[More Cowbell]

I'm surprised that no one else has started this thread (Stardust?) so I'll go ahead and do it. What does everyone think about the Bengals' draft?

I'll review the first four picks now, and the rest later:

1) Jermaine Gresham (TE) = Excellent pick. If anyone saw the sad excuse for a TE that was Daniel Coats last year, it was obvious that this was the Bengals' most glaring need.

2) Carlos Dunlap (DE) = Questionable pick. I know most experts are saying this is a boom-or-bust player, considering that he has first-round talent but later-round maturity. But my issue is that with Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers, and Michael Johnson as the top 3 DE's, this was not a position of need. Would have liked to see a safety here, more on that later...

3) Jordan Shipley (WR) = Excellent pick. The Bengals really missed having a guy like Housh last year, and Shipley seems to have the skills and toughness to go over the middle. Fills a need for a #3 receiver behing the starters.

3) Brandon Ghee (CB) = Good pick. The Bengals didn't have a reliable nickel corner last year, so this fills a need. Also may start if they can't re-sign Jonathan Joseph next year.

[Cardinalfootballguy]

Good break down I think that the TE they got was the best pick they made.

[Scotty doesn't know]

Good break down I think that the TE they got was the best pick they made.

Dude I love your avatar. I love the Reds support. I have to give the Bengals a B+. I know that the Dunlap pick kind of offsets a little bit but overall they got some excellent players in Gresham and Shipley. Cant wait to see how it works out.

[back_in_black]

pretty good picks

[BFritz]

Amazing draft- no reaches, and only picks to strengthen the team because we had no major glaring needs, but rather only room for upgrades. I do think that we needed a safety early, but, with a solid pass rush and an improved run D, we should be alright with what we have.

1) Jermaine Gresham (TE) = Excellent pick. If anyone saw the sad excuse for a TE that was Daniel Coats last year, it was obvious that this was the Bengals' most glaring need.

Amazing pick- would have been a top ten pick if he had come out last year, but the injury dropped him from the top of the boards. However, his injury was only to cartilage in the knee, but no major parts, and is completely healed.

Gresham is projected to be the best tight end since Gonzo, and has Pro Bowl potential, if not more potential.

Safeties and backers can stay in the box to cover the run and the backers can get in the passing lanes with no threat in the middle to keep them between the seams. Meanwhile, the safeties can play the run or double receivers over the top with no threat up the seam to catch the ball. Gresham solves both of those problems.

Carson needs a check-down receiver if all else fails, and Gresham also fills that need.

We have struggled in the red zone to score touchdowns and Gresham gives Carson a HUGE target near the endzone that can be physical and push people around.

Lastly, it improves play action by 200000000000000000% because defenders have to worry about whether Gresham's releasing to block or to sprint up the seam, and good luck with backers being fast enough to respect the run AND cover him and with safeties being big enough to man-up with him.

(Anyone else have a man-crush or is it just me :notworthy)

2) Carlos Dunlap (DE) = Questionable pick. I know most experts are saying this is a boom-or-bust player, considering that he has first-round talent but later-round maturity. But my issue is that with Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers, and Michael Johnson as the top 3 DE's, this was not a position of need. Would have liked to see a safety here, more on that later...

We didn't have too many positions of need other than tight end (and possibly safety), and most solid pass rush defenses in the NFL have a solid rotation of their pass rushers to keep the pass rushers fresh.

3) Jordan Shipley (WR) = Excellent pick. The Bengals really missed having a guy like Housh last year, and Shipley seems to have the skills and toughness to go over the middle. Fills a need for a #3 receiver behing the starters.

Especially since the best offense against a 3-4 defense, which our division plays, is a three receiver set with a tight end and lone setback, and not to mention that Benson works well as a lone setback.

Shipley also brings a dangerous weapon to our return game, and while I think that Cosby has us set as a punt returner and Bernard Scott did well as a kick returner, I believe that he could bring an explosiveness to our kickoff returns that we've been missing.

3) Brandon Ghee (CB) = Good pick. The Bengals didn't have a reliable nickel corner last year, so this fills a need. Also may start if they can't re-sign Jonathan Joseph next year.

Not a bad pick at all, but I'm still hoping that they can keep one of the league's best corner pair in tact with Hall and Joseph.

[Stardust]

Gresham could be the replacement for TJ, if, and I mean IF, he can stay on the field. This is a kid that took four years to get two seasons worth of games under his belt in college. And didn't play a complete season without injury during HS. I smell Ki-Jana Carter here!

