Prior to the hot stove of the 2012 NFL draft was lit, many draftniks saw Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict as a first-round talent. 

Coming out of a state championship-winning team at Centennial High School in Corona, CA, Burfict was listed as a 5-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com and was the top high school linebacker in the country. 

This notoriety earned him an offer from Pac-10 powerhouse USC, though he’d eventually sign with Arizona State.  At the time, ASU coach Dennis Erickson compared him to Ray Lewis of the Ravens, and that comparison rode with him throughout his college career.  At 6’2 and 250 pounds, the comparison fits well physically, and Burfict’s penchant for vicious hits, fearlessness and intimidation likewise fit the mold. 

His Sun Devil career included 228 total tackles (22.5 for loss), 12 pass break-ups, 4 forced fumbles, 7 sacks, and an interception.  He plays the game angrily, full of violence and power.  His energy and aggression are obvious on film, and are in truth quite reminiscent of Baltimore’s Lewis. Ironically, many early mock drafts had the Ravens selecting Burfict in round one as his eventual replacement.

But things turned sour as his senior season concluded.  His hot-headed personality on the field—which was well-documented by then—wasn’t as excusable with ASU’s 2011 season spinning into oblivion.  The Sun Devils finished 6-7 (losing their last five straight), and Burfict’s Tempe Temper boiled over.  He finished his collegiate career with 37 games played, and a whopping 17 personal fouls.  Most were the result of him being unable to contain his emotions at critical points in games. Some directly resulted in Sun Devil losses.  Others resulted in him being benched, pulled, or ejected.

Nonetheless, his draft prospects looked excellent heading into the combine, and a strong showing there would have solidified his place on day one.

It didn’t happen.

Burfict looked down-right bad in the linebacker drills, was the slowest backer at the 40-yard dash, and reportedly soured teams in the interviews.  Worst of all, he was rumored to have tested positive for marijuana at the event.

He followed that train wreck up with a similar Hindenberg-esque collapse at the ASU pro day.  By many observer accounts, he seemed uncoordinated and out-of-shape.  Even flabby.  His 16 reps at the bench were embarrassing.  At that point, his draft prospects looked to be sinking faster than the Titanic.

And as it turned out, they did.  No team called his name that day, while 31 other linebackers were picked in 258 selections.

But he did do two things right that day in Tempe.  First, he improved upon his 5.09 forty time at the combine with a 4.93, and second, he struck up a long and fruitful conversation with one Marvin Lewis.

It was that conversation that led him to the Bengals once the last pick of round seven was announced.  The Bengals didn’t have to recruit him very hard.  The allure of playing for Lewis, the man that had talked him up, was clear.

The allure for the Bengals is the thought of catching a first round talent at an undrafted free agent’s price.  Undrafted players account for nearly 20% of all NFL rosters, and the Bengals have never been afraid of giving these guys a chance.

But an undrafted “mike” backer starting might be a stretch.

The middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme is crucial to the success of the defense.  As linebacker coach Paul Guenther described current starter Rey Maualuga: “He should be the centerpiece of our defense.”  A tall order for a highly-drafted player, let alone a guy like Burfict.

Can Burfict push Rey Maualuga in the middle?

And it seems to be a position requiring a series of rare qualities, similar to a quarterback. The player that mans the middle must have smarts, durability, and reliability to do the job.  He must know the defense, and be confident enough to be a leader on the field.  Then to be a Ray Lewis caliber linebacker–a Hall of Fame caliber player– you need those things plus freakish physical ability, a knack for finding the ball, and a mean streak that would give Freddie Kruger nightmares.  Getting all those traits in one guy can seem to be a lifelong search.

For the man who brought Ray Lewis to Baltimore, it has been. After finding him in Baltimore for Ozzie Newsome, Marvin Lewis has been looking for that guy for Mike Brown’s Bengals since he came to Cincinnati.  Takeo Spikes refused the opportunity.  Kevin Hardy tried, but wasn’t up for it.  Nate Webster and Ahmad Brooks had injuries and immaturity derail their shots at it.  Odell Thurman had it all for one glorious season before flaming out on drugs and alcohol.  Then Dhani Jones finally stabilized things.  He was aces for smarts and a rock of reliability.  Sadly, nothing more.

Maualuga is the current attempt to catch lightning in a bottle, and he’s probably the closest thing to a complete package that Lewis has found.   But he too, has faults that go beyond football. Maualuga followed a lackluster 2011 season, his first in the middle, with a charge in February for misdemeanor assault.  The plaintiff settled with the linebacker out of court but an NFL suspension is possible, particularly considering his February 2010 DUI.  Some fans have begun to question his reliability off the field, and his capabilities on it.

These are the kinds of things that make a team re-evaluate their roster, and Maualuga knows it.  That’s why he watched the draft intently; concerned that Bengal brass might opt for his successor in the form of a Dont’a Hightower or Luke Kuechly. “We had two first-round picks and you hear these things going around,” Maualuga said to Bengals.com.  “Are they going to trade up to get this Cincinnati native or are they going to pick Hightower? I don’t know.” Lucky for him they didn’t trade up for Kuechly and passed on Hightower for more pressing needs. 

Thanks to Burfict, he may not be out of the woods yet.

Burfict gives the Bengals a chance to push Maualuga with a talented and cheap alternative.  His presence, at a minimum, will make Maualuga train his muscles harder, study his playbook closer, and mind his manners more carefully.  That alone helps the linebacker corps get better.  Worst case scenario: Burfict gets cut in camp and Maualuga has the confidence of everyone.  A small investment for a pretty big return in the grand scheme of the NFL.

Best case scenario: both Maualuga and Burfict challenge for the starting middle linebacker spot, and perhaps Burfict becomes a Pro Bowl playmaker in the center of the defense.  The Best case for Vontaze, the man, may be to get the guidance that Marvin Lewis offers, and realize his immense potential.  Coming to Cincy might have been the best move he could’ve made.

In the end, Burfict may be a player that takes Mike Zimmer’s defense to the next level; perhaps even championship level.  He might just have that freakish combination Marvin Lewis has been looking for. 

He might just be a Burfict Storm.

What a draft by the Cincinnati Bengals! By most accounts from some of the bigger “draft experts” around the league, the Bengals had one of, IF NOT, the best drafts in all of football. Timm couldn’t make it this week so filling in for us is Sean O’Donnell from StripeHype.com and helping us break down the draft is Shane P. Hallam from DraftCountdown.com.

In this week’s show:

Mickey’s a PTP’er for joining the show despite a flooded basement

We discuss the Bengals and their first round picks

What to make of the Vontaze Burfict CFA signing by the Bengals

Review our show on iTunes. Please?

Shane P. Hallam of DraftCountdown.com stops by the show to break down the Bengals draft and tells us where he thinks their draft rates among the rest of the NFL.

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You know the Bengals have some questions at Wide Receiver. You also knew they were going to address that at some point in the draft. The Bengals went out and got a great possession receiver in Mohamed Sanu. What this guy also brings to the table is the ability to decleate guys when making blocks for the offense. Watch the video below, for every catch there is a shot of Sanu laying the wood on some unsuspecting defender.

CBS Draft Profile:

Release: Too big and strong for most defenders at this level to test him in press coverage. Good hand placement and upper body strength to fight off the jam when he gets it and is a threat to beat the defender over the top due to good acceleration and better straight-line speed than he’s often credited with possessing. Eats up the cushion, showing better agility and precision as a route-runner than most receivers with his bulk. Hands: Sanu has several outstanding qualities but none more impressive than his natural receiving skills. Possesses very reliable hands and a wide catch radius due to his long arms, impressive flexibility, and hand-eye coordination. Extends and plucks the ball away from his frame when
he senses the defender near. Quickly secures the ball and carries it tight to his frame. Very good jump-ball candidate due to strong leaping skills, long arms and timing. Route running: Quick burst off the line of scrimmage perhaps masking a lack of elite straight-line speed. Has enough speed to challenge vertically. Throttles down quickly, sinks his hips and has good burst left and right to generate separation on underneath routes. Used from a variety of positions, lining up inside in the slot, outside and put in motion. Courageous over the middle, often pulling away on drag routes and quick posts. After the catch: Exciting blend of size, strength and speed once the ball is in his hands. Strong receiver capable of ripping free of arm tackles and shucking off defenders with a stiff-arm. Lacks elite lateral agility to make defenders miss in tight quarters, but has good flexibility, balance and vision to weave through the defense. Rushed for 653 yards and nine touchdowns over his career and isn’t opposed to cutting back inside amidst the big bodies if he sees a lane. Some question about his true timed speed but has an explosive burst to accelerate through gaps and separate. Blocking: Takes his role as a blocker seriously. Shows good strength and very good effort blocking downfield, locking up the corner and working to seal his opponent from the action. Often sent in motion so he can provide a crack back block on an unsuspecting defensive end and looks to peel back and knock out the trailing defender when a teammate has a chance for a big play. Intangibles: A selfless player who head coach Greg Schiano raved about when Sanu announced that he was leaving early.

Scott Wright Draft Countdown: 

• Great height / bulk with long arms / big hands
• Athletic with good balance, agility and a burst
• Strong, reliable hands to snatch ball out of air
• Superb leaping ability, ball skills, body control
• Crafty route runner knows how to get open
• Runs hard and can pick up yards after catch
• Impressive vision, instincts and awareness
• Tough and is not afraid to sacrifice his body
• A fantastic blocker who will give great effort
• Offers versatility and can line up all over field
• Very productive with a lot of quality experience

NFL Draft Profile:

Sanu is excellent working drive routes and across the field to read coverages and sit down in the holes of zones. He is a natural at shielding himself from defenders and giving the quarterback a clear throwing lane. He is a reliable hands catcher who is very technical at the top of his routes and when competing with corners to give himself space to secure the catch. Sanu is a throwback receiver who sees the ball when going across the middle. He is fearless in all aspects.

In the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft the Bengals selected Devon Still DT out of Penn State. The Bengals play in a division where it is important to have a big presence on the defensive line. Devon Still can be that presence. A guy that can wreak havoc in the backfield and disrupt plays. He will fit nicely on the Bengals rotation and many were surprised he made it out of the first round.

