Tuesday afternoon links and notes; practice squad moved to offseason roster

by Kirkendall on Dec 30, 2008 4:23 PM EST in Analysis Comment 6 comments

The Bengals signed seven players onto the offseason roster that were on the team's practice squad.

G James Blair
CB Marcus Brown (McNeese State)
C/G Digger Bujnoch (Cincinnati)
DE Victor DeGrate (Oklahoma State
WR Maurice Purify (Nebraska)
FB J.D. Runnels (Oklahoma)
WR Mario Urrutia (Louisville)

Mark Curnutte is leaving as the Bengals beat writer. No word on who's replacing him. We've never had a problem with Curnutte, he provided us with plenty of information. However, we think that the Enquirer has never fully understood the potential they have with their Bengals blog; where information meets opinion in a messy collision. That's a good blog.

Stacy Andrews, who plans on being back by training camp, is having surgery in Cincinnati on January 5.

Not only is Chris Henry looking to have an "uneventful offseason season", but he says his relationship with head coach Marvin Lewis is "repaired." Forgive us if we've heard that before and remain suspect.

Chick Ludwig agrees with CJ, Bob Bratkowski should be "under heavy scrutiny". But he also thinks tagging Houshmandzadeh would be a mistake.

Lewis' latest press conference proves it, he's no fun.

While Lewis complimented the veteran players for helping keep things stable, but also said "I can't have said it enough times that they weren't quite ready to go when we got started, and that makes a big difference. It's difficult to train on your own at the pace everyone else is keeping with the team." Chad and Houshmandzadeh were within his sights when saying that. We fully stand behind the head coach on that one.

Why Geoff Hobson is examining anything other than tackle for the upcoming NFL draft is beyond me. At the same time, I'm a little flaky on my stance if that means we can get a leader, a play-maker, on defense -- specifically the middle linebacker.

The 2009 schedule based on location.

B.J. doesn't seem too optimistic.

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draft

First two picks should be 2 linemen, one offense the other defense. OT is the obvious choice to protect palmer, but you can’t do that through the draft alone. Conventional wisdom doesn’t have Rivers at MLB soon? Even if he’s not, Jones didn’t do so terribly. Frankly, I think they need to look at RB in the 3rd round. Fact is, they need to use free agency to fill some voids, and I hope that is at center.

by mskiles314 on Dec 30, 2008 6:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

RE:

You know, I think Collins’ surprisingly good performance kind of quieted it down. That’s not to take away the fact that we DO need to rebuild the line. And I feel pretty comfortable that they’ll go that route.

However, something to munch on.

- Keep Collins at LT
- Move Whit out to RT
- Keep Williams at RG
- Draft center AND guard

The guard spot (which could be used later in the draft) would likely free up the spot for another “need” on team to use a first round pick. Then maybe you could go with, oh, I don’t know, a RB in the first IF the team and Benson can’t close the deal. Or adding more pieces to the “future” of the defense. Anyway, it frees up that option, you know?

A Collins, Whitworth combination represents two things. They’re both young, they’re both signed for a while. Good stability. Good LONG term stability. Then you can focus on rebuilding both guard spots for the next two seasons (Williams will be a FA after 2009).

The above represents a plausible Mike Brown version of rebuilding the line for the first season.

Now this is a more rebuilding RIGHT NOW version that many money spending franchises model.

Sign Jordan Cross (tackle)
Sign Matt Birk (center)

Boom. Instantly upgraded. Of course, that would actually mean we’d hope that both players WANT to be in Cincinnati — and that the Bengals can offer them such a deal that makes them WANT to be in Cincinnati.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Dec 30, 2008 10:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

offseason moves

I understand the need for an offensive tackle,which seems to be the opinion of many analyst.Just for the sake of discussion and thinking out of the box…why not go after USC middle linebacker Ray Maualuga with the first pick.Get an offensive lineman with the second pick Spend the rest of the picks on positions needed to provide depth like on the defensive line and possibly at wide receiver and or running back.Not sure how other Bengal fans feel about the pass rush or lack of,but bringing in someone like Julius Peppers would definately give Odom and Geathers some competition and that could be benificial for the Bengals pass rush in the long run.Last but not least there is the burning question,does Chad still want to play for the Bengals in 09?Given how much he wanted out after 07,I can’t imagine hes excited to rerturn after a 4-11-1 season.This may sound crazy,but why not trade Chad,either on draft day(someone might be crazy enough to give up a first or second rounder(DA RAIDERS),or may be straight across to the K.C.Chiefs for “troubled runningback Larry Johnson”.Might be a good one two punch in the backfield with Cedric Benson. This of course would mean the end of Chris Perry(whose as soft as a jelly doughnut).I failed to mention Albert Haynesworth because the Bengals have shown in the past that they aren’t enough of a bigboy organization to make that big a splash in free agency(which also means Julius Peppers playing for the Bengals is a pipe dream)but what the hey…these are just the rambling thoughts that come with the end of every season.

by 017bengal on Dec 30, 2008 8:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"why not go after USC middle linebacker Ray Maualuga with the first pick"

And that was what I was kind of hinting at. Not necessarily Maualuga, but a play-maker. A defensive leader. All those things that Odell was oh, so, close to being. Though leader is a bit stretching it, eh? Still, that boy could play.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Dec 30, 2008 10:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"bringing in someone like Julius Peppers"

There’s no doubt Peppers would help the rush, if not the competition. Knowing the Bengals, they won’t dump another big contract on a pass rushing end.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Dec 30, 2008 10:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"I failed to mention Albert Haynesworth"

Nah, you ‘re like me. Basically Haynesworth being so far outside the possibility of signing him, you tend to forget about him. Though reports are coming out that the Titans and Haynesworth’s peeps are back to negotiations.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Dec 30, 2008 10:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs