Profootballweekly blurb on Bengals corners

[BlainThePain]

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+W...m?mode=afcnorth

Joseph on mend, Hall on the rise for Bengals

The Bengals have heavily invested in the CB position in recent years, selecting Johnathan Joseph in the first round of the ’06 draft and Leon Hall in the first round in ’07. The Bengals are hoping the big payoff comes in 2009.

Injuries have bothered the 5-11, 193-pound Joseph in each of the last two seasons. He suffered a broken left foot before the ’07 season but recovered in time to play 15 games, starting 14. In 2008, ankle and foot injuries limited him to only eight games. “Really, since his rookie season, he’s not been 100 percent healthy,” Bengals DB coach Kevin Coyle told PFW at the Under Armour Senior Bowl, noting that Joseph is rehabilitating his foot injury and that it should not affect his readiness for the ’09 campaign.

Joseph has flashed considerable talent in his three NFL seasons, especially as a rookie in ’06, when he defended 20 passes.

“He realizes it’s time for him to make that move that he has to make,” Coyle said. “We have a lot of faith and a lot of confidence in him. Now it’s time for him to deliver, and I think he’ll come through big-time.”

The 5-11, 199-pound Hall has steadily improved throughout his first two NFL seasons. Hall tied with three other players for the NFL lead in passes defensed this season with 24. All three of Hall’s interceptions in ’08 came in Cincinnati’s Week 16 game at Cleveland.

Coyle told PFW that Hall was one of the Bengals’ most consistent defensive players last season and noted that he, like other young corners, is starting to get better and better at reading opponents’ tendencies, especially those of divisional foes.

“The thing about Leon is he’ll seldom make the same mistake twice,” Coyle said. “He’s a very conscientious, very coachable guy who takes a lot of pride in what he does. If you beat him on something, he’ll go back and digest what happened, and very seldom will it happen again. This year, he started out like he finished last year and was just consistently solid in every phase — solid in coverage, a very good run supporter, a knowledgeable guy (who) understood what we were trying to do and what our opponents were trying to do.”

[ArmyBengal]

I really like the tandem we have in Hall and JJoe. Hopefully we see a full season out of JJoe and not see another game out of Hall like we did against Baltimore. Such is life though, those games are going to happen...

[GregCook]

I really like the tandem we have in Hall and JJoe. Hopefully we see a full season out of JJoe and not see another game out of Hall like we did against Baltimore. Such is life though, those games are going to happen...

Finally a JJ story and why he hasn't played well in his pro career. I'll add my 2 cents.

JJ has had foot problems since college which shows that drafting damaged goods isn't too smart. Obviously the Bengals thought those college problems were minor. Obviously they were wrong. I don't buy their argument that injuries are the reason for his poor play. Contrast his play to Hall's. Hall plays hard, makes tackles. JJ looks bad in comparison. Plus I wonder if JJ has truly put that ganja stuff behind him especially after that game with the Texans when he showed no effort on Kevin Walther's touchdown. That play just can't be explained if you assume JJ plays hard and makes tackles.

[agreen_112]

Hall and Joseph would be MONEY if we had a PLAYMAKER safety... Hall is especially wonderful, he will continue to get better and better. I can see him having a pro bowl season next year with a solid safety. Hopefully something opens in free agency or one of our younger safeties also has a breakout year.