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

[kurgan74]

I would love to see Pittcock in stripes, but it has been a while since the Bengals took a Buckeye in the draft. Prescott Burgess could move into the late first round and in the DT Alan Branch from Michigan decides to declare for the draft, he would be a nice pick for the Bengals.

[Kazkal]

Branch would be sweet but probbley woulden't make it to us sense he'd be 1st DT off the board.

[agreen_112]

Seriously, whydon't the Bengals draft any Bucks? LB is the obvious position that we will pick with our 1st pick. Then probably a good skill guy like a CB or S. With us not having a 3rd pick I would say we would definitely take the two that would give the most impact. It wouldn't surprise me if we drafted two d lineman right off the rip. This could happen because I'm sure we'll be looking at another Free Agent pick up for the defense this offseason.

[derekshank]

Seriously, whydon't the Bengals draft any Bucks?

It's not an intentional effort. They just aren't going to go out of their way to draft an OSU player simply because they are an Ohio based NFL team. There will inevitably come a time when the best available player in an area of need in our draft position will be a Buckeye... but when there are 116 teams to choose from, the odds are always against it.

[schweinhart]

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.

Here you go Pap, the big boy from Utah is starting to churn up some good ink:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/foot...ders/index.html

[Kazkal]

What round do think soliai will be able to be snagged at?

Same with red byrant think hes worth 1st? or 2nd or ?

[schweinhart]

Well there's going to be a shortage of Goliath sized DTs if none of the juniors in Branch, Bryant and Okam enter. So that bodes well for Soliai and Kareem Brown for Day 1 shots. I doubt Bryant does enter due to his ACL surgery couple weeks ago and also Okam who probably gets only the 3rd most snaps of Texas DTs.

[BengalPappaw]

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.

Here you go Pap, the big boy from Utah is starting to churn up some good ink:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/foot...ders/index.html

Thanks for the note!

I really like what I saw of Soliai in the few games I have of him. Sometimes I see him hold up his rush as if he has outside responsibility on his rush and is being asked to "contain" the QB. But, when he is turned loose he looks very strong and quick.

I don't think he is a 1st rounder -- unless he turns in some special numbers at the combine.

BUT, I'd take him with our late 2nd round pick -- of course, I would have taken Ko Simpson in the third round. So what do I know.

[schweinhart]

Last chance to eyeball Soliai in real game action is Dec. 23 at 8 in Utah vs. Tulsa Armed Forces Bowl. Hopefully, Soliai will have to face off several times with a fairly decent LG in Jon Hameister-Ries #67.

And speaking of would-be 2nd round safeties I'll be eyeballing Utah's Eric Weddle close in that one. I noticed BYU TE Jonny Harline gave Weddle some problems in coverage but I liked what I saw of how quick he can react. He's physical too...maybe not as smashmouth as bigger SS types like Joe Sturdivant of SMU or Sabby Piscitelli of Oregon State or Tulsa's own Kedrick Alexander but he's definitely got some decent cover skills...maybe not quite as good as Kevin Payne of Louisiana-Monroe or Florida's junior Reggie Nelson but he's a solid player with some secondary versatility.

How 'bout the Bowl season.

[BengalPappaw]

Last chance to eyeball Soliai in real game action is Dec. 23 at 8 in Utah vs. Tulsa Armed Forces Bowl. Hopefully, Soliai will have to face off several times with a fairly decent LG in Jon Hameister-Ries #67.

And speaking of would-be 2nd round safeties I'll be eyeballing Utah's Eric Weddle close in that one. I noticed BYU TE Jonny Harline gave Weddle some problems in coverage but I liked what I saw of how quick he can react. He's physical too...maybe not as smashmouth as bigger SS types like Joe Sturdivant of SMU or Sabby Piscitelli of Oregon State or Tulsa's own Kedrick Alexander but he's definitely got some decent cover skills...maybe not quite as good as Kevin Payne of Louisiana-Monroe or Florida's junior Reggie Nelson but he's a solid player with some secondary versatility.

How 'bout the Bowl season.

I like Weddle. Eric Weddle does offer a lot of flexibility -- he has played CB, S, QB, punt returner, kick coverer and punter. IMO Weddle is an experienced version of Ethan Kilmer. I believe Kilmer could learn to be a very effective S sometime in the future. Weddle could come in and help sooner.

I,too, am looking forward to the bowl season. Soliai (and others) could show, if he is a worthy pick.

[schweinhart]

I hear you Pap. Bowl season is good.

But those taped games will come in handy too, especially for players that aren't bowl bound and are declaring early, like Patrick Willis' teammate Rory Johnson (the #48 alongside Willis) who plays like an attack dog with great burst on run blitz and tremendous lateral speed.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll...030103/61205018

I actually don't like him as much as a weakside backer as a middle or SSLB but his velocity and power should put him in the mix for consideration starting Day 2 at all 4-3 LB spots, kind of like Quinton Culberson. If you rerun some of those Ole Miss tapes, eyeball #48 a little too and see if you don't like what you see.

[BengalPappaw]

I hear you Pap. Bowl season is good.

But those taped games will come in handy too, especially for players that aren't bowl bound and are declaring early, like Patrick Willis' teammate Rory Johnson (the #48 alongside Willis) who plays like an attack dog with great burst on run blitz and tremendous lateral speed.