His NFL Draft profile read:

Still is one of the most NFL-ready interior lineman of this year’s senior class and arguably one of the most polished and “safe” picks of the draft. He has massive size to clog lanes on the inside and occupy blocks. Still displays good technique to beat double teams and get to the passer, and the power to bowl over would-be blockers to be disruptive in the backfield. He has been a reliable and productive player throughout his time at Penn State. A team that needs to address its run defense and add a player who will occupy and keep linebackers free in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme likely will select Still in the middle of the first round as an immediate starter.

Still is a strong player who gets off the line quickly for his size and shows the explosion to blow back offensive guards into their own backfield. He excels as a run defender by using his strength to occupy a blocker while he reads the play and reacts, which is ideal for a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. He has the ability to use hand technique and footwork to remove himself from blocks and get in the backfield. For a massive nose tackle, he is an above-average pass rusher who can use an array of swim and dip moves to get to the passer.

CBS profile:

Still did nothing to diminish his stock in the eyes of NFL evaluators at the 2012 Scouting Combine, but the crop of defensive tackles appears to be deeper than expected. “I think hands down I’m the best defensive tackle in this draft, just because I feel like I want it more,” said Still, NFLDraftScout.com’s No. 2-rated defensive tackle prospect behind LSU’s Michael Brockers. Since a dominant Outback Bowl performance to end the 2010 season — 3.5 tackles for loss against Florida center and Dolphins first-round pick Mike Pouncey — Still was convinced he’d make a living on Sundays. Like Brockers, Still has to shake similar questions from scouts about whether he’s a late bloomer or one-year wonder. After tearing two left knee
ligaments as a freshman and a broken ankle in fall camp the following season, Still said he fully dedicated himself to being a football player before the 2011 season. He credits defensive line coach Larry Johnson for keeping him motivated and schooling him on the finer points of on-field technique and how to watch film. “I think I had a very average year my junior year and I never strive for being mediocre. I try to be the best that I can be,” Still said. “I put in a lot of overtime during the offseason just to prepare myself to be one of the best in the country for my senior year and make my mark at Penn State.” Still said Penn State left guard Johnnie Troutman, who was also at the Scouting Combine, deserves credit in his emergence from reserve to Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. They became so familiar with each other squaring off in practice four or five days a week that by last season, one-on-one matchups became a test of fortitude. Troutman said the game slowed down for Still, who stopped over-thinking about his responsibility within the scheme and let his ability take over. “It definitely helped me over the past three years playing against a guy like him,” Troutman said. “For his size he’s a real quick guy so you’ve got to move your feet and don’t blink because if you blink and punch and miss he’s going to be by you.” Penn State might be Linebacker U, but the Nittany Lions are accustomed to sending defensive linemen to the NFL. From Courtney Brown to Michael Haynes to Aaron Maybin, Jared Odrick to Tamba Hali to Cameron (Derek) Wake, the tradition is tangible. While Penn State transitions to a new era under new coach Bill O’Brien, Still remains cognizant of repaying the program that helped him reach the doorstep of a lifelong dream. “What drives me is that when I first started playing football, whenever I do something, I’m very competitive,” he said. “I want to be the best at it. When I got injured my first two years at Penn State, a lot of people said I wouldn’t be the same player as I was when I showed up on campus. I think that drove me just to prove everybody wrong. To this day, I don’t think I’m where I need to be right now. I want to make my mark in the NFL, just as I did at Penn State, and become one of the best.”

I hope he lives up to that and does become one of the best. I am pumped to see him put Big Ben on his rear a few times.

As the old adage says, the game of football is won in the trenches. And in the past few years, as the Bengals have improved their drafts, they have done a better job of selecting those trench warriors who move earth and make the skill players we like look good.

Yesterday I looked through the guys currently on the roster on the defensive line, the pivot point of the team. Today I want to hop sides of the ball and look at the guys on the offensive line.

While the O-line still isn’t as deep as the D-line is, the Bengals made several moves to improve themselves from the group that walked off of the field in Houston back in January.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE. The Bengals typically keep four OTs. They currently have five on the roster, plus any pending UDFAs.

• Andrew Whitworth: had a small step back in 2011, but still the anchor of the line.
• Andre Smith: made a nice step forward in his third season first full season on the field without injury, but he needs to improve again if he wants to land another contract.
• Anthony Collins: the perennial backup has starter quality. We will all be glad that the Bengals got him back if Whit or Andre misses time with an injury.
• Dennis Roland: will never be a starter, but a decent fill-in/spot play guy.
• Matthew O’Donnell: a huge (6′ 9″ tall, 340 lb)  guy who will have to push his way past Roland to avoid another season on the practice squad.

CENTER. The Bengals keep just one, asking one of the guards to be prepped as the backup center.

• Kyle Cook: he isn’t Rich Braham, but you have to be impressed with what the Bengals have gotten out of a guy who was a UDFA at one point.

OFFENSIVE GUARD. The Bengals typically keep four OGs. They currently have five on the roster, plus any pending UDFAs.

• Kevin Zeitler: the more I read about this kid, the more I like him. Big Bobbie’s successor should be a contributor to this team for a long, long time.
• Travelle Wharton: should be better than his 2011 PFF rating. (Playing in front of an unconventional QB like Cam Newton skewed his grades.) Definitely an upgrade from Nate Livings.
• Jacob Bell: not exactly the veteran acquisition fans were hoping for, but the coaches seem to think there is something left in his tank. Geez, I hope they are right, because I see more of a mess than a mass.
• Clint Boling: the selection of Zeitler changes the trajectory of Boling’s career for the next few years from projected starter to back up.
• Otis Hudson: the 5th round pick did not make it into a game last year. He has to beat out Bell if he wants to avoid the practice squad.

At first glance, this group does not stand out as dominant unit on paper. But we need to see what Wharton and Zeitler can do to improve the running game. With a little more punch from the line and a little more pop from the RBs (anyone else noticed that Cedric is still unsigned?), they could be just good enough.

Paul Alexander and Jay Gruden have to field their best 5 guys every game, no matter who they are. If Andre Smith hasn’t taken another big step forward by the end of camp, they cannot be reluctant to start Collins instead. Bell cannot make the squad simply because he is a veteran. They need a clear strategy and the guys that best implement that strategy. If they do, we will all be happy with the results.

By now you have read (or at least read about) the outstanding grades that the Bengals are receiving for their work in this year’s draft. They were able to find value picks that matched nicely with needs again and again. It was a wonderful thing to watch unfold.

You may have noticed, however, that a number of Bengals fans have repeatedly cited a blemish — or a perceived blemish — in the draft strategy. Did the war room make a mistake? Or have the fans made a mistake? I think we fans need to learn to think differently when it comes to the draft.

How many times have you heard/read these words from a fan since the end of Round 1? “I would rather have had DeCastro.” I have heard it a number of times now. I get it, but it is a perfect illustration of a flaw in our thinking.

Over the Mike Brown era, we have become conditioned to drafting high. We have gotten used to being able to select from the elite of the draft class in Round 1. We want the guy that all of the draftniks agree is the #1 take at his position. We are even rather used to getting him.

I, for one, am tired of that. I’m ready to start missing out on the best guy at his position. “How can you not want the guy that everyone says is the best, Bill?” Easy.

First, I don’t want the Bengals drafting in the top 6-8 where the “can’t miss” guys are. (Some “can’t miss” guys still miss.) I want them drafting in the twenties… and eventually in the thirties. And that means learning to see deeper than the top guy.

Second, the gulf in skill between the #1 guy and the #2 and #3 guys often isn’t as wide as we make it out to be. We will have to learn see the benefits of the guy who grades out at a 9.3, and not just complain that they missed out on the guy who graded at a 9.6. Both are still really good. The lower guy might not be as pure as the top guy, but he may bring other skills or intangibles that make him just as desirable for the team.

And last, the guy who fits the system best should be ranked highest. Mel Kiper’s Big Board isn’t gospel. If the Bengals were targeting Zeitler even though Mel Kiper ranked him third, does that mean the war room doesn’t know what they are doing? Or maybe that the Bengals know who fits their system best?

If the Bengals keep drafting like this, we will have to learn to make this mental adjustment. There will be a need at some position every year. But the Bengals don’t have to snag the top guy at that position to adequately address the need. (Especially if settling for the second guy nets an extra quality pick like trading with NE did this year.) There can be satisfaction with the next best guy.

Geoff Hobson recently began an article summarizing the draft with a poignant little story.

Even before the Bengals started picking in the second round on Friday night, retiring Bengals director of football operations Jim Lippincott looked at the board and said to no one in particular, “Good luck cutting this team.”

As much as it can pain me to agree with Jim Lippincott, he is completely right. Competition in camp will be high, and deciding who to cut will not be simple decisions.

Look at the list of guys already on the roster, and you will see what I mean. I have not even included any UDFAs because the Bengals have not made their list of signees official yet. And after looking at this list, a UDFA is going to have to shine like Arian Foster to make the cut.

DEFENSIVE END. The Bengals typically keep four DEs. They have five on the roster, plus any UDFAs.

• Carlos Dunlap: undoubtedly on the roster. Has he advanced enough to start?
• Robert Geathers: the senior of the group going into his 9th season, there is an outside chance that he becomes expendable due to age and salary ($4.2M) if MJ, Anderson and Harvey all play up to their full potential.
• Michael Johnson: the most physically gifted DE behind Dunlap, but coaches were not happy with him and reduced his role last year. He has to change that, or he could find himself as the odd man out.
• Jamaal Anderson: the Falcons were not satisfied with what they got out of the #8 overall pick, but he seemed to be coming around last year in Indy as he learned behind two of the best in Freeney and Mathis. (I’m guessing he sticks.)
• Derrick Harvey: the guy with the longest odds to make the cut IMO, but his departure is not inevitable. If he can unearth the skill he had at Florida and show more heart than MJ, he will make the cut.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE. The Bengals typically keep five DTs and dress four on game day. They currently have six, plus any UDFAs.

