Final 2007 BengalsZone Big Board

[HoosierCat]

Since November of last year, the 'Zone has been tracking an ever-increasing number of mock drafts around the 'net on our Mock Draft Database page. If you're looking for a way to waste time at work this afternoon, there are more than 130 mocks to click your way through, so have at it!

I've been regularly updating the leader board down in the draft forum, but since we're headed into the High Holy Days of St. Mel (patron saint of draftniks and hair pieces), I figured I would post the final Big Board standings here in the main forum.

In the first round, the leaders are:

CB Darrelle Revis 32 (-1)

DT Alan Branch 24 (+6)

CB Leon Hall 15 (+2)

Others with at least 5 votes:

CB Aaron Ross 8 (no change)

LB Paul Posluszny 8 (-1)

TE Greg Olsen 8 (-1)

S Reggie Nelson 7 (+2)

LB Lawrence Timmons 6 (+2)

DT Amobi Okoye 5 (-1)

CB Chris Houston 5 (-2)

Fewer mocks go deeper, but in the second round, the top two candidates are:

DT Tank Tyler 8

CB Marcus McCauley 7

Among the logical combinations of the leaders, I'll go with Branch/McCauley, but any of the three work for me.

Edited April 27, 2007 by HoosierCat

[membengal]

Despite my work on that other thread, my preference is that either Hall or Revis somehow be on the board at 18. Presuming it is more likely to be Revis, I went with him and Tyler.

If both are gone? See my WR arguments elsewhere...

[HairOnFire]

Does this mean the old Big Board thread is no longer available on the draft forum? Because that's probably a good thing.

Revis has been my choice all along but with each passing day that looks like wishful thinking. Both Branch and Hall would be acceptable, but neither makes me weepy in the pants. So put me down for option #4, Aaron Ross.

As for the limited choices in the 2nd round, no thank you.

[hrod382]

No chance we take Tank Tyler.

He's Shaun Smith's work ethic with character problems... So I went Branch/McCauley which would be AMAZING.

[derekshank]

No chance we take Tank Tyler.

He's Shaun Smith's work ethic with character problems... So I went Branch/McCauley which would be AMAZING.

I'm not a fan of taking Branch. I'd rather trade the pick... but I wouldn't blow a gasket. I'm just concerned about the idea of using a 1st round pick on a guy that doesn't meet an immediate need. He's a run stuffer, but the problem with this D-Line is pass-rushing. Something Branch has none of. I admit that it is fun to think about the future potential of Branch and Peko on the line for years to come, but I just don't see him having the impact as a 1st rounder that other (hopefully) available players would.

McCauley would be a decent deal in the 2nd round... but he scares me. He admitted that he lost passion for football because Fresno State wasn't very good. Frankly, we already have a guy with top-notch physical potential who has trouble keeping his focus (Deltha). I don't know if I want both of them hanging out together in the same locker-room. Not saying I'd be against the pick... it's just a risk. And since I already view Branch as a risk, I'd be more than a little concerned. Daymeion Hughes, although less of a physical specimen would be a safer 2nd round CB.

[HoosierCat]

I'm not a fan of taking Branch. I'd rather trade the pick... but I wouldn't blow a gasket. I'm just concerned about the idea of using a 1st round pick on a guy that doesn't meet an immediate need. He's a run stuffer, but the problem with this D-Line is pass-rushing. Something Branch has none of. I admit that it is fun to think about the future potential of Branch and Peko on the line for years to come, but I just don't see him having the impact as a 1st rounder that other (hopefully) available players would.

I dunno. You put Ample Alan next to Fat Sam and you're talking about nearly 700 lbs. of big ugly staring down the QB. Pull the protection inside and Justin and Jumpy will play kill-the-quarterback off the edges; stop the DEs and Brooks brings heat up the middle, charging in between the "Twin Peaks."

The biggest knock on Branch (aside from the two busted legs thing) is the issue of wearing down/intensity through the game. But in a rotation system like the Bengals' that shouldn't be an issue. I think Branch would give the Bengals a lot more impact than you'd expect. That said, I also don't really expect him to be there.

[hrod382]

No chance we take Tank Tyler.

He's Shaun Smith's work ethic with character problems... So I went Branch/McCauley which would be AMAZING.

