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Welcome in as I do my best to look at each of the Bengals draft picks in separate posts. The first of course, is the Bengals first round choice, Keith Rivers from USC. While I, and many others would have loved to have his teamate Sedrick Ellis, he went two choices earlier to New Orleans. Keith Rivers Positives - Rivers is an athletic guy, strong with zero character issues. With the retirement of David Pollack and the questionable status of Odell Thurman (re-instated but probably rusty, at least) this was the best pick they could have made at this spot. Also flexible enough to play any of the three linebacker positions. Rivers will be tutored by guys like Dhani Jones and become a solid starter on this team, hopefully for years to come. Negatives - Not really ever known as a “game-changer” in the mold of previous USC and #55 alum Junior Seau. Seems to be more of a hard working, stuff that does not always show up on the statsheet kinda guy. I know, thats not really a negative, but this defense needs some explosiveness doesn’t it? Overall Grade - B+ - Maybe it is the disappointment of not getting Ellis, or just the envy of the Chiefs for getting Dorsey, but this pick does not blow me out of the water. Would I have done anything different? No. Could he be a mainstay on this defense for years? Yes. I am just hoping for more like Seau and less like Landon Johnson. Enjoy this fun video a Trojan fan put together showcasing some of Rivers highlights…
1 Chris Perry RB Michigan 26 - There were a few raised eyebrows when this pick went down, and in retrospect, Steven Jackson, taken two picks before Perry, was the better back. Perry has been hyped at times as a perfect change of pace back with great pass catching skills. Too bad he can never stay healthy enough to display those. Grade = C+ 2a Keiwan Ratliff CB Florida 49*** - I think many felt this was a bit of a reach even in the 2nd round. But the Bengals secondary was in dire need of some new blood, and Ratliff seemed as good as any that were available. Ratliff hung on with the team longer than I thought he would though, serving mostly as a Nickle back for years, finally was cut before the 2007 season. Grade = D 2b Madieu Williams S Maryland 56*** - If you remember, the Bengals had this 2nd choice in round 2 thanks to their deal with the Pats for Corey Dillon. When they took Madieu, I was pretty happy with the pick, and he was impressive as a rookie. Injuries marred his season in 2005 and again last year, but he was an absolute stud in 2006(90 tackles, 13 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions.). He signed this offseason with Minnesota, and if healthy could easily return to 06′ form for a good Vikes Defense. Grade = B+ 3a Caleb Miller LB Arkansas 80 - I still don’t think there was any reason to get Miller at this point. While he has stuck with the team and even contributed at times, he has always been very undersized as a LB. At the time I thought he was a career special teamer but he has even started for Cincinnati at times, mostly by default. Grade = C- 3b Landon Johnson LB Purdue 96*** - Not many LB’s have been as consistent as Landon was during his years here in Cincinnati. He always had a knack for the ball and as a result recorded over 100 tackles in each of the last two years. Johnson was the most consistent performer on bad defenses, and signed a free agent deal with Carolina this past offseason. We will be able to see him in a different light this year on a more talented D and see if he stands out the way he did here in Cincy. Grade = B+ 4a Matthias Askew DT Michigan St. 114*** - This seemed like a steal at the time, as Askew was projected as a possible first rounder had he stayed in school at Michigan St. for his senior year. He was mostly dissapointing though as a Bengals, and was cut in 2006 after resisting arrest. Askew was signed by the Redskins in 2007, but was cut not long after and spent last year out of football. Grade= D
Here we go, you already knew the teams, now you get the dates and times for the coming season from our Cincinnati Bengals. Some premature thoughts are that the bye is later in the schedule that usual, which is good. Also I see quite a few playoff teams or teams that narrowly missed the playoffs last year, not an easy schedule by any stretch. So, although it is way too early, here are my predictions for these games, which at this point should be taken with a grain of salt, of course….. Sun. Sept. 7, at Baltimore, 1 p.m. (W) Oops, it’s 7-9 again? Well, I think it is possible. I know there is a swing of 2 games I am feeling here, hopefully on the up-tick, but 7-9 would not surprise anyone I don’t think. Also, no primetime games this year for Cincinnati, also not a surprise.
The season is still some months away, but here are the days, times and opponents the Bengals will be facing in the oh so meaningless pre-season in 2008. Aug. 11 (Monday Night) @ Green Bay Packers8 p.m.
