The day that the Bengals drafted Herron I had a big smile on my face. This was the first time that the Bengals had drafted a player out of Ohio State in eighteen seasons and I hoped this was a sign it would continue. Having watched Herron in his time at Ohio State, what impressed me most was his unwillingness to quit. No matter what the situation, he tried his best each and every time to give it his all and is a good kid at heart. There may be doubt as to what Dan can do at the next level, but I have no doubt, he could be one of the greatest backs in Cincinnati history.
What he means to the team
The Bengals have been through a lot the past few seasons, but they are a very talented and dedicated team that just wants to get better each and every year. They have a great group of backs and with the addition of Herron they could have one of the greatest running backs ever in their hands. I know it’s early to make the prediction that he could be one of the greatest backs in Cincinnati history, but he has that look and desire that a great running back has to have. His forty times are very deceiving, because throughout his Ohio State career he ran down and outran players that run sub four five forty times. He plays with football speed that no forty time will show you and despite his small size of two hundred pounds he will continue to run through tacklers rather than around them. His pass blocking needs to improve in order for him to have a great chance of getting the second back position, but his ability to catch the ball in space is something the Bengals have been lacking. His ability to catch the ball is something that was vastly underrated by NFL scouts and he will show the Bengals what made him so special at Ohio State.
Will he start?
This is a big question mark entering this season, because the team has a whole host of good running backs that are ahead of him. It will depend on what he shows in training camp and what he shows in preseason going forward that determines where he stands. There is no lack of dedication in Boom’s ability to maximize his talent, but his blocking ability needs to improve at the NFL level. He has the speed and the catching ability and with the ability to gain pass blocking skills he could see a large amount of time on the field. The backs ahead of him have a lot of talent and experience and that experience is what currently sets him apart from other running backs, but Herron is a quick study. If he can learn the playbook and learn to block at an NFL level then he has a chance to be a starter, but with a season or two under his belt I see no reason that he can’t become the starter in the future. Herron is an underrated talent and the Bengals made a steal in the draft. There is no question Herron will be a great back in the NFL, I just hope it’s with the Bengals.
