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NFL Draft

Draft 2012: Bengals Big Board 1.0

OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 19: Barry Brunetti #11 of the Ole Miss Rebels scrambles with the ball against Michael Brockers #90 of the LSU Tigers on November 19, 2011 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.  (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

As the Bengals scouting department (both scouts) start combining rankings and scouting reports to come up with a consensus draft board, I'm also putting my own rankings aside to bring you the first Bengals-oriented big board of the draft season. This big board will evolve throughout the off-season as the Bengals fill their holes in free agency and prospects work out for scouts and NFL teams. I'll also try to keep an eye out for all of the mis-information that we'll be hearing until late April.

This board has already eliminated the elite prospects that have no shot at being available come picks 17 and 21(Luck, RG3, Kalil, and Claiborne). I have combined my own personal grades and rankings with others whom I trust (Not ESPN). Then I added in how each prospects fit into the Bengals plans and kept in mind the tendencies the Bengals have shown on draft day in the Marvin Lewis era. Punch all of those factors into the draft computer and out comes my list of the 25 prospects (in order) that the Bengals would draft. Somewhere amongst these players are at least two that will be wearing stripes in 2012.

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Cincy Jungle Mock Draft: It's that Time Of Year Again

The NFL Draft is held at Radio City Music Hall Saturday, April 25, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Ladies and gentlemen, the season is over which means it's time to get started on our annual CincyJungle.com mock draft. Last year, we had a great three-round mock draft in which I picked A.J. Green for the Bengals in the first round, Christian Ponder in the second round and Texas cornerback Curtis Brown in the third round.

For the rest of the teams, for those of you who are new, Cincy Jungle readers emailed us which non-AFC North team they would like to pick for and then once all that was taken care of, we got started.

So, first thing's first. If you would like to participate in the 2012 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft by making the picks for a non-AFC North team, here's what you have to do:

Email me at JasonGarrisonWhoDey [at] Yahoo [dot] com with the team you would like to pick for. The teams will go on a first come, first serve basis, but here's a few things to keep in mind....

  • When you email me, include your contact information (best email to reach you at all times) so we can get ahold of you if we absolutely have to.
  • Make sure that you have a Cincy Jungle account. You will need to if you want to participate. If you don't have one, set one up before you email me.
  • Please pick a team that you are somewhat familiar with and tell me how you're familiar with them.
  • Please do no pick the Bengals or any other AFC North teams.... they have been spoken for already.
  • If you do pick a team, please be committed to keeping up with us and making your picks.
  • Have fun with it.

So having said that, decide which non-AFC North team you would like to represent in our third annual Cincy Jungle Mock Draft and email me at JasonGarrisonWhoDey [at] Yahoo [dot] com. If the team you pick has already been selected, I'll let you know so you can pick another one. If you get the team you picked, I'll email you back to let you know it's all yours.

Thanks and we look forward to completing the 2012 Cincy Jungle mock draft with you.

UPDATE: As of now, the following teams have been spoken for:

For more from Cincy Jungle, make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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2012 NFL Draft: NFP Lists Underrated Offensive Players The Bengals Could Target In Later Rounds

Utah State running back Robert Turbin (6) breaks a tackle by Utah defensive end Nai Fotu (42) during the second half  of their NCAA college football game Sept. 3, 2009 in Salt Lake City. Utah beat Utah State 35-17. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)

For the most part, the first few rounds of the draft are considered most important. That's where NFL teams find players that start or make some other immediate impact on offense, defense or sometimes on special teams. However, talented players can be found in rounds four through seven as well.

There are quite a few players in the NFL that were picked up in the last three rounds that went on to prove 31 teams wrong. The most famous of course is Tom Brady, but there are others on every team. For the Bengals, running back Bernard Scott was a sixth-round pick and there are a handful of other players that were late-round picks or came into the league as undrafted free agents.

