2006 not the WDE after all

[TJJackson]

With the 2007 draft just around the corner, I have been thinking about the 2006 draft, the one that I and others have repeatedly referred to, mostly just after the draft had completed, as the "worst draft ever", or WDE for short. I no longer feel it was the worst draft ever, and in fact, with the 2006 season done and over with, would now rate the draft a solid B-. Quite a jump for me from "WDE" to B-

(aside: I personally do not consider Ahmad Brooks part of the 2006 draft. I understand not everyone agrees with this, but I want it clear that my evaluation to follow is not impacted by Ahmad Brooks)

....so how did I make such a leap? Well, it wasn't all at once......

1) Jonathan Joseph. I was merely OK with this pick originally, as I felt we had bigger needs at other positions (our two corners had each started a pro bowl in the last two years) and did not feel he would start. I feel you should generally get a quality starter out of a r1 pick. However, he really turned up his game as Tory James started to falter. The turning point for me was the New Orleans game, where he was nothing shy of out-freakin-standing. The cannabis possession charge aside, he should be good with the possibility of greatness. I do not expect more from a 1st round pick. GREAT PICK

2) Andrew Whitworth. Every year, I make a list of 4-5 players per round that i feel that Bengals would do well to pick at their spot. I liked Whitworth a lot when I did my eval, and had him on my list - but in round 4, not round 2. I was therefore a little conflicted on this pick. Mostly, I felt that the draft had to be devoted to defense, and that we shouldn't take any offensive players, with th possible exception of a TE, first dsay. Much like this year. So I wasn't entirely unhappy we took Whitworth, but I didn't feel he'd have a chance to start, and I pretty much count of r2 players also being plugged in early as starters. There was no way this guy would start, not with our quality OTs. Well, then Levi went and got injured. Still, I figured, it'd be the more experienced OLs sliding into this critical spot on the line, probably Steinbach with Kooistra or Andrews taking over for Eric at LG. I was **floored** when they started Whitworth. A rookie protecting their 100 million dollar quarterback? But I watched, stunned, as Whitworth showed me he was more than capable of playing LT. With the sole exception of the Indy game, he was solidly good throughout. This is OUTSTANDING for a rookie. GREAT PICK

3) Frostee Rucker. Sorry. He's still the Slowman. I've already said that this is no longer the WDE, in my opinion, but Frostee could well be the worst 3rd round pick ever. Could have had S Ko Simpson, TE Own Daniels, whatever. AWFUL PICK - still

4) Domata Peko. After a flat-out oustanding preseason, I thought he'd be a star. He wasn't, but he did show a lot of hustle and saw a LOT of playing time in the rotation at DT. I think he could start this year, which is saying a lot considering the Bengals abysmal record of developing their own DTs in the past ten years or more. He's likeable, and I couldn't care less about the public urination charge. Definitely more than I expect from a 4th round pick, so far. I no longer spend any time wondering if we'd have been better off with Barry Cofield, a DT I viewed as a much better prospect at the time, drafted in the very next spot by the Giants. GOOD PICK

5) AJ Nicholson. Sorry again. It's good he doesn't seem to have gotten into any additional trouble since his arrival. It's also good he had a bazillion and a half tackles in college. But he lacks the speed and quickness to succeed in the NFL, imho. Since he's kept his nose clean, I do hope I am wrong, but nothing I have seen indicates otherwise. He might well remain with the team because we are so short of linebackers right now, but in a normal year, he'd be gone. BAD PICK

6) Reggie McNeal. Hmm. I was incensed with this pick (and both of the r7 picks) because thse playes were (in my mind) NFL wide receivers. We didn't (and still don't, imho) need WRs. Even with Kelley Washington gone and Chris Henry out half the season, you still can only keep 5-6 wideouts. You've got Chad, TJ, Tab, Chatman as locks for 4 of those spots, and holding a spot for Henry, that's 5. So it did not make sense to draft wideouts last year. Well, now what I see is the Bengals letting Wright shop himself, seemingly content to let McNeal step in as the 3rd QB. This really could be an outstanding move, particularly if they can get McNeal to also step in as the new FG and XP holder.....all kind of gadget plays could be worked around that. I am a big fan of speed, and McNeal has legit 4.35 burners as well. a 6th round pick should be a project, a raw physical specimen you hope to mold and to contribute on special teams. I think that purpose could well be adequately served, albeit this year rather than last. The character issues worry me greatly - it is a very, very bad idea to decide to party with Odell, for example - but I am cautiously optimistic. OK\FAIR PICK

