Joe Robbins - Getty Images
9 months ago: CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 1: Chase Coffman #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals jumps for a first down over Chris Rucker #36 of the Indianapolis Colts in the first half of an NFL preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Former third round pick Chase Coffman will no longer be a project for the Bengals, as he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today. Coffman will join new Tampa Bay and former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.
Coffman was selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft out of Missouri. As a tight end, he holds the all time touchdown reception record at Missouri, with 20. As some of you may remember, Coffman was a main focus of HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2009. Coffman was shown missing assignments and being forced to do push ups for every missed assignment by tight ends coach Jon Hayes. When Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht went down with season ending injuries during Coffman's rookie season, Coffman was expected to take over the starting job by many Bengals fans. It was J.P. Foschi and Dan Coats that took over the top tight end duties. Coffman was inactive until week 12.
2011 seemed to be the year of the tight end, and teams like the Patriots and 49ers used two tight end heavy sets in the passing game. There had been hope by many Bengal fans that offensive coordinator Jay Gruden could incorporate Gresham and Coffman on the field together. Instead, he will be now known as a bust to Bengal fans, as it seemed that he never got up to speed with the offense.
Coffman looks like he has the ability to succeed in the NFL. It is up to the coaches to put him in a spot where he can succeed, especially if Coffman cannot greatly improve his blocking. It will be interesting to see if Schiano has any type of specific gameplan in mind for Coffman in Tampa Bay, or if he is just brought in to be a camp body. Coffman leaves the Bengals with three career catches for thirty receiving yards.
0 recs | 74 comments
So first they steal Briscoe and now Coffman?
Aaaa who cares.
jimbasa - February 21, 2012
+1 haha
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
hard to steal what someone else gives away
I’d say they, like the Eagles, aren’t afraid to sign talented guys we don’t want and gasp play them.
Why our coaching staff doesn’t want those guys is what I want answered.
indesignkat - February 21, 2012
He played alright when he was on the field, but
he couldn’t block for crap. I know people want to sit there and say, “Well why does he need to block when he can catch? Just have him run routes and he’ll be fine.” I’m sorry but no… Eventually you’re going to have to man up and learn how to block somebody at the point of attack. You can’t just run your man off every time the Bengals are running the football. Met Chase a couple times and he is nothing short of a stand up guy. Just a shame it didn’t work out all that well.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
we would never have used him right anyways...
Hopefully he can be successful somewhere else
The Dealio - February 21, 2012
Exactly...
Brat didn’t know how to use one tight end much less a double tight end set.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
Thank you Tampa
That is one debate we don’t have to go through again.
Yarin - February 21, 2012
+1
biggie22 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
U better send out the memo
Cuz people r still talkin about him ha
njbengalstat - February 21, 2012
lol
NCWhoDey1987 - February 21, 2012
Tampa sure loves snatching up Bengals huh
johnson_cody_18 - February 21, 2012
Swing and a miss
“He seems like he can play in NFL” – Realy?
TX Bengal - February 21, 2012
Three years does not make a player, my friend. Give him a chance with another team before you go jumping to these conclusions. Plus, it is important to maintain some positivity as a writer
Nick_Crago - February 21, 2012
Coffman was a great prospect
that never saw the field. You can say what you want about his blocking ability or lack thereof, but if you didn’t want a pure receiving TE why did you draft one? Everyone knew that’s who he was. Instead of using him, our staff just whined about his inability to block.
indesignkat - February 21, 2012
Even the best pass catching TE's in the league
have to stay in and block bro. So you’re saying that whatever skill set that specific player has in college can’t be expanded on? He was a great pass catcher and not a good blocker. Why not make him a better blocker to make him a better football player? If he is JUST out to catch passes, that makes a team predictable. Am I right?
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
Look at
Hernandez for the Pats. Not much of a blocker at all, but is really good at catching the ball…
WHYUS!! - February 21, 2012
Ok???
But he still has to block at times though.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
I don't think Coffman went into spasms from blocking.
He wasn’t as good as the coaching staff wanted, but it’s not like he just stares at you in complete bewilderment if the play calls for him to block. You are presenting it as if he just said “F You Jay Gruden” if he was asked to block.
We have, so far, pretty much seen a 2nd tight end as a 3rd tackle.
Boomer Lion - February 21, 2012
Not at all.
I’ve said from the go that he couldn’t get on the game day roster because he COULDN’T block.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
"Chase get a base..."
“C’mon Chase, get a base.”
“Damnit Chase, What are you doing? Get a base. Get your hand on his outside shoulder.”
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
He also didn't appear to be the "sharpest" knife on Hard Knocks.
Considering our offense when he was drafted was largely run oriented, there wasn’t a huge need for pass catching tight ends. When Dan Coats plays over you, that pretty much sums it up. Wish him the best in TB, just glad it’s no longer going to be a topic of conversation anymore.
