Enquirer roster review

[jjakq27]

It looks like there will be a bunch of new faces on the team. It also looks like (for once) some of our cuts will be picked up by other teams. That's such a welcome change from a few years ago when we would hope to pick up someone after they got cut.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../608200421/1078

[Kazkal]

some of the "locks" i question

Marcus Wilkins, A.J. Nicholson

Tony Stewart I hate it but probbley true

Bennie BrazellYa um no Antonio Chatman should be on the bubble before him sense hes done abunch of nothing

doug johnsond only if he beats out wright imo

kenny watson he has experiance but go with someone young and fresh that has chance being something more

Fanene will make the team you heard it here

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Kaz:

Brazelle won't make it

Why would you cut Johnson? Don't you need a 3rd QB? They aren't insane.

They just signed Watson to a new deal in the off-season, Dorsey and Wilson may get their shot for a while if Perry goes on the PUP for 6 games, so Watson will probably make it, and was never really a risk not to. But that might mean Quincy makes it over Dorsey due to experience, but who knows. I like both Q and DeDe. They are probably fighting for a spot now, while Whitehead seems to have fallen down the depth chart (if his lack of PT Friday was any indication).

The catch and run by Dorsey was impressive as hell BTW - that guy can play some - regardless of the competition he's faced - he's shown a lot.

Then again they may only carry two HB's and a FB for while, dunno, think they've done that before though. Depends how ST's shake out.

Depending on what happens with Henry's possible suspension this year, there's an outside chance McNeil or Brazelle could make it - McNeil has the upper hand IMO because he can return kicks and is more versatile.

I'm assuming they carry 6 Wr's - could be wrong.

[rwalling]

I am really impressed with the quality of player we will be cutting or trying to hide on the Practice Squad.

The toughest cuts (IMHO) appear to be at:

RB - Wilson, Dorsey and Mederino have all flashed in different ways.

WR - Unless KW gets traded, tough choices here (Bennie and Reggie may be vulnerable on the PS)

TE - BWA HAHA (Just kidding)

DL - Holy cow! Fanene and Henderson both potentially on the outside looking in?!?

LB - Navies and Miller both almost have to be gone. (I really like Caleb and thought he was having a great camp.) I personally think they may go one longer here and one short at Safety (there's more talent here and some monsters on teams)

QB, OL (Lougheed goes), DB appear to be relatively set. I remain concerned about the talent drop off after the starters at safety and lack of talent at TE. I really expect some waiver wire watching in these areas.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I don't see how Henderson doesn't make the squad. He was doing really well in that last preseason game. Sure, he jumped REALLY offsides once, but he has the fire you want. You can't have enough pass rushers! (Ask the Giants!)

I don't see Wilkerson on the bubble either. He makes the squad.

Didn't Wilkins end up hurt? Or was that Mitchell?

[jjakq27]

I don't see how Henderson doesn't make the squad. He was doing really well in that last preseason game. Sure, he jumped REALLY offsides once, but he has the fire you want. You can't have enough pass rushers! (Ask the Giants!)

I don't see Wilkerson on the bubble either. He makes the squad.

Didn't Wilkins end up hurt? Or was that Mitchell?

It was Mitchell.

[TippCityRick]

Some notes:

QB - Curnute is correct (my 14 year old daughter could get this one).

RB - Perry to PUP and I look for Dorsey to get a chance because of his pass catching abilities. Will watch the GB game for signs.

WR - I guess we may know a bit more about Henry's availability after today, but I look for him to be one of the six. Chatman has to get on the field or he faces an uphill battle due to the Henry situation. You can't discount Washington until after you know more about the availability of both Henry and Chatman.

TE - Don't really care all that much.

OL - Add Kooistra to the lock list. I think Wilkerson makes it . . . . barely.

DL - Only question I have is does the emergence of Peko make Thornton expendable? You can move BRob inside on passing downs and keep Henderson to chase the passer. Also aren't Rucker and Fanene the same guy? Who's healthier?

LB - Move Jeanty to lock and wave goodbye to Miller. Going to be and interesting decision when Thurman comes back.

CB - Seems right, but with Brooks not being able to stay on the field, do the Bengals look for an player here from other team's cuts?

S - A lot to be decided here. Mitchell to PUP? Has Kilmer shown enough on ST to lock in a spot? I'm still rooting for Busing (but that may be my RedHawk sunglasses getting in the way!).

Specialists - duh.

[CJBestInAFC]

Some notes:

QB - Curnute is correct (my 14 year old daughter could get this one).

RB - Perry to PUP and I look for Dorsey to get a chance because of his pass catching abilities. Will watch the GB game for signs.

WR - I guess we may know a bit more about Henry's availability after today, but I look for him to be one of the six. Chatman has to get on the field or he faces an uphill battle due to the Henry situation. You can't discount Washington until after you know more about the availability of both Henry and Chatman.

TE - Don't really care all that much.

OL - Add Kooistra to the lock list. I think Wilkerson makes it . . . . barely.

DL - Only question I have is does the emergence of Peko make Thornton expendable? You can move BRob inside on passing downs and keep Henderson to chase the passer. Also aren't Rucker and Fanene the same guy? Who's healthier?

LB - Move Jeanty to lock and wave goodbye to Miller. Going to be and interesting decision when Thurman comes back.

CB - Seems right, but with Brooks not being able to stay on the field, do the Bengals look for an player here from other team's cuts?

S - A lot to be decided here. Mitchell to PUP? Has Kilmer shown enough on ST to lock in a spot? I'm still rooting for Busing (but that may be my RedHawk sunglasses getting in the way!).

Specialists - duh.