• Geno Atkins: no question that he’s back.
• Devon Still: as a 2nd round pick, he will make the cut. Coaches need to make sure he keeps the fire in his belly.
• Brandon Thompson: as a 3rd round pick, he will also make the cut, although he is likely to be the odd man out on game days to begin the season as coaches work to bring up his pass rushing to match his stellar run blocking skills.
• Domata Peko: going into his 7th season, he has 3 years left on his deal. Could be his last year as a starter, though, if Still or Thompson come on fast?
• Pat Sims: the guy is a nice contributor. I am glad he is back for at least one more year, as he should make the cut.
• Nick Hayden: the guy likely to miss the roster, IMO. As a guy with 28 games played and 13 starts, would he really accept a spot on the practice squad?

There is significant talent for Jay Hayes and Mike Zimmer to groom. Regardless of which nine players make up the D-line in 2012, it should be a better group than it was in 2011. And that group wasn’t shabby.

Next, we will take a look at the defense’s back seven, which is a lot more crowded.

With their second pick in the first round the Bengals tried to improve their line on the offensive side of the ball. Guard is a need for the Bengals and in picking Kevin Zeitler, the Bengals probably improves the position on day 1 this season. Being a Buckeye fan, I got to see Zeitler play a couple times over the past few years and in that time the Wisconsin running game has been incredible.

I know some fans were a little angry the Bengals did not draft DeCastro. I wonder why these fans were getting so upset? Was it because so many “experts” claimed DeCastro was the better player? I highly doubt anyone did much research on the two players to know which one would fit the Bengals system better and this is why I have confidence in the Bengals coaching staff that the right decision was made. Below are some highlights about the Bengals new guard.

2011:

• First-team All-American by AFCA and Pro Football Weekly
• Second-team All-American by Yahoo! Sports and Phil Steele
• Honorable mention All-American from SI.com
• Consensus first-team All-Big Ten
• Co-winner of team’s Tom Wiesner Award (Wisconsin-born student-athlete)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Invited to the Senior Bowl and the NFL scouting combine

2010:

• Consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Badger Power Award (weight room dedication)
• Preseason: Named third-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports

NFL.com draft report:

A perfectionist, Zeitler expects more out of himself than anybody else possibly could in class, in the weight room and on the field. His anxious, nit-picking is noticed, and not always well-accepted, by classmates, teachers and teammates. But it is opposing defenders who pay the price when the sum of his hard work pays off on the field. So, as expected, scouting reports show he does just about everything according to the book to his best ability – and he has plenty of ability. Zeitler added a significant amount of lean mass in his college career and used it well. According the NFL Draft Report statistics he led college football with 142 knockdown blocks and had 33 blocks that resulted
in touchdowns, obviously a major reason Wisconsin had a per-game average of 44.62 points and 467 total yards, including 237 on the ground.

STRENGTHS Zeitler displays very quick movement off the line and gets into his blocks quickly. He can blow a defender back and also drive his legs to sustain throughout run plays. He stands out in his work at the second level, where he has the ability to bend his knees and engage linebackers. He can quickly pull from his spot off the line.

WEAKNESSES Zeitler is a big man with heavy legs who at times labors to get moving when he needs to get out of his set and pull. His body control can be inconsistent at times, as he occasionally will whiff on linebackers. He is slower than desirable and is better off working in close proximity to his man to control the block.

FoxSports draft report:

A polished blocker that played for a school with a reputation of sending linemen to the pros, Zeitler seems likely to be playing in the NFL in 2012. As a senior in 2011, Zeitler started at right guard in all 14 games for Wisconsin and was a first-team all-Big Ten selection as he helped lead the way for Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball, who rushed for 1,923 yards and 33 touchdowns. Zeitler is a proficient run blocker using both quick hands and excellent lower-body strength to drive a defensive lineman off the line of scrimmage. He also displayed great balance, which helped in pass-blocking situations as he rarely got knocked over. Zeitler finished with 32 reps in the bench press at the NFL combine, tied for second-best among offensive linemen. While Zeitler is excellent in close quarters, he sometimes struggles to block linebackers when he is uncovered or on running plays designed to go to the opposite side. Despite lacking some quickness to get to the next level, Zeitler can dominate the line of scrimmage and excelled in a system that breeds offensive linemen.

If you thought that the Bengals absolutely had to take a highly touted running back in the draft, you might not share my opinion about how well the war room did this year. But I love drafting linemen. So getting three good ones in the first three rounds is a home run in my book.

The Bengals made clear statements with how they drafted. Statements I like.

1. We want to win in the trenches.

There is nothing sexy about linemen. They don’t make the ESPN highlight reel like skill players do. But they win football games. Controlling the line of scrimmage is how Paul Brown liked to play the game. And it still works.

By adding a tough, smart guard like Zeitler, Marvin is committing to the run. By taking run-stuffers in Still and Thompson, Marvin is continuing to define the Bengals with a fearsome D-line. They want to not only stuff the tough-running AFC North, but to also force Roethlisberger and Flacco into rushing decisions, forcing throws and making mistakes.

2. The O-line, not the RBs, was to blame for the poor running game last year.

Many fans felt that the Bengals needed to beef up the RB position more than just adding BJGE. You may be one of them. If you are, you likely feel that they made a mistake by ignoring RB until the 6th round. Then they took Herron, who will struggle to make the team.

By passing on RBs again and again, the war room made theiropinion clear that they are comfortable with the guys already on the roster. They blame the lackluster rushing attack in 2011 on the O-line… or maybe on Cedric Benson. They may well be right. Adding Wharton and Zeitler should allow Gruden to run through any gap, not just left (which opponents knew and were ready for in 2011).

3. The coaches have some kind of plan for the #2 receiver. I assume.

What that plan is, I still haven’t the slightest idea.

We were all concerned about who was going to take pressure off of A.J. Green this year. When the front office decided not to overpay for a #2, the lead candidate became either a troubled Jerome Simpson or an untested Armon Binns. Neither option allayed our concerns.

Sanu is more of a T.J. Houshmandzadeh-style possession receiver than a Chris Henry sideline threat. With Shipley, Hawkins, Gresham being joined by Sanu and Charles, the middle of the field is more than covered. Do they figure to let Jones push Binns for the #2 receiver? Gruden must have something in mind, but I’m having trouble guessing it.

4. Gruden wants receiving threats everywhere.

I did not see the selection of Orson Charles coming. At all. But he certainly seems to like the idea of a dual tight end threat. And as I just noted, he has amply covered the middle of the field. I doubt we will ever see fewer than four receiving options on the field now that Gruden will have a full offseason to implement his WCO.

The Bengals drafted a ton of value, which is earning them rave reviews for the weekend’s work. They got better at nearly every single position… except for linebacker. I don’t know who is calling the shots in the Bengals war room any more, but I like what they have done the past few years.

The Bengals have a need at corner, they may have solved it by adding another first rounder to their stable in the defense.  Dre Kirkpatrick looks to be an incredible athlete that can cover in man or zone and is  not afraid to hit.  What more do you want from a cornerback?  Check out some highlights and what I found out about this kid on the web…

NFL.com Draft Profile:

Athletes like Kirkpatrick are able to defy the perception that taller skill players don’t have the footwork and agility that shorter players do. Kirkpatrick will thrive initially within a zone scheme, where he can use his burst and length to cover ground and remain active. He is so talented athletically that he could likely be tested early on an island in man coverage and excel, and he possesses the confidence and field presence necessary to take on such a task.

MIke Mayock’s take:

“They desperately need this young player. Keep in mind that Cincinnati has signed several defensive backs this offseason. They understand that this is an area of concern. They just got themselves the last true first-round cornerback of this draft. Mike Zimmer will get an awful lot out of this kid.”

From CBS:

his strength is in how he plays the man more than how he plays the ball. He

denies receivers. He denies them a clean release. He denies them to get separation. And he denies them an opportunity to get the ball. He is physical to the extreme, both in coverage and coming up on run support, where he is perhaps too much of a hitter and not enough of a wrap-up tackler.

2011 Season notes: 

• First-team All-American by the FWAA, CBSsports.com and Pro Football Weekly
• Second-team Associated Press All-American
• Second-team All-SEC by both the AP and the league coaches

Kent State: Did not have a pass completed in his direction and broke up three passes as the Golden Flashes could only manage 98 passing yards on while completing only 42.5 percent of their passes.

Penn State: Forced two Nittany Lions’ fumbles while making two solo tackles and breaking up one pass in the 27-11 road win over No. 23 Penn State … Defensive Player of the Week by the UA coaching staff.

North Texas: Made one solo tackle and broke up a pass as the Mean Green completed only 41.9 percent of their passes.

Arkansas: Matched his season and career best with three pass breakups … had a season-high six tackles — all solo … had two devastating hits that upended Arkansas receivers … recorded his first tackle for loss of the season (-3 yards) … helped limit the Hogs to over 150 yards below their season average throwing the football and 291 yards below their total offense average.
Florida: Had three solo tackles as Alabama beat the Gators 38-10.

Vanderbilt: Made two solo stops and helped limt the Commodores to just 149 passing yards.

Mississippi: Made four total tackles with three solo stops … had his first assisted tackle of the year … helped limit the Rebels to just 113 yards passing … named the Special Teams Player of the Week by the UA coaching staff.

Tennessee: Had just one tackle with the Volunteers not testing his side of the field … helped limit UT to just 63 passing yards and 15 yards of total offense in a 37-6 win.

LSU: Recorded four tackles as the Crimson Tide limited the top-ranked Tigers to just 91 yards passing.

Mississippi State: Made one solo tackle as the Tide limited the Bulldogs to just 131 total yards while posting a 18.8 third-down conversion percentage.

Georgia Southern: Made two solo tackles as the Tide held the Eagles to just 39 yards passing … returned a blocked field goal 55 yards for a score.

Auburn: Broke up and deflected the only ball thrown in his direction … helped the Crimson Tide limit the Tigers to just 44 yards through three quarters and 140 total yards.

Well, it may have played out differently than most could have guessed, but man, the Bengals sure did seem to have a solid draft.

After Bengals fans climbed off the ledge on Thursday (looking your direction Mr. Seuberling) and realized what the Bengals accomplished, the total pull by the Bengals looks to improve this team right away. Then, the Bengals went ahead and added to their haul a handful of undrafted free agents that could potentially add huge impact.