The Van Buren Boys - February 22, 2012
easy, Coffman = Bratkowski offense
the same thing happened to Simpson. Simpson from what I heard always showed flashes in practice. But he never saw the field, its hard to say what you lost, if you never play them. I think most people saw Coffman’s talent, he just doesn’t fit our system anymore or he would have been given the opportunity.
If we pick up Bennett, that would be a huge upgrade from Coffman, because he has all pro blocking. And we wouldn’t have a need for band-aid TE’s we bring in year after year.
AMAS85 - February 22, 2012
I couldn't agree more with "indesignkat" about the comment on Coffman
I think once TB puts him on the field and utilizes him at what his strength’s are, He’ll light it up in Tampa.
gratefulmax - February 22, 2012
This
Will show how bad we are at evaluating talent.
ashunte23 - February 21, 2012 via Android app
Or if he becomes a star...
how bad we are using talent.
jimbasa - February 21, 2012
Marvin Lewis does a great job of bringing in talent...
but is suspect at getting them on the field.
The Dealio - February 21, 2012
Correct
Marvin is very highly respected around the NFL for evaluating talent.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
will be interesting to watch if chase can make it happen with another team
can’t blame the guy for not sticking around here. cincy didn’t have any interest in getting chase’s hands on the game field. either way, in 8-10 months 1/2 of the cincy fans will be telling the other half of the cincy fans, “I told you so.”
palewook - February 21, 2012
Would you like to make a friendly wager on that bud?
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
on what?
that there are 2 camps, one side saying he’s a bust and one side saying he’s under-utilized?
palewook - February 21, 2012
But that's what I'm saying. How was he under-utilized?
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
In order to be under-utilized,
you would have to be on the game day roster, right? He couldn’t see the field because he couldn’t block. Don’t you think it is kinda funny the guy hasn’t gotten an offer until now?? He’s been on the Bengals practice squad for three seasons and is just now getting a look?? Tampa floods our practice squad every year. Now they want him? Hmmmm… Sounds like a training camp filler.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
under-utilized is way to sum up the other camp's views of
the coaching staff failed to use coffman for his hands.
palewook - February 21, 2012
And if anybody says, "I told you so."
They’re straight up lying because the guy wasnt on the field because he couldn’t block!! Even Aaron Hernandez has to sit his ass down in the trenches every once in a while. If you’re a TE, you eventually have to learn to put your big body in front of somebody and do what’s asked of you at that point in time. I understand he was split out a lot in college, but if you can’t grind it out in the trenches as a TE every once in a while, then you don’t need to see the field.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
I didn't see Hernandez
block one time in the SB, only Gronk and he had a bad ankle… Most of Hernandez’s plays were pass plays not blocking plays. Although I probably missed those plays he was blocking in, but he’s more of just a receiver out of the TE position. A big receiver at that…
WHYUS!! - February 21, 2012
I'm sorry but that's probably because your eyes on fixated on a TE blocking.
And you’re basing all of your thoughts on one game instead of the full body of work? Gronk was hurt so he couldn’t run too many routes so I’m sure that’s why Hernandez was split out the whole game. Either way, whether it be Gronk or Hernandez, they have to block AT SOME POINT.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
your eyes aren't fixated*
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
i seem to remember this site being split for awhile the past 2 seasons about coffman
with the “why aren’t they playing him as a receiver” camp vs the “he’s a bust camp.”
i won’t be able to put names of users to the 2 camps. i know there were proponents of both trains of thought among CJ readers. like i suggested up above, someone in 8-10 months will be telling the other cj camp, “i told you so.”
palewook - February 21, 2012
I believe you pale.
I’m just curious as to how somebody can say, “Told you so.” when nobody has ever really seen what he could do because he couldn’t get on the field.
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
Because they said "we should play him as a big WR if he can't block"
If he see success as a big WR who doesn’t block in tampa, “i told you so” would be what a normal person would say
Boomer Lion - February 21, 2012
Different system, different personnel, different coaching staffs
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
You seem to be missing the point ENTIRELY
When you say that a TE has to block, that’s not actually true. All you have to do is draw up plays where the TE doesn’t block (via motion or whatever). Or where his block is an easy block or not crucial. Like a big WR. Or use him in the WR spot, where his blocks are easier (because they are on a CB or S). Like a big WR. Possibly in the slot WR position.
Just think of him as a big WR, even though the roster says TE. So if TB does that and he is successful, that would be a case of us simply not adjusting the scheme or expectations and losing a good player because of that inflexibility or lack of creativity. If they try that and he’s too slow or can’t get open or is still just too much of a liability in the run game (his blocking is so bad that you can’t scheme around it), then Cincy’s staff evaluation will be vindicated.
Boomer Lion - February 21, 2012
I agree they might not use him wisely.
