6th Round: Dezmon Briscoe

[derekshank]

I saw this article today. What I found interesting was the following quote:

“He really has a nice skill set,” Bengals receivers coach Mike Sheppard told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He has excellent hands and is in and out of cuts real well. We were amazed that he was sitting there (in the sixth round). We had him higher. We weren’t necessarily in the market to get a receiver at that point but it was a case where we branched a little bit from our need and went out and got him.”

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense. You should be trying to fill out your roster at a position of need, not add competetion at a position that you've addressed with two FAs and a 3rd round pick.

That said, I think this means he probably makes the team. He said they had him graded higher than that... and I assume that means they had him graded highly enough that the value of the pick overcame the fact that they weren't addressing a need. And it doesn't make much sense to do that if you aren't pretty sure that player can contribute somehow, even if it's just on STs.

So I'm guessing they had him rated as a 5th, maybe a 4th if they were willing to ignore team needs in order grab him. I have trouble believing a guy you have rated as a 4th or 5th rounder... and a player you adjusted your draft strategy for, gets cut or sent to the PS. Because at that point, the coaching staff would admit that they didn't have him rated properly, and made a mistake by not addressing a need.

In my opinion, Briscoe will have to really suck to not make the team.

[HoosierCat]

You defend and support continuing the above strategy precisely because it hasn't produced a thing.

Yup, me & Bill B. That you're clueless doesn't bother me much.

[Kazkal]

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense. You should be trying to fill out your roster at a position of need, not add competetion at a position that you've addressed with two FAs and a 3rd round pick.

Ya but they probably asked Zimmer is there any Safety you wanted because he stated at end of the draft he didn't feel that he would be upgrading the position if they went with a safety...the only other thing I could picture was a Running Back but I remember on another thread you didn't think we'd keep 4 on the roster.

[derekshank]

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense. You should be trying to fill out your roster at a position of need, not add competetion at a position that you've addressed with two FAs and a 3rd round pick.

Ya but they probably asked Zimmer is there any Safety you wanted because he stated at end of the draft he didn't feel that he would be upgrading the position if they went with a safety...the only other thing I could picture was a Running Back but I remember on another thread you didn't think we'd keep 4 on the roster.

I don't really remember saying that. Perhaps I did, but I'm not sure why I would. The Bengals carried 4 last year when they brought in LJ.

[Kazkal]

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense. You should be trying to fill out your roster at a position of need, not add competetion at a position that you've addressed with two FAs and a 3rd round pick.

Ya but they probably asked Zimmer is there any Safety you wanted because he stated at end of the draft he didn't feel that he would be upgrading the position if they went with a safety...the only other thing I could picture was a Running Back but I remember on another thread you didn't think we'd keep 4 on the roster.

I don't really remember saying that. Perhaps I did, but I'm not sure why I would. The Bengals carried 4 last year when they brought in LJ.

I think it was in regards to blount,May have been someone else.

[derekshank]

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense. You should be trying to fill out your roster at a position of need, not add competetion at a position that you've addressed with two FAs and a 3rd round pick.

Ya but they probably asked Zimmer is there any Safety you wanted because he stated at end of the draft he didn't feel that he would be upgrading the position if they went with a safety...the only other thing I could picture was a Running Back but I remember on another thread you didn't think we'd keep 4 on the roster.

I don't really remember saying that. Perhaps I did, but I'm not sure why I would. The Bengals carried 4 last year when they brought in LJ.

I think it was in regards to blount,May have been someone else.

Hmm... Not sure. I fell on both sides of the Blount argument on the same day.

I argued against Blount in the 5th, because I didn't hate Otis as much as others did. I argued for Blount in the 6th, because he at least represented a need as opposed to Briscoe.

[HairOnFire]

That you're clueless doesn't bother me much.

I'm not suprised. People who are intellectually lazy, like yourself, rarely show anger.

[HairOnFire]

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense.

Yeah, it was a luxury pick.

