Early Thoughts

[BengalHawk62]

1. Barrett Jones- OL Alabama or Manti Te'o- ND

2. Arthur Brown- LB Kansas State or Khaled Holmes- USC

2. Stephon Taylor- RB Stanford or Stephon Taylor- Stanford





I started out making a mock, but then quickly realized this is harder than I realized. I guess I should have done a little more research before. All I know is ILB, C, DT, and RB should be at the top of our list. Here's a few thoughts and observations so far. Obviously, there's more than one guy at each position that I really, really like. For instance, Manti Te'o, Jarvis Jones and Arthur Brown at ILB are all 1a-1b-1c to me.

RBs I like. Kenyon Barner, Giovani Bernard, Jonathan Franklin, Montee Ball, for the first couple of rounds. Late round gems, Silas Redd, Cierre Wood, Christine Michael.

OL, is where I'm kind of stuck at. C is a definite must, but they normally don't get drafted very high. Can we wait until the 2nd to nab Barrett Jones? Is Khaled Holmes going in the 2nd? A kid that I like a lot, plays with a mean streak, is Braxston Cave. Where would he go? 3rd round? Later?

What about safety prospects? Kenny Vaccaro? Everyone and their dog around here has been talking about Bacari Rambo. Is he the best S in college football this year? TJ McDonald's name has been tossed around but what i've seen of him, he reminds of the Safety from USC we already have on the team, Taylor Mays. No thanks. Let me throw a name out that I haven't seen yet. Zeke Motta, Notre Dame.

DE? DT? Personally, I think we need a better DT on this team to help with Geno Atkins. Everything starts in the middle. That's how you build a successful team, start in the middle and work out. DT first, DE next. But that's just my personal opinion, man. If I would have been running the Draft War room last year, I would have snagged Jerrell Worthy, then we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now, but I digress. Kawann Short, Jesse Williams, and Jonathan Jenkins (not in order) are my top prospects. Williams is probably my favorite right now, but like everything else, that could change over time.


Well there's some early thoughts to the draft. Things will change, names will come and go. Especially after the season is over and the combine gets under way. That's where we'll find those "work out warriors", we all know who they are.

[crazyjdawg]

Why would we draft a DT?
We have Peko, Atkins, Sims, Still and Thompson.
If anything, we need to trade away one of our DTs.

[Jasonew6]

Not to mention Burfict is the MLB of the future.

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by crazyjdawg

Why would we draft a DT?
We have Peko, Atkins, Sims, Still and Thompson.
If anything, we need to trade away one of our DTs.

There is an argument that could be made for adding a dominant DT.

If the Bengals drafted a dominant DT in 2013, then teams would need to double-team both the rookie DT, Atkins, & probably Dunlap. Perhaps, teams could go one-on-one with MJ.

WTS, adding a dominant DT would force offenses to keep 7 players in to block. Add a QB & RB, and there are 9 players accounted for on the offense.

Offenses would need to run more 2 WR routes.

With only 2 WRs, it becomes A LOT easier to defend.

[BengalChris]

We are approaching the team's 8th game of the season and half way point. And what's so odd is that the positions the team needs to upgrade are basically the same as they were at draft time this year.

Let's see: RB Duh, Secondary, Interior OL, #2 WR, Atkins will probably be gone, so add DL.

After the draft I really felt that the Bengals conducted a good draft and by all accounts at that time it was a good draft. But going into the 8th game, I'm left speechless.

What the heck is going on at the #2 WR spot? The fans were like, who's going to be #2 in training camp and they're still asking. No one in the organization actually presented a creditable answer. I guess they were planning on "getting lucky" or maybe one of them worships the stars and figured there was an alignment that favored teams with no legit #2 WR.

And who the heck decided BJGE would be a good fit for this team anyways? Didn't like the signing at the time and now I really don't like it.

And why the heck can't we draft a decent Safety? Other teams do, so wtf?

And we were so darn expecting a good interior OL, but we find out it's all broken down. Doesn't the team have the concept of depth?

RB, OG, C, WR, S, CB, LB - Wow too many positions in dire need this coming off season. Is this a time warp back to the Mikey B 90's?

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by BengalChris

We are approaching the team's 8th game of the season and half way point. And what's so odd is that the positions the team needs to upgrade are basically the same as they were at draft time this year.

Let's see: RB Duh, Secondary, Interior OL, #2 WR, Atkins will probably be gone, so add DL.

After the draft I really felt that the Bengals conducted a good draft and by all accounts at that time it was a good draft. But going into the 8th game, I'm left speechless.

What the heck is going on at the #2 WR spot? The fans were like, who's going to be #2 in training camp and they're still asking. No one in the organization actually presented a creditable answer. I guess they were planning on "getting lucky" or maybe one of them worships the stars and figured there was an alignment that favored teams with no legit #2 WR.

And who the heck decided BJGE would be a good fit for this team anyways? Didn't like the signing at the time and now I really don't like it.

And why the heck can't we draft a decent Safety? Other teams do, so wtf?

And we were so darn expecting a good interior OL, but we find out it's all broken down. Doesn't the team have the concept of depth?

RB, OG, C, WR, S, CB, LB - Wow too many positions in dire need this coming off season. Is this a time warp back to the Mikey B 90's?

Many, many flaws in this post.

Let's see.

Interior Oline: Zeitler is a top 5 NFL guard, per PFF. Boling is a top 10 NFL guard, per PFF. Cook was injured, and he should return at some point this season. WTS, Cook will probably be upgraded in the next couple years via the draft.

Geno Atkins is a Bengal thu the 2013 year. Atkins is a probably a high target for extension as well.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cincinnat...s/geno-atkins/

BJGE was supposed to share snaps with Bernard Scott. Scott went on IR, so BJGE is taking more snaps than initially intended. BJGE is a 3rd & short specialist.

