Another Bengal Battle

[WhoDeyHomer]

From what I can gather through my bits of reading, people seem divided on who our #1 corner is. Most analysts obviously give Tory his dues as the #1 with the whole ProBowl thing. But here some people seem to share the same opinion as myself, which is that Deltha is our best corner. I think the less you hear of a corner the better personally, and I only remember Deltha from the 99 yard burn (it was 1 td, yards aside, and he has to get beat sometime...or does he?) and when he and James let everyone know who #1 was (which was hilarious). As said before, I think K. Ratliff will be filling in for James within a couple of seasons.

[BengalszoneBilly]

One starts on the left. One starts on the right. What's the battle?

[GROIIIDayton]

um maybe who gaurds the number one reciever

[AGrizzlyBaer]

sometimes the defense is set up so they just play the sides, you get mismatches but it happens

[Who?]

Yeah Broomey, I'd say because of the other teams number one receiver.

[Kazkal]

Well battle for their job because Ratliff is pushing for #2 though i'd say keep him #3 for 1 more year then move him up.

[redsbengalsbucks]

most teams don't have a standout #1 WR (Moss & Owens exceptions), some teams don't even have a WR worthy of being called #1(look to the eastern part of Ohio). All this aside if your so-called #2 is not able to push your so-called #1 DB than you have serious holes in your defense look to the

BENGALS past.

IMO this applies to almost every position on a football team. That is why I am very happy with Coach Lewis and the personnel decisions he has made.

[turnip]

I think Tory James is the better cornerback right now. If there's any battle, it's between Ratliff and O'neal I guess.

[Irish Bengal]

Isn't it great talking about how many great players we have instead of the way it use to be ?

The Bengals are going to cut some good quality players this year.

[Who?]

Was Ratliff drafted last year? If so what round was he picked in, his name sounds familiar.

[HairOnFire]

Was Ratliff drafted last year? If so what round was he picked in, his name sounds familiar.

Another brilliant post. Sure hope this guy sticks around all year.

[Irish Bengal]

I believe 2nd Rd.

[Who?]

Was Ratliff drafted last year? If so what round was he picked in, his name sounds familiar.

Another brilliant post. Sure hope this guy sticks around all year.

I will never ask another question again, it's against the rules, I can clearly tell. GOD PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR QUESTIONING SOMETHING! Use some big words on me, I will probably be confused though since I are not on same level of smartness...are.

[Who?]

Could you also start a thread about your hatred for me and just keep it there? Thanks.

[redsfan2]

Was Ratliff drafted last year? If so what round was he picked in, his name sounds familiar.

Another brilliant post. Sure hope this guy sticks around all year.

I will never ask another question again, it's against the rules, I can clearly tell. GOD PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR QUESTIONING SOMETHING! Use some big words on me, I will probably be confused though since I are not on same level of smartness...are.

How about this as a compromise ...... that's where everybody gives a little in an effort to get along.

Instead of asking questions to which the answers would be obvious to anyone who has been on the board for a while ...... check out the information first @ Bengals.com or NFL.com. You could have found the answer to your question there easily.

We have regular posters from other teams who are welcomed here because they bring a different perspective. It's fun .. it's good for the board ... and you pick up some things about Their favorite teams in the process.

Arizona .... Jam 31.... Kita et al are all good fans of their teams receive and give as good as they get Good Natured Smack ( no angels needed ) and make pertinent posts about their teams ... ours ..... how they look at the games turning out and why. There's a ton of others as well ... but those were the first to come to mind.

Try it out, and I guarantee there'll be a difference in how you're received.

[Who?]

I'm hated by two people on this board I think, sure I'll look it up, but there's no reason to get annoyed by a question. It's a message board people.

[BlainThePain]

http://www.bengals.com/team/players.asp?player_id=327

25 Keiwan Ratliff

Career Stats

Position: CB

Height: 5-11

Weight: 185

Birthdate: 4/19/1981

College: Florida

Acquired: D2a '04

Experience: 2

Second-round draft choice emerged as a key performer by season's end ... Played in all 16 games, and started five of the last seven games at LCB in place of injured Deltha O'Neal ... Also took over No. 1 punt return job and finished with 12.2-yard avg. on 17 returns ... Had long punt returns to help key victories Nov. 28 vs. Cleveland and Dec. 26 vs. NY Giants.

