Breaking Down The Cincinnati Bengals 53-Man Roster

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 3, 2011 4:57 PM EDT in Analysis

With the 53-man roster now (at least temporarily) set, we wanted to quickly take a look at aaahow our locks panned out. We always hope for perfection (of course), but it's unrealistic due to reasons like suspensions and injuries that we're just not made aware of. How well did we do and how does the 53-man roster breakdown?

Quarterbacks: Nailed It. Reports that the Bengals could only keep two quarterbacks made it easy because it wasn't too terribly hard whom the Bengals would keep. Dan LeFevour is a practice squad candidate and could be signed as the team's third quarterback in case injury hurts the position between Andy Dalton and Bruce Gradkowski. That is, of course, god forbid Carson Palmer doesn't show up.

Running Backs: Nailed It. We weren't sure if the Bengals would keep four or five running backs, along with Chris Pressley as a fullback. Based on two factors, we choose five (including Pressley). One being the team's decision to resume a rushing identity and the second beind possible discipline from the league based on the results of his trial last week in which he was sentenced to 20 days in jail.

Assuming that the team doesn't use Cedric Peerman's spot on the roster to make room for acquisitions through free agency and the waiver wire, it's doubtful that they'll have a running back on the practice squad with already five on the roster. Though if they do, Jay Finley would be a strong candidate.

Offensive Line: Missed It. We were right that Max Jean-Gilles would be released and backup center Reggie Stephens would make it. However we didn't expect that Bobbie Williams would serve a four-game suspension that forced the Bengals to keep another guard -- in this case, Williams' protege and backup right guard, Otis Hudson.

The Bengals really liked offensive tackle Matthew O'Donnell -- an undrafted free agent signing. O'Donnell is a likely candidate to return on the team's practice squad.

Wide Receivers: Nailed It. Ryan Whalen won the job really against the Colts, showing that he's capable of playing special teams as well as in this offense. And really, with Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell entering their final seasons under contract, Whalen may be a backup plan in case neither return.

Andrew Hawkins, who impressed a lot of people on special teams, is a strong candidate to return on the team's practice squad if he clears waivers.

Tight Ends: Nailed It. All depended on Bo Scaife's injury. He went on Injured Reserve this weekend, assuring that Chase Coffman and Colin Cochart made the squad behind Jermaine Gresham.

Defensive Line: Nailed It. Many were incensed by our choice to keep only three defensive tackles by dropping Jason Shirley in favor of five defensive ends -- two of whom (Frostee Rucker, Jonathan Fanene) play defensive tackle during passing downs anyway.

Shirley remains eligible for the team's practice squad and the Bengals have shown enough desire to keep him around over the past three years that he could return again.

Linebackers: Nailed It. Dontay Moch can't go on Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform because he already practiced during training camp. With a broken foot and a return as soon as the fourth week of the regular season, the Bengals needed someone to replace him early. That opened the door for Vincent Rey.

Once Keith Rivers is off the Non-Football Injury list (similar to Reserve/PUP list), Rey appears to be the first man out. DeQuin Evans, who was waived earlier this weekend, is expected to join the practice squad once he clears waivers.

Secondary: Missed It. We had the team keeping six cornerbacks (Jonathan Wade, Rico Murray) and only four safeties. The Bengals did the opposite, keeping Jeromy Miles and Gibril Wilson. There's a good chance that the Bengals are keeping someone like Jeromy Miles to release him if they find players through free agency or waivers.

Special Teams: Nailed It. We had this one charted in May, with Mike Nugent as the team's place kicker, Kevin Huber punting and Clark Harris snapping.

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Comments

couple of moves that wouldn't shock some of us

1) the bengals claim a TE#3 on waivers and cut coffman.

2) the bengals claim a Guard on waivers and cut safety #6

One could assume the Bengals are holding onto 6 safeties while Mays learns the system and Wilson gets healthy. Five safeties can cover that, when Jones comes back, the Bengals could drop the #5 safety.

