[jwplayer jKpDvIpQ-ThvAeFxT]
The Cincinnati Bengals, for the most part, weren’t finishers under Marvin Lewis.
That was just how it went. Lots of high-character stars leading the way, but quiet and without that aggression needed to win a playoff game or cobble together a nice record on primetime.
Zac Taylor has plans to change all that.
Taylor, when asked about the character of his Joe Burrow-led 2020 draft class, said the following, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
“When you say a guy with an edge, that’s a guy who’s not afraid to hold his teammates to a higher standard. They have a killer instinct on the field playing against an opponent, but at the same time, that’s not where most of your time is spent. Most of your time is spent in meeting rooms, on practice fields, or doing individual stuff. We’re going to get to where we want to go if not just the coaches hold the players to a high standard, but the players hold themselves to that standard.”
And for fans who have watched for the last 10 or more years, some “killer instinct” sure has a nice ring to it.
Cincinnati’s draft class heavily focused on college players who had been both winners and captains. The majority of the free-agent adds also came from playoff teams.
And perhaps most notably, Burrow himself just carries an edge. He was a winner, confident, willing to take risks and a leader. Fittingly, the entire culture makeover centers on character traits he embodies.
Given this emphasis on character in free agency and the draft, it would be safe to suggest this offseason will go down in hindsight as a turning point. Taylor has truly started to command his culture over the roster and it’s a big part of the reason there is so much excitement around the team.
[vertical-gallery id=31644]