Report: Eric Berry suffers "big toe sprain".

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 17, 2010 4:29 PM EDT in NFL Draft

University of Tennessee's Eric Berry is a favorite among Bengals fans; most of whom agree that need a play-maker on defense and the biggest gap being with safeties. During his Pro Day, Berry suffered a "left big toe sprain" Wednesday, cutting "short his workout".

While the team's roster of safeties is relatively solid all around -- especially strong against the run -- the team could look to pick up a game-changer. Even though the Bengals only allowed one team and two quarterbacks to pass for more than 300 yards, between Chris Crocker, Chinedum Ndukwe and Tom Nelson, the team's safeties accounted for only four interceptions in 2009.

Is Berry a play-maker solution? Aside from recording 80 tackles or more in two of his three collegiate seasons, Berry has 12 career interceptions with the Tennessee Volunteers and three defensive touchdowns. Mocking the Draft ranks Berry highly, saying:

The comparisons between Berry and Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens are apt. Berry is the definition of a ballhawking safety. As a junior, he showed he has improved as a tackler. He could be the first defensive back selected.

Again, the team's collection of safeties is still very strong this year. Even with the injuries, the Bengals passing defense was solid, ranking seventh in the NFL last season, allowing 203.1 yards per game, 18 touchdowns and forcing 19 interceptions total.

Another thing to consider. With Roy Williams on a one-year contract, Tom Nelson leaving a lot to be desired and Chinedum Ndukwe approaching free agency, the Bengals will eventually need to find a long-term solution.

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did I miss something?

or dont we have the 21st pick? Berry will be long gone

www.fantasydaddy.com

by Joe Goodberry on Mar 17, 2010 4:36 PM EDT reply actions

maybe the slow bengals news crew believes

Berry will be dropped in value because he is big toe sprain – injury prone.

by UpStateMike on Mar 17, 2010 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

There is always hope.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 17, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

No

Not for Eric Berry. Earl Thomas on the other hand….

by sgiridharan1982 on Mar 17, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope we're that lucky.

If Earl Thomas falls to us, I feel like we have to take him.

Hopefully Berry will drop far enough that a team that was considering Thomas will trade up a few slots to get Berry instead.

I know that some people think that Thomas is undersized, but I think he’s just about ideal…and it seems like the Bengals FO likes to take young players, especially on defense. (Geathers and Peko were pretty young, IIRC.) I know the AFC North tendency is to want to be physical everywhere, but we need at least one safety that can truly cover. If we upgrade at SLB, I think it’ll compensate for whatever we’d “lose” against the run.

by Big Sky Bengal on Mar 17, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

thomas will go top 12

www.fantasydaddy.com

by Joe Goodberry on Mar 17, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

probably, but some drafts have him falling to us. I’ve also seen Dez Bryant and Iupati fall to us in some cases. I’d be ok with all these guys.

This is our year!

by Paul Cannon on Mar 18, 2010 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

please drop to us

Running out to frontyard laughing! -Fat Vegas Alan

by GrooveLeg on Mar 17, 2010 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

" Even though the Bengals only allowed one team and two quarterbacks to pass for more than 300 yards..."

Really? Who?

by Jaegner on Mar 17, 2010 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Uh....

Schaub and Rivers, Schaub smoked us with 392 mostly due to screen passes, and blown safety coverage.

"You shouldn't throw rocks at a man with a machine gun." - Rowdy Roddy Piper

by St. Esiason on Mar 17, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok

The wording threw me off. One team and two quarterbacks?

by Jaegner on Mar 17, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Sacks count as negative passing yards

so a QB can throw for 310 yards, but if he is sacked twice for negative 12 yards, the team only throws for 298 yards.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Mar 17, 2010 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, got it.

Thanks.

by Jaegner on Mar 17, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Safety Alternative

How about Myron Rolle? Check him out. Need someone smart at safety. Does anyone know the mental appitude scores from Indy? Curious to see how participants scored. We sure don’t need any light weights as the defensive quarterback.Take him in the second or third round. Use first pick on Iupati.

by sofakinggood on Mar 17, 2010 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

This is kinda dumb

Berry is a top five pick by some accounts, unless we trade up we are just pissing in the wind here.

"You shouldn't throw rocks at a man with a machine gun." - Rowdy Roddy Piper

by St. Esiason on Mar 17, 2010 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

RE:

Well, I guess if you look at it THAT way. I thought it was a good discussion about the state of our safeties. You know, like we’ve done with every other position and Berry’s injury was today’s news, so it was a good segue.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 17, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Myron Rolle

My BIG problem with Rolle would be his dedication. A guy that aspires to be a neurosurgeon would be very hesitant to lower his shoulder to tackle a 230 lb. back (ie. Mandenhall). He says all the right things, but I would still question his desire.

As far as Iupati, he is a big run blocker and not a pass protector (sounds like what we have in Mathis and Livings). We need a pulling guard like when we had Steinbach.

Berry is a pipe dream. I’d hope for Earl Thomas, a really good center-fielder.

by trent48 on Mar 17, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I would like a centerfielder type as well

Obviously, if Berry or Thomas is there in a position to be drafted in R1, but being realistic, they are gone.

If it is a guy like Kurt Coleman of OSU, Darrell Stuckey of Kansas, or Barry Church of Toledo (had to drop a guy from my alma mater) in the 3-4th rounds. These are all mid round guys who were pretty good ball hawks in the college game.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Mar 17, 2010 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Still a chance

that Thomas will be available at #21, I think, although maybe that’s wishing on my part.

The only way Berry is there at #21 is if he gets arrested between now and the draft. Even then, he’s still probably picked before we get a chance.

by Mr. X on Mar 17, 2010 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions

...

Reshad Jones in the 2nd.

If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't

by trotanoy on Mar 17, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

hey do we have a moniter

i get enough freaking spam without logging on to a sports talt site and seeing #$%! advertisement please go elsewhere!!!!!

by stripenut on Mar 18, 2010 8:19 AM EDT reply actions

This just in!

If Suh or Gerald McCoy are available at 21 the Bengals would be interested in drafting the best DT’s in the draft! Berry is the best DB hands down and won’t make it out of the top 5, talk about a pipe dream even reporting on the Bengals maybe taking him.

by JoseOle on Mar 18, 2010 10:57 AM EDT reply actions