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 3, 2011 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

...with 2) more likely than 1)?

by wiseking on Sep 3, 2011 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

"And really, with Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell entering their final seasons under contract, Whalen may be a backup plan in case neither return."

This could very well happen is Simpson isn’t given some looks.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Sep 3, 2011 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

"A back-up plan"

That’s new!

Be better to have a plan in the first place: Sign Caldwell and Simpson. No “back-up” nonsense needed.

by wiseking on Sep 3, 2011 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think they let Simpson go.

Lewis and Gruden love how well he blocks. That’s a great compliment to Green (game-changer) and Shipley (possession receiver). They need a guy like that; it’s making a real difference in the run game. They’ll lock him up, which means they probably let Caldwell go.

Andy Dalton: An American Hero

by Pardon_My_French on Sep 3, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

The way both Marvin and more so Gruden have been raving about Caldwell I would not be shocked if Simpson turns out to be the odd man out. Hopefully it never gets that far. Resign them both.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990
Twitter @Rcklarue

by Yarin on Sep 3, 2011 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

My worry though is

Simpson wants the ball and it didn’t seem like he was getting very many looks… hopefully it’s just Dalton getting settled in at QB because if Simpson isn’t happy then it won’t matter if we try to re-sign him.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Sep 3, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

jeromy sands

when did we get him.

by collards on Sep 3, 2011 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

LOL

I hope he means Miles not Sands!

by ashunte23 on Sep 3, 2011 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Benson released

@joereedy: And per his attorney, Cedric Benson was released from jail today #bengals

from jail

by Oregonbengalsfan on Sep 3, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

ryan cook cut

Tackle for the Vikings, could be worth a look as smith insurence. And I remeber a lot of people on here were high on shilo keho during the draft, he was cut also.

by JCompton41 on Sep 3, 2011 6:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Good job on the predictions guys!

by DonMegga on Sep 3, 2011 6:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

colts cut

Jake kirkpatrick, Kyle devan, and al aflava. All could be worth a look, devan especially.

by JCompton41 on Sep 3, 2011 6:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

eagles cut ryan harris

With an injury settlement.

by JCompton41 on Sep 3, 2011 6:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Seems obvious that we need

a replacement, if only temporarily, for the suspended guard, and we should not need that many safeties. Let us hope that MB continues to surprise us and makes a smart or at least the possible move here as well.

Side note; If there is truth to the rumor that CP9 will show to force a trade, we should hear about it in the next 24.

by keithster on Sep 3, 2011 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

Carson holds no power

I don’t understand why people can’t understand that Carson holds no cards, None, zero, zilch. Mike Brown holds every card in the deck, including the jokers. Carson is a Bengal or retired, unless Mike Brown says otherwise.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990
Twitter @Rcklarue

by Yarin on Sep 3, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

If Palmer shows up, then he has to be paid, right?

Are you saying that someone who can force you to pay millions merely be showing up holds no cards? Shucks, I can’t buy that one.

by no kidding on Sep 4, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Because they can make him play...

…something he said he will never do again for the Bengals.

by emeybee on Sep 4, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Let me spell it out for you:

How can Carson have all the cards because he has 80 million in the bank? Do you want to guess whether Brown has more or less than 80 million in the bank?

The salary cap is not in threat and if Brown decides he wants to pay Palmer rather than trade him, he has the cash reserves to do so. Presumably if you pay Palmer 10+ mil he has to play. So it’s not like he can demand the cash and refuse to play.

Since Brown wants him to pay, if he shows up Brown would almost certainly call that winning, since the team was trying as late as last week to get him to return.

Palmer’s choices remain stay home or play for the Bengals, unless and until Brown sees fit to entertain offers and gets an offer he thinks is worthy.

