At 0-10 and still looking for a win, would the Cincinnati Bengals consider bailing on quarterback Ryan Finley for Jake Dolegala?
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley might be making a great argument for reserve quarterback Jake Dolegala. Dolegala, from Central Connecticut State University, should be the next player up if Finley keeps underperforming and the Bengals keep losing.
It’s not complicated, especially if you take head coach Zac Taylor and the organization at their word. If the balance of the season is about seeing what the depth chart can yield, then it is logical that Taylor might give Dolegala a look sometime in December, if not sooner.
Finley was a special kind of brutal in Week 11. Against the Oakland Raiders, in a game Cincinnati was in late into the fourth quarter, Finley was ineffective and inefficient. In a stat line that was 13 of 31 for 115 yards and one interception and a final score of 17-10, anything from the quarterback position might have produced a win. Worse, it gave some credence to those who think Andy Dalton is still an option and those that see Finley just bad enough to provide the first overall pick in 2020.
Taylor finds himself in an interesting position heading into the end of November. The Bengals are a bad team that still has a few winnable games on the horizon, most notably the New York Jets at home and the Miami Dolphins on the road in Week 16. Toss in two games against the wonky Cleveland Browns and breaking into the win column is very possible.
For Taylor, taking a look at Dolegala might be a productive switch especially if Finley continues to look as he did against the Raiders. Meaning if he still wants to win this season and if Finley is as unproductive as he’s looked, Dolegala or even a return to Dalton might be that spark plug that leads to a win. Meaning the No.#1 overall pick might go elsewhere.