If I was the GM(How I would improve the team)

by EPK1979 on Jan 23, 2012 4:03 PM EST

Players I would resign

Free Agents I would target and hopefully sign

1.)Carl Nicks/Ben Grubbs-OG- The biggest area of need on our team is the guard positions. Some people think dishing out a max deal for a guard isn't the smart thing to do. I disagree, it may be the safest position to spend on in free agency. Getting one of the best will solidify our line and improves the young offense. Need to invest in protecting Dalton and this is better. Cheaper alternatives could be Vincent Manuwai, Jacob Bell or Jamey Richards but those players wouldn't have the impact Nicks or Grubbs would

2.) Terrel Thomas-DB- He is coming off a ACL injury and it may not be a wise move considering Leon Hall is trying to comeback from the Achillies. Thomas would be one of the top free agent DB's out there if it wasn't for the injury. It should make him fly under the radar and come at a decent price. Could be a high reward guy considering he had 186 tackles, 2 sacks, 10 INT, 5 forced fumbles and 34 passes defensed the previous 2 years.

3.) Jerome Messam-RB Edmonton Eskimos- I added Messam on the list because it's a player that the Bengals have been scouting all year and he could be a player that fixes the short yardage and goal line woes. The 6'4 240 pound running back also is rumored to run a 4.5 40. He could be an intriguing and maybe a practice squad player.

4.)Robert Mechem-WR- Most likely will come at a good price, especially given a chance to start and play more. Stats last year compared to Simpson's, being the 4th or 5th option with Saints.

The 2012 NFL Draft:

Addressing a lot of holes in free agency will make the draft easier to select BPA instead of targeting players based on needs. I know players will rise and fall before the draft but as of right now this is how I would hope my draft goes. Also, assuming that a player like Decastro or Richardson falls to the 17th or 21st pick the would enter the discussion.

1a.) Alfonzo Dennard-CB- Can be a hot head at times and he may not be great at one thing but he is a solid player across the board.

1b) Lamar Miller-RB- The running game has struggled but what else is alarming is the lack of big explosive plays from the running game and Miller fixes both problems.

2.)Harrison Smith-S- With Barron off the board, this may be a reach but come April after all the combines and pro days, this kid will shoot up the draft boards. Not the hitter Barron is but I think he is better all around and has the smarts to come in and contribute day one.

3.)Brandon Brooks-OG- This local product ,coming in at 6'5 353, is a rising prospect that is a mauler in the run game. We can never have enough offensive lineman.

4.)Jeff Fuller-WR- AT 6'3 220, Fuller, once projected to be a first round pick before injuries and performance issues, has huge hands and played in a WCO under former NFL head coach Mike Sherman at Texas A&M.

5.a)Matt Conrath-DT/DE- This 6'7 280 tweener could become a good rotational player and a weapon on special teams as he blocked 9 field goal attempts in his Virginia career.

5.b)Cliff Harris-DB/KR/PR- Despite his off the field problems and with the extra pick, it could be worth the risk. Could contribute early as a return man and could blossom into a very dangerous corner.

6.)Brandon Hardin-FS- Missed all 2011 season with injury. 3 year starter for Oregon State. Could become an impact player on special teams.

7.)Marcel Jones-OT- Missed all but 4 games this year due to injury which will most likely make him slip. Developmental or practice squad lineman with great potential.

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.

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

dont we have more picks than that?

Im not sure so im not calling you out…. I wasn’t sure our amount and where they are in the draft, I know we got two from the Ocho trade, one from the Palmer trade, don’t we get compensatory pick for losing JJoe?

AD to AJ = TD!!

by Toasted_Orange_Monster on Jan 23, 2012 4:38 PM EST reply actions

2 from Patriots was a 5th rounder this year and a 6th next year. Palmer trade was 1st this year and either 1st or 2nd next year. Compensatory picks haven’t been given out but everything I have heard is that we won’t get one for JJoe.

by EPK1979 on Jan 23, 2012 4:48 PM EST reply actions

How about Frostee "the Snowman" Rucker?

Paul Brown Stadium, where everyone's hopes go to die.

by DTFCPDX on Jan 23, 2012 5:12 PM EST reply actions

As far as Rucker goes

I have a feeling he will end up getting more offers than Fanene and at the same time can’t expect to keep every player.

by EPK1979 on Jan 23, 2012 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

Seems all decent but the problem is the Draft

by Touhue Cha on Jan 23, 2012 5:12 PM EST reply actions

Yeah

Harrison Smith in the 2nd? I didn’t even know that guy existed.

What do you do when there's no way out? Find a way to get deeper in it.

by jimbasa on Jan 23, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

thats a big reach for a Notre Dame Defender

by Touhue Cha on Jan 23, 2012 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

Harrison Smith

Like I said, he has started to rise quickly. I took notice of him midway through the season and all he did was make plays. I have seen late 2nd early 3rd for him. He is a better value late 2nd than Barron is as a 1st round pick in my opinion. He is a more fluid in the hips and is a way better in pass coverage than Barron. He won’t lay the lumber like Barron but he is a sure tackler.Notre Dame’s defense was actually stronger than their offense so you will start to hear more about him. Not that it means anything but Mike Mayock says Smith could be the biggest sleeper in this draft. As far as the rest of my mock, I wasn’t going to project every known player to us. I did research and most of the guys I had picked were intriguing and I stuck to the average draft positions that a lot of mocks had the players at. I wasn’t trying to have the top 50 prospects happen to fall to us in each round. It’s easy to say Jared Crick falls to us in the 4th round and Mark Barron falls to us in the 2nd. Thats how a lot of people been playing the mocks and those are unlikely scenarios in my mind.

by EPK1979 on Jan 23, 2012 9:51 PM EST up reply actions

Harrison looks solid.

