Grade the Bengals Draft

[HoosierCat]

Let's have it, fellas.

FWIW, I went with a B. I had them pegged at C after day 1 (Joseph and Whitworth I could deal with but Frostee the Non Dairy Beverage really dragged down the average, IMHO. But Day 2 was pretty solid, at least until the seventh, and that's just not key enough a round to bust them on too much.

Decent draft. Could have been better IMHO. But OK.

[Whur CHad At?]

Ill give it an E for effort. I really only liked two picks. Jonathon Joseph, and A.J. Nicholson. The rest, they are too hard to tell yet, which mean i Don't hate them.

I was displeased with 3 WR's, that pissed me off a bunch.

[TJJackson]

F For FUBAR

I think it'd violate board rules to actually write the words represented by FUBAR.

But the words fit

[andybren]

I say C for average. I like Joseph and Whitworth for depth that may be able to contribute sooner in the event of injury. Frostee is a reach, but seems like a good character guy.

Hurley Peko and AJ Nickerson don't strike me as being particularly impressive, but I'm not going to fault them for not being a TE or S.

McNeal should be fun to watch. At #6, it's gravy.

The 7th round guys seem like a waste of time, but it's no big deal.

[da boss]

I am happy with 3 of these picks.

J. Joseph

A. Witworth

R. McNeil

Overall I will give this draft a C+

[turningpoint]

I like most of the picks, I particulary don't like the wr pick for the 7th round,but hey who cares it's a 7th round pick.

[schweinhart]

I gotta go with B. They took care of the their business on and off the field.

Joseph was the next best pick to Cromartie in my book at that spot and that in itself does much, much more than just make up for the lack of a TE in rounds 4 or 5 and a safety in rounds 6 or 7.

All I can say about Whitworth is that he instantly upgrades the O-Line in a variety of ways through sheer will. He's one helluva player and the Bengals are better for having him.

Frostee Rucker. Not my guy but the team did address what I felt was a need at DE and pass rush in their own way and they should get credit for that regardless of how the pick actually turns out.

Domata Peko. Impossible not to like how he gets after it. From what was available, Peko very well might have given them the best of both worlds between gap holding and penetration as a 4th DT (if you count B-Rob as the heir apparent to Carl Plowed).

AJ Nicholson. Fills a backup need and does have the tools to start at strongside LB if needed and be that 4th in the 4-4-3 the Bengals showed with Hannibal Navies. Solid player but with the Schleprock cloud over his head, maybe there in the 7th.

Reggie McNeal. Very intriguing and it'll be interesting to see how he can be brought into the fold if he sticks.

Ethan Kilmer. Special teams beast. They needed a gunner and he may be it and a good one at that. Wanna say crap pick again but know better.

Bobo Brazil...er...Bennie Breezeway.... WTF. I think this one is funny as hell.

All in all, I'd say they reached big with Rucker and only slightly less so with Peko and Nicholson but I don't really know that. How can you? And I think they could've done a better job consolidating some positional utility with the last 3 picks between special teams and the primary phases of the game. But if McNeal pans out and/or Kilmer can actually play safety, then that right there would be enough to kick it up to an A for me despite what I feel were reaches in rounds 3, 4, and 5 and a business decision over impact available on defense in the 2nd round.

[cincy9275]

i don't like the fact we reached big time in the 2 and 3 rd's . i don't like the fact we drafted 3 more w/r 's one a converted qb. no picks on any safeties or t/e's. i was harsh on joseph the more i research him the more i like him . i like nichols and the d t from mich st. i only like 3 of 8 picks so that's D +. i just think we could have used our last 3 picks to try to find some qualtiy depth and not a bunch of w/r's . and for the tackle from lsu all the reports i have found on him some says he will be a decent R/T and some say he is nothing but a back up.

[membengal]

Too many "ifs" and too many reaches for my blood. Love the 1st round pick, after that, was left a little wanting.

Gentleman's "C".

[Sox]

I gave them a B.

It would have been a B+ or A- if Dallas hadn't wasted their pick on Fasano when they already have Witten.I truly believe the Bengals take him two picks later if they had passed.

But as always,it's pure speculation on my,or for that matter anyone else's part.The true grade won't be know for a year or two.

[MacD BengalFan]

I gave them a "B". I think they did a good job of addressing some potential problems coming down the road. With the drafting of Whittworth says that Willie may not be back next season. I think Joseph could make an impact this season by taking over for Ohalate. I think the reason they drafted Reggie McNeal is for him to become a Randel-El type player. A receiver that can play QB and throw the ball back to Carson for trick plays. The Stillirs took Omar Jacobs to possibly fill that roll for them. Kilmar is listed as a DB but I guess they are going to convert to WR. As far as drafting WR's, I think this is just to add competition to the 4 and 5 receiver positions.

[TJJackson]

With the drafting of Nicholson says that Willie may not be back next season.

Willie who? Nicholson is a LB. We dont have a LB named Willie.

I think Joseph could make an impact this season by taking over for Ohalate.

Uh, JJ is a CB, OheyIsuckalot is a SS. How do you figure this?

