Camp Battles:

[ArmyBengal]

So now the draft is over, I began thinking about where these guys are going to fit and how it will work out.

With that thought in mind, what positions are you looking forward to seeing camp battles in ??

I think the secondary, WR corps, and d-line battles are going to be great.

The o-line seems pretty set, but seeing how the FA's and Zeitler impact things should be fun to watch.

I don't think the LB's will be that crazy, but I want to see if Moch and Muckelroy can get healthy.

[redsbengalsbucks]

After checking out the vids of Burfict and Julain Miller the two undrafted LB's, I think the battle for backup LB will be intense. Miller is changing positions but he has some pass rush skills.

[skyline]

WR will be the most interesting to me. TE as well.

Bengals.com actually did a nice write-up on the roster battles wth a breakdown at each position:

http://www.bengals.c...ea-98c64e963a6c

[ArmyBengal]

I didn't see that write up over there and forgot about the TE spot.

Charles should certainly come in and push both Lee and Cochart.

[derekshank]

There should a ton of interesting camp battles. I'll go in reverse order, starting with the positions that aren't very interesting and working my way up to the more interesting battles.

QB - Dalton's job. Gradkowski is the backup.

O-Line - You can pretty much write it in ink. Whitworth, Wharton, Cook, Zeitler, and Smith are the starters.

RB - It'll be by committee. BGE is the primary... but can Herron supplant Scott as the change of pace back?

DE - The Bengals want MJ to take fewer snaps so he can be a more effective edge rusher. Jamaal Anderson, Robert Geathers, and Derrick Harvey are going to have to step up. Which one, if any, will do it? The Bengals didn't address DE in the draft, so they should probably take another look at Matt Roth. That would really increase the interest level.

LB - Howard, Maualuga, and Lawson are the starters, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on the Burfict situation. I also want to see the progress of Muck and Moch.

Safety - Reggie Nelson, and... we're dying to find out who. Mays, Sands, Iloka? I'm anxious to see all this "potential" finally get some playing time.

TE - Orson Charles has a ton of talent... but is he ready? Can he be the #2 TE immediately, or will they need to ease him in as he learns under the solid, but less talented Lee.

DT - Atkins, Peko, Sims, Still and Thompson - Good God that's a lot of quality depth! Will they keep all 5? What will the depth chart look like? What will the rotation be?

WR - Green is rock solid... but what does the depth chart look like after him? Who will earn the #2 spot? Sanu, Jones, or Binns? Someone else? Who will start the season in the slot? Is Shipley ready? Can Baby Hawk continue to impress? Is that were Sanu fits best? Can Whalen earn more playing time? There are more questions than answers - and it will be very interesting to watch it play out.

CB - Will Leon Hall be ready? If so, who will be the #2? Can Kirkpatrick beat out Clements, Jones, and Allen? If Hall starts on PUP, who are the starters? Who will be the nickle? Seeing how Hall, Kirkpatrick, Clements, Allen, Jones, Prater, and Newman all work out is easily the most important question on this team... and therefore the most interesting battle to keep an eye on.

[BengalszoneBilly]

There should a ton of interesting camp battles. I'll go in reverse order, starting with the positions that aren't very interesting and working my way up to the more interesting battles.

QB - Dalton's job. Gradkowski is the backup.

O-Line - You can pretty much write it in ink. Whitworth, Wharton, Cook, Zeitler, and Smith are the starters.

RB - It'll be by committee. BGE is the primary... but can Herron supplant Scott as the change of pace back?

DE - The Bengals want MJ to take fewer snaps so he can be a more effective edge rusher. Jamaal Anderson, Robert Geathers, and Derrick Harvey are going to have to step up. Which one, if any, will do it? The Bengals didn't address DE in the draft, so they should probably take another look at Matt Roth. That would really increase the interest level.

LB - Howard, Maualuga, and Lawson are the starters, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on the Burfict situation. I also want to see the progress of Muck and Moch.

Safety - Reggie Nelson, and... we're dying to find out who. Mays, Sands, Iloka? I'm anxious to see all this "potential" finally get some playing time.

TE - Orson Charles has a ton of talent... but is he ready? Can he be the #2 TE immediately, or will they need to ease him in as he learns under the solid, but less talented Lee.

DT - Atkins, Peko, Sims, Still and Thompson - Good God that's a lot of quality depth! Will they keep all 5? What will the depth chart look like? What will the rotation be?

WR - Green is rock solid... but what does the depth chart look like after him? Who will earn the #2 spot? Sanu, Jones, or Binns? Someone else? Who will start the season in the slot? Is Shipley ready? Can Baby Hawk continue to impress? Is that were Sanu fits best? Can Whalen earn more playing time? There are more questions than answers - and it will be very interesting to watch it play out.