Shipley is our Wes Welker or Dallas Clark - This was an awesome pick-up

Dunlap WILL be the best Defensive End from this years draft. However, I wasn't real high on too many DE's this year.

[Scotty doesn't know]

Amazing draft- no reaches, and only picks to strengthen the team because we had no major glaring needs, but rather only room for upgrades. I do think that we needed a safety early, but, with a solid pass rush and an improved run D, we should be alright with what we have.



Amazing pick- would have been a top ten pick if he had come out last year, but the injury dropped him from the top of the boards. However, his injury was only to cartilage in the knee, but no major parts, and is completely healed.

Gresham is projected to be the best tight end since Gonzo, and has Pro Bowl potential, if not more potential.

Safeties and backers can stay in the box to cover the run and the backers can get in the passing lanes with no threat in the middle to keep them between the seams. Meanwhile, the safeties can play the run or double receivers over the top with no threat up the seam to catch the ball. Gresham solves both of those problems.

Carson needs a check-down receiver if all else fails, and Gresham also fills that need.

We have struggled in the red zone to score touchdowns and Gresham gives Carson a HUGE target near the endzone that can be physical and push people around.

Lastly, it improves play action by 200000000000000000% because defenders have to worry about whether Gresham's releasing to block or to sprint up the seam, and good luck with backers being fast enough to respect the run AND cover him and with safeties being big enough to man-up with him.

(Anyone else have a man-crush or is it just me :notworthy)


We didn't have too many positions of need other than tight end (and possibly safety), and most solid pass rush defenses in the NFL have a solid rotation of their pass rushers to keep the pass rushers fresh.



Especially since the best offense against a 3-4 defense, which our division plays, is a three receiver set with a tight end and lone setback, and not to mention that Benson works well as a lone setback.

Shipley also brings a dangerous weapon to our return game, and while I think that Cosby has us set as a punt returner and Bernard Scott did well as a kick returner, I believe that he could bring an explosiveness to our kickoff returns that we've been missing.

Not a bad pick at all, but I'm still hoping that they can keep one of the league's best corner pair in tact with Hall and Joseph.

Fantastic post. irateSho

Shipley is going to be fun to watch.

[More Cowbell]

Okay, I know this is a week late, but I'm back to go over the rest of the Bengals' draft picks.

4) Geno Atkins (DT) = Decent pick. From all accounts this guy is built like a rock despite being undersized, and should be able to contribute this year. I expect him to be the #4 tackle behing Tank, Peko, and Sims.

4) Roddrick Muckelroy (OLB) = Decent pick. He has been described as a guy who doesn't have great measureables, who compensates with a strong work ethic. He should combine with Brandon Johnson to give the Bengals a couple of good backups behind the starters.

5) Otis Hudson (OG) = Terrible pick. Really the only bad pick Cincy made the entire draft. Although offensive line help is always nice, the team ignored a much more glaring need at safety to take a guy who at best will make the practice squad next year. On the other hand, a safety drafted in this spot would've almost assuredly made the active roster as a backup. When you also consider that Hudson was a guy that most projections had going undrafted, you wonder what in the world they were thinking here.

6) Dezmon Briscoe (WR) = Good pick. Aside from the continuing refusal to draft a safety, this was a solid pick. He is very talented and has a good chance to make the active roster. He apparently has some character questions, but the 6th round is a good place to take a flier on a player with higher-round talent.

7) Reggie Stephens (OL) = Decent pick. I could again harp on the failure to draft a safety, but instead of beating that dead horse I'll just say that this guy will be able to develop on the practice squad.

All in all, a very solid draft. Gresham will start right away, Shipley should see the field a lot in multiple receiver sets, and guys like Dunlap, Ghee, Atkins, and Muckelroy should be solid backups. Aside from the obvious lack of a safety (have I touched on that before?) the Bengals had a good day.

[TidesHoss32]

I give the Bengals an F. Just because, well, ...you know

[Stardust]

I give the Bengals an F. Just because, well, ...you know

Fantastic in comparison to the Steelers is dead-on:Thumbs:

[TidesHoss32]

Fantastic in comparison to the Steelers is dead-on:Thumbs:

Pfft..this draft will make the Steelers 1974 draft a forgotten memory. I see at least four HOFers

[Stardust]

Pfft..this draft will make the Steelers 1974 draft a forgotten memory. I see at least four HOFers

Heck Of Failures.......:flush:

[ROCKSOLID69]

I think this is could be the Bengals year. If they can keep the drama down this season.