From below jump, "On 14 runs when it is third or fourth and two yards or less, he's converted 11 times in getting the tough yards, and against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, he's got 25 yards on six carries and a touchdown."
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/10/2...-go-situations

As for the secondary, our 1st round pick Dre Kirk hasn't seen the field because of a bone spur, but is expected to hit the field shortly. Jason Allen hopefully will hit the field shortly as well. Injecting these 2 players in the secondary mix will greatly lift the strength of the CB corp.

Strong Safety is a BIG problem, but I expect the Bengals to draft a Safety early in 2013.

WR2 is a problem as well. WTS, this was in part expected with so many young receivers (Sanu, Jones, Binns, & Whalen). IF the Bengals can survive the development curve, I think that our WR corp will be good and have depth. If not, then they need to look at a FA and/or draft pick to bolster the WR corp to balance defenses and assist AJ Green.

As for 2013 prospects, I see an early focus on defense. With the first 2 picks, I can see Te'o (MIKE) & Vaccaro (SS) being drafted.

Then, the Bengals shift to more of a BPA with the remaining picks with a focus on adding a quality RB to the mix.

Beside MIKE & SS, the other focused positions would be RB1, RB3, DE, CB, C, WR2, RT2, RG2/C2, WILL2.

[BengalChris]

Originally Posted by mulligan

Many, many flaws in this post.

Let's see.

Interior Oline: Zeitler is a top 5 NFL guard, per PFF. Boling is a top 10 NFL guard, per PFF. Cook was injured, and he should return at some point this season. WTS, Cook will probably be upgraded in the next couple years via the draft.

Geno Atkins is a Bengal thu the 2013 year. Atkins is a probably a high target for extension as well.
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cincinnat...s/geno-atkins/

BJGE was supposed to share snaps with Bernard Scott. Scott went on IR, so BJGE is taking more snaps than initially intended. BJGE is a 3rd & short specialist.

From below jump, "On 14 runs when it is third or fourth and two yards or less, he's converted 11 times in getting the tough yards, and against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, he's got 25 yards on six carries and a touchdown."
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/10/2...-go-situations

As for the secondary, our 1st round pick Dre Kirk hasn't seen the field because of a bone spur, but is expected to hit the field shortly. Jason Allen hopefully will hit the field shortly as well. Injecting these 2 players in the secondary mix will greatly lift the strength of the CB corp.

Strong Safety is a BIG problem, but I expect the Bengals to draft a Safety early in 2013.

WR2 is a problem as well. WTS, this was in part expected with so many young receivers (Sanu, Jones, Binns, & Whalen). IF the Bengals can survive the development curve, I think that our WR corp will be good and have depth. If not, then they need to look at a FA and/or draft pick to bolster the WR corp to balance defenses and assist AJ Green.

As for 2013 prospects, I see an early focus on defense. With the first 2 picks, I can see Te'o (MIKE) & Vaccaro (SS) being drafted.

Then, the Bengals shift to more of a BPA with the remaining picks with a focus on adding a quality RB to the mix.

Beside MIKE & SS, the other focused positions would be RB1, RB3, DE, CB, C, WR2, RT2, RG2/C2, WILL2.

Dude, You prove my point! You agree the oline is still a problem. You agree #2 WR is still a problem. You agree safety is still a problem. You agree RB is still a problem. You ignore that we have health issues at CB. The team has lots of bodies at CB, but they all break too easily.

[yellowxdiscipline]

The MLB class this year looks very thin.. I wouldnt chance a 1st rounder on Te'o, plus I think Burfict will be our starting MLB next year.. Im thinking we go with OLB in the 1st.. I like Jarvis Jones and CJ Mosley. Manny Lawson is more likely destined for free agency or 2nd string.

2nd round we need our running back.

Im liking Giovanni Bernard alot.

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by BengalChris

Dude, You prove my point! You agree the oline is still a problem. You agree #2 WR is still a problem. You agree safety is still a problem. You agree RB is still a problem. You ignore that we have health issues at CB. The team has lots of bodies at CB, but they all break too easily.

I didn't "prove" your point.

If you are going to extrapolate that I agreed with your accessment, because I said that Cook isn't the long term solution at Center, but Whit, Boling, Smith, & Zeitler are the long-term solutions, then you are reaching.

I don't believe that LG or RG or RT or LT is a problem. 4 of the 5 spots are either very good or good.

[BengalChris]

Originally Posted by mulligan

I didn't "prove" your point.

If you are going to extrapolate that I agreed with your accessment, because I said that Cook isn't the long term solution at Center, but Whit, Boling, Smith, & Zeitler are the long-term solutions, then you are reaching.

I don't believe that LG or RG or RT or LT is a problem. 4 of the 5 spots are either very good or good.

Say what you like. The oline is not as good as you say, period. If they were we'd have at least a little bit of a running game keep defenses honest.

And, as to your point above on drafting the BPA, that only works if you fill your holes with FAs. The team left holes unfilled, then drafted BPA. The ownership is just too cheap to do it right.

[mulligan]

Originally Posted by BengalChris

Say what you like. The oline is not as good as you say, period. If they were we'd have at least a little bit of a running game keep defenses honest.

And, as to your point above on drafting the BPA, that only works if you fill your holes with FAs. The team left holes unfilled, then drafted BPA. The ownership is just too cheap to do it right.

Say what you like. The oline is not as bad as you say, period.

IMO, no team can go strictly speaking BPA.

But the Bengals can go BPA within the context of their needs; DE, LB, SS with their first 3 picks. Then RB in the 3rd. If we had those positions in the 2013 draft, our team will be much improved.