First, the guys drafted:

This week I will focus on each guy and my thoughts about what he brings to the Bengals.

Then, Twitter caught fire with the announcements of other players the Bengals have signed:

• Defensive Lineman Julian Miller out of West Virginia
• Vontaze Burfict The once highly touted possible top 10 pick linebacker out of Arizona State
• Colorado Quarterback Tyler Hansen
• Indiana State Wide Receiver Justin Hilton
• Offensive Lineman Ben Bojicic out of Bowling Green
• UCLA Safety Tony Dye
• Colorado Running Back Rodney Stewart

Incredible amount of talent the Bengals assembled and it did not go unnoticed.  Here are a few samplings from Twitter that I thought worthy to post here:

Shawn Zobel ‏ @ShawnZobel_DHQ
Cincinnati has put together one of the more impressive draft classes that I’ve seen in the past six years

Andrea Hangst ‏ @FBALL_Andrea
The entire AFC North is having a stellar draft, but far and away the Bengals are the best of them all. A+, without a doubt.

NFL Mocks Crew ‏ @NFLMocks
The Cincinnati #Bengals have absolutely dominated the draft as it pertains to my personal board. They have 8 of my top 108

Jim Trotter ‏ @SI_JimTrotter
said this yesterday, but it’s worth repeating. i *really* like what the bengals have done the last couple of years. #sidraft

And then John Gruden himself says during the draft:

“I like what Cincinnati has done in this draft.”

So do I John, so do I.

I’m working on an oustide project for the NFL Draft so I won’t be able to post much here at WhoDeyFans, but I love what the Bengals have done so far and I’ll be offering up some occasional insight on Twitter. I look for the Bengals to address linebacker and perhaps running back, defensive end, and maybe safety with their remaining picks.

For more thoughts, opinions, and ill-advised ramblings, follow me on Twitter @PigskinMedia.

Who Dey!

Positive or negative, there is sure to be plenty of reaction about the statement made by the Bengals’ war room on Day 2 of the 2012 draft. It is a statement we might expect to hear from a head coach that came up as a Defensive Coordinator: “You are not going to run on us!”

In a division featuring Ray Rice — who has gashed the Bengals several times — and now Trent Richardson, this is quite a bold statement that Marvin Lewis is making.

Fans who love dominating linemen will love Day 2. Fans who love skill players and big plays will not.

The other statement made by the war room? They are comfortable waiting until the later rounds to get a running back. And they might be comfortable going into the season with the four RBs they already have.

Devon Still. Projected as a late first or early second round pick, Still slid at least half a round to the waiting Bengals at #53. As the 2012 Big Ten Player Of The Year, that is great value. Still will be a solid addition in stopping the run, and he looks like the kind of guy who can harass the QB as well. He provides protection both against injury and against the potential loss of Pat Sims after this season.

Brandon Thompson. The Bengals opted to use the 3rd round double-dip pick gained in their trade with NE by double-dipping at DT. Projected as a mid-to-late second rounder, Thompson slid all the way to the end of the 3rd round. Scouts report Thompson to be an absolute beast against the run, but a mediocre-at-best pass rusher. He still represents outstanding value at the 93rd pick.

The Bengals’ roster along the defensive line is absolutely brimming right now. The camp battles are going to be intense because 10 guys will be competing to make the 8 man rotation.

Defensive Ends:

• Carlos Dunlap
• Robert Geathers
• Michael Johnson
• Jamaal Anderson
• Derrick Harvey

Defensive Tackles:

• Domata Peko
• Geno Atkins
• Pat Sims
• Devon Still
• Brandon Thompson

I love the depth that this group is going to have. Whoever the final 8 are, they will all be able to contribute. This group goes from badass to badass-er.

(I won’t be surprised if Thompson begins the season on the practice squad to work on his pass rushing technique. Could the odd end out possibly become trade fodder, much like Clint McDonald was last year? Parlaying the end who isn’t going to make the team into a linebacker or corner would be a solid move.)

The Bengals did a solid, even if not glitzy, job with the first round of the draft. I also believe that, so far, they have done the best job within the AFC North. Do you agree?

Cleveland Browns

1.3: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Browns surrendered a 4th and a 6th round pick to the Vikes to move up one spot to insure that they got the guy they wanted in Richardson. But with 13 picks this year (8 of them on Day 3), losing a pair of Day 3 picks has minimal impact.

If there is somewhere that talent goes to die, it’s Cleveland. Richardson may well be running uphill on this one. But he may be strong enough to make a good impact on a running game that has been atrocious. Bengals fans very well may be cursing his name for the next several years.

1.22: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

Holmgren and Heckert sold out Colt McCoy, who had zilch around him to work with in the last two years. But now that they at least have the threat of a running game, they are tossing him on the trash heap.

The real problem, though, is that they didn’t really get better at QB. At best, replacing McCoy with Weeden is a push. Weeden now has to go through the learning curve that McCoy has gone through. For me, that makes this an absolute waste of a pick.

Grade: C

Pittsburgh Steelers

1.24: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

The Steelers have been criticized for their O-line for a few years now. But after taking Pouncey last year and now DeCastro, they are turning a weakness into a strength. Could this signal a return to the Steelers’ signature run-first style that they have abandoned over the last couple of years?

DeCastro fits the Steelers’ style well, and they may well have been surprised to see him slide all the way to them at #24. As much as we hate that he will be wearing that stupid bumble bee throwback uni, it was a great pick for them.

Grade: A-

Baltimore Ravens

no picks

Baltimore traded out of the first round, sending pick #29 to the Vikings for pick #35 and a 4th round pick. Conventional wisdom says that the Ravens will take Cordy Glenn (to replace Ben Grubbs) or Courtney Upshaw (to replace Jarret Johnson).

Grade: none

Cincinnati Bengals

1.17: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

The fact that Kirkpatrick had no picks in 2011 concerns plenty of people. But judging him on that stat alone is short-sighted. His strength will be in getting receivers out of their routes, which is useful in a league where passing is largely predicated on timing, rather than staying on a guy’s hip. He likes to jump routes, and he loves to bring the wood. He is not a perfect CB, but he will be a solid addition to the backfield that plays behind a tough D-line.

1.27: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

Let’s move past the overly simple notion that because DeCastro was the highest rated OG, he was the only OG worth having. (Didn’t SanFran pass on Stephen Hill to take A.J. Jenkins?) It’s all about getting a guy who fits the system, and the coaches were clearly comfortable that Zeitler fit their system as well as (or almost as well as) DeCastro… close enough that his ability to also be the backup center made him equal to or better than DeCastro in their opinion.

Did you know that Zeitler did not allow a sack in his three years at Wisconsin? ZERO.

If you are still mad at the war room for letting DeCastro slip away, I ask this of you: before passing final judgment, wait and see who the Bengals get tonight with NE’s former pick (#93). Remember, this was not a one-for-one move. We need to weigh DeCastro against Zeitler and whomever they get at #93. The odds are good that the combined value of Zeitler plus #93 outwieghs DeCastro alone.

Grade: B+

Caveat: Despite the slightly lower grade, I give the Bengals the win for the round, simply because two B+ is better than one A-.

The Bengals were one of 5 teams to make two selections in the first round, which I think automatically puts them in the top 5 of the draft so far. (Even if the sports media largely ignores them.)

I am inclined to give the first round a “B+” grade. Like most of you, there were guys available that I thought would have made better picks. But they did address clear needs, and they should get good credit for that.

Guys they could have taken but didn’t:

Melvin Ingram. With Howard, Lawson, Moch and Muckelroy, OLB is pretty covered.

Riley Reiff. Value pick of the first round for Detroit at #23. But the Bengals already have three good tackles two good tackles and Andre Smith.

Dont’a Hightower. A bit of a reach at #17. I’d have loved to get him at #21 (had they not traded with NE). But I would argue that Zeitler plus whomever they take with NE’s round 3 pick presents greater overall value than getting Hightower at #21.

David DeCastro. I was pissed when the Steelers took him. (“Great… now not only do they not get him, they have to battle him twice a year for the next decade!”) But the word is that the Bengals valued DeCastro and Zeitler the same. Allow me to translate:

• DeCastro was graded a higher. The Bengals rolled the dice in trading with NE that he might slide that far… and lost. But you don’t tell the media that your new first round pick was the consolation prize.
• DeCastro is more athletic, but is a guard only. Zeitler is less athletic, but is more versatile since he could also play center. And the Bengals need a backup center.

Nick Perry. I’m skittish about USC players. The Bengals have been torched a few times recently by USC guys who underwhelmed: Palmer… Rivers… Maualuga…

The guys they did take:

Dre Kirkpatrick. I am still a little unsure about this pick. (Although the fact that ESPN-blowhard Colin Cowherd hammered him makes me like him a little more.) I love that he is a hard hitter, plays well in zone coverage and has a great nose for defending against the run. But the term “questionable ball skills” makes me concerned, as he sounds likely to give a play or two per game like Leon Hall.

More than that, he’s too “prime time” for my liking. If he morphs into a mini-diva, we will regret this pick. If he learns skills, work ethic and humility from the plethora of former first rounders in his position group, he could turn into a guy we like a lot. Marvin Lewis, Mike Zimmer and Hue Jackson will all have to keep him under their thumbs until he proves himself as someone who will carry himself like a pro.

Kevin Zeitler. I lost faith in Paul Alexander’s opinion well before this draft, so I could care less what he says. But when Dave Lapham said on 700WLW last night that he graded Zeitler above DeCastro, he got my attention.

Now that DeCastro is a Steeler, he and Zeitler will always be linked in our minds. No matter how they compare over their careers, I think Zeitler will be a solid contributor for the Bengals for a long time. He is smart, strong, aware and tough. The Bengals have not had much success running right the last few years. That should change.

Another double-scoop tonight…

By trading with NE, the Bengals have 2 picks in the third round, making 3 selections tonight. The third round can be very good, yielding players like Jordan Shipley, Michael Johnson, Pat Sims, and Chris Henry over the past decade. The Bengals have hit on about 50% of their third round picks over that time, so they should snag at least 2 more contributors tonight.