[Spain]

A+ We got playas that fit our system.

1. 3-4 Nose Takle

2. 3-4 OLB

3. 3-4 ILB

4. Most talented corner in the draft!

5. One huge ass RT, with time to learn.

3 projects. ( Tab perry was a project)

Might be the best draft yet.

[TJJackson]

Just to put the above statement in perspective, Spain also encourages the regular use of recreational pharmaceuticals and has proudly boasted about hiring prostitutes on expired credit cards, and has proclaimed such in writing on these boards more than once

[MacD BengalFan]

With the drafting of Nicholson says that Willie may not be back next season.

Willie who? Nicholson is a LB. We dont have a LB named Willie.

I think Joseph could make an impact this season by taking over for Ohalate.

Uh, JJ is a CB, OheyIsuckalot is a SS. How do you figure this?

I actually blew the Nicholson deal. I went back to see who they drafted for the OT postion and made the correction. Now as far as Joseph taking over for Ohalate. Move him into that position. The Bengals don't need another CB with Deltha and Tory James. The Bengals need a Safety that can cover and tackle. Now, if one of the CB's can't play, then you have an insurance policy in Joseph. But I say, move Joseph to SS and let go of Ohalate.

[membengal]

By the way, I am with a few others over the last few days who have noted the shift in the Bengals drafting...for the future as opposed to Week 1 of upcoming season.

I am OK with that. Nice to be amongst the group that can get them in house and bring them along slowly for a change...

[HoosierCat]

Just to put the above statement in perspective, Spain also encourages the regular use of recreational pharmaceuticals and has proudly boasted about hiring prostitutes on expired credit cards, and has proclaimed such in writing on these boards more than once

Don't forget about how he brags about ripping off you, me, and every other US taxpayer on student loans...sorry Spain but you will find no sympathy here.

[Spain]

Dont want none, Ill take the real dolars. LOL

[Kazkal]

B

1.)I liked

2.) I liked

3. I liked

4.) I really liked

5.)risk but its 5th rnder

6.)I like

7.)A & B I dislike

It would be B+ or A- but I can't with rnd 7

[HoosierCat]

Looks like the board at large is headed toward a B- grade...that's pretty fair IMHO. Shaky draft with potential to go either way...but the board is leaning positive. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as well.

[DontPushMe]

Excellent draft, i couldn't of thought it up much better, we got both the best players available when we picked, and they also fit needs, amazing.

I had a B+ grade for it, but because some of the names were lesser known, and it casued TJJackson to make some of the funniest posts ive ever read, I upped it to an A. Thanks marvin.

Im also happy that Lewis didnt get suckered into drafting a TE. With all the pressure from fans, media, and hobson, i was afraid hed waste a first day pick on a TE, but thankfully he doesnt make those kind of mistakes.

[Kazkal]

How can every one say frostee is a reach but would have jumped on mark anderson and mcclover in 3rd where they went end of 5th and end of 7th

[smith288]

Im a lehman so I will just say I was scratching my head through the whole draft... Seems like #1 is a project of sorts who lacks alot of experience and i dont quite get all the WRs later on. I know sime are SP guys but I always figure SP guys are usually much easier pickups than through that draft.

C'est la vie

[HoosierCat]

How can every one say frostee is a reach but would have jumped on mark anderson and mcclover in 3rd where they went end of 5th and end of 7th

Everybody has their own board. And virtually all of them have question marks. Even the bengals. They admit, via Hobson, to having been on a different wavelength than everyone else regarding TE.

We will see how it ahkes out. I think this is a draft that could go either way. It strikes me as a boom-or-bust draft. Three years from now, I think we'll look back and see either a very good draft, or one on a par with 1999 and 2000 drafts.

[kingwilly]

Excellent draft, i couldn't of thought it up much better, we got both the best players available when we picked, and they also fit needs, amazing.

I had a B+ grade for it, but because some of the names were lesser known, and it casued TJJackson to make some of the funniest posts ive ever read, I upped it to an A. Thanks marvin.

Im also happy that Lewis didnt get suckered into drafting a TE. With all the pressure from fans, media, and hobson, i was afraid hed waste a first day pick on a TE, but thankfully he doesnt make those kind of mistakes.

Either this is extreme sarcasm or you mistook our draft with a team that has a clue....

If you actually do tink this is an "excellent" draft, maybe you wouldn't mind explaining what about it is so "Excellent"?

"Best players available.."?...."also fit needs.....?" WTF draft are you looking at?

I like to think of myself as a pretty level-headed kind-of-guy..but this draft to me was borderline unprofessional..............as in...a floundering mass of know-nothings who threw darts at names on a board....now since I really don't think of ML and staff as know-nothings....and they certainly did not throw any darts...the positions selected do not add up to addressing needs or, based on general consensus and my own opinion, BPA...

This draft may be debated from now till 2009....as we watch players taken develop, get cut, set records and even maybe serve some time (eh, AJ, the DA is calling)...so it does not have to get figured out today...but as of today, this draft to me is a big fat F as in Floundered