Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow hasn’t won an NFL game yet, but he has more than looked the part of a No. 1 pick through two starts.
“He looks like a veteran quarterback,” former Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said on Tiki & Tierney. “His presence in the pocket, he’s very poised, he’s very calm delivering the ball. As he continues to grow, he will minimize mistakes. But he looked great.”
Burrow finished 37-of-61 for 316 yards, three touchdowns and a fumble in a 35-30 loss to the Browns in Cleveland last Thursday.
“To me, I’m very optimistic – not with just Joe, but with the team in its entirety,” Ochocinco said. “If we can get the offensive line to be a little bit more stout and allow him time to throw – as he did at LSU – we know what he’s capable of doing.”
Ochocinco, who played for the Bengals from 2001-10, also likes what he sees from second-year head coach Zac Taylor, despite the 2-16 record.
“Anytime you have a new coach that comes in with a new philosophy who’s bringing a new culture – obviously I’m not in there to actually see what’s said or see what’s being done – but obviously he’s doing all the right things to change that organization around,” Ochocinco said. “I don’t pay much attention to the defensive side of the ball, but seeing them offensively and having Burrow at the helm, I’m very optimistic and I like what Zac has done so far. The wins are going to come. It’s going to take some time because it’s somewhat of a rebuilding stage – and I hate saying that, but it is. That’s just the truth to the matter.”