(I would love to see the Bengals package picks to move up or to add a fourth Day 2 pick. The fewer Day 3 picks, the better. Draft for depth. Rebuilding teams need quantity; good teams need fewer, quality takes.)

Don’t be surprised if the Bengals take a WR in the second round (possibly making good on an embarrassing premature phone call last night). Three of the most productive WRs in franchise history — Cris Collinsworth, Carl Pickens and Chad Johnson — were all second rounders. Perhaps Stephen Hill or Mohamed Sanu will be the third Bengal added in this draft.

In the third round, I would not be surprised if the Bengals to take RB Isaiah Pead as well as a defensive lineman.

If you follow me on Twitter @WhoDeyFans you may have seen my arguments last night with the WhoDeyRevolution and some of their loyal followers. You see last night I just got tired of hearing the same old Bengal bashing. That site, and more importantly, their followers have turned into something that does nothing but bash the Bengals. They are always negative and usually wrong. So I decided to see how wrong and look at some of their analysis of the last two drafts.  Below is what I found:

2011 Draft:

“Since it is pretty obvious the Bengals are going to take a QB rather than be smart and trade for an experienced vetern like a Kolb after the draft or pick one up in free agency which would allow them to go after the top QB prospect that is not even in this year’s draft. So if you were sitting in the room what would you do?”

Yeah, we should have passed on Dalton and signed Kolb. Maybe we could have been in the Manning sweepstakes too? No the Bengals took the QB, he made the probowl as well as the playoffs.

“If it were my call, I think I try to solidify the DL with Bowers who has the ability to defend the run and rush the passer. Matching him up with Atkins and Dunlap on third downs could be scary. I would then follow this up in next years draft with the selection of Luck to get my future franchise QB – since we are going to draft high again next year. If Bowers is off the board, I go with the game changing safety.”
The Bengals have never had a draft pick make the Pro Bowl on Defense. They have had one player drafted on Defense make the Pro Bowl, but Tremain Mack made the Pro Bowl as a Kick Returner.
Starting with the 1991 draft, the Bengals have drafted 7 players that have made the Pro Bowl with the Bengals. Some players have made the Pro Bowl with other teams, like Takeo Spikes and shockingly Justin Smith, but only 7 were with the Bengals.
The last drafted Pro Bowl player is Carson Palmer.
In 16 of 20 drafts, the Bengals drafted zero Pro Bowlers.
Only Chad Johnson has gone to more than 4 Pro Bowls.

And then the Bengals had 4 probowlers last season. Atkins made the team from the defensive side of the ball.

But if we are starting over at QB, don’t get your hopes up for any winning soon.

sigh…

This team is a dumpster fire, and a WR won’t get it done. #%ck this we had TO. We sucked. NOW we have green.

I am sure the last guy now owns an AJ Green jersey.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Rookie quarterback and receiver, running an offense for a guy that has never called pro games.

The definition of continuity.

Yes, this will never work.

Unfortunately, I liked Julio Jones better. He’s faster and played for Saban. Bengals camp will feel amateur compared to Saban’s “amateur” team.

2 – 4 starters? Ok, Green, that’s 1. Who else?

Dalton? You count that as a good thing? 2nd round QB as day one starter? Plus, we have no idea how much time we will get to learn this new system before the season starts, which, oh by the way, is a new system for the whole offense. Realistically, this is about as big a negative as you can have. A good pick, but terrible for opening day 2011. This is not Sam Bradford.

Nope, not Bradford. This QB is the day 1 starter and makes the playoffs in year 1.

 
2010

My only thoughts? I noticed in Joe Reedy’s draft chat that it seemed like a TE would be most likely the 1st round pick. We’ve had top 5 offenses in the recent past without a TE, Brat doesn’t seem to know how to use them and given the power run game emphasis, I don’t see the need to have a huge amount of receiving weapons in addition to Chad and Antonio. And even if we did really need a TE it still doesn’t change the fact that the opportunity cost of taking a TE with a high pick is almost guaranteed to be higher than the value of the TE itself.

Just please God no TE in the first round. Stop the idiocracy.

Wonderful analysis and spot on predictions. It just gets old seeing the bashing coming from a group of people that are continuously wrong.  Gresham was an awesome pick by the Bengals and makes this a better team.

No one knows the outcome of the drafted guys, however, it is important to give them time and allow them to integrate with the team.  Blasting the team and the picks as the draft is happening is nonsense. Often fans and the experts are wrong, so look at the guys the team did take, have some faith and step off the ledge.

Sorry for the interruption, just had to vent.

Adding Dre Kirkpatrick and Kevin Zeitler to the Bengals’ family is not going to win a lot of headlines. They picked too low to grab one of the true elite players, and the media is never going to gush over a guard.

But winning the news cycle and winning NFL games are not the same thing.

Going into the draft, most of us would have identified the two biggest needs to address as corner and guard. Obviously the coaches agreed because they snagged a corner and a guard.

Despite my preference for Gilmore (who I thought — or maybe just hoped — would come down to the Bengals), Kirkpatrick brings some much-needed youth and strength to a position group that has been reeling from the loss of Johnathan Joseph and the injury to Leon Hall. Hopefully he soaks in all he can from being around all of the experienced former first round picks that the Bengals have amassed.

Zeitler was not the guy I expected, but with the capacity to be the backup center, I should have. Wisconsin is a factory for tough, solid linemen. Zeitler likely has the inside track for being the starter next to Andre Smith, bolstering protection for Andy Dalton from guys like Philip Taylor and opening holes for BJGE and Bernard Scott (and Isaiah Pead?).

Congrats to our man Eric for nailing the #17 pick. Well done, sir!

We’ve finally made it!  After 3 full months of constant buzz, the 2012 NFL Draft is here.  Thank God.  Tonight we have round one, where the theoretically best 32 players will get picked.  From this group will come some busts, posers and a few kids with freakish ability but not ready for the spotlight.  It’ll also contain some solid starters, steady contributors, and a precious few pro-bowlers.  Some lucky team might even select a future Hall of Famer.

The readiness is all.  Good luck, Bengals.  For the months of agonizing and measuring, film-watching and pro-day attending, it’s really a big crap shoot.

The Basics:

The first round commences in prime time at 8:00 PM, and you can watch it on NFL Network or ESPN.  For those of you who’ve been living in a bomb shelter or on a deserted island, the Bengals have two picks in the first round. They have the 17^th overall selection, thanks to the fleecing of the Raiders for Carson Palmer, and their own pick at 21.

Each team gets 10 minutes to pick, so Cincy’s first selection won’t come until sometime after ten o’clock, barring a trade.

In the debate:

There have been tons of players rumored or mocked to go to the Bengals.  Most of this is useless drivel.  Four weeks ago every expert thought the Bengals would get Trent Richardson.  Now, those same experts don’t expect him to fall past Tampa Bay at five.  Same thing with fellow ‘Bama man, Safety Mark Barron.  The Bengals were rumored to like his talents at 17 or 21, but now the latest gossip is he’ll be a top 10 pick.  Then there’s Stanford Guard David DeCastro.  Rumors and mocks have persisted for weeks that the Bengals will snag “the best pulling guard in the draft,” including reliable sources like NFL Network’s Mike Mayock.  However, guards rarely go in the first round, and the Bengals have never done it.

Then there’s the obligatory positions that are hot right now, cornerback and wide receiver.  Both are seen as primary needs at this point, and both should have a player or two available at 17 and worth the same.  The latest juiciness has Cincy taking either CB Stephon Gilmore of South Carolina or another Crimson Tide player in CB Dre Kirkpatrick to shore up the secondary, and then going wide receiver with Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd, Baylor’s Kendall Wright, or Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill at 21.

Then there’s Marvin Lewis’ comments that he likes ‘Bama DE Courtney Upshaw and feels the defense has been neglected.

So who will it be?

I’d personally prefer that the Bengals continue to focus on offense.  They struck gold last year with A.J. Green and Andy Dalton; not one but TWO franchise-quality players for the offense, making the transition away from Palmer and Chad Ochocinco easy.  But they need help.  They need some more support up front, they need some firepower in the run game, and they need another wide receiver to shift attention from Green. 

I’d love to see DeCastro and Floyd, or even Georgia’s OG Cordy Glenn and Boise RB David Martin. 

The Bengals surprised the league and made the playoffs with a stout, well-coached defense continually propping up a rag-tag, young and patchwork offense.  Had the offense been top 20, the team might have been more of a threat.  While I foresee that Dalton and Green will progress and improve and offensive coordinator Jay Gruden will improve the unit in his second year, I’d still want him to have more firepower to work with.  Gruden’s counterpart on defense, Mike Zimmer, continually finds ways to make a great defensive unit out of spare parts.   All of this makes me root for help on the offense.

But that’s just what’s going to happen.

In the first round, the Bengals will roll with the Tide

In reality, I think the love Marvin Lewis is showing for Upshaw is genuine.  I also think he has very legitimate concerns about the cornerback position, where Leon Hall is coming off devastating Achilles surgery, Nate Clements is 32 years old, and the back-ups are a question mark. 

So tonight, I expect the names called will be:

• 17:  Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama:  Gilmore will be gone (as will top DB Morris Claiborne), leaving Kirkpatrick as the top corner left.  The Bengals will take him there, as there’s no guarantee he’ll still be available at 21.  Kirkpatrick will start the year splitting time with Jason Allen as a nickel back, but may end the season starting over Clements.
• 21:  Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama:  Lewis gets his man at 21.  Upshaw is known for having a constant motor, and a fearless attitude.  His pass-rushing skills and big play ability at the college level are well documented.  To me, he’s Marvin’s second attempt to get a dynamic front seven guy to rush the passer and play all over the field from both a linebacker and defensive end spot.  The first attempt, Georgia’ David Pollack in 2005, never made the impact expected due to a career-ending neck injury in his second season.  Upshaw  could be the guy to give Cincinnati a real dynamic defensive star.

The team can shop for a wide-out and running back in the 2^nd and 3^rd rounds, and a decent guard can be found even later.

Anyway, that’s my thinking as of 5:00 PM on draft day.  By 8:00, all bets are off.

Draft Day is finally here!

