The Obligatory Grade the Draft Thread

[HoosierCat]

Joe Goodberry gives the Bengals an A.

http://www.cincyjung...lass-cincinnati

Have we found any media-types that haven't given us an A yet?

It's started to give me a bad feeling about things...

Walter only give the Bengals a B and hates our first round, if that helps.

/>http://www.walterfootball.com/offseason2012cin.php

[skyline]

Joe Goodberry gives the Bengals an A.

http://www.cincyjung...lass-cincinnati

Have we found any media-types that haven't given us an A yet?

It's started to give me a bad feeling about things...

Walter only give the Bengals a B and hates our first round, if that helps.

http://www.walterfoo...ason2012cin.php

Yeah, he hates the Zeitler pick, but then gives us an A for the 3rd rounder we got for making that decision in the first place.

Ah well. It makes me feel a LITTLE better. Someone needs to give us an F, though. Other than TJ, that is.

[TJJackson]

Ah well. It makes me feel a LITTLE better. Someone needs to give us an F, though. Other than TJ, that is.

hehe

You guys really need to read what I wrote about the picks through round 4. I only started hating in round 5, and I will say, I starting to like the Marvin Jones pick a lot better after doing some more research

[Sea Ray]

I don't know if Mike Brown was a ghost writer for the magazine or not, but I have Lindy's Sports Pro Football Draft guide in front of me and out of its top 100 players the Bengals got 8 of them. 8 out of 100. I bet that's unheard of. The top 100 list came from NFLDRAFTSCOUT.com

In their Mock Draft of rounds 1 and 2 the Bengals nabbed 6 of them! They considered Devon Still the #7 overall player in the draft and Dre Kirkpatrick #10. They had George Iloka #67 and Burfict #87.

They did an interview with Zeitler before the draft asking him who was his toughest opponent on the line and the first name he mentioned was Devon Still

Time will tell how this draft turns out but I doubt we'll ever see a Bengal draft that picks 8 out of any book's top 100. This is historic

[BengalszoneBilly]

I don't know if Mike Brown was a ghost writer for the magazine or not, but I have Lindy's Sports Pro Football Draft guide in front of me and out of its top 100 players the Bengals got 8 of them. 8 out of 100. I bet that's unheard of. The top 100 list came from NFLDRAFTSCOUT.com

In their Mock Draft of rounds 1 and 2 the Bengals nabbed 6 of them! They considered Devon Still the #7 overall player in the draft and Dre Kirkpatrick #10. They had George Iloka #67 and Burfict #87.

They did an interview with Zeitler before the draft asking him who was his toughest opponent on the line and the first name he mentioned was Devon Still

Time will tell how this draft turns out but I doubt we'll ever see a Bengal draft that picks 8 out of any book's top 100. This is historic

Interesting post there Sea Ray. Sobering thoughts to say the least.

[ArmyBengal]

That is a really interesting post. Granted, it's just another persons opinion, but one I wouldn't say is that far off.

This young team is really coming along nicely and we still get an additional second rounder from Oakland next year.

Gotta love it !!!

[derekshank]

I have Lindy's Sports Pro Football Draft guide in front of me and out of its top 100 players the Bengals got 8 of them. 8 out of 100. I bet that's unheard of.

I bought a draft scouting guide before the draft that ranked the top 300 players and gave scouting reports for each of them. And yes, the Bengals got 8 of their top 100.

Devon Still ranked 41st (selected him 53rd overall)

Kevin Zeitler ranked 43rd (selected 27th overall)

Mohamed Sanu ranked 48th (selected 83rd overall)

Dre Kirkpatrick ranked 52nd (selected 17th overall)

Orson Charles ranked 58th (selected 116th overall)

Marvin Jones ranked 66th (selected 166th overall)

George Iloka ranked 67th (selected 167th overall)

Brandon Thompson ranked 80th (selected 93rd overall)

Shaun Prater ranked 126th (selected 156th overall)

Dan Herron ranked 177th (selected 191st overall)

[HoosierCat]

Ah well. It makes me feel a LITTLE better. Someone needs to give us an F, though. Other than TJ, that is.

Well, as being Debbie Downer appears to be my role lately, let me offer this: since 2000, every 4th draft has been a disaster.

In 2000, the team took Peter Warrick, Mark Roman, Ron Dugans, Curtis Keaton, Robert Bean, Neil Rackers and Brad St. Louis. When your best pick is a bloody long snapper, that's a bad draft.

in 2004, the wretchedness was epic. With 11 total picks, including 5 in the first three rounds, they took Chris Perry, Keiwan Ratliff, Madieu Williams, Caleb Miller, Landon Johnson, Matthais "Taser" Askew, Geathers, the Dancing Bear, Maurice Mann, Greg "injury report" Brooks and the Wyoming Wonder, Casey Bramlet. A few managed to hang around a play some but the closest thing to a hit was Geathers.

Fast forward to 2008 and who did they take? Keith Rivers, just shipped off to New York, Smokey Simpson, Pat Sims, Bubba Caldwell, Jason Shirley, Corey Lynch, Matt Sherry, Angelo Craig and Mario Urrutia. Not much to write home about there.

So here we are 4 years later. Either this draft breaks the pattern, or we're all going to be looking back in 3-4 years wondering how the whole football world could have been so wrong.

[derekshank]

Well, as being Debbie Downer appears to be my role lately, let me offer this: since 2000, every 4th draft has been a disaster.

