Another look at R1 of the 2010 draft
by Peko94 on Jan 21, 2010 11:00 AM EST
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This is only a look at the first round of the 2010 draft, trying to predict the later rounds is tricky.
When trying to project who the Bengals might take in round one, I think a good place to start is which positions won't they draft in the first round. In my opinion, QB, RB, OT, C, and ILB. You could make an argument that if a great OT or RB fell to #21 they might consider it, but these are our positions of strength.
Next we have a group of positions where we are relatively strong or have a lot of money invested already. Probably won't draft any of these in round one either: CB, DE, and OLB. Again, if a great pass rusher falls to #21 we might look at drafting him, but for the moment I'm going to discount these positions too.
So, that leaves the following positions: WR, TE, G, DT, or S. Here are some guys at those positions who might be around when the Bengals draft:
WR - Dez Bryant, Damien Williams, Brandon Lafell, Arrelious Benn, Golden Tate
TE - Jermaine Gresham, Aaron Hernandez
G - Brian Bulaga, Mike Iupati
DT - Brian Price
S - Earl Thomas, Taylor Mays
Finally, here are my thoughts on each of these guys and rankings on who I think we should draft. Keep in mind this list only includes prospects who might be available at pick #21...i.e. no Eric Berry or Ndamukong Suh.
1) Brian Price - Yes, even ahead of Dez Bryant I would like to see the Bengals draft Brian Price. He is an extremely productive pass rushing DT (22.5 TFL in 2009, Pac Ten Defensive Player of the Year). He could team with Peko to give us strong play up the middle for the foreseeable future. Solid receivers can be drafted in rounds 2 and 3. Pass rushing DTs? Not so much.
2) Dez Bryant - The consensus best receiver in the draft. The only reason I think he may be available at pick #21 is the suspension the NCAA hit him with this year. Let me put it this way, if you're picking the the top half of the first round do you want to draft a guy who only played in 3 games this season?
3) Earl Thomas - Thomas is a bit undersized, but he is is an excellent playmaking safety (11 interceptions in 2 years of college football), and we could really use a safety with good coverage skills. He probably won't make it to pick #21 because the Giants, Titans, Steelers, and Texans could all use safety help.
4) Brian Bulaga - The best O-lineman who might be available at 21. Stick him in at LG and we immediately have an improved offensive line. I know he is an OT, but the Bengals seem pretty content with Whit at LT, and Andre Smith was drafted to play RT.
5) Damien Williams - Second best receiver in this draft. His stats took a hit this year when Mark Sanchez went pro, but he is arguably the most polished route runner in the draft. Williams reminds me of Steve Smith (Giants), and could be an immediate contributor next season.
6) Jermaine Gresham/Aaron Hernandez - Tight end is a big need for the Bengals, but their inexperience blocking would probably mean neither Gresharm nor Hernandez would play much as a rookie, just like Chase Coffman. Still, due to their upside and production, we need to consider these guys a possibility. I've listed them here together because I'm not really sure which one I would rather the Bengals draft. Gresham is the bigger target, but he was injured this season so he might not be ready to go for training camp. Herenandez put up solid numbers, but he played in a goofy spread offense. Also, Hernandez is more of a Dallas Clark type H-back than a true tight end.
7) Mike Iupati - I'm a little torn on Iupati. On one hand he is the top ranked guard in this draft, and guard is a position of need for us. On the other hand, guards rarely get drafted in round one - they just aren't a premier position - so unless he is an uber prospect, we shouldn't take him at pick #21. Oh and by the way, he played for Idaho - it's not like he put up dominating performances against Alabama, Texas, or USC. After seeing how Jerome Simpson has panned out I'm hesitant to advocate drafting another project, despite how talented he might be.
8) Taylor Mays - Before the college football season started I don't know if there was a hotter prospect than Taylor Mays. A huge safety (6'3", 235) with the speed of a cornerback. Mays has been exposed in coverage this year though, and he has often been caught taking bad angles to the ball in run play as well. No doubt he is talented, but he is essentially a faster Roy Williams/Chinedum Ndukwe. The Bengals need to lean towards drafting a free safety type player, rather than another strong safety.
9) Brandon Lafell/Arrelious Benn/Golden Tate - I've listed all these guys together because it really depends on who the Bengals have rated the highest. Lafell is the most physical of the group, Tate has the most game breaking ability, and Benn is arguably a mixture of the two. As you can see from these rankings, I hope the Bengals don't draft any of these guys (at least in the first round). Lafell is inconsistent and sometimes has a case of the drops (Braylon Edwards anyone?), Tate has only played WR for two seasons and is an unpolished route-runner (we don't need another project at WR), and Benn has just never performed up to his ability (7 receiving TDs in 3 seasons at Illinois). All that said, if I had to guess who the Bengals would draft in round one I would put my money on one of these guys.