CB - Will Leon Hall be ready? If so, who will be the #2? Can Kirkpatrick beat out Clements, Jones, and Allen? If Hall starts on PUP, who are the starters? Who will be the nickle? Seeing how Hall, Kirkpatrick, Clements, Allen, Jones, Prater, and Newman all work out is easily the most important question on this team... and therefore the most interesting battle to keep an eye on.

Good rundown Derek. I'm pretty comfortable everywhere but at the RB position, but maybe with the upgrades on the OL, I'm worrying about nuthin'.

[rwalling]

I'm not so focused on the individual battles as the group match ups:

1) OL vs. DL - Flat out wars. These groups both have a chance to be elite this year. Working against one another in camp will hone them.

2) WR/TE vs. DBs - We are going to find out really fast who's legitimate and who isn't. Battles for WR 2 and 3 will be great!

3) Dalton vs. DBs - This will be a terrific way to continue Dalton's development. If he can work effectively against this group, he'll be just fine.

[ArmyBengal]

Much like the seasons Chad was here and not a complete f*ckhead, the secondary always said how helpful it was to go up against one of the best day in and day out. I think AJ Green will provide that for this group and especially Kirkpatrick. That will be a fun one to watch going forward in practice. Georgia and Alabama players going up against each other !!!

Agree, nice breakdown Derek.

[jjakq27]

I'll be interested in seeing which veterans stick. Specifically, guys like Geathers, Lee and Bobbie Williams (provided they resign him). This was already one of the youngest teams around. If two guys are even, do you keep the vet for his experience and leadership? And if not, who are the younger guys besides Whit and Peko that can keep order in the locker room?

[redsbengalsbucks]

I'll be interested in seeing which veterans stick. Specifically, guys like Geathers, Lee and Bobbie Williams (provided they resign him). This was already one of the youngest teams around. If two guys are even, do you keep the vet for his experience and leadership? And if not, who are the younger guys besides Whit and Peko that can keep order in the locker room?

Whit and Peko arent all that young anymore, Clements, Lawfirm and Leonard come to mind. Along with Zimmer, I think that should be enough.

[jjakq27]

I'll be interested in seeing which veterans stick. Specifically, guys like Geathers, Lee and Bobbie Williams (provided they resign him). This was already one of the youngest teams around. If two guys are even, do you keep the vet for his experience and leadership? And if not, who are the younger guys besides Whit and Peko that can keep order in the locker room?

Whit and Peko arent all that young anymore, Clements, Lawfirm and Leonard come to mind. Along with Zimmer, I think that should be enough.

Yeah there are a bunch of guys with 5-7 years experience now and under age 30.

Over the last couple of seasons they've lost some of the older guys like Crocker, RKelly, Dhani and B. Williams that were the leaders of their position groups and of the team. I hope the core group of the younger guys, can provide adequate leadership to the new guys, since many of them have two playoff appearances and should know how to get it done.

[HoosierCat]

WR - Green is rock solid... but what does the depth chart look like after him? Who will earn the #2 spot? Sanu, Jones, or Binns? Someone else? Who will start the season in the slot? Is Shipley ready? Can Baby Hawk continue to impress? Is that were Sanu fits best? Can Whalen earn more playing time? There are more questions than answers - and it will be very interesting to watch it play out.

CB - Will Leon Hall be ready? If so, who will be the #2? Can Kirkpatrick beat out Clements, Jones, and Allen? If Hall starts on PUP, who are the starters? Who will be the nickle? Seeing how Hall, Kirkpatrick, Clements, Allen, Jones, Prater, and Newman all work out is easily the most important question on this team... and therefore the most interesting battle to keep an eye on.

Yep, these two are going to be the big battlegrounds, though I would flip them in terms of which will be the biggest battle. When you game out CB I think it's going to be either Hall+Clements as starters, or Clements+Kirkpatrick if Hall's out. In the former scenario Dre likely works his way into the starting picture in place of Clements by the end of the year.

But wide receiver is as wide open as it's been since the pre-Chad & TJ days. Green is the only lock. The other 4-5 spots are open to whoever can claim them, and Shipley's injury only deepens the murk. This one is going to be fun to watch.

[TJJackson]

My primary interest is seeing how Zeitler and Boling do. I am just as interested in Boling as I am in Zeitler. I particularly want to see them both get snaps as a C, since we don't really have a well defined 2nd and 3rd option at C

Secondary interest is seeing how the two FA DEs and the two drafted DTs do, and whether Sims is up to the newfound competition for his spot.

Third is Marvin Jones and Sanu. Although I think both make the team, one will (I believe) be the WR2. Which one will it be? Rooting for Sanu here.

Even above these three, though - will Hall be back and (if so) will he be as good as he was?

[Scottishbengal]

I'm looking forward to the Safety battle ......Reggie is a god-given but Taylor Mays and Robert Sands now have to step up to prove they are worth the roster spot. Iloka will push them. I can see Ghee being let go but not sure about Myles and how he'd fit into the pecking order or push the other candidates.

