Will the Bengals go after Tight End Jeb Putzier?

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 17, 2008 11:22 AM EST in Analysis

With the Houston Texans reportedly set to release Jeb Putzier, and the Bengals searching for an athletic do-it-all tight end, it makes you wonder, could Putzier be a leading free agent candidate for the Bengals?

ESPN.com's scouting report on Putzier:

Putzier is a five-year veteran that was drafted in the sixth round by the Denver Broncos in 2002 out of Boise State. After four years with the Broncos he signed with the Texans in 2006. He is a decent sized TE with athleticism and above-average downfield speed. He is a good combination of decent blocker, decent route runner and receiver. He has a good understanding of Gary Kubiaks offense as he followed Coach K to Houston from Denver. He can read coverages and does a good job of finding the soft spots in zone coverage to provide a good target for the QB. He has natural, relaxed hands that can pluck the ball away from his body and he puts it away quickly. He is not real elusive after the catch but will fight for yards after first contact. As a blocker he shows effort and body control. He is just not massive or strong enough to be a real effective blocker. He knows his role and does a good job of being ready when called upon.

The Bengals showed interest in Putzier two years ago before he signed with the Houston Texans on a four-year, $7.5 million.

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Doubtful

I don't see the Bengals going after a FA TE one year after they gave (at the insistence of Carson Palmer) a 3-year, $9 million deal to Reggie Kelly. The Bengals have never been inclined to spend on the position to begin with, and it took Palmer both pushing the FO to sweeten its offer, and cajoling RK to take a "hometown discount" last season, to get the deal done.

Look for them to spend a mid-round pick, maybe as high as a third if they get the expected extra 3rd as comp for Steiny, on a developmental TE project.

by BeerRun on Feb 17, 2008 3:22 PM EST reply actions

Going After a FA TE

Here's the story. What should be the primary concern for the Bengals during the offseason and during the draft is to go after a DT and a DE period. After getting practically nothing out of their DLM the past season the team needs to get a new start so to speak and replace players at these positions. My opinion is not based on what we saw in the Super Bowl, it is based on how I see the team constructed.

Notably they've gotten relatively low results from starters Smith and Geathers last year and virtually nothing from the rest of the team's DLM. Basically Geathers is a LB acting like a DLM and it looks to me that Smith acts like he doesn't want to be in Cincinnati. I also see that players like Rucker and Fanane have no added value to the team and one has to question the future productivity of players like Robinson, Thornton and Myers. One would even have to question the need for backup players such as Adams and Vernon.

In short I see the need for the team to start fresh on the DL and to work to move some of the non-productive players that they have. A start would be to try and work out some sort of trade deal for Smith so that they could pick up a reasonable draft pick for him. I know that this would be difficult but I really think that they need to benefit from the move and to turn a new leaf on the defense.

All in all I see Cincy spending two fairly high draft choices on 2 DLM in the upcoming draft.

After that I see them working to solidify the LB positions. I know that Cincy fans are nuts and think that the mere mention of Thurman and Pollack are going to solve everything but I feel that there are many reasons to think otherwise. I know a lot fans are high on backers Dhani Jones and Landon Johnson but one must remember that Jones was picked up of waivers and that the other LB positions are at question. They have 11 LBs tied to the club one way or another but in reality have only 3-4 LBs that you could consider starters. The numerous injuries to Miller and Brooks are nagging problems.

After they fill those 3 positions I see them going after an OLM and then perhaps entertaining thoughts on RBs, WRs, and TEs. I know that Marvin keeps teasing about going after a RB but I feel that they have pretty good depth at the position and can probably fill positions off the waiver wire next season. The same is true for WRs as well. Basically I think the defensive needs right now are far more important that the offensive needs.

One thing that we have to remember through the entire process is that Cincy is cheap (I know that someone out there will argue that they're not but we all know that they are). You can look to the numerous waiver-wire transactions that occurred last season as opposed to the players that they didn't sign in the offseason plus the line up of backup QBs that they went into the season with last year and you can understand the cheap side of Cincinnati.

Cincy also has a history of being stupid about players. At times the Brown family has been very vain and down right stupid in making player decisions. One could arguabley say the Justin Smith franchise tag last year was one of them. Hearing that Mike Brown has the final say on player choices tells me that the occurence of poor decisions is not likely to change anytime soon.

The only problem is that Cincy really needs to make these decisions if were are ever to see a bona-fide attempt by management to have a balanced team on the field and to make an effort to get to the playoffs.

by davidincincinnati on Feb 18, 2008 11:04 AM EST reply actions