Mike Mayock: "Bengals Don't Have To Reach In First Round"
by Ryan Harper on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 PM EST
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PrintWith just over two months until the NFL draft it's time for every expert, fan, and critic to speculate as to which player each team will select. In just about every mock draft that we've seen so far, "experts" have the Bengals selecting either a cornerback, offensive lineman, or a running back. It's usually some combination of those three positions.
However, Mike Mayock, of NFL Network, believes that the Bengals don't have to reach for any position when they make their two first round picks in April's draft.
The Bengals have areas that they need to address in the first round. Ideally they would snag a cornerback and offensive lineman in the first round to address two of their primary holes. If they wait until later in the draft to address either position it could come back to blow up in their face. It's hard to envision them reaching for a player or trading up to receive the best player at a certain position at any point.
Cincinnati needs to address the offensive line in the first round. They have five impending free agents in Bobbie Williams, Anthony Collins, Nate Livings, Dennis Roland, and Mike McGlynn. Of those five I think Williams and Collins are the only ones worthy of re-signing for a short-term deal at a reasonable price. Williams provides veteran leadership and he's still a solid lineman. Collins has been a reliable alternative for the Bengals since he was drafted in 2008.
The Bengals also need a cornerback that can provide depth or step in and start immediately. Once Leon Hall went down for the season the Bengals secondary became exposed. In eight games without Hall the Bengals allowed 13 passing touchdowns. In the nine games that Hall played in the defense held opposing offenses to nine passing touchdowns. His absence was felt on the field, so picking a cornerback is a rational assumption.
By the time the Bengals are on the clock with the No. 17 pick they will have a number of directions to go, depending on who's available. Mayock figures that two of the top cornerbacks, Morris Claiborne of LSU and Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama will be off the board by then. If that's the case then the Bengals could go with the best available cornerback or the top available offensive lineman.
"With the loss of Johnathan Joseph you'd like to get a corner that can compete right away," Mayock said. "If they've got a guy they like, fine, go get him. But they can sit there and take the best player."
Joseph has been gone for a season now. There's no need to dwell on his departure anymore. The Bengals brought in Nate Clements to replace him and for the most part he did an adequate job in 2011. The bigger concern should be Hall and his recovery from his Achilles injury. He undoubtedly won't be fully healed by the time the season starts. He was the Bengals top defensive player while he was on the field, but without him the dynamic of the Bengals defense took a drastic turn.
Mayock also senses that Cedric Benson is done in Cincinnati. I think we can all agree with that. He's been done since the end of the 2010 season, but that's not the point. Mayock believes the only running back worthy of being selected in the first round is Alabama's Trent Richardson. For the Bengals it would be a waste to select Richardson or any other running back in the first round because they won't have an offensive line to open running lanes for them. They would get swallowed up by opposing defenses. Andrew Whitworth, Kyle Cook, and Andre Smith can't do everything on their own. The Bengals can wait until the second or third round to pick a running back.
Right now the Bengals primary needs are cornerback and offensive line. Only time will tell what direction the Bengals decide to head in for April's draft.
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Leon will be ready training camp!!
Guarantee it!!
by whodeycommish14 on Feb 15, 2012 8:20 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Hopefully!!!!!!
Paul Brown Stadium, where everyone's hopes go to die.
Everyone is all assuming that Benson won't be coming back...
I am no Benson fan or in favor of bringing him back, but are people over looking the fact that is possible that he resigns. We all know how MB loves to get guys on the cheap. I don’t think it’s probable, but something to think about.
i haven't been overlooking that
i’ve been fearing that.
"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."
That's true.
The coaches love Livings like he rescued their only child from a burning building.
by Animal_Like_Football on Feb 15, 2012 9:33 PM EST up reply actions
I just don't see Benson coming back...
considering he’s voiced his frustration with the offensive play calling in the past. I think he will look to sign a multi-year deal elsewhere and the Bengals will finally go in a different direction. He was solid when he first arrived in Cincinnati, but his lackluster performance the past two seasons hopefully ensures he won’t be back next season. I just don’t see it happening, but I could be wrong.
by Ryan Harper on Feb 15, 2012 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
yea the interview he had with Jim rome this past season really turned me off from him
after that i really didn’t look at him the same.
AMAS
Correction Everyone is hoping benson wont be back
do you really wanna watch that again’?
by Bengalsfan024 on Feb 16, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
No Way!!!!!!!!