7a) Ethan Kilmer. I will preface my remarks to say that if I were to buy a Bengals jersey right now, I'd be emblazoned with a number 43. Really. Look just to the left.....yes, I love me some good special teams play. Bonus if the special teamer runs back a touchdown on one of his first actual defensive plays. Here in one player is your replacement for both Kaesviharn **and** Kevin Walter. Just outstanding. He made several all rookie teams as the special teams specialist, but I personally feel he will have a bright future as a safey as well. Did he have as big of an impact as Whitworth or Joseph? Probably not. But he is a 7th round pick - I adjust my expectations accordingly. He is without a doubt my current (as I write this) favorite Bengal. Yes, I shrieked in horror when he was picked. I thought he was a WR, and I was wrong....though I don't count out him receiving a TD pass from Carson at some point. He's just that good. OUT-FREAKIN-STANDING PICK

7b) Bennie Brazell. Great preseason, then a fortuitous injury. Why do I say fortuitous? I think if we hadn't been able to stow him on the practice squad, he'd be gone. We are so deep at WR that we could not have been able to keep him on the active roster, and had he gone to the practice squad, he would have been snatched. Ok, so I like this player. But there is still the too-many-wideouts issue. So in one sense, he's a good pick - a quality player at his position taken late in round 7 is nothing to sneeze at. But I look at it a bit differently - if you don't have a roster spot for that player, and lose him, you've wasted a pick. So I still believe they should have locked up a player that had a chance to make the team - again, preferring a defender or a TE. So it's a good pick or a pick that would have been wasted but for a fortuitous injury, depending on the POV. I will split the difference: OK\FAIR PICK

8) The fact that the Bengals failed again to take a TE lowers the overall grade for this draft in my eyes. The fact that they managed to talk DE/OLB Eric Henderson into signing in the UDCFA signing frenzy (and likely bidding war) following the draft balances this somewhat

All that said, I think this intrspection and change of heart has me thinking I will be less quick to fly off the handle over picks this year and in successive years. I will try to wrap my brain around them and conceive of why the pick was made despite my initial disagreement

[Stripes]

Great post, TJ. I honestly think the 2006 draft looks like it may end up Marvin's best overall (tough call between it and 2003). I won't pass judgement on the Frostee pick until I see him play more.

[BengalPappaw]

Thought provoking post -- thanks

I, too, think the 2006 draft looks better now than it did right after the draft.

I'm hoping that Kilmer comes along fast and can be our backup S -- eventually start. He has excellent hands (played WR at Penn St. and made some excellent catches).

While I'm still waiting for Frostee to show me something, I don't have very high hopes based on what I saw of him in college.

A lot of the later picks are "potential" players and that is "good" because as a fan, I have "hope" that they can come through for us eventually.

[Kazkal]

I'd say 2006 is our best class...2003 had Carson but 2006 I think will get more from more players.

2003

Rd Sel# Player Pos. School

1 1 Carson Palmer QB Southern California

A+++ No brainer pick

2 33 Eric Steinbach G Iowa

Great pick though I still hated seeing him get overpowered...be nice to see what whitworth can do

3 65 Kelley Washington WR Tennessee

Well 3rd year is suppossed to be a breakout year for a WRs but henry came along

4 98 Dennis Weathersby CB Oregon State

-looked to be great project pick but guy coulden't get a break

4 118 Jeremi Johnson FB Western Kentucky

FB the postion of unsong heros..JJ is a stud FB.

5 136 Khalid Abdullah OLB Mars Hill

Injury prone special teamer

6 174 Langston Moore NT South Carolina

-A fan favorite yet he's been cut by 2 crappy defenses.

7 215 Scott Kooistra T North Carolina State

Can't ask much more of a 7th rnder is great depth for the right side of the line.

7 259 Elton Patterson DE Central Florida

Who?

[Stripes]

I'd be inclined to agree, Kaz... 2006 looks like a better draft at a glance. Palmer, Steinbach, Jeremi, and Kooistra were all great picks though, and even Washington was able to stick around for a while.

[chrishcovga]

I too once thought that the 2003 draft was one of the best ever. It just seemed to me that our first 4 picks were falling to us on purpose. I mean Palmer,Steinbach,Washington, and Weathersby all had 1st round grades.

I actually couldn't believe they were grabbing the players, considering our draft history of hunches by Mike Brown.

The 2005 would be the best ever considering the quality of players that we drafted. Pollack had star written all over him. O'Dell was a monster and a future pro bowler. Chris Henry is a stud. If not for injuries, weed and or crack, and Henry just being stupid !!!, we'd have 3 possible pro-bowlers out of this draft. Ghicuciuc was a find, but I'm still not sold on him as our center for the future.

AS for the 2007 draft, considering our sudden lack of depth along with an overall bad defense to boot. This is the best year for Cincy' to have the extra picks that the 2004 draft had. The only problem is, what do you do when a player you need, who just happens to be the best at his position falls to you when you need to trade down to get the extra picks..??