In a few hours we will finally meet the newest class of Bengals, beginning tonight with two guys we hope to see be significant contributors for years to come. But before then, let’s take one more stab at who those guys might be.

Let’s work backwards through the positions in their likelihood to be taken in the first round.

“Ain’t Happening”

14. SPECIAL TEAMS. Teams guys don’t go in the first. Ever.

13. FULLBACK. See above.

12. QUARTERBACK. They aren’t taking a backup QB in the first. This would be a total waste.

11. CENTER. Cook is solid and was an undrafted free agent.

10. TIGHT END.  If Chase Coffman didn’t survive in the Bengals’ system, would Fleener?

9. RUNNING BACK. With Richardson gone, they will wait until the 2nd or 3rd round.

“Only If The Stars Align”

8. SAFETY. Even if Barron was still on the board at #17, I’m not sure the Bengals would take him. Zimmer really likes Taylor Mays, so I don’t think they value safety enough to use a first rounder on one.

7. LINEBACKER. Kuechly would have to slide all the way to #17. Hightower looks like a bit of a reach even at #21. (There was a rumor of the Bengals trading Maualuga and #17 to Seattle for #12 to get Kuechly. That is too steep price of a price to move up 5 spots. Offer me a third 1st round pick at #12 for Maualuga and a 3rd rounder, and you’ve got my attention!)

6. OFFENSIVE TACKLE. Reiff at #17 would be an incredible steal, but outside of him, the Bengals will look elsewhere. With Whitworth, Smith and Collins on the roster, the need just isn’t there this year. (If Smith struggles again this year, the need may be there next year.)

“Maybe, But I Doubt It”

5. DEFENSIVE TACKLE. Brockers or Poe are possibilities, but this is a deep group and the Bengals are more likely to wait until the middle rounds to add a guy who will be on the short side of the rotation behind Peko, Atkins and Sims.

4. OFFENSIVE GUARD. Like Reiff, DeCastro at #17 would be an incredible steal, although the odds of the guard sliding are far better. Glenn at #21 is also a possibility. Being a believer in taking linemen early, either would be fine. But I keep replaying the words of Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com in my head: “Do you think the Bengals traded Carson Palmer to get a guard?” He knows the mindset at PBS well, and I think those of us hoping for a guard in the first are going to be disappointed.

“You’re Getting Warmer”

3. WIDE RECEIVER. Floyd and Hill are the possibilities here. Floyd is the one who is ready to contribute, and if Marvin and Jay Gruden really like him, they might pull the trigger. But as I read Marvin, I am not sure that Floyd is the kind of guy that Marvin will fall in love with. (Not that way.) Hill is something of a project, and his last WR project just signed with the Vikings. (I do not include Kendall Wright because he does not fit the Bengals’ mold in either height or speed.)

I could more easily see them being content to go into the season with a “#2 WR by committee” approach with Shipley, Hawkins, Binns, Tate, and even Gresham.

“Tonight’s Winners Are…”

2. DEFENSIVE END. If Coples slides (questions about him not playing hard every down may help that happen), look for the Bengals to gobble him up. Similar accusations about Dunlap and Johnson did not scare them off. Upshaw is also a strong possibility, especially at #21.

Despite having plenty of guys already, a DE would not be a wasted pick. The Bengals want to improve upon what MJ gave them last year. A guy like Coples could quickly become the starter in front of Johnson, pushing Jamaal Anderson inside to tackle and (unless he really impresses during camp) leading to the eventual release of Harvey.

1. CORNERBACK. Despite the FA signings, the Bengals have to get younger here. Clements is in the last year of his deal, and Jones, Newman and Allen are on one year deals. For both depth and longevity, they need to get a guy who will make an impact at corner for years to come.

I see Gilmore as being the guy they prefer. Jenkins is an absolute reach because of his off-field issues. Kirkpatrick was not as impressive as we might have expected, given that he was playing behind the best defensive front in the BCS. But they may gamble on missing Gilmore at #21 and settle for Kirkpatrick instead if it allows them to grab a surprising slider at #17.

So my prediction is that we welcome Stephon Gilmore and Courtney Upshaw to the Bengals tonight. Feel free to agree below. Or disagree.

As the draft approaches, there are a number of guys I’d like to see in orange and black. Many of them haven’t appeared in mock drafts or common speculation about Cincinnati’s targets. It’s fine by me. I suppose draft beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So without further ado, here are my crushes, followed by a brief explanation of why I believe they would be good for Cincinnati.

Don’ta Hightower, linebacker – Hightower had a productive career in what is probably the best football conference in the country. He has good size for a potential middle linebacker, but could also play other positions if needed. He would immediately give Cincinnati another option behind Rey Maualuga and would bolster the team’s depth at the linebacker position.

Cordy Glenn, offensive guard – Glenn also had a productive career in the SEC and has the added benefit of being able to play mutliple positions on the offensive line. He could give the Bengals insurance at right tackle behind Andre Smith and could also start at right guard. He has AFC North size and could make an instant impact for the Bengals.

The mid-round receivers – I know A.J. Green is rather un-diva like, but I don’t like the idea of the Bengals having two high-profile receivers who have to share pass receptions. Especially since the team also has a very good tight end (Jermaine Gresham) who deserves some attention as well. Plus, how well did two high-profile receivers work out in Cincinnati a few seasons ago?

In a deep receiver draft, I think it makes a lot more sense to pass on Michael Floyd and Kendall Wright in Round One (if they’re available) and focus on players A.J. Jenkins (Illinois) and Chris Givens (Wake Forest) later in the draft.

Wild prediction: something crazy will happen on Thursday in the first round of the draft. There is no consensus past the top 6 players, so draft day insanity will being a couple of guys sliding down to the awaiting Bengals at #17. With the Bengals in a good position to draft the best player available, they will be in a position to pounce on a steal.

Let’s have a little fun. Tell me who you would you would want the Bengals to take at #17 in a few “what if” scenarios.

Again, the idea is that, by some strange twist of fate, both of these players are still on the board when the Bengals go on the clock with the 17th pick. Odds are high that the other guy won’t still be there are #21. Who are you yelling at your TV for Marvin to take?

Scenario #1: OG David DeCastro and WR Michael Floyd

We have talked extensively about the Bengals need at guard and #2 receiver. Do you choose the guy who protects Dalton and can help the running game improve, even if it causes the passing game to suffer? Or do you take the guy who can relieve pressure from A.J. Green?

Scenario #2: S Mark Barron and LB Luke Kuechly

Do you bolster a secondary that really needs an upgrade, knowing there will be a CB worth having still available at #21? Or do you shore up the middle with a guy that can control the middle of the field for most of the next decade? (That is something the Bengals haven’t had since Takeo Spikes.)

Scenario #3: DE Quinton Coples and OT Riley Reiff

Which side of the ball do you strengthen? Do you take the guy with the huge talent and questioned heart? Or do you take a talented tackle and move him to the much-less-valued guard position?

My gift to you, to help get you in the spirit of draft week! WHODEY!!!

Before we complete this series leading up to the draft, it is worth a peak at the picks that the other teams in the division and where their picks are scheduled. Know your enemy!

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Oh, the Browns. I almost feel bad making fun of them. Almost. It’s a good thing they have 13 picks, because their roster is in need of a serious overhaul.

• Rd 1, pick 4  (#4 overall)
• Rd 1, pick 22  (#22 overall) — from Falcons
• Rd 2, pick 5  (#37 overall)
• Rd 3, pick 4  (#67 overall)
• Rd 4, pick 5  (#100 overall)
• Rd 4, pick 23  (#118 overall) — from Falcons
• Rd 5, pick 4  (#139 overall)
• Rd 5, pick 25  (#160 overall) — from Broncos
• Rd 6, pick 34  (#204 overall) — compensatory
• Rd 6, pick 35  (#205 overall) — compensatory
• Rd 7, pick 4  (#211 overall)
• Rd 7, pick 38  (#245 overall) – compensatory
• Rd 7, pick 40  (#247 overall) – compensatory

The Browns have needs all over the place. If they ever stumble into drafting a franchise QB, they may actually begin to put the pieces of a real NFL team together. Only 5 of their 13 picks come in the top 100, but they should walk away with at least three impact players if they do a good job.

Interesting note: both the Bengals and Browns will have picked twice in the 1st round before the Ravens or Steelers make a selection (assuming no trades).

BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Ravens should be good again this year despite losing some valuable pieces in free agency. They have the fewest scheduled picks of all AFC North teams.

• Rd 1, pick 29  (#29 overall)
• Rd 2, pick 28  (#60 overall)
• Rd 3, pick 28  (#91 overall)
• Rd 4, pick 35  (#130 overall) — compensatory
• Rd 5, pick 29  (#164 overall)
• Rd 5, pick 34  (#169 overall) — compensatory
• Rd 6, pick 28  (#198 overall)
• Rd 7, pick 29  (#236 overall)

Ozzie Newsome has a nose for good players, and he will find guys to fill holes and make an impact. Now if he could only find the talent that Joe Flacco thinks he has, he would be in great shape.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Steelers had to cut ties with several aging players because of salary cap issues, including the hated Wines Hard Hines Ward.

• Rd 1, pick 24  (#24 overall)
• Rd 2, pick 24  (#56 overall)
• Rd 3, pick 23  (#86 overall)
• Rd 4, pick 24  (#119 overall)
• Rd 5, pick 24  (#159 overall)
• Rd 6, pick 23  (#193 overall)
• Rd 7, pick 24  (#231 overall)
• Rd 7, pick 33  (#240 overall) – compensatory
• Rd 7, pick 39  (#246 overall) – compensatory
• Rd 7, pick 41  (#248 overall) – compensatory

The NFL Draft is less than a week away, and the Bengals find themselves in a better position than normal. No top 10 picks. Few gaping holes in the roster. There is a lot of flexibility in this draft, which means multiple strategies could be in play, whether in terms of picks or trades.

The Bengals have 9 picks this year. All come before pick #200. (Their 7th rounder goes to Jacksonville.) Generally the Bengals are content to not trade and take their picks as they are scheduled. This year could be different, if another team offers them the right deal.

