Bengals In Attendance During BYU Running Back Harvey Unga's Workout
by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 9, 2010 2:12 PM EDT
in NFL Draft
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PrintWith Cedric Benson's season possibly shortened due to a suspension after a recent assault charge in Texas, the Bengals could be left with Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard to maintain the position of feature back by committee. Cincinnati very well could use the younger, unproven talents of Cedric Peerman if the league announces their decision on Benson's fate.
Regardless, I believe the biggest issue for Benson, while not focusing on the upcoming season, is whether or not he's signed beyond this season.
Many are justifiably hesitant to give Benson an extension. Some argue that having one good season is hardly justification for a costly extension. In other words, wait and see what happens this year before offering him an extension. A counter-argument to that argument is that if you wait, and he has a great season, then all you've likely done is added millions to his demand, perhaps even negotiating yourself out of position to re-sign him in 2011 and beyond with other contracts that need to be addressed with players like Johnathan Joseph, Leon Hall, Chad Ochocinco, Brandon Johnson among others.
However, the Bengals aren't sitting idle in either of the above scenarios. They may need a running back immediately depending on the league's decision regarding Benson's assault charge. They may need a running back long-term if Benson doesn't return to Cincinnati.
As a result, they are one of twenty teams that checked out BYU running back Harvey Unga on Thursday, who is preparing for the upcoming supplemental draft. Per Jay Drew of the Salt Lake Tribute:
Here are the numbers from the workout:
Unga measured in at 6-foot-1 and 244 pounds. His standing high jump was 35 inches and his long jump was 9 feet, 6 inches.
He bench-pressed 225 pounds 19 times."When I came in to work with Dave Stroshine, I did 12 the first time I got in there," Unga said. "I'm happy with that."
Most importantly, Unga's 40 time was in the 4.64 range. I asked three scouts who timed Unga's second 40, and one had 4.64, one had 4.63 and the other had 4.65. The first 40, ran in the opposite direction (toward the mountains) was a 4.72, according to the only scout I got a chance to ask. His time in the first 10 yards was 1.65 seconds, and 2.75 seconds in the first 20 yards.
Unga had expected to play for BYU this year, but "withdrew from BYU this spring, citing an honor code violation." Some suspect it was due to premarital sex with his fiance who recently gave birth their son. Administrators for the school said he couldn't return until "January of 2011 at the earliest." Unga was an All-MWC First Team selection, starting ten games for the Cougars at running back and setting BYU's career rushing record.
The 2010 NFL Supplemental Draft will be held on July 15 this year.
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Have you seen this kid play?
I remember watching this kid play I think the year before last and wondered why he wasnt talked about being near the top of draft boards. I hope the Bengals are able to pull the trigger, he would be a fantastic addition.
He called me a baboon, he thinks I'm his wife.
I think he is better than Toby Gerhart......BYU is a pass dominant team and
this kid put up very good numbers. Put this kid on Stanford team last year and he wins the Heisman!
Kenneth Lewis Moore
by lightskin350 on Jul 10, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Might not be a bad idea as insurance in case Benson blows up (On the field. In a good way) and acts like Chris Johnson next year.
I’ve always been a little skeptical of paying running backs a ton of money. Maybe growing up when the Broncos offensive line was practically making anyone a 1,500-yard rusher has jaded me. (Just to make clear, I’d pay Chris Johnson). If our line can open up holes, I’m sure this guy can run through them, too.
Why?
While they look alike and may both be quick move players, B. Scott isnt even in the same area code as far as top end speed. I think B. Scott could be a solid NFL starting RB in a season or two he isnt Chris Johnson nor will he ever be.
by Andy Johnson on Jul 11, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
They'll draft him
Watch. Troubled kid, get him low in the draft, a “perceived need” at this point. Would not be surprised AT ALL if he comes here.
"Troubled kid"
Is there something else I missed other than the premarital sex speculation?
More to your point, the Bengals WILL draft someone in the supplemental draft, so it’s possible.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 9, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha. Don’t assume that a kid is troubled because he was kicked out of BYU either. I grew up in Utah, and believe me, it doesn’t take much to get kicked out of BYU. I had a math teacher who was reprimanded because he didn’t shave before going to the gym to workout.
This is our year!
+1
In Zim We Trust......Collaros for Heisman
by TennBengalfan on Jul 11, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what I mean.
