and/or undrafted free agents? Or, bring in some more proven, albeit expensive options in free agents or higher picks in the draft?
Here's my thing: Wright has just five catches in two professional seasons and Kumerow has zero in his first professional season. Are these the players you really want to give the nods to for starting or heavy rotational roles--especially right after the productive duo of Sanu and Jones? Personally speaking, that idea makes me very uncomfortable.
On the flip side, we have seen the Bengals bury promising young players on the depth chart for veterans they had more faith in. It hinders their development and leaves many thinking what could have become with some of these guys. A player can only show what they can truly do when given a fair shake at opportunities, and they can get better with actual game experience. It's why one should point to two seventh round receivers who had incredibly productive careers in
T.J. Houshmandzadeh and
Marques Colston, once given the chance.
Still, those are the outliers and not the norm. Kumerow and Wright have uphill battles to climb in 2016, but have flashed enough to give the coaches and fans hope for 2016. I actually think both make the final roster this year, but with a new addition or two added to the mix, it all may once again come down to what they do with
Brandon Tate.
I don't think Kumerow "kills it", but I think he shows the team enough to be a back end of the positional depth chart guy on the final roster. Special teams and impending additions will play a role, but I think he'll be improved enough to ultimately stick around com September.
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/3/1...and-the-center-position-nfl-draft-free-agency