Marvin Lewis has fallen in love with UTEP linebacker Thomas Howard ?

[BlainThePain]

If Howard was some big, burly, slow guy, I would be upset about this, but Howard is reidiculously fast, and adding speed to a lineup is almost always benificial.

I like him because, not only is he fast, he has great size already.

[BengalPappaw]

Yes -- Howard has size and speed.

That enables him to run all over the field quickly -- HOWEVER, he doesn't seem to be able to find the ball or make plays.

If speed was the only factor we'd have a team of sprinters.

I too was intrigued by Howard's speed and size -- then I watched him play and he was NOT impressive.

Tremendous POTENTIAL -- but he does NOT make the plays that I expected with his numbers. There are a lot of smaller, slower players that make more plays.

I want football players -- not BIG, SPRINTERS.

[Tasher]

Yes -- Howard has size and speed.

That enables him to run all over the field quickly -- HOWEVER, he doesn't seem to be able to find the ball or make plays.

If speed was the only factor we'd have a team of sprinters.

I too was intrigued by Howard's speed and size -- then I watched him play and he was NOT impressive.

Tremendous POTENTIAL -- but he does NOT make the plays that I expected with his numbers. There are a lot of smaller, slower players that make more plays.

I want football players -- not BIG, SPRINTERS.

Has everyone forgotten that Marvin HATES Safeties that play linebacker? He said all last year that he would not draft a linebacker and convert him to safety and that the safeties he prefers are Free Safety types that are very strong cover guys. They have to play the run too, but remember Thomas Davis and Roy Williams? Marvin was not high on either of them.

I believe that Bullocks will be the choice in the 2nd round, unless we take a CB/S in the first or Ko drops later than people expect. I do not think that any of the others will drop to us. Allen is the only question. Has anyone seen any more reports of his degenerative hip condition? Did the Bengals bring him in for a physical?

[DesperateDerelict]

Thomas Howard looks great! I say we trade down out of the first, and pick up someone in the upper second. I bet Howard will still be available there, and we'd get an extra 4th or so out of the deal.

Regardless of WHO you want, I agree with the trade down - I'd go down to around #40 if we could get two seconds, two thirds, and two fourths => This is the DEEPEST draft I remember, especially in perennially needy position: OL, DB, LB, DL, and, of course, TE.

[Stripes]

Thomas Howard looks great! I say we trade down out of the first, and pick up someone in the upper second. I bet Howard will still be available there, and we'd get an extra 4th or so out of the deal.

Regardless of WHO you want, I agree with the trade down - I'd go down to around #40 if we could get two seconds, two thirds, and two fourths => This is the DEEPEST draft I remember, especially in perennially needy position: OL, DB, LB, DL, and, of course, TE.

Agreed, that was my point. If some of the better looking prospects like Cromartie are gone at 24, then trading down will look pretty good.

[ArmyBengal]

I've also been an advocate of the trade down to acquire another day one pick or trade up into the third from a day two position...

WHODEY !!!

[Kazkal]

6'3'' 240 4.38

That is just crazy !!!

WHODEY !!!

Sounds like the perfect canidate to cover these probowl caliber tight ends in our division.

sounds like a guy too cover Vdavis

[Spor_tees]

6'3'' 240 4.38

That is just crazy !!!

WHODEY !!!

Sounds like the perfect canidate to cover these probowl caliber tight ends in our division.

sounds like a guy too cover Vdavis

Need to worry more about a guy to cover Heath Miller and Dallas Clark.

[Kazkal]

true but if he can cover V t hink he do alright vs other 2

[bengalboomer7]

Don't worry Oldschooler buddy, I had the same gripe about a thread and got the same type of response...seems like you can change boards but you can never find equality in judgement.

The only reason I hate threads being moved is if they are about the Bengals then I think they should stay in the Bengals board because I for one don't visit the other boards to sift through the stuff I want to read about the Bengals.

I'm only on this thread now because the moved post hadn't fallen off the front page yet.