National Football Post's Wes Bunting highlighted a few players that are underrated as we head into draft season. Some of those players play positions that we know the Bengals will be targeting to fill holes in their roster. Who knows, maybe one of them could end up in stripes in 2012.

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SB Nation Mock Draft Selects A Guard And Cornerback

Stanford's David DeCastro puts his head down as he sits on the bench with teammates in the final minutes of the the Sun Bowl NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in El Paso, Texas, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009. Oklahoma won 31-27.  (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Last week the SB Nation Mock Draft had Cincinnati selecting a cornerback in North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins and Boise State Running Back Doug Martin 17th and 21st respectively. Cincinnati could definitely use help at both positions, there's no doubt -- though I've been personally adamant that first round running backs have become somewhat of a waste. A week later SB Nation published a new mock draft, which includes neither player. And we're fairly certain you'll like one of them.

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Senior Bowl 2012: How Much Can A Prospect Improve Their Stock?

North Squad running back Isaiah Pead (23) of Cincinnati runs away from South Squad defensive back DeQuan Menzie (24) of Alabama in the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Every year during draft season you will hear about players rising and falling down draft boards. Analysts will point to the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine for reasons why a prospect's stock is on the move. The question is - How much can a prospect improve their draft stock? The answers depend on the player and the questions surrounding each prospect's game, but it may not be as much as you'd think. After Cincyjungle's own Jack Cassidy broke down the performances from the Senior Bowl that may have caught the Bengals eye, I'll take each player's situation under the microscope and see just how much they improved their draft stock.

Quinton Coples

Coples was regarded as a top 10 talent before his senior season. If you watched him in 2011, you, like me, would put a 2nd round grade on him. Coming into the Senior Bowl week, Coples had to show he still had that top 10 talent along with the will want determination to reach such potential. Throughout the week, Quinton Coples dominated anybody who lined up a crossed from him. He was unblock-able. During Saturday's game, Coples didn't disappoint. He was again dominate and flashed on more than a few plays.

Stock: UP

So is Quinton Coples that top 10 talent everyone thought he was? Or does this week's performance actually raise more questions? If he could just turn it on now, why didn't he do it last year? Why does he run hot and cold? Coples definitely improved his draft stock, but I'm not ready to say he's completely repaired the damage he did in 2011 and is a lock to get drafted in the first 10 picks.

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Bengals Draft 2012: Michael Floyd Scouting Report

Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd, left, catches a pass for a touchdown in the first overtime period over Connecticut cornerback Robert McClain defends during an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.  Connecticut defeated Notre Dame 33-30 in double overtime.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Name: Michael Floyd

Position: WR

School: Notre Dame

Class: Senior

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 225 lbs

Scouted By: Joe Goodberry

Speed, Quickness/Acceleration: Floyd doesn't have elite top-end speed but he does have the ability to get deep. I would consider him more quick than he is fast. One of his best attributes is his quickness and burst off the line of scrimmage. Floyd accelerates to his top speed quickly and gets on the toes of the CB very early in his route. As far as a 2nd gear, Floyd doesn't display it on deep balls. He looks much faster with the ball in his hands. I suspect he plays faster than he's going to time at the combine.

Agility, Change-of-Direction: When it's needed, Floyd can plant one foot and make hard cuts to elude defenders in open space or to gain slight separation in his routes. Surprisingly agile for a big receiver. Really shows this aspect of his game on slants, comebacks and out-routes.

Strength: Obviously Floyd is a big man, but he also runs with a mental toughness. He's always looking for extra yards and will put his head down and fight for it. He shows his strong hands when he's getting hit while still maintaining control of the ball and completing the catch. Floyd has made a living going over the middle at Notre Dame. He's a thickly built WR who may be maxed out already.