Coach’s,fans,player’s and probably even his family member’s,dont want to see him in a Bengal uniform.
Somebody like the Jets will pick him up
"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"
I don't think reaching for...
TR is that big a deal. Trade our 17th and 2nd round pick from next year and the Bengals are still able to fill the holes they have this year while adding an elite RB to the offense. They have to get a Guard in Free Agency in order for this to work to the 21st pick can be used to get a CB… By the time the Bengals pick in the 2nd round the top 5 RB’s will be gone. TR, Polk, Martan, Wilson, and Miller… Pead is not going to be able to carry the load of a starting RB in the AFC North so pls save it… I cant wait till Free agency so this is more clearer!
"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."
If they can swing that I'd do it
Generally think they need to keep 17 and 21 and realistically figure that will happen.
If they can move up with 17 and next year’s second (they have two w/Oakland’s) to get Richardson that would be a great move. Maybe even add a 3rd or 4th this year. Still don’t think it will happen, but one scenario that sounds good.
Mabye Mike Brown just had a bad 20 year run – and starting w/Green/Dalton Palmer trade his 20 year positive run has just started and will continue w/draft. I know I know……dreamin
I totaly agree with everything Mayock says
If they don’t think Jenkins or Glen are worth the picks, and DeCastro/Richardson/Kirkpatrick are gone, they should go for a different position.
by Animal_Like_Football on Feb 15, 2012 9:34 PM EST reply actions
Hightower!!!!
If he is there lets replace Rey
AD to AJ = TD!!
by Toasted_Orange_Monster on Feb 16, 2012 5:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
This is so important..
The last few drafts have fallen perfectly. When we needed an OT, Andre Smith was there. It seemed like a reach at first, but he’s paying off. Jermaine Gresham was there when we needed a premier TE, and despite his underperforming in the combine he’s paying off, as is Dunlap. When we needed a receiver and QB, AJ and Andy were there. This year is a bit different. They’ve been drafting on easy mode and this year isn’t quite the same. We need a CB, RB, and OG but the value may not be there. If a premier pass rusher or LB is there, it may be wise to draft one.
Don’t reach. Draft for talent. This year will go a long ways towards instilling confidence in the front office. It’s time to draft like a real front office and I’m curious to see if they do that.
Lets hope they have a great draft
They have a nice selection of picks. Having two first rounders is really important and I think we get a new CB and OG, but if the right RB is still around at 17 we have to go for it. To me, getting a quality RB out of college is really important. I’m not saying a RB is the savior for the team, but in this case, we have our QB, we have our WR and WR/TE, so finish the list and get the very best RB we can in this draft and shore him up with the best RB we can get in free agency and let Benson walk. We don’t need his me first attitude on the sidelines. We need a do whatever it takes, coach kind of player. Like Leonard but faster and stronger.
In the end, these three positions are very important, and I would be surprised to see us veer away from them for the top picks. But hey, you really never know.
Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
^This
I think they should try moving around in this draft. In one mock I saw, they moved up from 17 → 13 to grab Richardson, then moved down from 21→29 and picked up Cordy Glenn. That was a pretty much perfect scenario. They got their RB and then grabbed Glenn at a spot where he’s not quite as much of a reach, all without losing any draft picks.
by Animal_Like_Football on Feb 16, 2012 8:59 AM EST up reply actions
Andre Smith NOT perfect
had trouble staying on the field, had a slightly negative grade this year from PFF… they had so little faith in him they dropped years off his contract.
For where he was picked, and what he has done for the team, Andre Smith is pretty close if not actually residing in the land of busts.
Attention Mike Brown: One-and-done doesn’t cut it. You will see more empty seats next year if you don’t show the fans you’re trying to win the Super Bowl!
by occams_tiger_teeth on Feb 16, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
Smith should be considered a bust
Because he had not just warning signs, BUT BIG, GIANT, FLASHING RED WARNING SIGNS HANGING ALL OVER HIM.
Couple that with the fact that there were other, worthy OT prospects available at the same draft spot – you really didn’t have to be a genius to have known that picking Eugene Monroe or Michael Oher at #6 would have been a better choice.
The other OTs in that draft are not doing well either...
Andre is starting to shed the bust label, just like Alex Smith of the 49ers.
Paul Brown Stadium, where everyone's hopes go to die.
Saying that without an o-line
we can’t think about drafting a RB in the first seems a contradiction to me. It’s the same thing that if Benson played for the Vikings, Jags or Titans he would rush for 1,700 yds/year. We’re assuming almost all the time his production was limited by the inconsistent play of the line, and he was able to rush for 1,200 or 1,400 behind an effective bunch. I believe that almost all RB average to good in this league would be able to do anything similar, like Forte, Fred Jackson, Lynch, Ben Tate.
Everybody was bashing the Bears line for the lack of pass protection and Forte was rushing his ass out. Are the Bears so unidimensional? They absolutely suck protecting the QB, but are brilliant opening lanes? Or I am being just hating Benson too much?
I hate that so many people on these boards have this idea in their head
that if you don’t get a guard BEFORE getting a RB that the RB won’t be able to do anything. Apparently a guard with our 1B pick or 2 or 3 pick won’t be able to contribute at all… Please stop saying this like it’s truth. There is a lot of starting guard talent in this draft and there will be one available to us in the 2nd if we choose to wait till then. Let’s pretend that Richardson is on the board but DeCastro has already been taken. Do we go and take the 2nd best guard instead of Richardson because we can’t take a RB before taking a guard? I don’t understand where people are getting these ideas… In the past the best guards were usually taken in the very end of the first at the earliest but for some reason this year if we don’t take a guard in the middle of the first our running backs won’t be able to do anything even if we had AP.
Exactly
While it’s definitely a need to get a quality “big ugly” for the interior line, positions like OT, CB, and DE will be coveted early in the draft, leaving day one starting guards to drop into the second round. As long as upgrading the position is addressed, I don’t really care what round the guy is drafted in.
Bengals fan since day one.
Cardinals fan since I realized I had a choice.
+1
It is because people forget football is a team sport. Since Benson stunk, they believe our line couldn’t open holes. They don’t think about the fact that Benson breaking tackles would have reflected a higher run blocking score for the line. This really is a chicken before the egg type discussion. We can’t be sure where the problem really lies, but I can tell you that the Benson shuffle (plant both feet in the backfield, come to a stop, head fake, get hit, fall down), happened all the time and that is NOT a reflection on our line. Another problem was the length of Benson’s shoe laces. Well, I can only assume they were long since he is the only back in the league that seemed to fall every time someone touched one of his feet. They must have been able to grab on to those long shoelaces. Last but not least: Gophers hate Benson. I saw him trip without being hit a LOT this season. Must have been the Gophers grabbing those shoelaces I talked about earlier. All of the above create a negative run blocking score for the guys up front. I know we need a guard or two, but lets be real here. Benson stinks!
lets be fair, some of those runs Benson had and half of Scots runs were stopped before they could even be started
But I agree RB is a pretty big need and I think its harder to find an elite RB than an elite OL.
I dont know how we can pass on TR if he falls far enough to trade up with out lossing much.
AMAS
I actually created a fan poast about this a long time ago
I think our RB coach teaches the “shuffle” move. Maybe he tells them “Hey, give time for the hole to open up” or something because I swear Scott took the rock and went 1000mph last year, yet this year I saw him shuffle more in the backfield. Rudi started doing it, Benson started doing it, and now Scott seems to be doing it. I don’t get it.
As for the line, I know we need a guard or two. I am not denying that. I am just saying that people assume they are worse than they are since the running backs aren’t moving forward.
oh i agree with what your saying, i just wanted to say it was 50/50 with the line and RB as to why there was no production in the running game
but I have good feeling we will get the OG we went in FA and maybe the middle rounds of the darft. But we will save our higher picks for the skilled positions. Just a hunch.
AMAS
Rudi was notorious for the backfield feet shuffle
It drove me CRAZY. RB are coached to slow down and let their blocks develop. Maybe that’s where it’s coming from.
by Bigcatdaddy on Feb 16, 2012 2:04 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
The "Ickey" shuffle move in the backfield LOL
Paul Brown Stadium, where everyone's hopes go to die.
it's not like they need just one guard and everything is great
The only guy who graded significantly about average in PFF grades was Whitworth (13.1).
Cook is slightly negative,
Livings was very negative,
Williams was barely positive,
and Moobs had a negative overall score as well (not as good a grade as Collins).
