Bengals Banter: Leon Hall Ready For Training Camp And First Round Cornerback During NFL Draft?

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 9, 2012 9:50 AM EST

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 09: Leon Hall #29 of the Cincinnati Bengals stays loose between plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars during play at EverBank Field on October 9, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida. Cincinnati won 30-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is recovering from a torn Achilles that he suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Though he's not expected to participate during any OTAs this summer, he's hoping to be ready by training camp.

That being said there's a very realistic chance that Hall may not be ready for the regular season, placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list through the first six weeks of the 2012 regular season (which allows the team a roster exemption). This could rather distressing considering that the team is already shorthanded with cornerbacks, compounded with a possibility that free agency may thin the ranks even more.

It's why we're led to believe that the team will offer one of their first round draft selections as the true Johnathan Joseph replacement while veterans continue keeping the spot warm. One of those players, writes Brennen Warner, could be Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.

+ One mock draft has Cincinnati using one of their first round selections and second round picks to move up in the draft to acquire running back Trent Richardson. Great talent, but no thanks. Those are premium selections used to acquire the best talent in the draft at positions that are harder to obtain. In other words are you more likely to find a running back that can help your offense later in the draft as oppose to a cornerback, safety or offensive linemen?

+ With the contracts of Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell expiring on March 13, the Bengals will likely be in the market for a veteran wide receiver opposite A.J. Green. Jack Cassidy wonders if that could be Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham.

+ Pro Football Focus writes that Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith was the most improved Bengals player on the team last year.

+ CBS Sports ranks the Bengals No. 10 in their final power rankings of the season. SB Nation drops the Bengals to No. 11.

+ Reflecting on a list of underrated defensive players in this year's class | ...and offensive players.

+ The complete list of invitees for this year's NFL Combine.

+ To say that the Cincinnati Bengals have a ton of cap room would be an understatement.

+ Jason Garrison wonders which free agents that the Cincinnati Bengals should retain.

+ Bengals linebacker Thomas Howard reflects on Cincinnati's defense and the 2011 season.

+ Joe Goodberry argues that Cincinnati's development could result in a team with a similar make-up as the New York Giants.

+ The Cincinnati Bengals have 40-1 odds of winning the Super Bowl in 2012, according to Bovada.

+ Super Bowl XVI between the Bengals and 49ers remains one of the top watched games of all-time.

+ Former Bengals linebacker Rashad Jeanty returned to the Canadian Football League.

+ Wondering if there's a log-jam at linebacker with Keith Rivers' return and what that means for Manny Lawson.

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Comments

Still photo...

But damn, he does get air underneath him, doesn’t he?

by pemci on Feb 9, 2012 10:37 AM EST reply actions

That should have said "Still Photo"

But damn, he does get up off the ground, doesn’t he?

by pemci on Feb 9, 2012 10:43 AM EST up reply actions

i don't see the point in trying to risk him re-injuring his achillies

id much rather darft or sign a FA CB and put hall on the pup to make sure he is fully healthy for a playoff push

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Feb 9, 2012 11:13 AM EST reply actions

Possible remedies:

—sign a good-but-not-great (i.e., not insanely expensive) FA CB and draft a CB in the first.

—draft a CB in the first and second, using the other pick in the first on offense, either G or RB.

—go crazy and draft two CBs in the first, if CBs are the best players available. It could conceivably happen: Jenkins could be there, Gilmore might rise, and Kirkpatrick’s draft stock might not recover from his arrest, even though it turned out to be minor.

by Big Sky Bengal on Feb 9, 2012 11:43 AM EST reply actions

kirkpatrick and Jenkins/ Barron would be a very solid first round

i don’t think Decastro or richardson will fall to us and think how set we would be on defense for the next 4 years.