With the 2008 NFL draft approaching, many mock drafters have already decided
This of course, would be brilliant. Ellis was a monster at USC, (58 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior) and we all know how much the Bengals need help on their DL. But with the luck the Bengals typically have, I say he gets picked off right before our choice. Check out this scouting report regarding Ellis……
1 Carson Palmer QB Southern California 1 - The first pick in the Marvin Lewis era was one of the more obvious choices, still, #1 does not always work out, and we as Bengal fans know that very well. Palmer arguably has been great thus far and has a ceiling that has not yet been reached. Overall this obvious choice was a great one for the franchise. 2 Eric Steinbach G Iowa 33 - Stienbach was one of the anchors of the Bengals line for years and although he left via free agency before the 2007 season, this was a perfect fit. The only issue being that he is gone honestly, and the Bengals instead chose to re-sign aging Willie Anderson rather than get Steinbach. He went to the Pro Bowl last season as a Brown. 3 Kelley Washington WR Tennessee 65 - Washington came out as a fairly higly touted WR from UT. He was drafted to compliment Chad Johnson, who was beginning to emerge at the time. It turned out though, that TJ was the compliment to Chad and Washington not much more than a role player. Last season he was a Patriot and was mostly used on special teams. Not a great pick overall for the Bengals, but still played a role while he was here. 4a Dennis Weathersby CB Oregon St. 98 - Horrible luck does not begin to describe Weathersby. He was projected to be a first or second round pick during the combines, only to be shot weeks before the draft after being mistaken as a gang member. The Bengals probably thought they were getting a steal with this pick getting him in the 4th, but the big “what if” was whether or not he would return healthy or not. He only played 4 games once healthy in his rookie season before he got into a car accident that put him in a coma in April of 2004. He did recover, but has never and will never play football again. The Bengals cut him in 2005. 4b Jeremi Johnson FB Western Kentucky 118 - The Bengals really made a nice choice here in our opinion. Coming from Western Kentucky, he was a bit of a hometown choice and has been one of the more underrated FB in the NFL since he got drafted in our opinion. Johnson has led the way for some great seasons from Rudi Johnson and is still a Bengal constant 5 years later. 5 Khalid Abdullah LB Mars Hill 136 - Spent limited time on the team in 2003, totaling 10 career tackles, Abdullah later went on to play for the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL. Nothing to see here. 6 Langston Moore DT South Carolina 174 - Contributed a bit for the Bengals in 2004, with 31 tackles and a sack. They parted ways with him the next season, and he has spent time with Arizona and is currently a Detroit Lion. A career backup. 7a Scott Kooistra T North Carolina St. 215 - Another career backup, but a solid contributor off the bench and is one of only a few still on the Bengals roster from this draft. You would have to say this was a good pick for as late as they got him, and although not a great player, he has exceeded expectations relative to his round and pick. Kooistra was tendered a 3 year deal with the Bengals in 2007 keeping him in Cincinnati through the 2009 season. 7b Elton Patterson DE Central Florida 259 - Not much to say here either. Patterson spent some time with the Bengals in 2004, and with Jacksonville since, but another pick that means nothing. So how would you grade this draft 5 years later? I would give it a solid B myself, but without the no brainer choice of Palmer, I think it drops off to a C-. The only real quality still on the roster contributing is Johnson, even though they got some good years out of Stienbach. What are your thoughts?
Yes, it is true. Back on Sept. 20, 1992 in a game against the Bengals at Lambeau Field, Brett Favre came on in relief of Don Majikowski and picked apart the Bengals defense. In this great old video, Costas, Buddy Ryan and O.J. Simpson talk about the questionable defense by rookie head coach David Shula and interview Favre as well. They even make sure to let you know it is prononced “Farve” despite the spelling. Enjoy!
Cincinnati tried to get their revenge on Favre years later, as a dumbass fan ran onto the fied at Paul Brown Stadium and stole the ball from Brett. This video shows an excellent view of the fan getting crushed by security after his drunken jaunt. Try to ignore the music.
Just when you thought the Bengals would take this free agency period and totally “Bungle” it, just when you thought they Odom recorded a personal best 8 sacks last season, and had previously never had more than 2 in a NFL season. Odom was the 57th overall pick by the Titans in 2004 out of the University of Alabama. He will replace Justin Smith on the end and should be a good compliment to Robert Geathers. Now, for the skeptical Bengal fan inside me. Is this guy that good? Or did he just capitalize on …..
Obviously, if the Bengals can snag Dwayne Robertson as well, these points might not be as valid, and maybe the kid just had a breakout year, but count me as skeptical right now. And it looks like the Robertson deal was botched as well…..
Another career Bengal up to this point has left the fold. Justin Smith, the Bengals first round pick back in 2001 out of Missouri. Smith had a roller coaster ride of a career in Cincinnati with more question marks than exclamation points. In his 7 seasons as a Bengal though, he did register 43.5 sacks. Which is more than any other Bengal can say over that time period. The Niners made a big push to get Smith, who was rumored to be heading to Minnesota and Jacksonville on his free agent tour. He was so impressed in SF however, that his search ended there.
Smith signed a a six-year contract for $45 million on Saturday, including $20 million in guarantees. Yet another purge from the Bengals defense that is getting a big time overhaul this off season. More exits than entrances so far though, lets hope that changes very soon.
If you were keeping a close eye on the first day of free agent signings in the NFL yesterday, you probably saw the report The NFL voided the trade that would have sent Rogers to Cincinnati in exchange for the Bengals 3rd and 5th round picks in this years draft. Mark Curnutte is reporting on his blog that the deal was nixed because it ran afoul of league salary-cap rules. That is all we know right now about it falling through. And what do you know, our free spending rivals up in Cleveland have managed to make the deal to acquire Rogers. Like a starving dog jumps on a discarded hunk of meat, the Browns have now announced a trade that sends Shaun Rogers to the mistake by the lake for corner Leigh Bodden and a 3rd rounder. Wow, why do I have a feeling this comes back to bite us on the ass in some way? Just when you think the Bengals have someone promising that can stop the run, it goes away, in a matter of hours…… Edit**** Just noticed this tidbit on Marks blog as well, worth mentioning….
So possibly we avoided another legal headache? Time will tell….. |
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