[Wraith]

The Safety issue is the most interesting to me because the development of our young Safeties will be the difference between this defense being a good squad or a great one IMHO.

If Taylor Mays can put it together and play to his ability, if we get growth with Sands and/or Iloka we are set. Nelson, Mays, Sands, Iloka is a pretty darned amazing group of Safeties on paper but that is all it is right now.

[walzav29]

I'm looking forward to #2 WR and Safety. Everyone says that Shipley is the slot guy, but maybe he wants to be the #2. Safety is going to be great. Alot of fun this preseason.

[derekshank]

It has been reported that the Bengals have interest in Braylon Edwards.

I'm not totally in favor of it, but I'm not opposed to it either. He would be a decent one-year stop-gap to give Sanu and Jones a year to learn. That way the Bengals aren't forced to hope one of the rookies produce more than their draft status.

We got spoiled with AJ Green. Rookie's don't usually play that well. While I love the WRs they drafted, it's not like the Bengals are stacked at the position. Edwards would be useful if he's healthy.

Unless I'm remembering incorrectly, his issues have been all off-the-field. He's not a lockerroom cancer like Chad and T.O. is he?

[ArmyBengal]

I was not a big fan of Edwards. He didn't have off the field concerns, but I don't remember him having the best set of hands either.

The move wouldn't surprise me as it was also reported they had an interest in Jacoby Jones, formerly of the Texans.

Guess we will see what happens, but nothing will really surprise me.

[derekshank]

I was not a big fan of Edwards. He didn't have off the field concerns, but I don't remember him having the best set of hands either.

He's been arrested a couple of times. That's what I was referring to.

He does have some bad drops every year, but he's still a good receiver when he's healthy. He didn't live up to his draft status... but he wasn't a bust either. Bringing him in as a reliable and proven #2 on a 1-year deal would probably be a good move.

[HoosierCat]

It has been reported that the Bengals have interest in Braylon Edwards.

His name was connected to the Bengals a few weeks back and I've been wondering if Edwards would resurface now that they didn't take WR high in the draft.

I vote pass.

[derekshank]

I vote pass.

Yeah. I can certainly understand that argument.

On the other hand, Edwards was a reliable #2 WR for Mark Sanchez in New York. And according to PFF, he doesn't drop passes anymore (he dropped only 4 passes in 2010, fewer than any other NYJ WR).

The Bengals may be able to get Sanu and Jones to come in and match Simpson's 50 catches, 700+ yards... but Braylon Edwards would be an immediate upgrade (he had 53 receptions for 900+ yards in 2010). I can't turn my nose up at that without at least considering the option.

[BengalszoneBilly]

It has been reported that the Bengals have interest in Braylon Edwards.

His name was connected to the Bengals a few weeks back and I've been wondering if Edwards would resurface now that they didn't take WR high in the draft.

I vote pass.

I vote the same. We've got a good group of young WR's free of off field distractions. Let's keep it that way.

[Stripes]

Edwards sounds quite like Coles and Bryant to me. I understand it though, since it really would be a big risk to enter a season with playoff aspirations with a rookie and a sophomore taking on the full starting WR load.

[HoosierCat]

The Bengals may be able to get Sanu and Jones to come in and match Simpson's 50 catches, 700+ yards... but Braylon Edwards would be an immediate upgrade (he had 53 receptions for 900+ yards in 2010).

Yeah, but 2010 looks like an outlier right now. Aside from that year he hasn't done anything worth talking about (aside from being Donte Stallworth's drinking buddy the night Stallworth ran a guy over) since leaving Cleveland. And he got cut last December by the 9ers because of a bum knee. Toss in 8 years' worth of off-the-field baggage and I'm just not interested.

Did we get lucky with Green in terms of impact? Of course. At the same, the arguments for starting Dalton and Green last year are just as valid for running the young'uns out onto the field now. Expectations are higher, but no one is expecting the Super Bowl. It's a young team trying to build a core of key players that can deliver consistent success, right?

Let's put the kids on the field and see what we got.

[Sea Ray]

I vote pass.

Yeah. I can certainly understand that argument.

On the other hand, Edwards was a reliable #2 WR for Mark Sanchez in New York. And according to PFF, he doesn't drop passes anymore (he dropped only 4 passes in 2010, fewer than any other NYJ WR).

The Bengals may be able to get Sanu and Jones to come in and match Simpson's 50 catches, 700+ yards... but Braylon Edwards would be an immediate upgrade (he had 53 receptions for 900+ yards in 2010). I can't turn my nose up at that without at least considering the option.

With today's announcement that Shipley is ready to roll, it seems to me that the WR position is crowded as it is. Why bring in a nimrod like Edwards now? Is he worth losing a guy like Jones or Sanu to waivers?If you'd asked me two weeks ago, I'd have said fine but now I don't see the point. There's only so many footballs to go around in preseason and I think Edwards will impede our ability to get a look at these youngsters. If Braylon can return punts I'd consider it