2nd round is the best value for RB and the 3rd is the best value for OL

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Feb 9, 2012 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

Since its a passing league

There is more of a premium put on corners, especially potentially elite ones. With that being said I would be surprised if Kirkpatrick or Jenkins were there when the Bengals draft. I think there is a better chance DeCastro or Richardson being there.

by EPK1979 on Feb 9, 2012 12:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Let's just sign Brandon Carr and then not worry about Leon Hall this year

Problem solved. Yes, I know it will never happen, but in my ideal world they would spend the money they should have spent on JJo on a legitimate #1 CB.

by Animal_Like_Football on Feb 9, 2012 1:01 PM EST reply actions

Leon is a #1

J joe was never healthy and was consistently burnt. He had more picks because teams threw at him significantly more

I love the Bengals more than you love anything in your life

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

Leon isn't a #1 IMO

by Oregonbengalsfan on Feb 9, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

obviously we can't ignore jjoes production this past year

but he was healthy and had a great front seven and benefited from it. I would love to sign Carr too

I love the Bengals more than you love anything in your life

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

then there must be only 5 or 6 #1's in the league according to you.

But i understand he doesn’t stand out like revis who is constantly getting away with illegal hand and pass interference.

I love the Bengals more than you love anything in your life

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

Oh it's not just me

He gets beat too much and without JJoe he was exposed this year

by Oregonbengalsfan on Feb 9, 2012 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

We had a even better front seven than Houston. Hall isn’t a #1, was getting torches before he went down.

by pray4gm11 on Feb 9, 2012 1:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

+1

Hall is probably our best CB right now….but that is not saying much for what we currently have….It is time to draft the future of this position

"Mahmoud, Kim Jong, 86 ya sh__ bitches, or Ima do it fo ya"...Luther...Obama's anger translator

by ticalcaldwell on Feb 9, 2012 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

He looks slow. So with that type injury what is his speed go really look like. Dude can tackle so I think his career is at FS.

by pray4gm11 on Feb 9, 2012 2:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Physically, he’s a #1

CincyJungle.com Contributor for the NFL Draft

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by Joe Goodberry on Feb 9, 2012 4:37 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Joe do u judge everybody game off size? Do anybody gotta perform on feild? I’m 6’2 195 I’m a #1 cb also?

by pray4gm11 on Feb 9, 2012 5:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I posted this on the other Leon Hall article as well.

I found this interesting research paper for any of you interested in hall’s Achilles tear. it talks about the road back for an NFL player. The conclusion was that about two thirds of players make it back from the injury and most of those players are sadly never the same. Hopefully for Hall he comes back to the pro bowl caliber player we know him as.
http://www.lowerextremityreview.com/article/return-to-football-after-achilles-tendon-rupture

I love the Bengals more than you love anything in your life

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 1:27 PM EST reply actions

Leon is on my suspect list for next year

People dont want to face some hard truths about Leon this year….He did not play well…got beat all day deep and just looked weak out there…I get the stats, when he was with our D, it was a better defense statistically….but go back and watch the tape…He was solid…but not at the level we need him to be….I hope he comes back strong…we need him

"Mahmoud, Kim Jong, 86 ya sh__ bitches, or Ima do it fo ya"...Luther...Obama's anger translator

by ticalcaldwell on Feb 9, 2012 1:54 PM EST reply actions

Aside from Crocker I thought we actually played better without Hall. The major injury we don’t talk about was Simms. The defense went downhill when he went down.

by pray4gm11 on Feb 9, 2012 2:00 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I agree

our rotation slowed, our pass rush declined and it put more pressure on our average CBs…

"Mahmoud, Kim Jong, 86 ya sh__ bitches, or Ima do it fo ya"...Luther...Obama's anger translator

by ticalcaldwell on Feb 9, 2012 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

Don’t know how Jennings was out there. First time I seen him on feild I said he couldn’t and don’t wanna tackle anybody. From that week on if you go back and watch tape, teams picked on him in running game.

by pray4gm11 on Feb 9, 2012 2:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions