Purify Cut? Is Simpson getting a shot?

[Pidge]

Caldwell moved like s**t off a shiny shovel when catching that game-winning pass from Carson in Balt. He was like a whippet. He obviously has good acceleration. Top end speed, which is difficult to see in just 40 yds, is where he lacks something maybe. No doubt Jackson wins in that category.

Still, like SR says, his routes and what he's been asked to do hasn't afforded him much opportunity to show us his speed in the receiving game. As others point out Bernard's speed, again, I'm not seeing it. Sure they're both quick, quick enough to make a difference, but eh. Few guys have real blistering speed.

[Ickey44]

Caldwell doesn't really look fast because he has a really long stride. It's hard to put that speed to use when he's running ins, outs, and curls. Those should be the types of routes that Coles runs. He's obviously lost a step, but he's still pretty quick and a fairly decent route runner.

[CJBestInAFC]

They make him sound horrible. I just hope this isn't a giant be careful what you wish for situation.

I honestly would rather see Simpson fail, but be given a shot, rather than not be given any playing time. I think they need to evaluate Simpson in a real game rather than go into next season wondering if he can make it in the NFL. I don't want to see him fail. I personally believe he will make an impact when he gets his chance, but his chance needs to be this season. Atleast they will know what they need in FA or in the draft at wr position.

[Ickey44]

They make him sound horrible. I just hope this isn't a giant be careful what you wish for situation.

I honestly would rather see Simpson fail, but be given a shot, rather than not be given any playing time. I think they need to evaluate Simpson in a real game rather than go into next season wondering if he can make it in the NFL. I don't want to see him fail. I personally believe he will make an impact when he gets his chance, but his chance needs to be this season. Atleast they will know what they need in FA or in the draft at wr position.

x2

[TJJackson]

Here's to hoping that Simpson becomes such a NFL star after this game that his fame forces him to check into hotels under bizzare pseudonyms, like Don Nicaraugua.

Nah, that'd never happen

[Kazkal]

From department of things that make me wonder, since Mike B was keen on moving a LB to TE in the pre-season, and given how they drool over Purify's blocking, at 225, can he put on another 10 or 15 pounds and play some TE for this team in the future?

Or Safety since crocker is hurt

You know what stood out to me when looking at that old article was that Andre Caldwell ran a 4.37, where the hell is that speed at now? He's right behind Desean Jackson in speed, you can't tell me they have not had the opportunity to throw a bomb to him this season. I would like for them to throw something up to him this week, San Diego pash rush is not what it used to be so they should get a couple of Opportunities to let that thing go.

I simply never see Caldwell get to go deep it seems like his routes are always short-mid

Well, he's also been returning kicks a good chunk of the year and 4.37 has not exactly popped off the TV at me during those kick returns either...

Never seen him just gun it on a kickoff though which I think might been some worries if he did he could have got injured.

[Pidge]

I know I might be alone here but for some time I've thought Caldwell might end up being the deep threat for this team in the future. However, the coaches see the dude daily and so if we was burning DBs left and right on deep routes they'd surely have run him in some of those plays by now.

Either way, I think that Coles is a one yr and done player. Great attitude and brings a lot of hustle but the yrs have caught up to him. I think they take a WR at some point in the draft or maybe a younger re-do in FA. Hopefully it isn't a big issue as Caldwell improves with another yr of experience and another TC, Slim re-signs to a reasonable contract and maybe even Simpson shows something, anything if given a chance.

[Kazkal]

Andre looked like he had plenty speed college I'd Agree thinking he could be a deep threat,have to go back and watch the games but seriously don't think I've seen Caldwell given chance to go deep once.

[jjakq27]

Well, he's also been returning kicks a good chunk of the year and 4.37 has not exactly popped off the TV at me during those kick returns either...

Gotta wonder if Caldwell's hit the wall a little.

I would have liked to have seen Simpson in the Cleveland or Detroit games instead of this one as his first. But there has been a lot of roster juggling lately so I can only hope that there is some method there. Looking forward to seeing him play. I would love to be pleasantly surprised for once.