In the eyes of many, if not all teams, a player who enters the supplemental draft is labeled with “issues”. While the alleged issue with this kid may not be a big deal to you or I, the kid had to leave school early against his wishes. Had he played another year and entered the draft legitimately, he probably would have been 2011’s version of Toby Gerhart.
by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 9, 2010 5:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
RE:
I see what you’re saying. I would hope most teams would factor the reasons and the school in which he was “suspended” or dismissed from.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 12, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Who gets cut?
Say they draft Unga. (Great name for the fans to chant: Unga! Unga! Unga!)
Who gets cut?
They'll only carry 3 backs
Right now it’s Benson, Scott & Leonard. Peermen would have to beat out one of those. Eason has no chance. So if Unga is drafted, does Leonard go? Or Scott? I’d say skip drafting Unga. There’s no room. Unless Unga could play fullback like Larry Csonka or Pete Johnson.
agree on the fb think
Unga projects as an nfl fullback. If we draft him its to add competition at a position where the starter is unclear and if he doesn’t make it its the practice squad.
And by no means should they give anything higher than a 5th rounder
by goffchile on Jul 10, 2010 12:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
he projects to a fullback who can actually carry the ball
by occams_tiger_teeth on Jul 11, 2010 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions
FUI
We already have one FB who could carry the rock but is an unproven and somtimes unwilling blocker!!! If you take Unga it is for RB.
by Andy Johnson on Jul 11, 2010 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Benson
Here,s to getting down and praying Benson does not get suspended. We cannot afford to cut a player of value. What scares me, what of Dez Briscoe? Does he make it, or put on PS, and we know if its the PS, he will get picked up.
by James Schmid the great on Jul 9, 2010 10:41 PM EDT reply actions
Briscoe will be PS and won't get picked up.
If he was really that NFL ready there wouldn’t have been 190 players taken before him.
Picking up a WR off someone else PS who has never practiced with a team isn’t going to make them a better 53 squad. At the WR position a mistake can cost you six points. It isn’t like a FB or K or P.
So every team in the NFL carries their own WR or two on their PS who already knows the system.
Dude, you really sound like you don't know the first thing about the NFL Draft......
The only reason Briscoe slid so far was because of his 40 time. Players slide every year due to off the field, bad work outs or whatever. Look at Housmanzadeh and M. Colston down in New Orleans both were 7th rd picks and you would be hard pressed to find two better receivers in their draft class. Look at T.O., Jerry Rice and Vincent Jackson who slipped in the draft because they came from division 2 programs.
When you start getting into the 4th rd and later it is like a crapshoot you simply don’t know how the player will progress in his career, he could be out of the league in two years or they could be an all pro for the next ten.
If Cincinatti puts Briscoe on the PS there is a very good chance they will lose him to another team. Look at the FB from last year years draft Chris Pressley who was undrafted and put on the PS but Tampa bay stole him and he is starting for them right now and Cincinatti wish they had him now because Jeremy Johnson has eaten himself out of the league. Dude, in the NFL Draft you just don’t know.
Kenneth Lewis Moore
by lightskin350 on Jul 10, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Disagree
He was passed on for his off-field troubles (though his 40 time was a little slow too). They need to find a way to keep Briscoe. If he doesn’t make the 53, they can’t PS him because there is no doubt he’ll get snatched up. He was labeled as a 2nd round talent that slipped to the 6th. He either needs to be on the final 53 or they need to PUP/IR him. He’s a future starter in this league. I predict that in 2 years once Chad and Bryant are gone, Briscoe and Shipley will be the starting WRs here.
by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 10, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Still Safe...
There were 27 WR activations from PS by 19 teams in 2009. (I didn’t look at 2008 or before.)
One of the 27 was activated from another team’s PS. On November 23, 2009, Terrance Nunn was signed off the Patriots’ practice squad by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So it can happen but it’s rare to lose a WR off a PS. I don’t know that the coaches thought Purify was the best WR on anyone’s practice squad last year when he was activated. Maybe he was the most Bengal 53 squad ready.
It’s just that WRs aren’t a plug-and-play quantity like a FB, K or P. A WR and QB need to know each other’s tendencies. They need ‘chemistry’. They need to have some practice time.
I’m not saying Briscoe won’t be great someday. Certainly some late round and undrafted players do turn out great. But many, many more aren’t playing after 3 years.