Ball Skills: Floyd has a wide catch radius. He shows the ability to get a hand on any ball in his area. Floyd can turn, locate and attack the ball. He always times his jumps well and can catch the ball at its highest point. Floyd routinely had to adjust to poorly thrown balls. When you see Floyd jump, turn, and reach back for a ball in mid-air, that shows the type of rare athlete he is and his exceptional balk skills make him the receiver he is.

Hands, Ball Security: Floyd has average hands. While he has the ability to make circus catches, he often looks to make a crazy one-handed catch instead of make the sure grab. Far too often he let's the ball get into his body. Especially on slants and crossing routes where ball security is most important, Floyd must learn to always catch with his hands and away from his body and defenders. Has had his share of drops over his ND career.

Awareness: Floyd is a go-to 3rd down WR. He runs his routes further than the marker or routinely makes the first guy miss in order to gain the yardage needed. He can lose track of himself and his field position on deep balls as he looks back for the ball and fights off the CB.

Run After Catch: Another one if Floyd's defining attributes. He has elite instincts and vision for a WR when it comes to gaining yardage after catch. He turns and explodes upfield after quickly securing the ball. Notre Dame routinely use Floyd on crossing/drag routes and bubble screens to get the ball in his hands with room to run. Hard, strong, tough runner who always falls forward.

Route Running: Quick off line, shows agility and burst to beat press coverage but does allow CBs to get their hands on him and redirect hos routes and throw off timing. Floyd runs a good slant and comeback route. Very little wasted motion and steps to slow down for cuts. Does start to lean and tip his routes as the game wears on. Floyd could learn to use his hands better to fight off CBs and learn the finer points of route running that will allow him to gain more separation.

Final Analysis: Michael Floyd has many natural physical skills that it takes to make him a top-20 pick in the draft. I think his 40-time will knock him a little. I think Floyd will only be a solid #1 WR in the NFL or a great complimentary #2 WR. His speed limitations and hands will hurt his numbers but he can be used in a number of ways and will get better with NFL experience. If a team uses him the way ND did, you could see similar numbers on his prime. (87 rec, 1066 yards, 12.3 YPC, 10 TDs average over last two seasons)

Off The Field Concerns: Floyd received a citation for drunken driving on March 21, 2011.

Academic/Team Honors: Team Captain (2010); Holds many ND receiving records.

Draft Projection: Top 25 in First round

Player Comparison: Dwayne Bowe

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Senior Bowl 2012: South Squad Prospects to Watch

Texas Tech safety Cody Davis (16) tries to stop Baylor running back Terrance Ganaway (24) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)

We're knee-deep into the NFL Draft scouting process and Today's Senior Bowl is one of the most crucial events in draft preparations. It's debatable if the actual game is more important than the previous week's practices, but for some players who may have had a rough week, the game is where they can redeem themselves.

Good thing for us, this game is loaded with talent at running back, corner back and offensive line. It would be a safe bet to say one of these players will be in stripes next season. Here's a few players on the South squad to keep your eyes on.

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2012 Senior Bowl: Bengals Interested In Boise State RB Doug Martin?

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22:  Doug Martin #22 of the Boise State Broncos runs for yardage ahaead of Keelan Johnson #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 56-24.  (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

As you know, the 2012 Senior Bowl, a college football all-star game in which top-tier players from northern schools play against NFL prospects from southern schools. According to Eric Galco, the Director of Scouting for OptimumScouting.com, the Bengals seem interested in Boise State running back Doug Martin as a scout from the team has been talking to him separate from the rest of the players and scouts.

#Bengals scout talking with Doug Martin away from main scout-interview herd. Just throwing that out there for you to ponder 47 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto

The Bengals are definitely in the market for a new running back and this Ray-Rice like back could fit the bill. In the last three seasons, Martin, who stands at 5-foot-9 and weighs 223 pounds, carried the ball 593 times for 3,324 yards and 43 touchdowns. Right now ESPN Insider ranks Martin as the eighth best running back in this draft class.

Stay tuned for more Senior Bowl updates

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Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Cincinnati Bengals.

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