[BengalPimp]

There is 40 speed and there is football speed. While Caldwell ain't slow, I have not seen anything approaching that 40 speed when it comes to game action.

Exactly, he might have run that 4.37 40-Time, but that was without pads, and just speed. In the NFL the CB's covering him are also running around that same speed 4.4-ish. 3-hundredths of a second doesn't give you smuch separation....He has to be able to run great routes, and needs to break free with some moves/double-moves. CALDWELL JUST DOESNT HAVE THAT. HERE'S THE PROOF.....his last 2 years in college he averaged 10.1 yards per catch in'06, and 13.6 ypc in '07.....NOT EVIDENCED OF A SPEED WR....If he was that damn fast, he sure as hell would have had a better YPC average at the college level, where most CB's are much much slower. Caldwell is nothing more than a possesion WR, and an average one at that.

[wpeldios]

I know I might be alone here but for some time I've thought Caldwell might end up being the deep threat for this team in the future. However, the coaches see the dude daily and so if we was burning DBs left and right on deep routes they'd surely have run him in some of those plays by now.

Either way, I think that Coles is a one yr and done player. Great attitude and brings a lot of hustle but the yrs have caught up to him. I think they take a WR at some point in the draft or maybe a younger re-do in FA. Hopefully it isn't a big issue as Caldwell improves with another yr of experience and another TC, Slim re-signs to a reasonable contract and maybe even Simpson shows something, anything if given a chance.

I actually love the idea of Dezmon Briscoe if they get a shot at him. Most places seem to have him listed in the 8-12 range of wr which means he should be there in the 2nd round.

[Pidge]

I know I might be alone here but for some time I've thought Caldwell might end up being the deep threat for this team in the future. However, the coaches see the dude daily and so if we was burning DBs left and right on deep routes they'd surely have run him in some of those plays by now.

Either way, I think that Coles is a one yr and done player. Great attitude and brings a lot of hustle but the yrs have caught up to him. I think they take a WR at some point in the draft or maybe a younger re-do in FA. Hopefully it isn't a big issue as Caldwell improves with another yr of experience and another TC, Slim re-signs to a reasonable contract and maybe even Simpson shows something, anything if given a chance.

I actually love the idea of Dezmon Briscoe if they get a shot at him. Most places seem to have him listed in the 8-12 range of wr which means he should be there in the 2nd round.

Is that the dude from SD State? If so, then yeah, I wouldn't mind at all. Saw him once this yr but no idea about his stats etc. He's a jr right? Hopefully not a one yr wonder.

[Pidge]

K, yeah. Don't know who the F I was thinking about just now. The guy from Kansas, sure. Really solid pick in the 2nd.

[HoosierCat]

Just to update, Reedy said today that Mo is back on the PS.

[Ickey44]

Good. If they can develop him into a receiver, he'll be an even greater asset. I really like what he was doing on teams.

[walzav29]

Has Simpson been officially activated?

[derekshank]

Has Simpson been officially activated?

He's on the active roster. Whether he dresses or not... we won't know until Sunday. I'm guessing he won't be active since he doesn't play ST. Chad, Coles, Caldwell, and Quan are my guesses as the only active WRs. But I'd love to see Simpson play someday, just to see what he's got. I doubt @SD is the week it happens though.

[Ickey44]

I think he's active. They kept Henry active and he didn't play teams. I would argue they need to put him out there just as a decoy. Send him deep and make them cover him. Hell, throw one his way and let him jump up and catch it. They need to do something to breath life into this passing game even if it's just giving Simpson a shot.

[HAPPYJAQ]

It's a 3-game audition for Jerome, and it's the Bengals only real option at this point. I know the need is a deep threat, but Jerome Simpson seems more like a young Reggie Wayne than a DeSean Jackson, at this point. He could be explosive in the RAC department with his athleticism, but something about him doesn't scream "50-yard TD bomb", where he's outrunning a defender down the sideline, ala #15 (RIP).