Comments, criticism, your mom jokes, etc all welcome.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.
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somebody i've been reading about a lot is Jerry Hughes from TCU.
6’3" 257, can play SAM or RDE, two-time first-team all-american, career 142 tackles, 28 sacks, 3 INT, 2 FF, 1 TD.
is very underrated. he has good speed so his stock will rise after the combine. might work better in a 3-4 but with that kind of talent and quickness he’s going to work great in a 4-3 too.
Agreed, Hughes looks like a great player. I wouldn’t be upset if we take him, but I’m not sure that MB would pony up and pay another OLB or DE big money,
not to mention
i like our depth at both of those positions.
they’re not going to draft him to take maualuga or rivers spot. and they both have solid backups.
and if odom can continue building on last year, with the progression of fanane and johnson, i think we’re pretty good at DE. i could see picking one up for depth in the 3rd or 4th, but before that we have greater needs.
RIP Slim.
good point, i just really dislike geathers and odom is injury prone.
and dhani is gone after next year. rey rey to MIKE and hughes to SAM? i don’t know…
Go D!
I love your DT at #1 pick. I agree that’s a position of need with significant injuries to Domata and Tank, and P. Sims this year. I also agree that we can get some WR’s later in the draft if need be.
Though our offense is clearly a bigger concern overall, I’d like to see us build our O through free agency this year (i.e. pick up legitimate TE and WR’s)
by The Dealio on Jan 21, 2010 3:40 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Couldn’t agree more with the overall assessment above. Focus on building the D through the draft while plugging in offensive pieces on O through free agency. We have a decent amount of depth on the D and wouldn’t have to ask too much of a rookie at any position we draft. Look at Maualuga last year. Started from game 1, but there was never any pressure on him because he had Dhani next to him and Rivers on the other side. He wasn’t viewed as a savior. He didn’t have terrible players like Anthony Schlagel lining up next to him.
We draft a DT, he rotates with Peko, Sims, and hopefully Tank. We draft a safety, he starts next to Crocker and with Hall and Joseph at the corners (please, please find a way to get Ndukwe out of the starting lineup…I wanted to choke that p.o.s when he blew the coverage on the Keller TD and then got dragged into the endzone from the 10…what an a-hole).
I also have the fear that we end up with either one of the wr’s who will barely contribute next year (LaFell/Benn) or Taylor Mays, who has the instincts of a professional badmitton player on the football field. You can’t have guys like Mays who only know how to run around and try to make a highlight play in the pros…it just doesn’t work. My only hope is that the bengals evaluate him much like they did Thomas Davis…meant to play OLB in the pros. And thankfully we don’t need one of those in round 1.
Here’s hoping for a safety or a DT, although I would be fine taking a Bulaga or Iupati as well. Strengthening the OL is never a bad move.
it is important to note
that a lot of the things they say about mays they said about rey last year.
i’d like to go DT or Safety. The only receiver i see being able to play a lot in the first year would be williams (i’m assuming bryant is off the board) because he’s a great route runner.
RIP Slim.
What about Terrance Cody?
I feel Cody is better than Price.
If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't
Cody
is more of a run stuffer than a pass rusher. Between Peko and Sims we have a nice rotation of guys playing the 1 technique (occupying blockers and stuffing the run). We could use a good pass rushing DT
Imagine having Cody and Peko in the middle, think the Williams bothers in Minnesota.
If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't
The Williams wall is one pass rusher, and one run stuffer
Pat Williams is the run stuffer (1 technique), Kevin Williams is a pass rusher (3 technique). We are set at the 1 technique, and thats what Cody plays
Cody is also fat and not in good shape.
I'd take a one legged midget over Shayne Graham in a heartbeat. - btcoop71
375 lbs at Senior Day
and it wasn’t a clean 375…think Andre Smith plus 30 lbs
by smoormandiddy on Jan 27, 2010 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
If those two were both on our team we might...
have to check on the structural stability of the Ohio.
feed them each one gazelle a day
close down the neighborhood Old Country Buffet
Cody, JJ, and Andre
Damn, that’s like almost a half ton right there
Slim 15, you will be missed. RIP Chris Henry
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Jan 29, 2010 6:00 AM EST up reply actions
Aaron Hernandez
is only 6-2 and doesn’t fit our style of offence at all. If we drafted him i’d puke. He isn’t worth a 1st and his size means he is limited as a H-Back at best. He is really a Westcoast FB (and that depends on his willingness to hit).
Mel Kiper has us drafting him in the first in his latest mock. I would hate that to come about.
The Bengals need a size/speed WR to replace Henry or a defensive playmaker to take our D to that next level DOMINANT! (it is currently sufficating)
by Sheffieldbengal on Jan 21, 2010 4:58 PM EST reply actions
doesn't that make you scratch your head
and wonder just what the hell mel kiper is doing all season long? how could he not recognize that with our style of play, hernandez would be the worst fit?
Sonny my pitched my wild
Kiper
I thought Mel’s mock of Hernandez was off base too…I considered not even writing about him. Apparently his draft stock is soaring right now, we’ll see if anyone is mocking him in R1 in a month or two.
Kiper has him as no,1 TE
and adds to that that the Bengals need a TE = how he comes up with our pick. Ignores 100 other issues around it etc.
I just can’t see Hernandez as a conventional TE and that is something we need. Plus we’d be better off with a vet (3 years playing plus min) TE who can contribute on day one, improve the edge blocking and get Benson and Scott some more 20+ yard runs, and get the odd catch down the seam to keep the LBs honest.
Then get ourselves a big WR who can catch red zone routes and a speedster to break the back of the D on slants (therefore making them push their safeties back and allowing us 5-9 yard a carry)… if the same WR can both then sweet.
by Sheffieldbengal on Jan 22, 2010 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
Moeaki is the best fit for us.
Gresham will be a good pick,
will race you to the bathroom if we take Hernadez in the 1st.
Danario Alexander
WR
6-5 210 pounds
lead NCAA in rec yards 1, 781yds with 113 rec. at Missouri
avg 15.8yds per catch
with 14 TD’s
Beat out Jeremy Maclin as starting WR until he was injured his soph. year.
Big Hands , speed, and size are his strengths
weakness: unpolished route running
he has had surgery on his knee’s twice so thats a red flag to add
by Sheffieldbengal on Jan 21, 2010 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
hells to the yeah...
not first round material but if he falls to us in the second round, hell yeah…
he’s going to have the sickest combine out of all receivers. i’m calling it.
Sonny my pitched my wild
good analysis
but at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’d have to priorize safety, particularly in coverage. Yes, elite DT’s are at a premium, but our current talent and depth there is better set than at safety.
Earl Thomas
I could agree with bumping Earl Thomas up the list, he is definitely the kind of coverage safety we could use. This isn’t a good year to draft a safety in the first round though, especially a FS. After Eric Berry and Thomas, there really isn’t anyone. Nate Allen or Morgan Burnett could be solid R2 picks.
Earl Thomas
I could agree with bumping Earl Thomas up the list, he is definitely the kind of coverage safety we could use. This isn’t a good year to draft a safety in the first round though, especially a FS. After Eric Berry and Thomas, there really isn’t anyone. Nate Allen or Morgan Burnett could be solid R2 picks.
I want a pass rusher
odom is a beast but injury prone, geathers…how many sacks since 2006?
" I don't lie, I tell a different version of the truth."
by Purple City Middie on Jan 22, 2010 12:36 AM EST reply actions
True
The need for a pass rusher brings guys like Jerry Hughes into the discussion.
I think we have Odom and Geathers signed to contracts that go through 2011 though. So we have a lot of money tied up in DE as it is.
Marvin Lewis
has said that he wants a SLB to finish off his defence. A pass-rushing SLB would propel us to the next level in terms of defence. If Lewis sees someone like Pollack or Peter Boulware then i can see the Bengal taking them. Like it or not, we are a Defence-first team who’ll draft that way. (personally i like it)
by Sheffieldbengal on Jan 22, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
oh yea, theres a great idea.
take the last two years of installing and building the defense.. and completely erase it. That’ll change some things for sure. Our defense is great.. focus on offense.
by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Jan 22, 2010 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
Completely erase it?
It’s not like we’re throwing out all the players that we have, changing D coordinator, and replacing them with offensive players and an O coordinator as a D coordinator. Relax.
Just move MJ back. You know they tried that last training season.
That way you have MJ in the starting lineup AS WELL as Odom. Peko is big enough to be a NT. I think it would be an option.
If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't
but
zimmer isn’t a 3-4 d coordinator. and that’s a huge difference. peko is good, but i don’t know if he’s a 3-4 NT. although he could be. he’s highly underrated. we do have enough linebackers for it and we could move rey to the inside. i see merits, but ultimately i don’t think it would be a good move because zimmer isn’t a 3-4 guy.
