At what position do you see us drafting our 1st pick of '07?

[agreen_112]

I really don't know if I'd use the first pick on a DT. We need another LB or even another physical and fast corner.

[Tasher]

QB!

Since we really needed something else in 2004 when we drafted Perry, so I am guessing that the pattern will hold true to form!

We really need a DE or S or CB and so we will almost certainly draft a QB!

BTW, I am only kidding! It will probably be a TE!

[HoosierCat]

Right now, I'd handicap things like this:

DT: doubtful. I'd cheer it, and I think they need it, but I've about given up on the Bengals pulling the trigger. Call it the post-Big-Duddy-Syndrome.

DE: doubtful. With it looking like Steiny is gone, that makes it likely they will re-sign Justin. B-rob is done, but the have Geathers, Rucker, and Henderson on the PS. That's a pretty good collection and it's hard to justify burning a No. 1 here.

LB: probable. Marvin loves LBs and the corps is a train wreck.

CB: questionable. Tory is toast but I don't know if they burn a frst on CB two years running.

S: doubtful. Not that they don't need to, something has to be done about SS but that can be dealt with later in the draft, I think.

QB: out. No way.

OL: out. See above.

RB: out. Better be.

TE: doubtful. Not in the first, not this team. Like DT, they just won't do it.

WR: questionable. Depends on Henry. Can they count on him?

So to sum up:

1. LB

2. CB

3. WR

[derekshank]

Right now, I'd handicap things like this:

DT: doubtful. I'd cheer it, and I think they need it, but I've about given up on the Bengals pulling the trigger. Call it the post-Big-Duddy-Syndrome.

DE: doubtful. With it looking like Steiny is gone, that makes it likely they will re-sign Justin. B-rob is done, but the have Geathers, Rucker, and Henderson on the PS. That's a pretty good collection and it's hard to justify burning a No. 1 here.

LB: probable. Marvin loves LBs and the corps is a train wreck.

CB: questionable. Tory is toast but I don't know if they burn a frst on CB two years running.

S: doubtful. Not that they don't need to, something has to be done about SS but that can be dealt with later in the draft, I think.

QB: out. No way.

OL: out. See above.

RB: out. Better be.

TE: doubtful. Not in the first, not this team. Like DT, they just won't do it.

WR: questionable. Depends on Henry. Can they count on him?

So to sum up:

1. LB

2. CB

3. WR

I agree wholeheartedly with the LB assessment. I think Odell is done here, and I doubt we can count on Pollack. It's almost certain we'll use our 1st round on a LB... and probably a couple day 2 picks as well.

I'll never be surprised to see them take an O-Lineman, even though I agree with your above comments.

I don't see us taking a WR. We'll have Tab Perry coming back, Reggie McNeal and Brazell. We'll probably take a flyer on a guy in the 6th or 7th like usual... but nothing in the first day.

I know what you mean about DT and TE... but if there was every a year to do it, it would be this one. We don't have a 3rd round pick, so it's likely they will want 2 players who will make an impact early. At this point, the best route to go is LB in the 1st and either DT, DE or TE (hopefully DT) in the 2nd.

[schweinhart]

LB does look like it has got to be prioritized Day 1, both from no Odumb and Pollack as well as the RFA status of both Landon and Caleb who have played their well enough to probably draw enough interest from teams to get offer sheets better than the Bengals tenders.

Course the DE case also gets murkier with no just Justin as a UFA but also Jumpy Jr. as a RFA and B-Rob an old-timer going into the last year of his contract next year.

And CB too with James a UFA and probably done in the league regardless, Bauman a UFA and the always injured one Greg Brooks a RFA. The only cushion here is that both Madieu and K2 can play corner -- albeit different types.

No doubt the Bengals target positions in the draft as usual but the priority probably will boil down to BPA at one of those positions rather than just a position....And how much the Bengals value the young players they already have in Landon, Caleb, Jumps and Greg Brooks.

[Stripes]

I still think DE is a good possibility, though not as likely as LB. It'll be a pretty strong DE class on the first day as far as I've seen, much like CB was last season. I expect the BPA on defense, and that should mean DE or LB by default.

[BengalChamps]

ANYTHING Defense!

1. LB

2. Safety

3. DE

4. CB

[Tasher]

ANYTHING Defense!

1. LB

2. Safety

3. DE

4. CB

Yeah, I think that it will be a "best player available" scenario of a DE/LB/DB getting priority over a possible TE/DT.