I'm not a fan of taking Branch. I'd rather trade the pick... but I wouldn't blow a gasket. I'm just concerned about the idea of using a 1st round pick on a guy that doesn't meet an immediate need. He's a run stuffer, but the problem with this D-Line is pass-rushing. Something Branch has none of. I admit that it is fun to think about the future potential of Branch and Peko on the line for years to come, but I just don't see him having the impact as a 1st rounder that other (hopefully) available players would.

McCauley would be a decent deal in the 2nd round... but he scares me. He admitted that he lost passion for football because Fresno State wasn't very good. Frankly, we already have a guy with top-notch physical potential who has trouble keeping his focus (Deltha). I don't know if I want both of them hanging out together in the same locker-room. Not saying I'd be against the pick... it's just a risk. And since I already view Branch as a risk, I'd be more than a little concerned. Daymeion Hughes, although less of a physical specimen would be a safer 2nd round CB.

I agree about DT not being an immediate concern but nearly all of the top DT's in the league are top 20 picks and Branch is that sort of guy which results in his John Henderson comparisons. Kevin Williams, Casey Hampton, Henderson, Marcus Stroud and Tommie Harris are all top 20 picks.

I can understand where you're coming from with McCauley, I'm afraid of him for the same reasons but his upside is too much to ignore in the 2nd round IMO. I wouldn't be angry by any means if he was passed over for say Fred Bennett or Usama Young. With that said Daymeion Hughes would get destroyed in our defense for the same reasons Keiwan will never be a starter.

[derekshank]

I dunno. You put Ample Alan next to Fat Sam and you're talking about nearly 700 lbs. of big ugly staring down the QB. Pull the protection inside and Justin and Jumpy will play kill-the-quarterback off the edges; stop the DEs and Brooks brings heat up the middle, charging in between the "Twin Peaks."

The biggest knock on Branch (aside from the two busted legs thing) is the issue of wearing down/intensity through the game. But in a rotation system like the Bengals' that shouldn't be an issue. I think Branch would give the Bengals a lot more impact than you'd expect. That said, I also don't really expect him to be there.

Certainly fair points... combined with the idea of having 2 DT's on the roster that don't require walkers (and the likelihood of Thornton being released freeing up more cap space), and it is exactly why I wouldn't be angry if the Bengals selected him. But my opinion being what it is... he's nowhere near my first choice. I'd rather trade the pick if at all possible.

I can understand where you're coming from with McCauley, I'm afraid of him for the same reasons but his upside is too much to ignore in the 2nd round IMO. I wouldn't be angry by any means if he was passed over for say Fred Bennett or Usama Young. With that said Daymeion Hughes would get destroyed in our defense for the same reasons Keiwan will never be a starter.

Not sure we agree there... but that's okay. I really like Hughes for his zone coverage ability - as he's one of the best in this draft at that particular skill.

[hrod382]

I was referencing this:

He admitted that he lost passion for football because Fresno State wasn't very good. Frankly, we already have a guy with top-notch physical potential who has trouble keeping his focus (Deltha).

To be honest that's my only concern about McCauley (though it's a big one).

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I'm not a fan of taking Branch. I'd rather trade the pick... but I wouldn't blow a gasket. I'm just concerned about the idea of using a 1st round pick on a guy that doesn't meet an immediate need. He's a run stuffer, but the problem with this D-Line is pass-rushing. Something Branch has none of. I admit that it is fun to think about the future potential of Branch and Peko on the line for years to come, but I just don't see him having the impact as a 1st rounder that other (hopefully) available players would.

I dunno. You put Ample Alan next to Fat Sam and you're talking about nearly 700 lbs. of big ugly staring down the QB. Pull the protection inside and Justin and Jumpy will play kill-the-quarterback off the edges; stop the DEs and Brooks brings heat up the middle, charging in between the "Twin Peaks."

The biggest knock on Branch (aside from the two busted legs thing) is the issue of wearing down/intensity through the game. But in a rotation system like the Bengals' that shouldn't be an issue. I think Branch would give the Bengals a lot more impact than you'd expect. That said, I also don't really expect him to be there.

Totally agree, DT is definitely an area of need for this team. You have Fat Sam who might keel over if he plays more than 15 snaps a game, Thornton and Robinson the kings of mediocrity (at best), and Peko who does look promising (but we need 2 DTs). If I thought we could get the guy who would anchor the D-line for the next 10 years, I'd do it. I don't know that it's Branch, but we haven't had that kind of a player in a long time.

