1st Round #1: Dre Kirkpatrick

[ArmyBengal]

With their 1st pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select:

DRE KIRKPATRICK, CB, ALABAMA

[BengalszoneBilly]

Welcome Dre!

[membengal]

Cool, I can come to like this. Very physical corner, like that and his size. Hope the lack of INTs in college isn't indicitive of a problem with coverage.

[HoosierCat]

Expected. We will have a heck of a competition at CB this summer.

[redsbengalsbucks]

I like it. The biggest need on the team, with Hall such a ?

[volcom69]

I really dont think we can be mad, this has been the pick for a couple weeks now, and we all knew it was coming. So im hoping for the best with this guy, and he comes from a good program with a good coach, so welcome Dre!

[combatbengal]

Good pick!! The so called experts are already saying he's to slow and to small. I like the pick!!! now we go for an O lineman or a WR!!

[Kazkal]

Good pick!! The so called experts are already saying he's to slow and to small. I like the pick!!! now we go for an O lineman or a WR!!

Erm He's the Biggest of the Three Corners taken and ya they did mention his combine speed of 4.5 hopefully he plays faster to keep up with elite...Hopefully Hall is healthy cause if he is we great group of corners.

PS,We have 6 1st round CB's on our team

Hall,Allen,Clements,Pacman,Newman and now Kirkpatrick

[ArmyBengal]

I will root for him and put my faith in Zimmer.

Would have preferred they went in about 3-4 different ways, but it is what it is.

Welcome to Cincinnati Kirkpatrick !!!

[skyline]

Solid. If Hall gets healthy, then one of our biggest weaknesses has quickly become a strength.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Solid. If Hall gets healthy, then one of our biggest weaknesses has quickly become a strength.

It helps that he has competition and can fit-in somewhere, versus just being expected to be the next shut-down corner. You wonder if he'll go to S right away too.

No-brainer pick, but man picking a 1st round CB every other year is getting old, it's the price of letting JJ go when you could've kept him.

[Kazkal]

Agreed shula we got worse for letting joseph go but what is done is done so im glad have dre...

[ArmyBengal]

We always thought one of either JJoe or Hall was going to go.

What was surprising was the thought JJoe was going to stay, per Zimmer, and then he was gone.

They could have used the tag on Hall later if need be.

Hindsight is 20/20 with the injury huh ??

Many including myself would have been thrilled with Kirkpatrick a month or so ago and my liking didn't wane until reecently.

I'm sure I will get over it as it's a great need filled with a big CB.

[Kazkal]

Do have say expofacto would have prefered jjoe over hall nothing do with injury but now that we have Dre seems closer to Hall style corner ...where imo jjoe was better cover corner then hall..with that being said we are armed to teeth in physical corners (hall,clements,newmankirk) which is good for our very physical division

[derekshank]

DRE KIRKPATRICK - CB - ALABAMA (No. 52 Overall)

STRENGTHS: Good size for a corner at 6’1’’, 186 pounds and he uses his size to be a physical hitter and play a factor in the backfield against the run. Read the play very well in the backfield and has the athleticism and agility to make a play on the ball while it is in the air. Very aggressive attacking the line of scrimmage and is a good tackler.

WEAKNESSES: Has a slight tendency to be a bit too aggressive, which leads me to believe that he will bite on fakes executed by experienced NFL quarterbacks. His aggressiveness may make him a target in the NFL. Will often times go for the big hit with his shoulders instead of wrapping up, which won’t work against bigger and stronger offensive players. Doesn’t have the best hip flexibility to turn and run with speedy NFL receivers.

OVERALL: He’s going to be a solid addition to a defense, but I don’t see him being a star in the NFL. He’ll play a factor at the line of scrimmage, but really needs to work on the fundamentals of his game.

[Kazkal]

To bad koyle is gone he was a great DB coach

[wpeldios]

I think this was the pick that had to be made. I agree I dont think Kirkpatrick will be a star in the nfl, but I do think he will be a good nfl corner. And if Hall comes back healthy will give us a great 1-2. Honestly to me, he will be a Carlos Rogers type, and I wanted the Bengals to go hard after Rogers last season.

[BengalPimp]

Personally, If they had to pick a CB, I LOVE this pick.....I have seen this kid play a lot, and have always been impressed. Whether he stays at CB or shifts to S is for Zimmer to decide, but either way, we're getting one hell of a DB and someone who brings attitude in the Defensive backfield. I KNOW Zimmer is happy, and will find many ways to use this.kid, including CB blitzes.......GREAT PICK!!!!!

Repeat: GREAT PICK!!!!!

[membengal]

Like I said above, he's awfully damn physical. I love that. Will be great supporting in run defense. And at that size and speed, I hope the lack of INTs in college is simply happenstance.

[Stripes]

I've never thought INTs say much about a CB's skillset anyways. I think it was a good pick and am excited to see Kirkpatrick whenever he shows up. If Leon gets PUP'd, it'll be a huge relief to have Dre available.

[BengalPimp]

Like I said above, he's awfully damn physical. I love that. Will be great supporting in run defense. And at that size and speed, I hope the lack of INTs in college is simply happenstance.

I agree completely, and I think the INT's will come...

[Kazkal]

Look at how long took jjoe to get a int but he was still damn good in coverage.

[Kazkal]

Anyone have the qb rating when thrown against him

[BengalPimp]

Look at how long took jjoe to get a int but he was still damn good in coverage.

Yeah, JJoe had some really bad hands the first couple of years...he dropped a ton of INT's but had a ton of passes defensed.

Mark Barron's INT's also dropped to 2 last year. I think that might have more to do with the opponents respect for that half of the 'Bama Secondary...

[Bengals30]

Our hand was kind of forced here guys....I think they wanted DeCastro here but realize the need was CB and Kirkpatrick was the only one left on the Bigboard. So they get they're CB and then @ 21, New England offers us a 3rd to move up 6 spots (still ahead of Baltimore mind you) who the Bengals KNEW wanted Zietler. Marvin and the boys decided the Zietler and a 3rd was better than DeCastro alone and I can live with that.

What hurts is Pitt. got DeCastro, but what feels good is we kinda stuck it to Balt. Either way i think we came out OK in the 1st round.

GRADE: SOLID B