Recent reports out of the Bengals’ rookie minicamp and some comments by new head coach Zac Taylor have us wondering if tempered optimism for the team’s 2019 performance should be revved up."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBABengals NewsVeterans of CincinnatiAnalysisIs it still too early for Bengals optimism in 2019?New Tyler Kroft Jersey ,53commentsRecent reports out of the Bengals’ rookie minicamp and some comments by new head coach Zac Taylor have us wondering if tempered optimism for the team’s 2019 performance should be revved up. EDTShareTweetShareShareIs it still too early for Bengals optimism in 2019?The headlines for the NFL this offseason have been all about the Cleveland Browns. It’s an understandable stance, given their moves, and one could even call the Bengals’ fan base as envious because of it. And, when it comes to the immediate outlook of the division itself, the Ravens and Steelers are pegged as being in the hunt because that’s usually the case. As in, “well, because they’re Pittsburgh and Baltimore.”Lost in the shuffle of it all are the Cincinnati Bengals. Depending on which media power rankings list you prefer, one is hard-pressed to see the club crack into the 20s as things currently stand. With guys on their first NFL stints at head coach, as well as an offensive and defensive coordinator John Miller Jersey , it’s hard to blame even the most stone-cold Bengals cynics for their lukewarm outlook on the team in 2019. But, don’t tell Zac Taylor about how his Bengals team is dead-set at cellar-dwelling this year. “A lot of those teams (Browns, Ravens, Steelers) are getting a lot of well-deserved publicity in the offseason—that’s great,” Taylor recently told SiriusXM NFL Radio. But, they still have to come play us. We feel like if we handle our business here, then we’re going to be a tough team to play.”So, are we hearing nothing more than “coach-speak,” or is there some substance to Taylor’s statement? While similar to previous statements he has made Alex Redmond Jersey , what differentiates these comments is the timing of them. The optimistic approach in February and March when Taylor was was first hired comes with the “honeymoon” territory, but now that both the free agency frenzy and NFL Draft are in the rearview, Taylor seems ever so steadfast in his belief in this team making immediate noise. Look, it’s not as if we expected Taylor to spew some “roll over and die” diatribe here, but the way he said these words inspired faith in the direction of the team. Taylor obviously liked what he saw from his first crop of rookies at their recent minicamp, as well as looking around at some of the veteran talent scattered over the roster as he’s gotten to know them a little better. Speaking of timing, Taylor also propped up Andy Dalton once again as the “perfect fit” at quarterback in the interview. There are members of Who Dey Nation that remain jaded about No. 14’s likelihood of netting Cincinnati a championship. However, it sounds like Taylor’s offense will be the perfect blend of complex and innovative, yet also basic and taught in a way that players can easily grasp. The entire team’s philosophy might be best summed up by three words: play to strengths. When we chatted about this interview and the Bengals’ outlook on this week’s Orange and Black Insider Bobby Hart Jersey , co-host John Sheeran made an interesting point. Sheeran is a bit more hesitant to immediately buy into the notion of immediate Bengals success, and rightfully so,but he wisely honed in on another part of Taylor’s recent comments. The “handle our business” bit here really applies to Taylor’s potential ability to spin gold out of yarn. Sheeran pointed to the “It’s about us” 2019 team slogan, and the team needs to get its own house in order before truly worrying about the six AFC North games on the yearly schedule. Whether it was in our special guest Willie Anderson pointing out how the Bengals “couldn’t get over the hump” when they seemed poised for greatness, or in ESPN’s Louis Riddick noting that roster talent hasn’t been the biggest issue for the Bengals during this year’s draft telecast, an inward reflection on the team’s operational practices and on-field approach couldn’t hurt. For now, Taylor is doing some P.R. work to win over the fans. While he’s chipping away at the hardened base, the true exodus back to Paul Brown Stadium will occur when the win column reflects the workload. Andy Dalton went 50-26-1 in his first five seasons, leading the Bengals to the postseason four years in a row. But the quarterback has gone only 18-24-1 the past three seasons.New coach Zac Taylor Alex Redmond Jersey , though, continues to say all the right things about Dalton.Taylor was asked Wednesday about wanting to bring in competition for Dalton, with a follow-up question about drafting a quarterback to develop behind Dalton.“I think it’s important every backup in our building is competing for a job,” Taylor said. “I think Andy has a really bright future in what we are going to do. He’s had a great career. I’ve always watched him from afar. I have never really interacted with him until I got this job.“Andy is going to be very successful. He fits what we want to do. He’s smart. He gets the ball out on time. He’s accurate. He understands what the defenses are presenting to him. So I’m excited to get a chance to work with him. He’s going to have a bright future here.”For now, Dalton remains the Bengals’ best option at the position.