RIP Slim.
maybe like a package
like a 4-4. Yea its a lil college like like but this would get a better mix of lbs in there. Johnson is a beast and could easily cover TE’s. I say we do this 4-4 package (AND DA 4-3) until Dhani retires or they let him go. I think this could be a stepping stone to Keith rivers and Rey Maualuga at olb and move Mike Johnson to mlb and we’ll have fearsome LB core that could rival the likes of the70 steelers for the next 10-15 years.
"There's no substitute for guts."
-- Paul "Bear" Bryant
MJ is a better cover LB
Rey is a hard core pimp who rapes 250 lb Fullbacks
"There's no substitute for guts."
-- Paul "Bear" Bryant
lets throw in the 46 defense a few times a game
" I don't lie, I tell a different version of the truth."
by Purple City Middie on Jan 26, 2010 2:05 AM EST up reply actions
lol wow...
i am in awe that there’s somebody who actually said that after the year we just had. i still can’t believe my eyes…
Sonny my pitched my wild
Our D was good, but it struggled down the stretch.
If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't
The D struggled because they had to cover for an offense that couldn’t move the ball. In the first half of the season they had a ton of long drives, but in the 2nd half not so much. The D was outstanding considering how few points the offense was able to generate outside of the Green Bay and Chicago games. While he was phenomenal in the playoff game, and chewed up a lot of yardage and clock time, Benson only scored 6 rushing tds all year, with 0 in the last 6 games. The passing game was never good outside of the Chicago game, but after Slim got hurt it disappeared altogether. When your offense is that bad, your defense can’t hold the fort for very long.
Switching to a 3-4 is a very bad idea. Peko is good, but he gets pushed around too much to be a 3-4 nose tackle. When he was drafted I thought Jason Shirley was a decent prospect to develop into that spot, but that hasn’t happened. Since one of the glaring weaknesses of the defense is the lack of an outside pass rusher, going to a 3-4 doesn’t make sense. If they had a couple guys who excelled at that and a huge mountain of nose tackle, I’d say go for it. And don’t say just use MJ, I’d rather talk about what they have than what they could possibly have if a guy develops like we hope he will.
by indesignkat on Jan 23, 2010 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
I have a feeling Marvin would draft Terrence Cody if he's there in the first round
Marvin has wanted a big DT since he arrived here. Remember when Warren Sapp wanted to come here but M. Brown bungaled the negotiations. Then there was Sam Adams, the attempted Shaun Rogers trade and the signing of Tank last year.
I can’t see Marvin passing on a 370 pound DT who would stuff the AFC North for the next 4 to 5 years. There will be plenty of legitimate WR’s left in the second round who could come in and contribute next year.
if Terrance Cody was still there at 21 would be the greatest thing imagine him and peko in the middle both being double teamed and odom left one on one that would be perfect we need a hulking DT
" I don't lie, I tell a different version of the truth."
by Purple City Middie on Jan 23, 2010 2:54 AM EST up reply actions
Cody is more of a run stuffer than a pass rusher. Between Peko and Sims we have a nice rotation of guys playing the 1 technique (occupying blockers and stuffing the run). We could use a good pass rushing DT to rotate with Tank.
does that mean you'll be upset if we take cody?
this is tank’s last year and he missed time last season. we need more depth at the DT position. i think we’d do backflips if cody drops to us. backflips i tell ya.
Sonny my pitched my wild
Backflips
and i will throw in a few cartwheels
" I don't lie, I tell a different version of the truth."
by Purple City Middie on Jan 23, 2010 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
Just saying
That all DTs don’t play the same position…and Cody plays the DT position we have solid depth at. Peko and Sims also play the 1 technique.
I agree we need DT depth at the 3 technique, that’s why I listed Brian Price #1 in my list.
Understandable
but still imagine it…its beautiful
" I don't lie, I tell a different version of the truth."
by Purple City Middie on Jan 24, 2010 3:16 AM EST up reply actions
No.... Brian Price is more beautiful
44.5 TFL in 35 games… better than Suh, Mccoy and Cody
that does sound pretty good
" I don't lie, I tell a different version of the truth."
by Purple City Middie on Jan 25, 2010 2:19 AM EST up reply actions
Marvin did well
with Adams and Sarigusa in the mddle, so I wouldn’t be surprised nor disappointed.
I could see any position but OT and QB
I would pick WR and S with the first two picks, in whatever order depending on value.
I would never draft OG with a first round pick since it’s not good value for the position. They could use a good OG, but you can get them in round 2-4.
If they picked DE or DT I wouldn’t be bummed.
