Draft or Free Agency?
by Vman in Germany on Mar 1, 2009 2:38 PM EST
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It is really hard to gauge how the Bengals should draft until free agency runs it course. Free agency is more than a team taking an offensive course to team needs, it is also a defense against rival team moves. What will be the answer by NFC East teams to Washington's recent moves? Or AFC East teams to recent New York Jet activity? What are teams to do?
One of the keys to free agency is not always about what your own team needs but what other teams, namely division rivals, stand to lose. Case in point is the Baltimore Raven defense and the free agents that they must sign to remain dominant. If Ray Lewis doesn't come back and with Bart Scott gone what will the complexion of that defense be and how will the Bengals be able to attack it? What potential weakness is being further exposed by Bengal free agency loses?
New England traded Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel, aside from clearing salary cap room what are they looking to accomplish long term? Perhaps they see something in the draft that is more appealing in the second round that will ensure yet another winning season. As opposed to holding onto an over priced backup quarterback and an aging linebacker. The use of free agency and the draft is a more complicated chess match than anyone gives it credit for being.
This piece has more questions than answers, but like most fans I confess my confusion trying to watch and keep up with free agency. So is it best for a team like the Bengals to wait and see what other teams do? Or jump in the fray and make the the bold moves? In the case of TJ Houshmandzadeh I think we all would have liked to see the Bengals jump in.
If the Bengals are choosing a path that makes strong use of the draft, then I hope they choose wisely, because free agency moves are slipping away. Some teams do not have the luxury of signing high priced talent to "save" a team now for instant results. We have watched the Steelers rebuild through the draft year after year, thus throwing more light on the proof of our inept Bengal ownership. So with Easter coming what basket should the Bengals throw their eggs in? Draft or Free Agency?
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Draft
Since the Bengals are never going to be aggressive in free agency. Since they won’t be able to sign any big name free agents, the draft is their only hope. Sucessfull drafting may lead to a more sucessful program and then greater interest in free agents wanting to play for Cincy. Trading TJ last season before the deadline would have brought some draft picks.Trading Chad when Washington made the offer last year would have made sense too. Trading down to pick up extra picks can work too. However,we are dealing with an organization that does the same o same with the same o same o results.
by redberkey on Mar 1, 2009 2:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
"However,we are dealing with an organization that does the same o same with the same o same o results."
That’s the downer, isn’t it?
However, there is some good out of this, primarily that there seems to be more proof that building a team from the draft is more successful than buying one.
On the other hand, the team has to draft well too.
So……….
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Kirkendall on Mar 1, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Free Agency
I have never been impressed with free agency. The way to build a team is to draft well and resign your own players. Free agency may be used to find the final piece, but shouldn’t be used to build a team. Look at the teams the sign a lot of free agents. Washington and Oakland seem to sign a lot and akland at least usually drats ahead of the Bengals. Look at the success of Baltimore and Pittsburgh, which are usually considered free agency winners, but there are 3 championships there this decade. The Benagls are still a team building. They need to have a solid draft for depth, so that injuries won’t kill them. Grabbing a starting center and Left tackle though wouldn’t hurt.
I also see the Bengals still resigning Benson. There are 5 running backs in the draft who has the same potential in Wells, Moreno, McCoy, Brown and Greene, plus Ward, Arrington and sproles in free agency, Plus Tomlinson and Larry Johnson appear to be availabel via trade.
All the TJ news I have seen says don’t be surprised if he returns too, he overestimated the market I think.
by jim0ijk on Mar 1, 2009 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I was not reading your news
Apparently TJ is gone, and I apolgize for the end of my last post.
by jim0ijk on Mar 1, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
free agency/draft
i have been a bengals fan since 1970, and i have yet to recognize a clear image of what they are other than,for the most part, cheap.are they offensively-minded,defensively-minded-who knows? when you can answer that question,along with what the hell is on mike brown`s mind,you can figure whether free agency vs. the draft is best for the bengals
by tgam on Mar 1, 2009 5:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
"when you can answer that question,along with what the hell is on mike brown`s mind"
We’d have better luck reading women!
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Kirkendall on Mar 1, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
free agency/draft
jedi mind tricks for everybody!-seriously,because the bengals refuse to form an image of who they are, it makes it damn hard for them to complete/win,as well us to understand.now,on to be confused/amused by my wanna-be wife!
by tgam on Mar 1, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
philosophy
Yea, we’ve pointed that out before, that this team really doesn’t have an image. They steamrolled an offensive philosophy, however, that absolutely collapsed.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Kirkendall on Mar 1, 2009 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let’s see. Arrington and Sproles are gone. McCoy, Greene, and Brown are most definitely not the same sort of prospects as Wells and Moreno and even the latter two are nowhere near Ward or Benson. Free agency gets us crap like Utecht and Odom and we’ve got Badluck Schleprock at the helm of our draft team.
I’m optimistic.
by IgnatiusJReilly on Mar 1, 2009 7:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Longer FA goes on...
The more needs the Bengals have.
Off the top of my head:
Veteran backup QB
OL – most of it
RB – possible
DL/LB – a pickup or two could really solidify both areas
Going into the draft requiring three OL would probably mean the first two picks spent on a guard and a centre. After this it should be the best player available, there again this is the Bengals.
I’d love to see a backup QB and perhaps a RB come through the doors before the draft and one OL so the entire draft isn’t focussed on them.
I could see us trading down to pick up another 2nd/3rd round pick which makes us more flexible although the amount of compensatory picks we’ll get in 2010 means that we’ll see the consistent lack of depth resolved by then.
by Squizza on Mar 1, 2009 10:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Team identity
Completely agree with the lack of focus here, we have zero image to project to FAs, further alienating them, as if they’d come here any way :p
I think one thing we should avoid is following the Steelers/Ravens and be a defensive first team. We have the makings of a very good, mobile D but we’re missing the one or two playmakers that are going to punish the opposition, either through a huge hit or a timely sack.
I’ve followed the Bengals since the mid-80s and although my ability to do so has been limited until the net broke out, I can’t remember too many punishing defenders that we’ve had. I can remember Louis Billups blowing people up but recent history has been we’re fairly soft tacklers especially in the secondary, who specialise in arm tackling.
I just don’t think power running + hard D is Bengals football in the same way it’s associated with the Steelers and Ravens. At the same time we need to get past them to get to the play offs so maybe it’s a case of if you can’t beat em….
by Squizza on Mar 1, 2009 11:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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