The Bengals’ nine picks are:

• Rd 1, pick 17 (#17 overall) — from Raiders
• Rd 1, pick 21 (#21 overall)
• Rd 2, pick 21 (#53 overall)
• Rd 3, pick 21 (#83 overall)
• Rd 4, pick 21 (#116 overall)
• Rd 5, pick 21 (#156 overall)
• Rd 5, pick 31 (#166 overall)  – from Patriots
• Rd 5, pick 32 (#167 overall)  – from Giants
• Rd 6, pick 21 (#191 overall)

The Bengals made a number of free agent additions to the defense over the past month, but gauging how much better they have made themselves in the process is difficult. They added four guys who were drafted in the first round but dide not make the impact that was expected of them. If two of them turn out to be as good of signings as Manny Lawson and Thomas Howard were in 2011, I’ll call it a success.

Let’s look through the guys already on the Bengals’ roster as we gear up for the draft coming up next week.

End (5): Carlos Dunlap, Robert Geathers, Michael Johnson, Jamaal Anderson, Derrick Harvey.

Will Michael Johnson come back to his early form? He started out well, but his performance and his role diminished last season. Will either Anderson or Harvey find their inner beast in stripes? Both disappointed the teams that drafted them. I am intrigued with what I have read about Anderson, who seems to be coming around a bit and was able to learn behind two masters in Freeney and Mathis last year.

Tackle (4): Domata Peko, Geno Atkins, Pat Sims, Nick Hayden.

I was glad that the Bengals brought back Pat Sims, even though he had decided to test the free agency market. If the coaches feels that Hayden can contribute as a part of the interior rotation, the only competition in this group may come from Jamaal Anderson, who has expressed willingness to play inside.

Linebacker (9): Thomas Howard, Manny Lawson, Rey Maualuga, Roddrick Muckelroy, Dontay Moch, Dan Skuta, DeQuin Evans, Vincent Rey, Micah Johnson.

This is already a crowded position group, but one that the Bengals very much need to improve over the last several seasons. Howard and Lawson are your starters on the exterior, but Maualuga remains a question in the middle due to his lackluster play and possible suspension. Moch and Muckelroy have great potential but must stay healthy. Another impact player would certainly be a welcome addition to me.

Cornerback (6): Leon Hall, Nate Clements, Adam Jones, Brandon Ghee, Jason Allen, Terence Newman.

Will Hall be ready for the start of camp? It is doubtful that his ruptured Achilles will allow him to do much, if anything, this season. At least the coaches had better be prepared to go without him, and be pleasantly surprised if he can go. Will Newman find his old form under his old coordinator, Mike Zimmer? Will the coaches hand Allen the job simply because he is a former first rounder and can flex to safety if needed? Mike loves those dual-role guys.

Safety (4): Reggie Nelson, Taylor Mays, Robert Sands, Jeromy Miles.

Bringing back Nelson was a big move for the Bengals. Despite getting caught out of position on occasion, he has been a solid contributor in the backfield. The safety group would be frighteningly thin without him. Taylor Mays is likely the successor to Chris Crocker as the other starting safety. But it gets dicey behind them quickly. They need a couple of more guys in the group to make for a good battle in camp.

The front line should continue to be the strong suit for the Bengals. Bolstering is needed in the back 7 to take the defense to the next level and better contain the stronger offenses that the Bengals will face this year. And there will be plenty of them this year.

Hey Bengals fans! If you were unable to catch the show this week, here is how the 2nd Annual Live Mock Draft ended up.

What did you make of this mock draft? Send us your thoughts to podcast@whodeyfans.com or leave a comment below.

Whether or not you like Mike Florio, you have to concede that he has put together one of the top NFL blogs on the interwebs. Last night he decided to weigh in with his thoughts on what positions the Bengals need to bolster through the draft. Do you agree with him? (Reading article not required to opine.)

Mr. Florio lists these five positions as needs for the Bengals. (He does not say whether or not these are listed in his perceived order of importance.)

1. Running Back
2. Cornerback
3. Defensive End
4. Wide Receiver
5. Tight End

Cornerback is an easy pick because it is a glaring need.

A #2 WR is also important, although there are already seven WRs on the roster. It is possible that the coaches may be content to let Shipley, Hawkins and Binns fight it out for that spot. Running back is another position with enough guys on the roster but could use some more punch.

Defensive End is a far less discussed need, but it really is a need. Dunlap is the only productive piece on the roster right now. Geathers is steady but by no means a sack machine. Michael Johnson’s role seems to be shrinking. And Harvey or Anderson are busts until they prove themselves otherwise.

Tight End was the surprise pick. Florio argues that having two receiving TEs is the trend, so the Bengals need another to go with Gresham. But the Bengals had just that kind of guy in Chase Coffman, who couldn’t get on the field.

The surprising omission, of course, is Guard. No mention of safety either. I would rank either of those above a second receiving TE.

Can you believe the NFL Draft is just a week away? On this episode we conduct our 2nd Annual LIVE Mock Draft show featuring Timm Bates, the Number 1 Fan and Cincy Jungle.com’s Joe Goodberry.

In this week’s show:

We pick all 32 first round picks

There’s a big debate with the pick at 21

Timm’s love and affection towards UK basketball finally comes through

Title: 2nd Annual Live Mock Draft
Show Length: 1 hr 04:36
File Size: 29.8 mb

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Now that Spring Break is over, break out your Andy Williams 8-track because it’s time to get ready for “the most wonderful time” of the offseason, the draft! We have feverishly poured over wish lists, and soon we will discover what gifts Mikey Claus will bring down the PBS chimney.

The Bengals made a lot of moves in free agency and have created plenty of camp competition, but they really only made one significant addition in bringing in BJGE. The FO seems confident that with the players brought in, the 2012 is wide open. Personally, I don’t see where any of their needs have changed very much. They may have collected several first round flops, but trusting a guy who busted elsewhere to be the man here is farther than I am willing to go.

In preparation for the draft, let’s sort through the guys that the Bengals already have signed on offense.

Quarterback (3): Andy Dalton, Bruce Gradkowski, Zac Robinson.

Will Andy suffer a sophomore slump? (Before you say “Not from our guy!”, ask a Rams fan if they thought Bradford would stink last year.) Will Marvin be content to go into another season with just two QBs? It’s a gamble, but with a seasoned backup like Gradkowski, I consider it a risk worth taking to carry an extra guy at another spot.

Tackle (5): Andrew Whitworth, Andre Smith, Anthony Collins, Dennis Roland, Matthew O’Donnell.

Will Andre finally look worthy of his #6 pick now that he is in a contract year? He benefited last year from cutting down on the trips to Golden Corral, but he still was not as dominant as we’ve been told he should be. If he continues to be mediocre, will the coaches be willing to pull the trigger and finally give Collins a shot to win the starting gig?

Guard (4): Travelle Wharton, Clint Boling, Jacob Bell, Otis Hudson.

Will Wharton give the Bengals the ability to run left that Livings couldn’t? His numbers sagged while in front of Cam Newton (who is a grading anomaly for sure) last year. Will Boling take a big step forward from the few starts he got last year? He was decent in his couple of starts while Bobbie Williams was suspended, but was also overmatched at times as a rookie.

Center (1): Kyle Cook.

Will KC stay healthy and play well between two new guards? Cook has been a good anchor on the line. Avoiding injury is the main concern here.

Running Back (5): BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Bernard Scott, Brian Leonard, Cedric Peerman, Aaron Brown.

Will BJGE continue to take those tough yards in goal line and short yardage situations? No slight on Andy, but the threat of Tom Brady has to skew the defense a bit. Will the RB-by-committee approach finally yield results in a division that is tough against the run? We’ve been asking for it for a few years now, and we are finally going to get it.

Fullback (2): Chris Pressley, James Develin.

Will the coaches keep a FB or try to go without one again? (They would be nuts to try to go without again IMO.)

Tight End (3): Jermaine Gresham, Donald Lee, Colin Cochart.

Will Gresham finally become the pass-catching beast that he ought to be? The Bengals need him to dominate the middle of the field, which will also benefit the receivers. Keeping Lee was a nice move by the FO.

Wide Receivers (7): A.J. Green, Jordan Shipley, Andrew Hawkins, Armon Binns, Ryan Whalen, Brandon Tate, Vidal Hazelton.

Will the coaches try to groom a #2 receiver out of this group? None of them has the pedigree I’d like to see in the man who is supposed to relieve the pressure from A.J. Green. Will Binns step up even though he has no career receptions in regular season games? Supposed the coaches love him, but he is as raw as they come right now. (And please tell me all of these Limas Sweed rumors are just a late, cruel April Fools joke.)

The Bengals are pretty well set at QB, OT, C, FB and TE. Questions still remain at OG and WR, and RB could probably use further bolstering.

I am very curious how Marvin will approach this draft. On offense, I consider the need at guard to be bigger than at receiver. But if they wait until round 2 to take a receiver, they are going to end up with a guy who needs a year to develop anyway, essentially negating the pick for this season.

Hey there Bengals fans! This Wednesday night at 9 pm, WhoDeyFans.com will be conducting our 2nd Annual LIVE Mock Draft show! We will be picking all 32 first round picks just like we did last year!

This year’s live mock draft show will be conducted by WhoDeyFans very own Timm “I live and breath UK basketball” Bates, the Number 1 Fan himself and CincyJungle.com’s draft guru extraordinaire, Joe Goodberry.

The show will kickoff at 9 pm eastern and will have a live video feed on our Video page. There will also be plenty to chat about so come join in on all the fun. Got a question about the draft before Wednesday night? Email us at podcast@whodeyfans.com!

Looking forward to seeing everyone Wednesday night!

Thanks for...well...not a heck of a lot.

Hello Newman!!

It seems the Bengals are far from done retooling the roster in advance of the draft.  Reports surfaced today that the team finally reached an agreement with DB Terence Newman on a one-year deal, and they sent disappointing linebacker Keith Rivers to the Giants for a 5^th-round pick.

 Newman, formerly of Dallas, had been on Cincinnati’s radar for weeks, and a deal had long been speculated.  The cornerback from Kansas State has been a regular starter for the Cowboys since coming into the league in 2003.  While he was widely criticized in “Big D” for his play of late, he leaves the Star with 32 interceptions in 133 total games played (an average one every four games).  He also recorded 534 total tackles, 2 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and returned 3 picks for touchdowns.