And if Briscoe has a really strong preseason he deserves to make the 53. But he’s still safe on the PS if he doesn’t.
I don't..
I think that if Briscoe is put on the PS, since he was projected as 2nd rounder, that he would be picked up. There are teams that will do exactly what the Bengals did with Simpson. Sit him until he learns the system for a year or two. If a team was high on him in the draft, then they would have the tendency to pick him up off the PS, sit him and try their luck with him in the next couple of years. They just might have the next Austin Miles or Sidney Rice. Some teams will take a chance b/c of thinking he has that potential. Unlike Purify, Purify wasn’t projected as a high draftee and the Bengals wasn’t going to pick up a WR off anyone else’s PS, that didn’t know the system that late in the season. So, for some other teams early in the season, yes, there is a better chance that they will pick him up, but not late in the season.
Briscoe wasn't taken in the second.
It’s the NFL draft boards that count, not the mock boards. We could have taken Briscoe in the 5th but we thought more of Otis Hudson. Does that mean if we put Otis Hudson on the PS some team will take him?
Every other team that drafted found someone higher than Briscoe until we took him in the 6th round. So with the only market that counts, the NFL teams, Briscoe is a sixth round value until he proves otherwise.
If Briscoe is put on the PS he will be gone before sundown.
He will be on a plane to Baltimore the same day. Two reasons, they need more WR depth and who can tell them more about their biggest division threat’s playbook than a WR, other than a QB. They will PS a backup CB nobody else wants anyway. including them, and bring him in to mike his brain and get a promising WR prospect as well. Hell, that is what I would do. He would be able to break down all of the options out of each formation as well as the line calls. Beating us is as important to them if the want to win the division. Plus, I don’t think you have to keep him active for the whole year, but I will be honest, I am not sure about that. But I am pretty sure Briscoe will be gone before the ink dries on his release.
"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"
They can do the same with Cosby or Jones or Purify if we keep Briscoe. Baltimore passed on Briscoe 6 times. If they wanted him for his talent they could have had him. If they want him for his knowledge of the team, the Bengals are going to release 27 others, some with more knowledge. Its not something to worry about. Either he earns a spot or not. If not its not worth worrying over unless he becomes a future probowler with another team.
Cosby probably isn't going anywhere
Jones and Purify are under performers with baggage. I understand your point but I still think Briscoe will be gone within 24 hours of his assignment.
It is like I have said before, good players will be cut because we are loaded with good players in the positions where we have an excess. I just hpoe there are teams that cut a player or two that we can use. Oline, backup QB and FB.
"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"
I think you assume
I’m saying Briscoe is not going to be great but I’m not. I hope he’s great, a real steal, and I hope he shows enough the make the 53 squad.
I’m just saying if he isn’t one of our top six WR and if he ends up on the PS he won’t get picked up.
That’s just in the numbers. There were 41 WR on practice squads in 2009. One got picked up by another team – and then only after the team had already activated all their own WR off their own PS. Only when they didn’t have any other choice did they look elsewhere.
So last year a WR on the PS had a 97.5% chance of finishing with the same team he started. That is pretty safe.
Doesn’t matter how we might act or what our evaluations are. We’re not the NFL coaches or managers.
I'm a little confused about the supplemental draft.
So the Bengals will be in the third group of the supplemental. What pick will they have to forfeit or use from next year’s draft. Since it’s the third group, we have a high weight in the group, do we lose a third round pick or what?
Somebody please clear this up. I would hope they wouldn’t have to forfeit such a high draft pick. But if Unga is worth it, then it is a must!
its a silent auction
Teams submit what round pick they are willing to give up in next years draft for which players. Highest pick wins. If two teams tie for the highest pick then the team with the worst record wins. It is staggered in three groups according to draft order.
Only a handful of players are drafted and precious few have turned in to anything
by goffchile on Jul 11, 2010 6:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
anybody realize that 2 seasons ago, Unga and Vakapuna were the power run tandem for BYU that accumulated 1395 yards rushing on 294 carries for 14 TD’s in BYU’s passing oriented offenses (powered by Max Hall, Austin Collie and Dennis Pitta)
3 yards and a pile of dust
just sayin
it would be nice to see them reunited
3 yards and a pile of dust
by Hudepohl Dey on Jul 12, 2010 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions
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