I remember when Marvin said 2 years ago that the problem was the LBs, that the DTs are fine. I've always disagreed - while our LB play has varied in quality at times, the reason why we can't stop the run is because opposing RBs are hitting the hole at full speed. That's the DTs' fault.

That's why I've been saying we can afford to take D at basically any position. We need at least one good DT, one good corner, one good S. While we have 2 good DEs, we don't have Justin signed long term.

I do worry about his shin splints. I have problems with the same thing and it's the sort of injury that doesn't get better without a couple of months of rest. Even then it requires changing how you run biomechanically to make sure they don't recur. And as he's finding out, they can lead to full-bone fractures if you're not careful.

[HoosierCat]

I do worry about his shin splints. I have problems with the same thing and it's the sort of injury that doesn't get better without a couple of months of rest. Even then it requires changing how you run biomechanically to make sure they don't recur. And as he's finding out, they can lead to full-bone fractures if you're not careful.

I hear ya. If anything scares them off of Branch I'm sure it's that. Still, if Branch's shin splints are really that bad, then I would expect him to fall a lot further than 18...

[Kazkal]

Branch and McCauley...

Mybe if it was Revis,Durant and solia would win out.

Id also love to get Branch & bennett.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I do worry about his shin splints. I have problems with the same thing and it's the sort of injury that doesn't get better without a couple of months of rest. Even then it requires changing how you run biomechanically to make sure they don't recur. And as he's finding out, they can lead to full-bone fractures if you're not careful.

I hear ya. If anything scares them off of Branch I'm sure it's that. Still, if Branch's shin splints are really that bad, then I would expect him to fall a lot further than 18...

There's also the rumor that Krumrie beat the everloving s**t out of him. I really wish he were coaching for us; he was one mean SOB.

[Tasher]

Revis or Hall / Griffin or Ross

OR we trade down.

I am not sure the Revis or Hall will get out of the top 10-15.

I am on the fence this year. I am not sure what the H we should do. I know last year we pretty much were absolutely this or that in this round or that...

then we BLASTED the draft for nine or ten months (wait, we have called a hiatus on that, haven't we? )

so I think I will just sit back and enjoy watching Marvin and Co go to work and trust that he knows what he is doing. Especially since I sure don't (know what Marvin is doing, much less myself)! (Wait, did I get that backwards? )

This year I think is strange because we have so many players coming back from injury that we do not have any clue how good they might be.

[Stripes]

I voted Branch/McCauley, but I don't expect any of the five players listed to end up in stripes. Revis looks like the most probable among them.

[HoosierCat]

Mockers who got it right (their 2nd round chiice, if made, in parens)

Sports Outlaw

Pro Football Critics

Go Titans

Sporting News (S Aaron Rouse)

Yahoo Sports (DT Tank Tyler)

Dukes & Davis @ NFL.com

East Coast Sports

Football's Future (DT Tank Tyler)

Draft Connection (DT Tank Tyler)

MT

Draft Class

NFL Draft Countdown (DT Turk McBride)

NFL Draft Forecast V (DT Tank Tyler)

Saturdays2Sundays (DT Quinn Pitcock)

[BengalszoneBilly]

Mockers who got it right (their 2nd round chiice, if made, in parens)

Sports Outlaw

Pro Football Critics

Go Titans

Sporting News (S Aaron Rouse)

Yahoo Sports (DT Tank Tyler)

Dukes & Davis @ NFL.com

East Coast Sports

Football's Future (DT Tank Tyler)

Draft Connection (DT Tank Tyler)

MT

Draft Class

NFL Draft Countdown (DT Turk McBride)

NFL Draft Forecast V (DT Tank Tyler)

Saturdays2Sundays (DT Quinn Pitcock)

I think the Bengals 1st round pick was easier than most. Let's see how they do in the 2nd!

[HoosierCat]

I think the Bengals 1st round pick was easier than most. Let's see how they do in the 2nd!

Maybe...but out of something like 130 mocks 15 get it right...that's barely 10%. So I gotta give 'em props.

And virtually all of them had Hall gone by 18...which is another indication of just how luck the Bengals got.