Do you guys realize you're pissing and moaning about something that's pretty trivial. Yeah, we play favorites, and one of the ways we get you is move topics. We know it drives you all crazy and we enjoy doing it so much. Equality in judgement! DING DING! So far, your the winner of dumbest post I've read today....but it's early still

Now, Thomas Howard. HOF said it best, he really passes the eyeball test, but I get the impression he's kinda dumb and doesn't react well on the field.

[Spor_tees]

Don't worry Oldschooler buddy, I had the same gripe about a thread and got the same type of response...seems like you can change boards but you can never find equality in judgement.

The only reason I hate threads being moved is if they are about the Bengals then I think they should stay in the Bengals board because I for one don't visit the other boards to sift through the stuff I want to read about the Bengals.

I'm only on this thread now because the moved post hadn't fallen off the front page yet.

Do you guys realize you're pissing and moaning about something that's pretty trivial. Yeah, we play favorites, and one of the ways we get you is move topics. We know it drives you all crazy and we enjoy doing it so much. Equality in judgement! DING DING! So far, your the winner of dumbest post I've read today....but it's early still

Now, Thomas Howard. HOF said it best, he really passes the eyeball test, but I get the impression he's kinda dumb and doesn't react well on the field.

Admittance is the first step to recovery.

[bengalboomer7]

Then excuse me while I move this to Current Events

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Joisey = Pissy pants, lol.

This same thing was obviously rumored before the draft about Odell Thurman, and we know what happened then.

With Simmons probably gone after this year and Pollack's position status still up in the air apparently - can definitely see this happening.

The thought of he and Odell flying around the field together is intruiging to say the least.

For a guy who's 6'3" 240 though, ya think he'd be better at playing in traffic.

Then again I don't think I've ever read a scouting report that didn't list a LB's weakeness as shedding blocks and playing in traffic.

[BlainThePain]

Joisey = Pissy pants, lol.

This same thing was obviously rumored before the draft about Odell Thurman, and we know what happened then.

With Simmons probably gone after this year and Pollack's position status still up in the air apparently - can definitely see this happening.

The thought of he and Odell flying around the field together is intruiging to say the least.

For a guy who's 6'3" 240 though, ya think he'd be better at playing in traffic.

Then again I don't think I've ever read a scouting report that didn't list a LB's weakeness as shedding blocks and playing in traffic.

Like I said earlier in the post, other than lack of competition, he has the same weaknesses listed as Derrick Johnson did last year.

[BengalPappaw]

Joisey = Pissy pants, lol.

This same thing was obviously rumored before the draft about Odell Thurman, and we know what happened then.

With Simmons probably gone after this year and Pollack's position status still up in the air apparently - can definitely see this happening.

The thought of he and Odell flying around the field together is intruiging to say the least.

For a guy who's 6'3" 240 though, ya think he'd be better at playing in traffic.

Then again I don't think I've ever read a scouting report that didn't list a LB's weakeness as shedding blocks and playing in traffic.

Like I said earlier in the post, other than lack of competition, he has the same weaknesses listed as Derrick Johnson did last year.

There is a BIG difference between the two -- Derrick Johnson made plays -- Thomas Howard DOES NOT.

The difference is obvious on game tapes.

I would definitely not waste a first round pick on Howard. He is a scaled up Khalid Abdullah.

[schweinhart]

I hear you Pap...There's something that doesn't click for Howard when it comes to playing aggressive.

OTOH the upside is there in a couple facets. Foremost, the guy can cover really well. In a division like the Bengals stacked with receiving TEs, that's a god thing to have in a weakside backer. Second, he's a blur when he blitzes.

But against the run, I see Howard as a liability. I watched a TV interview of him and have to say he is personable and no doubt highly coachable so maybe he someone can turn the lights on for him. He said he wants to play LB in the NFL like his dad, but his experience as a safety and his top end speed make him ideal for playing safety in the manner of Sean Taylor (although no where near as aggressively).

On the whole, Howard would still be a real wobbly pick at #24. If the Bengals really want him, hopefully they add a player and a pick by trading down.