So who, besides Hoosier, wasn't smart enough to figure that out without official confirmation?

[HoosierCat]

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense.

Yeah, it was a luxury pick.

And if it had been a DB instead, what then?

Oh yeah: "crumbs," right?

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[HairOnFire]

I hate the pick, because even the coaching staff admits that there was no need for a WR in the 6th... and by the time you get that late in the draft, the whole BPA strategy doesn't make a ton of sense.

Yeah, it was a luxury pick.

And if it had been a DB instead, what then?

What would have happened if the Bengals hadn't made yet another luxury pick, as they admit freely by admitting how they..."branched out a little bit from our need and went out and got him?"

Well the obvious answer to "what then" is no Dez Briscoe, just as there would be no Freddie Brown, and no Mario Urrutia, or Reggie McNeil. But since none of those guys have ever done anything the question of "what then" becomes a bit of a cruel joke, doesn't it?

Oh yeah: "crumbs," right?

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

And that just about sums up everything you've ever said on this issue.

[Ickey44]

Didn't I repeatedly say I would have been fine with the selection of Dez Bryant in the 1st round? And wasn't that because his selection would not only have been better value than Gresham, but would have added a WR why might actually develope into a true #1?

Actually, I only remember you pining for Taylor Mays with the first pick. But, I don't read every post here, either.

Instead, they added a 1st round TE when cheaper options were plentiful, and then added two more wideouts targeted for part-time roles.

What I think the idea is, is that they've noticed that Pittsburgh (Heath Miller) and Baltimore (Todd Heap) have consistently won with productive TE's that can block. Marvin is trying to copy that formula of strong defense and strong running game. I good TE fits into that plan perfectly. It gives you more options to pass from run formations. The more I think about the Gresham pick, the more I like it. Though before the draft, I was in agreement with you in that I wanted Mays to be the pick.

And there's the rub because none of the moves made fill the needs you mention, and guys like Hoosier are still going to plead for next years 1st round pick to be burned on a replacement for Chad....who he'll still want to keep.

Well, unfortunately for Hoosier, I doubt the Bengals draft board was crafted with what he deems are the teams needs in mind.

[HairOnFire]

Actually, I only remember you pining for Taylor Mays with the first pick. But, I don't read every post here, either.

I didn't write much about Dez Bryant because until late it seemed so unlikely he would be available at #21. That said, amongst the things I did write about him was how he was the only offensive prospect I was willing to trade up for, how he was the only WR available who could replace Chad relatively soon, and that should Bryant fall to the Bengals he SHOULD be the pick over Gresham, Mays, etc....simply because Dez Bryant represented Top 5 talent.

What I think the idea is, is that they've noticed that Pittsburgh (Heath Miller) and Baltimore (Todd Heap) have consistently won with productive TE's that can block.

I think Miller and Heap are actually better used as examples of why you shouldn't use 1st round picks on TE's, as both have been good, but not great, and both players are frequently injured. And I remind you that prior to Miller being selected Pittsburgh was consistently winning with inexpensive blocking TE's who averaged 30 catches a season or less.

Well, unfortunately for Hoosier, I doubt the Bengals draft board was crafted with what he deems are the teams needs in mind.

No? Didn't he say he wanted three pass catchers added in this draft and wouldn't mind a bit if each addition burned an early pick? Frankly, if Hoosier is upset by anything that happened in the last draft it's probably related to the lataest luxury pick wasted on a WR only cost a 6th rounder instead of a 2nd.

The more I think about the Gresham pick, the more I like it.

As others have said, at some point you have to drop your criticism and fall in love with your teams draft picks, and I'm trying really hard to do that. And to that end it's never been very difficult for me to warm to the idea of Gresham in stripes. But I'm having a much harder time with the Shipley selection, and the addition of Briscoe looks like just another example of something I've routinely accused the Bengals of doing. That being, selecting a WR late in the draft simply because they either don't know what else to do....or can't think of a reason why they shouldn't.