Keep 4 S and 6 corners, and make Body a S/cb tweener. I like the idea of cutting/trading John Thornton and making Peko the starter. That frees up a spot for Henderson who has to make this team.

[HairOnFire]

Also aren't Rucker and Fanene the same guy? Who's healthier?

Nope, they're not the same. Rucker is a very good rookie DE that most Bengal fans hated before the knew how to spell his name. Fanene is a 2nd year slug who was elevated to folk hero status based upon one play involving the Biggest Ben.

Whose healthier? Well, Rucker has a minor shoulder injury that will keep him out of another preseason game. Fanene has a hamstring injury that has prevented him from participating in every single training camp practice.

[HoosierCat]

Looks pretty possible to me overall. Nothing really surprising or upsetting. Fanene going would be a minor surprise, but it's something I thought might happen. I think McNeal makes it to the PS (tho he might not last the whole season there) but I doubt Henderson does. Only name I see under "locks" that I'm not sure about is Nicholson.

[TippCityRick]

I guess I meant that both play both DE and a bit of DT, both have availability issues, and the staff appears to be high on both. I haven't seen enough of either to form and opinion (and as opinionated as I am, I must not have seen much!).

[Walrus]

Only name I see under "locks" that I'm not sure about is Nicholson.

I second that. I've seen AJ talked up by several media types, but haven't noticed anything onfield to back that up. What is AJ's status. Anyone?

[HoosierCat]

Nicholson has only gotten in late in the first two preseason games --- late third, early fourth -- and has recorded 6 tackles (3 solo). Versus Buffalo he had a solo after a 1 yard pass, after a 3 yard pass, and after a 12 yard pass, and the assist was with Bua following a 15 yard completion. Versus DC he had an assist with Busing following a 44 yard completion late in the game, and an assist shared with Caleb after a 2-yard run.

In short, mixed results in garbage time. I would list him as still grinding for a spot. If the Bengals tried to sneak him onto the PS I wouldn't be surprised. Teams were leery of him on draft day because of alleged character issues, he's had more trouble since with the whole dumb stereo incident, and he hasn't knocked anyone's socks off with his play. I don't see any team rushing to sign him, tho like a McNeal he might not last the whole season on the PS. But injuries at LB are pretty common and a spot could open for him.

[Stripes]

I agree with most of the article... I think K-dub has a better shot than Chatman, and Henry is a lock. Henderson will have a tough time making the roster, but has a better shot than Fanene. Jeanty over Wilkins. Ghent over Sanders.

[Kazkal]

well with meyer gone johnson makes it as for brazell on PS I doubt it inless henry doesn't miss any games

watson signed a new deal? could swore was tender off could be mistaken though

LB - Navies and Miller both almost have to be gone. (I really like Caleb and thought he was having a great camp.) I personally think they may go one longer here and one short at Safety (there's more talent here and some monsters on teams)

Miller has advantage over wilkins who should be on his way out because miller can actually play and is a great special teamer where wilkins does nothing more then special teams

. Henderson will have a tough time making the roster, but has a better shot than Fanene. .

How does henderson have a better shot? hes shown nothing so far in preseason that we expected of all his hype having mario william numbers also if 3-4 is future or even just using more often fanene can play 3-4 end where henderson would have to play LB which we alrdy are deep at and have 3 pass rushing LB's

[jjakq27]

Also aren't Rucker and Fanene the same guy? Who's healthier?

Nope, they're not the same. Rucker is a very good rookie DE that most Bengal fans hated before the knew how to spell his name. Fanene is a 2nd year slug who was elevated to folk hero status based upon one play involving the Biggest Ben.

Whose healthier? Well, Rucker has a minor shoulder injury that will keep him out of another preseason game. Fanene has a hamstring injury that has prevented him from participating in every single training camp practice.

I think Rucker (ignoring any baggage) has shown more in his short stay that Fanene has so far, the Steelers game included. He was inactive an awful lot last year and I doubt that will change much since they got Adams.

[TippCityRick]

Both Fanene and Rucker are listed as left tackles. On the current depth chart Fanene is ahead of Rucker. I don't expect they will keep both since they are mirror images of each other and I'm not sure I care which they keep since I don't see much difference in how the coaching staff has said they view them publicly.

[Bengalhead]

Also aren't Rucker and Fanene the same guy? Who's healthier?

Nope, they're not the same. Rucker is a very good rookie DE that most Bengal fans hated before the knew how to spell his name. Fanene is a 2nd year slug who was elevated to folk hero status based upon one play involving the Biggest Ben.

Whose healthier? Well, Rucker has a minor shoulder injury that will keep him out of another preseason game. Fanene has a hamstring injury that has prevented him from participating in every single training camp practice.

I think Rucker (ignoring any baggage) has shown more in his short stay that Fanene has so far, the Steelers game included. He was inactive an awful lot last year and I doubt that will change much since they got Adams.

Kazkal, I know you're a hall of fame poster and all, but how about adding some periods when ending a sentence. Geez. I'm getting exhausted trying to read your run-on posts!!

[HairOnFire]

Both Fanene and Rucker are listed as left tackles. On the current depth chart Fanene is ahead of Rucker. I don't expect they will keep both since they are mirror images of each other and I'm not sure I care which they keep.....

I wouldn't put much faith in the depth chart right now. For example, Tony Bua was rated higher than John Busing but it was Bue that was sent packing. Odell is currently the 4th string MLB...behind AJ Nicholson. And DeDe Dorsey isn't even listed on the Bengals depth chart at RB.

That said, Frostee Rucker will make this team, but Fanene won't....unless he's stashed on an injury list.