I might totally agree wih you if we had not changed OC’s last season. I just find it hard to beleve two differen OC’s can’t see the potenial that so many say they are missing. I think it’s the age old issue of a player dominating in college and fans falling in love with them and when they fail it’s the coaches fault.
He sat on the PS for the longest time and not one single team grabbed him, I think that says alot.. A new coaching staff in Tampa thinks they can do something with him, I think that’s great. I wish him all the luck.
Yarin - February 21, 2012
+1
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
That was also when I suspected he might just suck.
So I feel you. We’ll see if Tampa gets any use out of him. They would have to know what they are getting.
Boomer Lion - February 21, 2012 via mobile
not sure what to read from last season
with the short preseason and new coordinator. gruden might have needed to focus on making the starters work within his system. rather than seeing a project guy could make an adjustment to a new position and system with less time to do it than normal.
palewook - February 22, 2012
But they brought several other TE's
Off the street who played ahead of him in Gruden’s offense as well, inluding Cochart
biggie22 - February 22, 2012
Yeah but look at the reasons behind it and dont just dismiss our coaching staffs bad decisions
Rookie QB Rookie WR 2nd Year #1 TE… so we get Donald Lee a vet to help the young’ns and cochart we keep as a blocker..
as the year goes on both Lee and Cochart look horrible.. and i mean that cochart had a nice TD catch but other than that did nothing.. Lee had a few grabs but was replaced by Roland by years end.
Our coaching staff’s idea on how to use a TE is very old school they are creative enough to use all the talent they had in a way thats not TE must block…
(If the bengals had invested in OL and had decent G’s we would not have to keep a TE on the line every play)
Bengalsfan024 - February 22, 2012
He received maybe 1 pass his way all preseason
i thought they were trying to hide him…
Bengalsfan024 - February 22, 2012
I'm gonna tell you right now "palewook"............I told you so!
gratefulmax - February 22, 2012
well bring in Bennett!
AMAS85 - February 21, 2012
If he turns out to be good, it doesn't mean anything.
Every team runs a different type of offense, if he excels in Tampa it doesn’t mean he could have here.
You don’t change your offense to make one TE fit in. It was the best thing to happen for both sides, in my opinion.
Yarin - February 21, 2012
+1
Spot on! Sometimes, a change in scene and scheme can help a player. Hope this move gives him a chance to make it on a different NFL team. Good luck Chase!
OhWell - February 21, 2012
+10000
whodeycommish14 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
i'm of the opinion
chase could have stayed in cincy 10-15 seasons and he would have never contributed much. we’re just the wrong place with the wrong schemes for him. hope he finds some success in tampa.
palewook - February 22, 2012
hope he does well
I always wondered what he would look like in the texans offense they seem to know how to use the pass catching te!
bengal t. - February 21, 2012 via mobile
chase and odie running around?
scary.
palewook - February 22, 2012
Glad to see the guy finally getting a shot.
Hopefully he makes their gameday roster and at least gets a chance to compete.
Bigcatdaddy - February 21, 2012 via Android app
Bengals take Raiders rejects; TB takes Bengals rejects
DTFCPDX - February 21, 2012
i thought we took the San Fran rejects
+ Manny Lawson
+ Nate Clements
+ Taylor Mays
what Oakland rejects do we have on the roster?
ephram - February 21, 2012
Hue
DTFCPDX - February 21, 2012
didn't realize Hue Jackson was on the roster...
:-)
ephram - February 22, 2012
Thomas howard
biggie22 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
I think that works both ways
Maybe even more that Raiders take our rejects.
Bigcatdaddy - February 21, 2012 via Android app
detroit loves ex bengals as well
palewook - February 22, 2012
It's crazy when u think about how much we generally value our picks
And he still could not get on the field. The fact that he was picked in the 3rd round and Cochart has already been givin more of an opportunity say how much they thought of him
biggie22 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
+1
Especially when you see a guy as bad as Rey Maualuga on the field still, that tells me they must think Chase is really horrible.
Yarin - February 21, 2012
well they are gonna play grehsm
and want the #2 to purely a blocker.
Bengalsfan024 - February 22, 2012
Considering we could have gotten...
Johnny friggin knox, grover quin, or a better tight end,.. Giants Travis beckham!
Trevor 85 - February 22, 2012
says they dont think about PASSing the ball to the TE
unless they have too and then its gresham.. go Chase tear up the NFC S.. Bucs are now my 2nd favorite team
Bengalsfan024 - February 22, 2012
NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bengalsfan024 - February 22, 2012
Coffman could have proved useful
in the new paradigm for tight ends established by New England and others. The excuse that a tight end must first be a blocker in the Bengals’ scheme only points out how bad the offensive line is between the tackles.
dingle - February 22, 2012
exactly
build an OL and your TE can you know be a TE and not an extra OT
Bengalsfan024 - February 22, 2012
Great Point! "dingle"
gratefulmax - February 22, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Cincy Jungle to post a comment.