I think at the 3rd round for sure. I love the part that says he doesn’t get beat deep and makes the smart play. He’s not a highlight reel but he gets the job done. Being team captain of Notre Dame speaks volume too. I like him in the 3rd. As a far as the rest. We need a Nicks or Grubbs but the Saints and Ravens tend to keep there own and I don’t see them letting go of them. I think Signing Collins and making him a starter at RT and moving Smith inside is the best move. They played around with it the last few games and I think they can make the swithch this year. Collins is a starting right tackle in the league and it should be for the Bengals.

"Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, I then acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have it in the beginning."

by Dwight Carter on Jan 24, 2012 7:24 AM EST up reply actions

what about

Manny Lawson

by diehard bengals fan 20 on Jan 23, 2012 5:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions

and

Anthony Collins

by diehard bengals fan 20 on Jan 23, 2012 5:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Collins

If he isn’t gonna a be a starter, why pay him like one. He is too good of a player not to get a chance to start in this league and he will be starting foe another team next year.

by EPK1979 on Jan 23, 2012 9:40 PM EST up reply actions

I like Lawson but

I think he will command a bigger contract than he did this year and it would be silly to overpay for a linebacker that is as poor as him in pass coverage.

by EPK1979 on Jan 23, 2012 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry not with this draft are you improving this side

Cliff Harris no thanks. And not resigning Collins, Andre is a free agent next year and Collins is a better T than him

by messjunk on Jan 24, 2012 10:38 AM EST reply actions

If he was a better player, I'm sure he would be starting.

And if you would have read better, the offensive line was taken care of in freed agency and I actually had to offensive lineman drafted. What also gets lost in everything is Matthew O’ Donnell is raved about by the coaches and could provide depth. You people want Collins resigned but he won’t come cheap and another team is going to offer him a starting job. If you moved Smith to guard then cool but I don’t see them doing that.

by EPK1979 on Jan 24, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

He should be starting and Smith at LG

There’s no way we’ll get one of those G every other team is eyeing them

by messjunk on Jan 24, 2012 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

I'd get Cliff Harris in the 5th round in a heart beat.

1st round talent with character concerns that Marvin Lewis knows how to deal with.

What do you do when there's no way out? Find a way to get deeper in it.

by jimbasa on Jan 25, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

People gave me crap about my mock but

Like I said Harrison Smith has been the best safety at the senior bowl all week. His athleticism and size is blowing scouts away. He is never out of position and takes all the correct angles. He is definitely a better value than Barron in the first. Also Jeff Fuller has probably been the most consistent at the senior bowl. Hasn’t blown people away but he has been solid every day. For a player that is from a WCO, he is a better mid round choice than a lot of people are looking at. Brooks had a great Shrine game also, so before people start nit picking they need to do research.

by EPK1979 on Jan 25, 2012 10:41 AM EST reply actions

Jeff Fuller

Not hearing the same about him. Heard he impressed on day 1 in one on ones but had a rough day on day 2. Couldn’t get off the line when CBs were jamming, couldn’t get separation, looks slow…

It’ early but we’ll see how he does going forward. Criner and Adams seem to be the ones impressing the most.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Jan 25, 2012 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

I'm reading up on the senior bowl

and everything says harrison is a liability in coverage and a straight line player.

Fuller has been a fringe 1st rounder all year…if he is available when Cincy picks in R2, they should jump on him as he would be the BPA…so yeah, I agree with him being the R4 pick

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Jan 25, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions

They're saying Fuller won't be able to get separation in the NFL

and who is saying Harrison is a liability in coverage? Everyone I read says he is covering very well, has good ball skills, and is a good tackler.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Jan 25, 2012 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

I'll admit i was a bit hyberbolous in discussing Fuller

though he won’t be around in round 4

As for Smith…the three places I have been reading the most about practices are ESPN, SI and Yahoo blogs. I’ve also noted some scouting twitter feeds. SI doesnt say anything nice about Smith outside of his size. ESPN only says pleasant things in the ND blog..but says he has poor footwork in coverage and yahoo has not mentioned him.

Definitely nothing that has said he is the best safety at the senior bowl

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Jan 25, 2012 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Well as far as Fuller goes, he wont be able to seperate from alot of corners but on 3 and 5 step drops no corner will be able to press him because of his size and strength. He comes from a WCO and he would be great value in the 4th as a possession wr.

by EPK1979 on Jan 25, 2012 11:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions

And I have watched plenty of tape and the Senior Bowl practices all week and whoever says Smith isnt good in coverage is smoking crack. Yes, he could be coached up on go routes but that doesnt make him poor in pass coverage.

by EPK1979 on Jan 25, 2012 11:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

never said he is poor in coverage

everything I’ve noticed points to his negatives being poor footwork and a better straight line player. As a second round pick, it’s a stretch.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Jan 26, 2012 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

But where the Bengals pick in the 2nd

It’s closer to being a 3rd round pick. You can go across the board on DB’s and most will have problems with footwork. Thats a completely fixable thing with coaching. I’m saying with his size and speed he has potential to be good. Also, during the Senior Bowl coverage, Mike Mayock actually had him as his highest rated safety at the Senior Bowl. That’s why I said that.

by EPK1979 on Jan 26, 2012 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

Fuller apparently impressed on day 1 in one on ones

but he hasn’t since and is said to have struggled to get of the jam with the physical CBs.

Speaking of receivers, Texas A&M’s Jeff Fuller might have helped his draft stock more by skipping the game all together. Fuller has really struggled to get off the jam against the South’s physical corners and really couldn’t get any separation. When Fuller was able to get open he struggled to catch the football.

And I’ve read pretty much this same thing on him from several sources.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Jan 25, 2012 11:47 PM EST up reply actions