PF Outsiders had the Bengals interior line ranked 30th in the league for runs up the middle.
So one guard is not going to fix that.
They could actually use a better center.
The 2nd best tackle on the team is a free agent and the team values him about as much as it valued top-grade-getter Evan Mathis.
They have a real significant problem even grading their own players!
Attention Mike Brown: One-and-done doesn’t cut it. You will see more empty seats next year if you don’t show the fans you’re trying to win the Super Bowl!
by occams_tiger_teeth on Feb 16, 2012 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
it's not just PFF
The run game stunk regardless of RB carrying the ball. Watching them get no push is not fun. This is not a good line that’s one player short. They’ve neglected the position with only Steinbach Whit and Moobs being high draft picks in the last decade or so. And Moobs is basically a bust.
Attention Mike Brown: One-and-done doesn’t cut it. You will see more empty seats next year if you don’t show the fans you’re trying to win the Super Bowl!
by occams_tiger_teeth on Feb 16, 2012 3:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah baby +1
This is what bothers me about this team. They need help in alot of places rather than just a CB or a Olinemen. Plus I keep replaying scenes of Cook getting knocked back to China on a few plays last season.
I’ve harped for weeks about the poor Dline play in December.
Linebackers don’t have a guy that intimidates.
WR is weak and allows teams to double AJ next season and that will stifle the offense.
This draft shapes up as BPA or #1 player at any position type draft.
Good points.
Among other things, Rey was a poor 2nd rd pick. We need a bad mofo MLB.
by Bengals NFL Champs on Feb 29, 2012 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
Got to get a guard
first round or second. The last quality guard the Bengals drafted was Max Montoya.
Steinbach was good - better than any guard we've had since
(except maybe Mathis, who was good, and who we also let walk)
Also, Whit was drafted as a Tackle, but we already had Levi Jones, and Whit was too good not to play, so he played LG until Levi was gone, and then Whit moved to LT, where he was destined for.
I hate it when Ephram uses data & facts to refute my unfounded opinions....No chocolate chip cookies for him!!!
Don't reach....I've been saying it right here.
CB is thin for 1st rounders, rich for 2ed rounders. Don’t reach.
At #17 and #21, they are assured of getting a guy tops at his position or BPA, whichever attracts them. They draft so low however I find it impossible to guess who will be available.
Probably a BUFF rather than the sleek cheetahs.
definately take BPA over Need, every day of the week
In 2007 our offense was pretty good, but our defense had major problems.
A defensive playmaker was our biggest “need” so we took Keith Rivers (LB)
But in doing so, we passed on better players like Ryan Clady (LT), Chris Johnson (RB), etc… who were better players, but weren’t perceived “needs”.
In round 2, we perceived WR as a “need” (Chad was talking about leaving) so we reached for a talented but unready Jerome Simpson. But in doing so, we passed on better players like Ray Rice (RB), Jamal Charles (RB), etc…
Then in 2008, with Willie & Levi gone, we needed an OT. Having passed on good ones like Clady in 2007 (when OT wasn’t a need), we reached for Moobs Smith #6 overall. But this reach for Smith meant that we passed on better players like BJ Raji, Clay Matthews, Brian Orakpo, Alex Mack, etc…
So drafting for NEED gave us:
K Rivers (LB), J Simpson (WR), A Smith (RT).
Had we drafted BPA, we could now have:
R Clady (LT), R Rice (RB), C Matthews (LB)
I’d much rather have the 2nd grouping of guys than the 1st grouping.
The moral of the story is… even though it may not fill an immediate need, taking the BPA overall improves your team better. And you win by having a better team, not filling immediate needs with mediocre stopgaps.
I hate it when Ephram uses data & facts to refute my unfounded opinions....No chocolate chip cookies for him!!!
Yep that is pretty much correct.
I also don’t think BPA is the Bengal Way in the first round. But of course alot of this is hindsight too. Nonetheless its always better to draft the best athletic football players and use FA to shore up the emergencies.
In this season I see CB as an emergency. All other positions can be addressed in the draft.
+1 billion
But they also seriously need help scouting. They’re the only ones who rank Livings over Mathis.
Attention Mike Brown: One-and-done doesn’t cut it. You will see more empty seats next year if you don’t show the fans you’re trying to win the Super Bowl!
by occams_tiger_teeth on Feb 16, 2012 3:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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