[TJJackson]

I have to mostly agree with Tasher here....BPA from among DE, OLB, and DB (safety or corner, no matter, bonus points if he can return punts or kicks)

I think they are set at ILB unless this is the year they go to a 3-4, which I am not so sure about.

I personally would not mind them drafting a TE or DT in the first round, albeit the TE has to be outstanding both as a blocker and as a receiver.

I pray that Marvin really and truly does pay attention to character this time around. It''s easy to say that after all these player meltdowns, he's due to pick a winner, but I'd say he's been lucky with Ahmad Brooks so far (knock on wood) and we still have the offseason to get through.

This is the year I pray the WR position gets ignored. Please.

QB should be a concern, but not on day 1, and if they do draft a QB, look for McNeal to raise a stink. Nonetheless, I don't think it's a good idea to try to develop TWO QB's simultaneously. To make matters more interesting, both QBS not named Carson are free agents.

[Kazkal]

Man I thought Oneal was younger,diden't notice he was 30 thought he was 28ish.

[schweinhart]

True dat about Deltha and IIRC he'll have just 2 years left on his contract after this year....Plus he seems to miss games.

If the Bengals go BPA, CB would trump the others from a cost standpoint and depending on early entries in Darrelle Revis and Antoine Cason it probably will. After watching Leon Hall have cushion, tackling and recovery problems vs. Ginn and Robiskie, I have to wonder if he's not going to slide.

I'd put the potential 1st and 2nd round CBs at:

1. Darrelle Revis

2. Antoine Cason

3. Marcus McCauley

4. Leon Hall

5. Daymeion Hughes

6. Fred Bennett

7. John Talley

8. DeAndre Jackson

9. Aaron Ross

10. Josh Wilson

[BengalPappaw]

My vote for first round is

DT -- Quinn Pitcock

or

LB-- Pat Willis (my personal favorite)

or

S -- Laron Landry, or Mike Griffen (my second favorite)

I'd love to have a Pollack-like DE -- but I haven't seen one.

[schweinhart]

I'd love to have a Pollack-like DE -- but I haven't seen one.

I hear you Pap. The closest shades of him out there look like LaMarr Woodley, Dan Bazuin and Anthony Spencer. Woodley probably hasn't convinced any team that he can handle the space needed for a 4-3 SSLB and looks like he's much more comfortable rushing wide standing up than down at the line. Bazuin has got the Pollack motor and short area quickness but sure seems to lack the strength at the point of attack. Spencer has got the strength but the quickness is a ?

Conversely, Pitcock does seem to have some of the attributes of a Pollack for different usage. There's no question he's got excellent short area quickness for a DT but scheme-wise he's probably not going to fit for most 4-3 teams. For the Bengals he would be a decent pass rushing RDT to eventually replace Thornton who's going into his last contract year in 2007 IIRC. Also, if you look at B-Rob, there could be a leaning by the Bengals that Pitcock may be able to transition to LDE on running downs. And with the quicks Pitcock does have, he should get looked at as a DE by 3-4 teams. So the potential versatility is there for Pitcock to crack the 1st round, especially with the fall of Marcus Thomas.

But if the Bengals really want a DT in the 1st round, I say don't screw around. Get as close to a no-brainer run stuffer as possible in Tank Tyler or Red Bryant if he enters.

[BengalPappaw]

But if the Bengals really want a DT in the 1st round, I say don't screw around. Get as close to a no-brainer run stuffer as possible in Tank Tyler or Red Bryant if he enters.

Do you believe that either one is worth a mid-first round pick?

I like both and would LOVE to see us get one -- but, I'm having trouble deciding, if either one is worth the first round pick. They have disappointed me on tape.

That is why I was really leaning toward Pat Willis -- I love how he tackles and his field coverage.

We do need a BIG, pocket pushing DT or a real pass rushing DE -- either (both) would help hide some of our DB and S short falls.

[Kazkal]

Inless their is a game changer I woulden't mind seeing us trade down and then still pick BPA of defense...but thats only if game changer isent on the board =)

[schweinhart]

But if the Bengals really want a DT in the 1st round, I say don't screw around. Get as close to a no-brainer run stuffer as possible in Tank Tyler or Red Bryant if he enters.

Do you believe that either one is worth a mid-first round pick?

I like both and would LOVE to see us get one -- but, I'm having trouble deciding, if either one is worth the first round pick. They have disappointed me on tape.

That is why I was really leaning toward Pat Willis -- I love how he tackles and his field coverage.

