Bengals Receiver By Committee Idea Gaining Steam

Several months ago, weeks following the 2012 NFL draft, our own Joe Goodberry offered an alternative when debating, discussing and projecting the competition for the team's No. 2 wide receiver position. Why not a receiver by committee scenario? Each scenario assumes that receivers have enough variety to play the X and Z receiver, as well as the slot. There might be something to that with rookies Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones working out at all three positions during offseason practices.

Geoff Hobson with Bengals.com also supports the idea of a receiver by committee alternative. However instead of having a wide-ranging scenario with receivers capable of playing every position, Hobson hints at a committee between Brandon Tate and Armon Binns specifically for the No. 2 receiver spot.

If it is going to be running back by committee, it sounds like Green's supporting cast is also going to be a group effort. Tate has never caught a ball as a Bengal and Binns has never taken a NFL snap, but offensive coordinator Jay Gruden came out of the spring talking about how Tate possesses stretch-the-field speed and the rangy 6-3, 210-pound Binns stretches to make those tough possession catches.

Save for athletic freaks like A.J. Green being thrown into the fire during the first game of the season, rookie wide receivers generally aren't big contributors during their first seasons. There are always exceptions, but Binns and Tate do have advantages over the rookies right now. They are far more familiar with the system and having worked out with the team for a year.

Now if there is a committee system at receiver this year, it probably won't last all season. And perhaps it won't survive through the preseason, especially if someone jumps out in front of the others. Either way. The idea of it is picking up some support.