When the Zac Taylor era began in Cincinnati, many had fair questions about his acumen as a coach.
Was this 38-year-old hotshot autonomous, and did he have the proper initiative as the Rams’ former quarterback coach? Or was he more a product of the (reasonable) Sean McVay hype wave that swept through the NFL? Could he be trusted to develop a No. 1 overall pick quarterback, perhaps the most valuable asset in pro football, or would he leave him gasping for air because of his own inexperience?
Two years later, the Bengals and that No. 1 pick, Joe Burrow, are knocking on the door of the Super Bowl. While they had their pitfalls and obstacles to overcome the way anyone does, going from the very worst to the NFL’s de facto final four is quite the accomplishment. That it was Joe Burrow’s first full season as a starter has to make those who live near the Ohio River quite hopeful for the future.