He's an accomplished NFL starter and Seinfeld irritant

It may be recalled that the Bengals flirted a bit with the idea of drafting Newman (as well as QB Byron Leftwich) with the number 1 overall pick in 2003, but went with the safer pick in Carson Palmer instead.  At that time, Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer held the same position in Dallas and coached Newman during the early part of his career.

At best, Newman adds an experienced starter to the defensive backfield, and reduces the need to look at corner in round 1 of the draft.   At worst, he constitutes depth and competition behind the starters and insurance against Leon Hall’s Achilles tendon injury.

The Bengals now have a cornerback roster that includes Leon Hall, Nate Clements, Adam Jones, Jason Allen, Newman, Brandon Ghee, and Rico Murray.  All but Ghee and Murray (who looked to have trouble making the final roster) are former first-round picks.

Rivers Heads to Big Blue

In addition to the Newman signing, reports today indicated that the team has sent former first round pick Keith Rivers to the Giants for a fifth-round pick. 

Rivers’ future with the club was a matter of speculation here, as his injury history and production were called into question by fans and team observers alike.  Rivers finishes his Cincy career with 186 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions in 35 total games.   He missed the last 9 games of his rookie campaign in 2008 after getting his jaw broken on a vicious crack-back block by the now-retired Hines Ward.  Ward’s shot resulting in revised rules to protect defenseless players in 2009.  More recently, Rivers missed the entire 2011 season with a wrist injury that was career-threatening according to some reports.

We assume the Giants will confirm the completion of the trade with Rivers passing a physical.

The Bengals get the 167^th pick overall in round 5, giving the team 3 total in that round.  They maintain their own at 156^th, plus they have New England’s pick at 166 for Chad Ochocinco.  It should be interesting to see what they do with back-to-back picks at the end of round five.

Rivers’ departure was not unexpected, and I’m pleased they were able to get something for him.  Many speculated that he might be cut, and with Manny Lawson and Thomas Howard, the team has better alternatives already on the roster.

That said, I think this increases the chances that the team will look at adding to the linebacker corps during the draft.  After starters Rey Maualuga, Howard, and Lawson, the team has a lot of potential but very little playing time on the bench.  Maualuga is likely to receive a suspension from the league for a recent arrest, Moch has had trouble with migraines, and Roddrick Muckelroy is coming off major knee surgery.  The team has high hopes for DeQuin Evans and Micah Johnson as well, but I would not be surprised to see the team draft a backer early—even round one.  Marvin Lewis is said to be enamored with Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw.

The analysts at the NFL Network take a look at what the Bengals might do with their duo of picks in the first round. I doubt that both will be used on defensive backs, and I honestly think the Bengals feel better about their young safeties than many believe. Thus, I think there’s a good chance the Bengals might take a cornerback, but I’d be somewhat surprised by a safety.

Click here for the video.

This is far from a comprehensive list since we only included 16 players at four positions. But our list has been narrowed to four favorites: Boomer Esiason, Ickey Woods, A.J. Green, and David Fulcher. Who’s your favorite? Voting is open the rest of this week. Have at it.

This year’s free agency turned out a bit differently than I had hoped, and not exactly as I had expected either. Does that mean the Bengals did a bad job of improving their roster? Maybe. Maybe not.

If you insisted that the Bengals needed to add a marquee player, you were left disappointed. But before we pass out a final grade, let’s review what happened over the past two weeks one last time.

Slow Start: While other teams broke out of the gate strong and gobbled up the big names, the Bengals (predictably) did nothing for the first 3 days. The names we coveted signed elsewhere. Meachem went to San Diego. Garcon joined Washington. Nicks broke the bank in Tampa Bay. Grubbs replaced Nicks in New Orleans.

Once the big money was spent (overspent?), the Bengals finally got in gear and started bringing in guys for visits. And the first few names were not exactly headline-grabbers.

Guys Lost: The Bengals began free agency with 24 RFAs and UFAs. So far only 5 have signed with other teams.

The slow start was magnified when two contributors from the team’s best position group, the D line, signed with other teams. Fanene went to the Dark Side to play for the Emperor and the Sith Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, while Frostee Rucker took leave of his senses and agreed to go to the football purgatory known as the Cleveland Browns.

No one is lamenting the other 3 losses. Dallas mercifully put an end to the misery known as Nate Livings. Indy did us the same favor with Mike McGlynn. And Andre Caldwell joined up with Peyton Manning in Denver. (Though I doubt it would have happened for him in Cincy, I would not be surprised if Caldwell has a decent season in Denver.)

Guys Added: The Bengals replaced their 5 losses by adding 5 new guys, 4 of whom are former first round picks.

Jason Allen, CB, Houston. Allen should be an upgrade over Kelly Jennings, who remains unsigned at this point. He was added for depth at an evolving position group with the thought that he could pinch hit as a safety if needed. (We know how the Bengals covet those dual-role guys.)

Jamaal Anderson, DE, Indianapolis. Anderson did not play as well as his team had hoped to see from a first round pick during his four years in Atlanta. After a year to learn from Freeney and Mathis in Indy, he could be poised to be productive as a rotational/situational player like Rucker and Fanene were.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, New England. BJGE was the big splash of free agency. He isn’t a feature back, but the Bengals were not looking for one. The one area where he will be a nice upgrade from Cedric Benson is in the red zone. Benson had 13 rushing TDs in the last two seasons as the feature back, while BJGE had 24 TDs in the same time as a rotational back. BJGE has the nose for the end zone that Benson simply didn’t any more. Remember all of those field goals kicked in the red zone last year? Coming away with 7 instead of 3 in those situations will be a big improvement in 2012.

Derrick Harvey, DE, Denver. Like Anderson, Harvey was an 8th overall pick who did not produce on the level that was expected of him. He has 8 sacks in his 4 year career. Hopefully time spent with Mike Zimmer and Jay Hayes will make him as productive of a rotational player as Rucker was.

Travelle Wharton, G, Carolina. Wharton may not be the road-grader we wanted, but he is still an improvement from what was at LG before. Don’t be fooled by his -1.8 grade from ProFootballFocus for 2011. Remember that he was blocking for Cam Newton, who brings a unique, grade-skewing set of talents to the field.

Since the Bengals lost 2 guards and have only signed 1 replacement, this position still needs attention in the draft.

Guys Retained: The word was leaked early that the Bengals would focus on retaining their own, and they have done a pretty good job of that. Look at the list of guys that have re-signed:

• Reggie Nelson
• Anthony Collins
• Pat Sims
• Mike Nugent
• Manny Lawson
• Adam Jones
• Chris Pressley
• Nick Hayden

Most of the names you want to see on that list are there. And the ones you don’t want to see, are not. This list could still grow by a few names as well in the coming days. Brandon Johnson, Donald Lee, Clark Harris and Dan Skuta are possibilities. (Could Jerome Simpson also re-surface?)

Red Marks: I have to take points for failing to sign a wide receiver to fill the #2 spot. Drafting a guy for that spot is a huge risk, as is promoting a completely inexperienced Armon Binns. An experienced, productive WR is the best solution to boosting the offense and freeing up Green from the increasing double-coverage he sees.

Marvin contends that the coaching staff is comfortable with what they have. The combo of Green-Shipley-Hawkins could be a good one, but Shipley has to stay healthy. I hope Marvin is right and I am wrong. But I need to see evidence of the plan producing before I buy into it.

Strategy: The Bengals came into free agency with the most cap space of any NFL team, giving fans the hope of a big signing, one that never came. Instead, they sought out guys with big talent that has never shined for whatever reason.

There is some risk in this strategy. If none of these guys are able to push through and show the talent that made them such high picks, the coaches will look silly and Mike Brown will continue to be labeled a bargain basement shopper. To be great, a team has to have great players. And to have great players, a team has to pay them like great players.

There is also some wisdom in this strategy. By not breaking the piggy bank this year, the team is positioned to extend franchise players like Atkins and Dunlap (hopefully staggering their UFA years) in the next year, and Dalton and Green after that. Each of those guys are going to command a significant salary, and the Bengals have left themselves the resources and some leverage (in time) to do it in a way that benefits both.

If this strategy works, and the Bengals are able to build a contending team with a well-managed payroll, other NFL teams will be studying how the oft-maligned front office at PBS did it.

Final Grade: Despite my frustration early on, I see where the Bengals are going, and I like it for the most part. They have created plenty of competition for training camp. They have given themselves the freedom to draft the best player available when they go on the clock. And they are facing far fewer question marks than they were 12 months ago.

2012 Free Agency: B+

How do you grade the Bengals in this year’s free agency?

The Bengals seem to have taken Mike Brown’s flea-market mentality into free agency, but the team is not settling for damaged goods.

Some may argue otherwise, but let’s consider the consensus of the players they have acquired. None of them have been superstars and most of them have spent the early portions of their career as backups. But there’s no denying their talent. In the case of Jason Allen, Jamal Anderson, and Derrick Harvey, all are former first-round picks. Three other teams saw potential in those players on draft day, even if it has yet to be reached.

Then, there’s Benjarvis Green-Ellis, who will henceforth be named BJGE to save me some keystrokes. A few months ago he was playing an important role in the Super Bowl for the AFC’s best team.

Move on to Travelle Wharton. He’s perhaps the least exciting player to have been acquired. But he’s also replacing Nate Livings, who had become a bullseye for the angst of many fans.

Win. Win. Win.

Better yet, it doesn’t seem that the Bengals are finished. Recent reports have the team in talks with cornerback Terence Newman, a former top 5 pick with maybe a year or two left, and Amobi Okoye, yet another first-rounder who is still young and has some pass-rush ability.

In the end, the acquisitions of these inexpensive players makes perfect cents. The team has spent only a small portion of the salary cap (saving money for future signings or extensions) on players who have the measurables needed for success, but simply haven’t mastered them. Those guys will get another chance in Cincinnati.

Perhaps some of them will tank. But others may find a productive role or reach some undiscovered potential.

It’s simple math, really. When there’s little invested, there’s a greater margin for good returns.

Call it addition by addition.