We do need a BIG, pocket pushing DT or a real pass rushing DE -- either (both) would help hide some of our DB and S short falls.

Neither Tank or Red would be a mid-first IMO. Tank does seem hot and cold, which may have as much to do with the NC State woes this year as anything else. And Bryant just had ACL surgery so it's probably more likely that he rehabs where he is and tries to get ready to play his senior year.

Willis is a bigtime tackler but I'm not sold that he reacts quick enough in coverages. I didn't get to see the Ole Miss-LSU but if you did Pap maybe you can say what you saw of him there going up against JaMarcus Russell. Willis in stripes makes a lot of sense -- more so than Pitcock to me but I agree that the Bengals need to get D-linemen who can bring more pressure than what they get now. Of course the Bengals tack there has been to rely on Justin Smith, free agency and a couple of Day 2 picks.

Which among other reasons is why another 1st round corner is starting to look like it's more in the cards.

[Kazkal]

If we did grab willis do you think that would = Brooks SLB and if odell somehow returned = wlb?

[BengalPappaw]

. I didn't get to see the Ole Miss-LSU but if you did Pap maybe you can say what you saw of him there going up against JaMarcus Russell.

You missed an exciting game -- Ole Miss was ahead 20-7 with 10 min. to go in the 4th qtr and LSU came back to win. First score on the comeback was with a little less than 9 min. less and the last score came with 14 sec. left.

The first score was Dwayne Bowe, WR, catching a high pass over the middle against Pat Willis on what appeared to be a wheel route. I can't really blame Willis for that one. Bowe is 6'-3" with a 39 inch vertical leap -- and he used all of his capability to get to the pass.

Summary of Pat Willis game -- usual great tackling, one very good blitz up the middle, couple of ineffective rushes off the end. You might be right about his "lack of quickness" on the passes -- but, I'm not convinced (yet) that he can't be good in pass coverage. He seemed to be very close in the pass coverage and was responsible for knocking the ball loose from a receiver about ten yards down the field. Looks fluid, but not comfortable.

But, he really does make TACKLES. Late in the LSU-Miss. game he brought down the freight train called JaMarcus, but not until after JaMarcus had faked out the other LB.

I'd like to see him in stripes, but I'd really like to see a great pass rusher or pocket pusher.

P.S. I still wish the Bengals had picked up Ko Simpson in Round 3 last year instead of Frostee Rucker. Oh well, there's this year to plan for.

[Kazkal]

I don't hate frostee but if we had KO + JJ on our secondary I'd be a very happy bengals fan disapoints me mikey diden't pull the trigger after getting Josephs opinion though I hope mikey atleast talked to him after they used their 3rd and planned on pulling the trigger in the 4th.

[schweinhart]

. I didn't get to see the Ole Miss-LSU but if you did Pap maybe you can say what you saw of him there going up against JaMarcus Russell.

You missed an exciting game -- Ole Miss was ahead 20-7 with 10 min. to go in the 4th qtr and LSU came back to win. First score on the comeback was with a little less than 9 min. less and the last score came with 14 sec. left.

The first score was Dwayne Bowe, WR, catching a high pass over the middle against Pat Willis on what appeared to be a wheel route. I can't really blame Willis for that one. Bowe is 6'-3" with a 39 inch vertical leap -- and he used all of his capability to get to the pass.

Summary of Pat Willis game -- usual great tackling, one very good blitz up the middle, couple of ineffective rushes off the end. You might be right about his "lack of quickness" on the passes -- but, I'm not convinced (yet) that he can't be good in pass coverage. He seemed to be very close in the pass coverage and was responsible for knocking the ball loose from a receiver about ten yards down the field. Looks fluid, but not comfortable.

But, he really does make TACKLES. Late in the LSU-Miss. game he brought down the freight train called JaMarcus, but not until after JaMarcus had faked out the other LB.

Nice take on Willis Pap. No doubt the Bengals could do a lot worse than winding up with him.

Now there's another Mississippi MLB who I've liked what I've seen of this year -- Quinton Culberson #2 of Miss. St. He's got secondary skills and serious speed forward and laterally vs. the run. My only gripe with him is that he gets hung up with blockers too much but when it comes to getting back into coverage, him and Desmond Bishop of Cal are the 2 MLBs I like the most .

