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Before the draft, I ran a series on "Outside the Box" draft strategies. Well, here is my "Outside the Box" roster projection. The Bengals coaching staff loves athletic versatile players and they have built a roster full of athletic versatile players. Because of the versatile players they have compiled, the coaches can get creative with the 2015 roster and provide us a lot of fun while projecting said roster.
| Offense | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Quarterbacks | Quarterbacks | |
| 1 | Andy Dalton | Andy Dalton |
| 2 | A.J. McCarron | Jason Campbell |
| 3 | Terrelle Pryor | |
| Analysis: The Pryor signing makes things interesting at the quarterback position. The Bengals have never kept three QBs since drafting Dalton, but this is the year. I think the Bengals keep Pryor as an insurance policy on Dalton - if Dalton regresses in 2015, the Bengals may cut bait with Dalton and hope to find a starter in McCarron or Pryor. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Running Backs | Running Backs | |
| 1 | Giovani Bernard | Giovani Bernard |
| 2 | Jeremy Hill | Jeremy Hill |
| 3 | Rex Burkhead | Rex Burkhead |
| 4 | Terrell Watson | Cedric Peerman |
| Analysis: The top three are set, and while cutting Peerman - a special teams stalwart - would be a surprise, Peerman is a soon-to-be 29-year-old running back who offers very little outside of special teams. Watson offers too much to pass on. At 6'1" 240 pounds, Watson and his powerful running style are reminiscent of another Azusa Pacific Univesity alum, Christian Okoye. The Bengals know what they have in Peerman. They can't pass up on what they might have in Watson. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Fullback/H-Back | Fullback/H-Back | |
| 1 | Ryan Hewitt | Ryan Hewitt |
| Analysis: Unless they decide to move Hewitt to more of a TE (doubtful at this point), this is a lock. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Tight Ends | Tight Ends | |
| 1 | Tyler Eifert | Jermaine Gresham |
| 2 | Tyler Kroft | Tyler Eifert |
| 3 | C.J. Uzomah | Alex Smith |
| Analysis: Eifert and Kroft are locks, and I think Uzomah makes it based on the fact that he is an athletic freak with untapped potential. Uzomah offers nothing from a blocking standpoint and may be inactive on many Sundays in favor of Hewitt playing the blocking tight end spot, but the Bengals don't think he would make it to (or stay on) the practice squad. With Hewitt's versatility, they can afford this move. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Wide Receivers | Wide Receivers | |
| 1 | A.J. Green | A.J. Green |
| 2 | Mohamed Sanu | Mohamed Sanu |
| 3 | Marvin Jones | Marvin Jones |
| 4 | James Wright | Dane Sanzenbacher |
| 5 | Denarius Moore | Brandon Tate |
| 6 | Mario Alford | James Wright |
| Analysis: I believe the top five are set and Alford has the inside track as the sixth receiver. Alford's speed is game changing and finally the Bengals have found someone who can unseat Tate as a kick returner. Alford may not have the experience, but he has something Tate doesn't, the threat of returning any kick for a touchdown. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Offensive Line | Offensive Line | |
| 1 | Andrew Whitworth (OT) | Andrew Whitworth (OT) |
| 2 | Andre Smith (OT) | Andre Smith (OT) |
| 3 | Russell Bodine (C) | Russell Bodine (C) |
| 4 | Clint Boling (G) | Clint Boling (G) |
| 5 | Kevin Zeitler (G) | Kevin Zeitler (G) |
| 6 | Jake Fisher (OT/G) | Mike Pollak (G) |
| 7 | Trey Hopkins (G) | T.J. Johnson (C/G) |
| 8 | Eric Winston (OT) | Tanner Hawkinson (OT) |
| Marshall Newhouse (OT) | ||
| Analysis: Offensive line just got really interesting (and crowded) with the selection of Fisher and Ogbuehi - especially if Ogbuehi does not start on the PUP list. However, I think Ogbuehi starts on the PUP list (and is possibly put on the IR with the designation to return), leaving just a few spots up for grabs. If Hopkins is healed from his broken leg, the team was really high on him and he would be the only true guard backup - though Fisher and Ogbuehi can play guard. I think Winston makes it based on his experience and Ogbuehi's uncertainty. While the Bengals would normally go with nine lineman, the versatility of their two high picks (Fisher and Ogbuehi) and Boling's versatility to be the backup center, give the Bengals the ability to save a spot on the roster for another position group. | ||