If they pick yet another LB I will be bummed, since those picks have mostly been bad through the franchise’s entire history. Haven’t had a Pro Bowl Linebacker since the 1970s(!!!!!) and yet have blown probably two or three dozen draft picks in the first three rounds on linebackers since Jim LeClair.
If they pick a TE early this year I’d be bummed because (a) it means Coffman is a bust, and (b) the TE crop this year isn’t that great.
by occams_tiger_teeth on Jan 24, 2010 3:46 AM EST reply actions
Whit could be a Pro Bowl G
Why not take a better T and move Whit over. I bet that would help the passing game more then a raw rookie receiver.
O-line had nothing to do with Drop Balls and arrant throws....
We had a great rushing attack and were 27th in sacks allowed… so no Tackle won’t be as big as an upgrade as almost any spot on the offense
We also have a lot of young Guards,
In addition to Mathis and Livings, we have Shirley and Luigis. The improved Guard play may already be in house.
MLB
I could see drafting Rolando McClain as an heir to Dhani. Maitain the Defensive Stregth while imporiving the weaknesses. Remember that our Offense is young (at the positions you listed as 1st round potentials) and should grow next year. Further, Marvin has brought in a lot of MLBs during his tenure, and Zimmer loves a smart MLB over a talented one, but one if there were a guy who was both, ie McClain.
what about Rey Rey? he could be the MLB of the future. it's his natural position.
i think we’re ok at linebacker where we don’t have to take one in the first round. unless it’s hughes. then we should.
i’d still like to see DT, DE, S, or gresham.
Sonny my pitched my wild
McClain won't be around at pick #21 anyway
He could go in the top ten (Chiefs, Browns, Bills?), but more likely either the Broncos or Dolphins will pick him up.
McClain won't be around at pick #21 anyway
He could go in the top ten (Chiefs, Browns, Bills?), but more likely either the Broncos or Dolphins will pick him up.
McClain shouldn't have the workout numbers some other guys will have
While this may be hope not a true assessment, most mocks I have seen have him going after us. we will know more after the combine.
also remember Rey was supposed to go high last year.
MLB have fallen abit, because they don’t rush the passer, especially when the top guys are close.
I believe
That thanks to our needs, that we don’t need to draft for need this year, we can truely look to take the best available player.
TE and Safety can be picked in later rounds. Especially this year, TE looks deep and starters may be available in the 3rd round. While safety is not as deep, I think that Someone like Kurt Coleman will ba available in the 3rd or 4th round, he would provide nice coverage depth at Safety. While I think we should draft a wide reciever, I don’t think it is a true need.
I also look at the Bengals tendencies under Lewis. He has not drafted a DT before the 4th round. He has not drafted a true end before the 3rd round. He has drafted and signed MLB galore. Rey Rey would be good at MLB, but he is also a good SLB. McClain (if available) would be the MLB that both Lewis and Zimmer covet to build their defense around.
LB Christian Henry first round 2015 NFL Draft
" I don't lie, I tell a different version of the truth."
by Purple City Middie on Jan 25, 2010 6:25 PM EST reply actions
Draft
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Bengals go Hawkeyes with the first 2 picks. Baluga is a premiere LT,move Whit back to left guard. Moeaki 2nd rd,good blocker, great hands.
great article by the way
The Saints Stole Who-Dat from Who-Day!
by Dubbs-Bengals on Jan 26, 2010 9:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I would love it if dez bryant was available but if he runs the 40 well then he’ll be gone and I’m a big proponent of getting solid d-takles just look at how disruptive a good d line can make a team (colts, vikings, giants of 2007) they can make a bad secondary like the giants had look great. But seriously how many years have we waited for our first pick hoping for mikey to pick a d takle just to be disappointed, we got lucky to pick up a good one in peko but that wasn’t till late. All of our d line players went in the later rounds like Johnson, peko, gathers, simms so you know mikey doesn’t think d line is that valuable. But one thing I think I know after the past two seasons is he trusts the opinion of his two head coaches in Marvin and zim so if they pick for the d it will be their call. Also most of our skill players have come in round two like corey, chad, r johnson so with the top reciever most likely gone by the time we pick and the second level wr’s available later we will probably look for a player to bolster the pass rush since that’s what Marvin and zim have been preaching. All that aside I would love it if we took either gresham or the safty earl Thomas in round one then a reciever like Benn or Tate in round two. How great would it be to pick up gresham in the first Benn in the second then a playmaking safety in the third. But I would trade my first through third for either brandon Marshall or a new OC because Brat sucks, just saying. What do you guys think?
The Saints Stole Who-Dat from Who-Day!
by Dubbs-Bengals on Jan 26, 2010 9:56 PM EST via mobile reply actions
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