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll...030103/61205018

I actually don't like him as much as a weakside backer as a middle or SSLB but his velocity and power should put him in the mix for consideration starting Day 2 at all 4-3 LB spots, kind of like Quinton Culberson. If you rerun some of those Ole Miss tapes, eyeball #48 a little too and see if you don't like what you see.

Schwein,

GOOD CALL on Rory Johnson -- he looked very good. I watched the Auburn/Ole Miss game again. Rory looked to be a good tackler, very active, fast, with an attitude (he jumped into the face of Kenny Irons). My only concern is his lack of size at 215 lb (Ole Miss roster weight).

The bowl season WILL be interesting.

[schweinhart]

Rory looked to be a good tackler, very active, fast, with an attitude (he jumped into the face of Kenny Irons). My only concern is his lack of size at 215 lb (Ole Miss roster weight).

Yeah, he shows up listed between 215 and 235 but I suspect he's more like in between. He's also listed as 6-1 or 6-2 but it looks to me like he may hit 6 flat with a couple thick heel callouses I do think he's thick enough though and makes up for the overall lack of weight and probably the frame to add much more with the way he goes about playing. He's got speed -- and could top out the LB group this year 40 wise -- but I'd rather see a weakside backer with some arms and some hops if the Bengals look to the draft for one. But if Rory here is still there in the 4th when the Bengals pick, I'm wondering if it will at all look to them like he's got some Odell to him in how he hits and pursues.

[Kazkal]

Looks more and more like LB=/

[derekshank]

Looks more and more like LB=/

Yep. No Pollack, likely no Odell... We're going to need at least 1. I am now hoping they use some money to get a decent FA LB. Otherwise, we'll probably need to use both of our 1st day picks on LB's... and I'm not in favor of relying on 2 rookie LB's (3 if you consider Brooks a rookie next year). Getting a FA LB would do a lot for our LB situation

Miller and Landon have both shown their quality... but are not long term starting options. Simmons is old... we need some fresh LB's on this team. Brooks will be good, we need a first day LB in the draft, and I've been turned on to the Adalius Thomas idea as our future SSLB (probably a pipe dream though).

[Kazkal]

Even with Odell it's very likely......I would love to bring in briggs being in his 5th year so still really young...Brooks or Odell in middle then brooks or jeanty at strong.

[schweinhart]

Bengals shouldn't have a hard time at strongside -- even a rookie free agent like Jeanty is serviceable there. But the best fit there to replace Pollack is a SSLB who can also line up down at LDE on passing downs and rush as good as Pollack did. Brooks did it before in college and probably can do it again especially with some more mass but he seems to prefer the middle so we'll see.

How high will they want to go though to pick another college DE that they want to tranisition to space? LaMarr Woodley seems best suited with other Day 1 possibilities in Dan Bazuin and Anthony Spencer. Then there's the LBs who offer pass rush if not as a down DE like Ameer Ismail and Stewart Bradley among some others.

Again, though, they look more and more positioned to go BPA at a number of positions and see who falls to them.

[princeton]

I think that the Bengals would love to duplicate their '06 draft. If there's a JJoseph available at 1 and a Peko at 4, then they'll play it again Sam. And once again at 2, they'll take the best available out of a number of positions, including S, RB, DE, LB, TE, WR.

[TJJackson]

BPA defender other than a ILB

[schweinhart]

WR in the 2nd is a possibility but between Chatman and Tab Perry most likely healthy next year and Henry hopefully not suspended for more than half the year, I'd guess they'd wait until Day 2. There should be some interesting WRs available then like Mike Walker of Central Florida, Najeh Pruden of Kent State, David Ball of New Hampshire and a couple Reggie McNeal types in Syvelle Newton of South Carolina and Omarr Connor of Miss. State. Newton is a trip.

[TJJackson]

We have plenty of wideouts returning from injury....no need to draft any, although as we all know Marvin has to draft 2 or three a year just because that's what he does.

[princeton]

WR in the 2nd is a possibility but between Chatman and Tab Perry most likely healthy next year and Henry hopefully not suspended for more than half the year, I'd guess they'd wait until Day 2.

I think that's probably true, but if some WR looks head-and-shoulders above their other options, then they'll pounce-- particularly if the guy can return punts and do other ST work.

it's only safe to say that they won't draft a second round QB.

[Kazkal]

WR day 2 that can return punts would be nice....inless mybe brazzell can do it.

[Kazkal]

Colts game over.............lets talk draft

[schweinhart]

Well O'Neal had his share of problems vs. Colts even though he was damn close and tight on all of the throws Marvin beat him on (absolutely perfect throws by Manning too). But James is done as in roasted and toasted done. I'd like to say CB in the 1st but it's shaking down like the best man corners -- Revis, Cason, Hall and McCauley should be gone by the time the Bengals pick. Chris Houston filed for early entry evaluation and if he gets at least a 2nd round rating, he'll go and I believe the Bengals should burn their 1st on him as a slot CB w/ O'Neal and Josepsh split on the wides.

If not him, then Josh Wilson in the 2nd. Another short dude but quicker than the eye and should manage the slot well plus return kickoffs like a whirling dervish.