Palmer makes a lot of money, but it’s not insane for NFL money. The Bengals can easily absorb his salary if the man in charge decides it’s the best option available to the team.

by Boomer Lion on Sep 4, 2011 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Carson holds little power

but he isn’t completely out of cards. MB’s single objective is to extract as much money as possible out of his pro football monopoly in this market. He has only paid top dollar to players who serve that goal by helping to put fans in seats, e.g. a franchise QB. If Carson sits out all of camp and then shows up at the eleventh hour, he gives MB an uncomfortable choice. Carson will be in good shape, but not regular-season-football shape. He won’t know the completely new offence, won’t be familiar with the playbook, and won’t have timing down with any of the receivers (particularly Green). Brown will have three choices:

1. Pay the $11M and start an inadequate Carson Palmer, but without the marketing benefit of someone who performs as a franchise QB (and who has in fact alienated a chunk of the fan base), when he has already started to have trouble selling out the building for the first time in years.
2. Eat the $11M hit to his profits and have him occupy Dan Lefevour’s old roster spot. No return on investment here either, since fans usually aren’t drawn specifically by the opportunity to watch the backups sit on the bench or hold clipboards.
3. Trade or cut him to have $11M more in his pocket at the end of the year.

It’s an interesting “dilemma” to consider, though I strongly suspect an academic one. After all, on the team’s end this isn’t really about Carson Palmer personally; it’s about ensuring that MB’s authority over the team remains unchallenged. In the unlikely event he reports for duty, MB will decide that sacrificing the money so that a player hasn’t been seen to dictate terms to him will be worth it in the long run: he would remain a Bengal until MB decided otherwise (just like Ocho).

by Mr. X on Sep 4, 2011 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Yarin, you're a pretty smart fan but I have to disagree.

Carson holds two cards. One is a hefty paycheck and the other is a roster spot. While they have plenty of salary cap room the economics of paying him for not playing is not sustainable or palatable for the team. There is no roster exemption that I know of if he shows up, they get to pay him and he takes up a roster spot. There’s no way he plays at tis point since he probably hasn’t seen a playbook. His leverage is all in the damage he can inflict on the team. It’s the economics, the team chemistry and overall distraction and the roster impact. If he shows up as a disgruntled employee, it’s really bad news for the team.
That’s not to say he has ALL the cards here. Mike Brown owns him. B

by K312 on Sep 4, 2011 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Great points.

Who would they cut if Carson came back? And can you imagine the media firestorm that would ensue? If I’m Mike Brown, I’m hoping to settle this with a trade…of course, if I were Mike Brown, we’d also have a GM.

by Paul Cannon on Sep 4, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps

I expect that Carson will not come back unless he gets some kind of guarantee(in writing) from Brown to either be traded or released after this season. ( which I doubt he will get)
I personally don’t expect to see Carson at all this season. I expect Mike Brown to trade him prior to the draft next season when teams are desperate and will give up too much for him. No team was going to trade for Palmer prior to this past draft as they were locked out and teams could not talk with Palmer. No one gonna trade for a player who quit without first finding out what he is thinking.
I don’t see Carson coming back and causing another player to lose their job. He would have to go in that locker room and face 50+ other men who have been here all season working their butts off while he was in California surfing. I just don’t see him putting himself through that.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990
Twitter @Rcklarue

by Yarin on Sep 4, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

or at least the possible move here as well.

^best

by keithster on Sep 3, 2011 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

Last year

the team went long on CB’s on the 53-man roster, keeping 6 with only 3 safeties. This lasted only moments; David Jones was traded to the Jags for Reggie Nelson in a deal that obviously had been worked out before cut-down day. It will be interesting to see if we move one of the safeties for a position of need in a straight-up trade.

by Mr. X on Sep 3, 2011 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

I know this isn't the final roster, but...

…I don’t like how we short-shrift the interior positions.

Guard looks scary-thin, at the moment; that should be our top priority. Our second priority should be hoping that no one takes Shirley when we try to put him on the PS; I think he should’ve made the team. Hopefully Evans makes it to the PS, as well.

by Big Sky Bengal on Sep 3, 2011 7:51 PM EDT reply actions