| Defense | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Defensive Ends | Defensive Ends | |
| 1 | Carlos Dunlap | Carlos Dunlap |
| 2 | Michael Johnson | Wallace Gilberry |
| 3 | Wallace Gilberry | Margus Hunt |
| 4 | Margus Hunt | Will Clarke |
| 5 | Will Clarke | Robert Geathers |
| Analysis: Most fans weren't happy the Bengals didn't draft a true defensive end in the draft. One group that was not unhappy about that decision? The current defensive ends. I think Hunt and Clarke have one more year to prove their worth before the Bengals move on. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Defensive Tackles | Defensive Tackles | |
| 1 | Geno Atkins | Geno Atkins |
| 2 | Domata Peko | Domata Peko |
| 3 | Brandon Thompson | Brandon Thompson |
| 4 | Marcus Hardison | Christo Bilukidi (Devon Still) |
| 5 | Devon Still | |
| Analysis: Given his situation and the fact that he was a 2nd round pick and former Big 10 defensive player of the year, I don't think the Bengals are ready to give up on Still. With his daughter's health looking to be on the upswing, the Bengals will likely give Still one more year to find his old football self and re-capture his college form. And, as much as fans want to see Peko released, I don't see it's happening. He represents the veteran locker room presence Marvin Lewis loves. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Linebacker | Linebacker | |
| 1 | Vontaze Burfict | Vontaze Burfict |
| 2 | Rey Maualuga | Rey Maualuga |
| 3 | A.J. Hawk | Emmanuel Lamur |
| 4 | Paul Dawson | Vinnie Rey |
| 5 | Vinny Rey | Jayson DiManche |
| 6 | Emmanuel Lamur | Marquise Flowers |
| Sean Porter | ||
| Analysis: For the sake of this projection, we are assuming Burfict will be healthy (a big assumption). With that being the case, I think the top six are all locks. The only question is whether they go with seven linebackers like they did in 2014. Given the experience they now have at this position, six will likely be the number. Sean Porter will be put on the practice squad along with one other linebacker. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Cornerback | Cornerback | |
| 1 | Leon Hall | Leon Hall |
| 2 | Dre Kirkpatrick | Terence Newman |
| 3 | Darqueze Dennard | Adam Jones |
| 4 | Adam Jones | Dre Kirkpatrick |
| 5 | Josh Shaw | Darqueze Dennard |
| Analysis: I think these five are locks and Shaw can offer some versatility with his ability to play safety. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Safety | Safety | |
| 1 | Reggie Nelson | Reggie Nelson |
| 2 | George Iloka | George Iloka |
| 3 | Brandon Ghee | Shawn Williams |
| 4 | Derron Smith | Taylor Mays |
| Analysis: Ghee is the surprise here and it is the result of his versatility. Williams hasn't been able to find the field since being drafted and Ghee has experience and the versatility to play both corner and safety. Chances are the Bengals let Nelson walk after the 2015 season and Iloka and Smith become the starters with Ghee as the top backup (and a backup corner). | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| Special Teams | Special Teams | |
| 1 | Mike Nugent | Mike Nugent |
| 2 | Kevin Huber | Kevin Huber |
| 3 | Clark Harris | Clark Harris |
| Analysis: Despite some fans wanting Nugent to be replaced, it isn't going to happen. This group is a lock. | ||
| 2015 Prediction | 2014 Roster (Breaking Camp) | |
| IR/PUP | IR/PUP | |
| 1 | Cedric Ogbuehi (OT/G) | A.J. McCarron |
| 2 | Trey Hopkins | |
| 3 | J.K. Schaffer | |
| Analysis: With Ogbuehi tearing his ACL in the Texas A&M bowl game, I think the PUP list is very likely and IR is even a possibility - especially with the depth the Bengals have at tackle this year. | ||