We're probably still around the corner from coming to a conclusion on the prospects of young Jerome, but the next 3 games and 7 months will be the most important of his football career. He has to show something this month prevent making WR the #1 priority in the offseason, which would almost certainly keep him blocked in as the 4th or 5th WR on the roster. If nothing else, he needs to shine on Special Teams.

Call me crazy, but I'd like to see what Quan can do. He looks a lot like Antonio Chatman, minus the injury curse, of course. He's maybe a guy that can turn a few 5-yard receptions into 15 or 20-yard plays, which is nearly as good as having a bonafide deep threat, I remember him making a ton of plays at Texas, and he's pretty reliable and mature for a rookie WR in the NFL. IMO. Other than Chad, we have nobody on the roster that can turn short plays into nice gains, either. For the naysayers, nobody was really complaining when we had TJ while Chris was out, as it was widely assumed that TJ would do just that, which freed up Chad to go deep.

It's interesting that Chad has essentially played TJ's old role in the offense this season, with nobody on the other side to keep defenses honest.

[Pidge]

Quan has the body to play the slot it seems. Didn't see him play in college but what are his strengths - tough physical YAC WR or an outside guy? If his strengths are the tough YAC plays then watch us line him up on the outside on a deep route and put Simpson in at FB or something. Who the f**k is the WR coach again? He might need new glasses.

[HAPPYJAQ]

Quan has the body to play the slot it seems. Didn't see him play in college but what are his strengths - tough physical YAC WR or an outside guy? If his strengths are the tough YAC plays then watch us line him up on the outside on a deep route and put Simpson in at FB or something. Who the f**k is the WR coach again? He might need new glasses.

Great observation, as I'm not overly impressed with the job that Mike Sheppard's job, either. We might as well hire Charles Collins to be the full-time position coach, at least from a developmental standpoint. All that said, Jay Hayes seemed to be a below-average coach, too, but his unit has played pretty well this season.

As far as Quantwan goes, he was a Bobby Engram-type receiver at Texas, who made most of his catches between the numbers. He had 92/1123/10 as a Senior, including 11/171/1 in the Fiesta Bowl. I think people around here forget what type of player he was from scrimmage for one the top college programs in the nation, after playing almost exclusively this year on STs. Here's a clip of the game winner from the Fiesta Bowl last year:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTPNIRuLSss

/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTPNIRuLSss

Edited December 20, 2009 by Bengalszone Billy
Edited for YouTube formatting.

[COB]

/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTPNIRuLSss

Yea, thanks for that. Seems familiar, but where's the soundtrack of me screaming obscenities at the tv for like 45 seconds after that play? Because that's how I remember it.

[Pidge]

Thanks for that clip. Wow, he runs a slant and gets in front of his man. If only we had an O-line that has suddenly become suspect at pass protecting. Unfortunately for Quan we have a great PP line and a multitude of fast guys to line up on the outside.

If we had an iffy O-line and a banged up receiving group a few quick slant passes across the middle would really help Carson out and maybe provide an anaemic passing game a little lifeline.

/screams

[ChadJohnson-85]

Quan is a blocking machine!!!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbSaXAEoYvQ&feature=related

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UDaO6fQyg

This video is kinda blurry. Couldn't find one with better quality. But Cosby took out FIVE GUYS on this kick off return!

[COB]

Thanks for that clip. Wow, he runs a slant and gets in front of his man. If only we had an O-line that has suddenly become suspect at pass protecting. Unfortunately for Quan we have a great PP line and a multitude of fast guys to line up on the outside.

If we had an iffy O-line and a banged up receiving group a few quick slant passes across the middle would really help Carson out and maybe provide an anaemic passing game a little lifeline.

/screams

Good idea, but Brat has a full repertoire of reverses planned for Sunday. Maybe this "slant pass" you speak of can be studied by the OC over the next few weeks and we can try one in the 4th quarter of the Jets game. Until then, watch out NFL defenses, you think that's our receiver going in motion in the backfield? Psyche!! We just went all reverse on your unsuspecting asses, zing!