I think you're being a bit kind to say that the disasters have only come every 4 years. You mentioned 2004 and 2008... but there are more train wrecks than that on Marvin's watch.

2005's first 4 picks were Pollack, Thurman, Henry, and Ghiaciuc (I just threw up in my mouth). Then in 2007, the Bengals managed Leon Hall... but after that, Kenny Irons, (Ahman Brooks with compensatory), and Marvin White.

Most of Marvin's early success was primarily with players selected by a previous regime. Marvin's draft success in his first 6 years was average at best. But I don't think that's unusual. There is a steep learning curve in the NFL. Most coaches don't find success on their first try. Belichick was terrible in Cleveland, and now he's a genius. What changed? He learned from his failures.

There are very few teams that have enough patience with a coach to let him take his obligatory lumps while learning how to find success. Marvin stayed, even when many of us were calling for his head. But the consistently good teams don't have a lot of upheaval. When was the last time that the Steelers fired a head coach? Andy Reid has been in Philly since '99.

This type of longevity results in the front office and the coaching staff being on the same page. They're heading in the same direction. There's a plan, and they stick to it.

It takes time to develop. That's one thing fans hate to hear... but after a lot of patience, I really believe the Bengals are there now. I think they've figured it out. And the media and experts can't deny it anymore.

After the first couple of drafts, they could use the "blind squirrel" line. But this is now 4 solid drafts in a row. But they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'

You can't say this is by accident. The times are changing.

[HoosierCat]

2005's first 4 picks were Pollack, Thurman, Henry, and Ghiaciuc (I just threw up in my mouth). Then in 2007, the Bengals managed Leon Hall... but after that, Kenny Irons, (Ahman Brooks with compensatory), and Marvin White.

Oh, no doubt those were two more bad years. But at least they got one impact guy in Hall in '07, and I give them a bit of a pass for Pollack and Irons. Career-ending injuries aren't something that can be predicted. And while Odell and Henry only really gave us one good year, that's more than we got out of the likes of Ratliff or Miller.

It takes time to develop. That's one thing fans hate to hear... but after a lot of patience, I really believe the Bengals are there now. I think they've figured it out. And the media and experts can't deny it anymore.

After the first couple of drafts, they could use the "blind squirrel" line. But this is now 4 solid drafts in a row. But they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'

Yep, things do seem to be improving, though I'm not sure I would call the 2009 draft solid. That will really hinge on what happens with Smith and Maualuga this year.

[derekshank]

I'm not sure I would call the 2009 draft solid. That will really hinge on what happens with Smith and Maualuga this year.

It's true that the 1st two picks have resulted in decidedly mixed results. But Andre Smith is finally giving us reason to hope... and at the time, everyone loved the Maualuga pick (we'll see if he can take the next step).

But those weren't the only 2 picks in the draft. Look at some of the other players the Bengals grabbed in '09.

Michael Johnson (3rd round) has been an effective DE.

Kevin Huber (5th round) is the starting punter.

Morgan Trent (6th round) was functional CB depth for 2 years.

Bernard Scott (6th round) has been the #2 RB for 3 years now.

Clinton McDonald (7th round) was able to stick around and eventually traded to gain some decent CB depth.

That's pretty damn solid.

[jjakq27]

First off I heard this tonight on the radio. Dave Lapham said the Bengals were going to take Isaiah Pead but the Rams took him a few picks before us. They were trying to trade up but couldn't. Its probably why we didn't address RB til late. They didn't reach which was good.

Second of all to Derek's point, DL mentioned that part of their recent success draft wise has been the relatively good health of those guys. They have selected good players and have had few major injuries.

Then he named a few top picks that couldnt stay on or get on the field Here's what I came up. As Derek said, Pollack, Odell, Henry also Irons, Dennis Weathersby, Chris Perry, Keift, Tab Perry, Frostee Rivers, Muck and Moch. And losing JJoe to FA, Simpsons slow development Big Dre's weight issues and Halls recent injury hurts too. So let's pray we stay healthy and these new guys can step in an contribute this year.

Lastly DL said Marvin's daughter goes to ASU and Marvin scheduled a visit around their Pro Day and spent time with Burfict. He also said VB kept texting ML in the later rounds asking us to draft him. Obviously they made a good connection. Hope it lasts.

[Sea Ray]

They have selected good players and have had few major injuries.

Then he named a few top picks that couldnt stay on or get on the field Here's what I came up. As Derek said, Pollack Odell Henry also Irons Dennis Weathersby Chris Perry Keift Tab Perry Frostee Rivers Muck and Moch. And losing JJoe to FA, Simpsons slow development Big Dre's weight issues and Halls recent injury hurts too. So let's pray we stay healthy and these new guys can step in an contribute this year.

Injuries are the major factor here without a doubt. More often than not, it's injuries that cause a player to "bust" and most of the examples you gave above support that

[jjakq27]

http://www.700wlw.com/player/?station=WLW-AM&program_name=podcast&program_id=LanceMcAlister.xml&mid=22045684

Podcast of Lance's draft discussions with Dave Lapham from last night.

[membengal]

Jjak...thanks! Listening now.

[jjakq27]

Jjak...thanks! Listening now.

You're welcome. Some good stuff on there. I wonder who the three players were that Lap mentioned that were still on the board?...DeCastro, Zeitler and Upshaw?

I'd love to sit in on a Bengals draft sometime. I'm sure it's not as easy as we all thing to grab a specific player when we want him.

[HoosierCat]

Look like the preliminary verdict is in: Bengals ticket sales on stubhub up 103 percent since the draft.