Not many folks are going to spy the Egg Bowl this week but it does feature the 2 best pure MLBs in the SEC in Willis and Culberson IMO. And should gets its version of big game hype with players on both sides revved up like it's their own much paler shade of a championship game. And I think Culberson is going to take it personal to prove himself.

CULBERSON CHECKS ON WILLIS

Senior linebacker Quinton Culberson doesn't know Patrick Willis personally. But he knows him professionally, so to speak, as he trails Willis in the Southeastern Conference tackles list.

Willis is first with 124; Culberson is third with 98. Kentucky's Wesley Woodyard is between the pair in second place at 99.

"I sometimes look at (Willis) and see what kind of plays he makes against the other teams," Culberson said. "I try to compare myself to him, what kind of things I do different, what kind of things I do better, what kind of things I'm lacking."

Course the LB wildcard for me in this year's draft remains Earl Everett of Florida. I'm still leaning toward him to be the 1st LB selected but some teams may not like him as a MLB because of his size and may not think he's got all the tools to play weakside. But he brings it all over the field.

[Kazkal]

When I mentioned Earl Everett on nfl draft forums I got flamed because they said he isen't even their best LB on their team that Siler is where its at...But then again siler is a MLB no? and hes also a junior so might not even come out.

[schweinhart]

When I mentioned Earl Everett on nfl draft forums I got flamed because they said he isen't even their best LB on their team that Siler is where its at...But then again siler is a MLB no? and hes also a junior so might not even come out.

Wouldn't be surprised by the torching.....Last time I checked the Bengalszone draft board, out of 8 mocks done in Nov none had Everett going in the 1st and 2 had Siler going at 29 and 31. I also got Siler going in the late 1st round if he comes out.

But there's things Everett can do that Siler can't and the only other LB I've seen who looks like he can physically come close to do what Everett does with his fusion of speed and aggression both vs. run and in coverage is Desmond Bishop.

Florida plays Florida State today but both Siler (MCL strain) and Everett (ankle sprain) may not go. Even if they do a better showcase of their skills if healthy enough would be vs. Arkansas in the SEC championship game and their bowl game, especially that since they should both be as healthy as they can get by then.

Best thing to do is check them out when they play.

[BengalPappaw]

After yesterday's games, I'm hoping the Bengals draft Anthony Spencer, DE, from Purdue. He might just be a third down pass rushing specialist.

I watched Larry Jackson, USC, and Abiamira, Notre Dame -- and was NOT impressed.

I stayed up to watch Hawaii vs Purdue (1st half) and was impressed by Spencer's effectiveness, effort and pressure.

BTW, I also like Paul Soliai,6'4" 320, DT, from Utah. When he decides to apply pressure, he is a real animal. I'd like him in the rotation with Peko and maybe Fanene.

[schweinhart]

After yesterday's games, I'm hoping the Bengals draft Anthony Spencer, DE, from Purdue. He might just be a third down pass rushing specialist.

I watched Larry Jackson, USC, and Abiamira, Notre Dame -- and was NOT impressed.

I stayed up to watch Hawaii vs Purdue (1st half) and was impressed by Spencer's effectiveness, effort and pressure.

BTW, I also like Paul Soliai,6'4" 320, DT, from Utah. When he decides to apply pressure, he is a real animal. I'd like him in the rotation with Peko and maybe Fanene.

I too like Spencer and agree that he could be an effective pass rushing specialist. He's bound to get tweenered between OLB and DE, which could mean he'll still be on the board by the time the Bengals pick in the 4th......Maybe because he is a good player who stays after it all game.

I still like Jackson a lot as a 4-3 DE but he looks heavier and slower to me this year playing USC's 3-4 scheme. Jackson strength is playing wide and while he gets to do that some still, he's mostly relied on to collapse in so the Trojans can bring their barrage of LBs from the edges and middle.

I agree with you about Abiaimira. He's got a quick edge rush and drops back well into deeper coverage on the zone blit but he quits on the rush when he's stood up and lacks the upper body strength to be an effective DE in the NFL. He looks like a 3rd or 4th rounder to me.

Paul Soliai, eh Pap? Sure wouldn't mind seeing a big bodied DT who can push the pocket. One of my favorites is Jason Shirley of Fresno St. who is huge but he's a junior and probably not going to get the kind of evaluation to lure him out. I do like Big Play Curvey from Iowa State. He's squat and can get washed when he loses leverage but if he gets the advantage he's got some burst. Probably a 5th rounder.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

i would love to see spencer in orange and black. he has been fun this year, and i would love to keep cheering for him in the pros