who would you have taken?

[princeton]

I like to follow the draft and make my own selections before the Bengals pick, then follow theirs versus mine in 2-3 years. This weekend I had these:

1. Justin Smiley, OG

2. Devery Henderson, WR. Not a need, but too tempting to pass by

2. Antwan Odom, DE

3. Matt Ware, FS

3. Demorrio Williams, OLB

4. Matt Askew, DT

4. Greg Brooks, CB

4. Stacey Andrews, OT

5. Nick Leckey, C

6. Josh Harris, QB

7. any punter

Too many young OL, eh? Still, there seemed to be good value there.

Bengals did a lot better than I would have at the bottom of the draft. I would have drafted Brooks too high, and I was happy to see Mann available at no. 5.

I passed on all RBs, as most seemed just too slow for the NFL. Next year, maybe.

first post. Take care.

[skyline]

antwan odom is the one miss im sad about. otherwise, im pretty happy.

i like your picks other than the henderson/smiley thing.

[Bobcat Bengal]

I like to follow the draft and make my own selections before the Bengals pick, then follow theirs versus mine in 2-3 years. This weekend I had these:

1. Justin Smiley, OG

2. Devery Henderson, WR. Not a need, but too tempting to pass by

2. Antwan Odom, DE

3. Matt Ware, FS

3. Demorrio Williams, OLB

4. Matt Askew, DT

4. Greg Brooks, CB

4. Stacey Andrews, OT

5. Nick Leckey, C

6. Josh Harris, QB

7. any punter

Too many young OL, eh? Still, there seemed to be good value there.

Bengals did a lot better than I would have at the bottom of the draft. I would have drafted Brooks too high, and I was happy to see Mann available at no. 5.

I passed on all RBs, as most seemed just too slow for the NFL. Next year, maybe.

first post. Take care.

Hell you got three out of the seven....we cant be that far off now huh?

[chrishcovga]

Going by how it fell ...?

# 1. (24) - traded it to Detroit for # 36, and # 37, in round 2. or at least a 2nd this year , and a 4th next year. .So going by the assumption that I can only get 1 pick for him this year... # 36.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# 36. Jake Grove C, Virginia Tech.

# 49. Antwan Odom De, Alabama

# 56. Sean Jones SS, Georgia

# 80. Matt Ware CB/S, U.C.L.A.

# 96. Chad Lavalais DT, L.S.U.

#114.- Mewelde Moore RB, Tulane

#117.- Richard Seiglar LB, Oregon St.

#149.- P.K. Sam Wr, Florida St.

#183.- Greg Brooks CB, Mississippi

#218.- Carlos Joseph T/G, Miami (fla.)

Even if I had to stay at 24... I'd take Steven Jackson over an additional 4th.

[princeton]

I don't know about a second round center, but I do agree that another trade-down into the second round would have been a canny play for the Bengals if available and if they weren't set on getting a RB. And as it worked out, they could have traded down several picks and still gotten Smiley, a guy that looks like a potential Steinbach.

but if I overlook the first round of the draft-- and maybe that'll work out, who am I-- then I'm pretty happy with the offseason. They got out from under Dillon's threats with legitimate, immediate competition for Herring and Beckett, which was important. There's a couple of new DT's, one of whom recently played great for ML. There's a former Pro Bowl CB plus two interesting draft picks there. Hardy moves outside and even draws competition if he plays there like he played the middle. Now I read there's a punter candidate. Other than Weathersby's latest tragedy, the news is mostly solid.

this weekend's draft wasn't much like the one in '03, and we're really banking on the idea that it was a deep draft. Maybe it wasn't. But at least the Bengals seem intent on creating a competitive atmosphere at all positions other than QB. In the past, we just handed jobs out to suspects, then were flabbergasted that they didn't perform and that we had no other options.

[JPW]

There is No point in this.

But just for the Fun of it.

HINDSIGHT :

#26 Chris Gamble CB

The Bengals would have taken him if they didn't have the need for a RB.

In fact they tried to trade up to get him after they took Perry.

But couldn't make a deal.

#49 Randy Starks DT

Defensive lineman are maybe the biggest risk in a pick.

But I still think this guy will be a Good one.

#56 Marquise Hill DE

Boom or Bust.

This guy could be a GREAT DE.

#80 Madieu Williams S

I like this guy but I think we could have gotten him in the 3rd Round.

#96 Alex Stepanovic C

Would have been a good fit with the Bengals.

#114 Landon Johnson OLB

Another guy I like, but thought we could have gotten with a lower pick.

#117 Matthias Askew DT

I love Depth on the Line, especially on the DL.

This guy was a GREAT Pick for the Bengals.

May have been a top 15 Pick if he had waited another year.

#123 Stacy Andrews OT

Another GREAT Pick by the Bengals.

Could end up being better than his brother in the long run.

#149 Rod Davis ILB

Seems like a ML type of LB to me.

I Really liked this guy for the low Pick he was going for.

#183 Greg Brooks CB

Another Good Pick by the Bengals.

Great speed, can cover deep.

#218 Tony Page OT

Once again Depth on the Line.

Has played both Tackle positions, but his trap blocking skills could see him shift to guard at the pro level.

Since I am already Way Out there in "What If Land" anyway :

FA Jared Lorenzen QB

We see if the Hefty-Lefty can keep his weight down and if he can play in the NFL.

FA Arnold Parker S

Has a lot of potential, would love to see the Bengals sign him for real.

And to complete my TRIP to LaLa Land :

Supplementtal Draft Pick Maurice Clarett RB

Sensational RB !

And Of Course his character problems ect. would just disappear as soon as he is a Bengal.

Ya know what ?

The reality is the Bengals did OK in this Draft and have done a Fine job in the off-season as a whole.

Can you say Play Offs in 04 !

[Tiger Stripes]

Can you say Play Offs in 04 !

I can... "Play Offs in 04" :player:

[jjakq27]

http://bengals.enquirer.com/2004/04/27/ben1nte.html

Lewis putting together team with division foes in mind

Bengals notebook

By Mark Curnutte

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Marvin Lewis knows he has to beat AFC North division rivals to be successful.

In fact, Lewis is building his team to counter some of the strengths that Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh have.

Lewis recently said the Bengals need solid safeties who could cover Ravens tight end Todd Heap.

On Saturday, with their first overall pick, the Browns drafted tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. of Miami (Fla.)

"We already have to put our defense together to cover a guy (Heap) who can race down the field in the division, so we're already affected in that way," Lewis said.

Lewis said he talked to Browns coach Butch Davis on the phone over the weekend and congratulated him on picking Winslow.

Lewis' Bengals were 3-3 against division rivals in 2003 after Dick LeBeau's final team was 0-6 in the first year of realignment.

I think this article might give us an idea of why they picked some of the guys that they did.