- Well in 2004 we blew it. When we did the Live Online draft thing here , most of you guys ripped me because I ripped the Bengals for passing on Steven Jackson, then drafting Chris Perry. This is one of the most deserving " I told YOu So's " in Bengal History.

- In 2007 will we be going through the same thing..? Will a Leon Hall, or Alan Branch fall to # 18, only to watch us drop a couple of spots to take the same position..?

- For the guys that want Cincy to trade away a bunch of Guys to get extra Picks. Here's the whole enchilada yard sale. Ready

Cincinnati trades Chad Johnson to the Raiders for the 1st overall pick in the draft.

-Cincinnati trades Rudi Johnson to the Packers for their 1st and 3rd rounders.

-Cincinnati trades Justin Smith to the Falcons for both 2nd rounders, or at least #39 and # 75 with a possible pick next year.

Ok So here goes..

#1 overall Cincinnati does the logical thing and drafts Calvin Johnson Wr, Georgia Tech./ C.J. for a C.J.

# 15 Cincinnati selects Marshawn Lynch Rb, California. I like Rudi, but he does miss cutbacks and doesn't brake long runs

# 18 Cincinnati trades down to the Jets, passing on Leon Hall and instead at # 25 draft Aaron Ross CB, Texas

- Cincinnati gets the Jets # 63 pick in the bottom of Round 2 and the Jets 6th rounder.#177

# 39 Cincinnati Selects Michael Griffin SS, Texas - Cincy' can't believe he falls to round 2 and waste no time in getting him.

# 44. Cincinnat selects Charles Johnson De, Georgia. Johnson is a stud, and has a similiar build to Geathers.

# 49 Cincinnati Selects David Harris ILB, Michigan - Most scouts see him strictly as middle linebacker, but he has the athletic skills and instincts to be a natural Weak side beast like Takeo was.

# 63, Bengals select Quinn Pitcock Dt, OHio State - Cincinnati has to get a defensive tackle on day one, and Pitcock is already better than John Thornton.

# 78 from the Packers, Cincinnati Selects, Fred Bennett CB, South Carolina, Bennett and Joseph made a fine tandem at South Carolina, only right that they be reuninted. Plus Gives Cincy Reason to Keep Ratliff, #5 on the depth chart.

# 114 Cincinnati selects Rufus Alexander OLB, Oklahoma - to hell with off the field problems, we need playmakers.

#151 Matt Spaeth Te, Minnesota - without the shoulder injury he would've gone higher, and the blocking skills can be coached up.

# 177 Ryan McBean DT/DE, Oklahoma St. - Size and athleticism make him a good project.

#187 Doug Datish, C/OG, Ohio State. - talented athlete worth developing like Kooistra.Can Play all 3 spots.

# 230 Jeff Rowe Qb, Nevada - unlikely to fall this far, but this entire draft is unlikely

# 253 Jemalle Cornelius Wr, Florida - why not??

- Well thanks for playing along with my madness...

[derekshank]

Of course 2006 wasn't the worst draft ever. That title is reserved for the one coming in 16 days. (Yes... there will be plenty more WDE proclamations soon enough).

[HoosierCat]

- For the guys that want Cincy to trade away a bunch of Guys to get extra Picks. Here's the whole enchilada yard sale. Ready

Cincinnati trades Chad Johnson to the Raiders for the 1st overall pick in the draft.

-Cincinnati trades Rudi Johnson to the Packers for their 1st and 3rd rounders.

-Cincinnati trades Justin Smith to the Falcons for both 2nd rounders, or at least #39 and # 75 with a possible pick next year.

I'd take two seconds for Justin. If the Pack really would give up their 1 and 3 for Rudi, well, so long and thanks for all the yards. Can't quite see the Raiders forking over the No. 1 for Chad, tho. Maybe if CJ beats someone up or gets caught on roids or something...but not now. (Maybe they'd go for Henry instead?)

[derekshank]

- For the guys that want Cincy to trade away a bunch of Guys to get extra Picks. Here's the whole enchilada yard sale. Ready

Cincinnati trades Chad Johnson to the Raiders for the 1st overall pick in the draft.

-Cincinnati trades Rudi Johnson to the Packers for their 1st and 3rd rounders.

-Cincinnati trades Justin Smith to the Falcons for both 2nd rounders, or at least #39 and # 75 with a possible pick next year.

I'd take two seconds for Justin. If the Pack really would give up their 1 and 3 for Rudi, well, so long and thanks for all the yards. Can't quite see the Raiders forking over the No. 1 for Chad, tho. Maybe if CJ beats someone up or gets caught on roids or something...but not now. (Maybe they'd go for Henry instead?)

Lets see if we can trade the entire team and start from scratch this year. We get 50 or so draft picks, and eventually we'd have to all agree that it was the BDE!