2004 RECAP: Drafted by Bengals in second round (49th overall) ... Signed Aug. 5, missing first six days of training camp due to contract negotiations ... Slowed during preseason by a hamstring injury, playing in only Games 2 and 4 ... Still limited early in the regular season by effects of the hamstring injury, but played in all 16 games, with starts at LCB in Games 10 and 12-15 ... His 12.2-yard punt return avg. was better than the 12.0 of AFC leader Dennis Northcutt of Cleveland, but he did not regularly return punts until Nov. 21 vs. Pittsburgh, and his 17 total returns were three short of the 20 needed to qualify for conference title... Had 35 tackles (23 solo) and 1 fumble recovery for the season, and tied for fourth on team in passes defensed (8) ... Also had 5 tackles and a forced fumble on special teams ... Had no statistics in Games 1-3, but saw his first significant action Oct. 3 at Pittsburgh, logging 3 tackles as fill-in at safety when all safeties except Madieu Williams were sidelined by injuries ... On Nov. 7 vs. Dallas, had 2 tackles in 26-3 Bengals win ... Had 4 tackles Nov. 21 vs. Pittsburgh and 2 punt returns for 9 yards ... Recorded 2 defensive tackles and 3 special teams tackles in win Nov. 28 vs. Cleveland, and returned 2 punts for 60 yards, including a 49-yarder, longest PR by a Bengal on the year ... His 49-yard punt return vs. Cleveland carried to Browns 19-yard line in second quarter, setting up field goal for 24-13 Bengals lead ... Also vs. Cleveland, forced fourth-quarter fumble by Richard Alston on KO return (Browns retained possession when ball went out of bounds) ... Led team with 2 passes defensed Dec. 12 at New England, and recorded 3 tackles ... Had fumble recovery leading to a TD on Dec. 19 vs. Buffalo, and also had 4 tackles and tied-for-team-leading 2 passes defensed ... Against Bills, covered Lee Evans fumble forced by Tory James at Bills 40 in first quarter, and Bengals offense drove from there for game's first score ... Made his third straight start at LCB on Dec. 26 vs. NY Giants, and had a crucial 42-yard punt return to set up winning TD, carrying to Giants 24 with 2:05 to play ... Also had 4 tackles vs. Giants and tied for team lead in passes defensed (2).

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS: CAREER — Played 49 games with 27 starts … His 12 career INTs rank fifth in Gator history, and he averaged 21.7 yards per return, with 3 for TDs … Scored 5 career TDs as a defender and added 1 TD reception during brief work as a WR. 2003 — Ratliff’s 9 INTs set a school season record, 2 more than the previous high … His 4 TDs included a 34-yard fumble return Sept. 6 at Miami (Fla.), a 44-yard INT return Oct. 18 at Arkansas, a 52-yard INT return Nov. 8 vs. Vanderbilt and a 77-yard fumble return Nov. 29 vs. Florida State … Ranked fifth in SEC in punt returns with 11.1 avg. … His 182 return yards were most in a season by a Gator since 1956 … Tied school record with 3 INTs on Oct. 18 at Arkansas, adding 9 solo tackles … Blocked a field goal Sept. 13 vs. Florida A&M … Played every game, and started 12 at strong-side CB … Played in Senior Bowl on 1-24-04 in Mobile, Ala. 2002 — Started all 13 games at strong-side CB … Started on both sides of the ball vs. Georgia and South Carolina, first Florida player since the 1960s to make opening lineup at both CB and WR … Was the only player in Division 1-A to catch a TD pass and return an interception for a score … Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort vs. Kentucky, which included 62-yard INT for a TD and another INT on a two-point conversion play … Scored his TD on offense on a 33-yard reception vs. Michigan in Outback Bowl. 2001 — Played primarily as the No. 3 CB in sophomore season, seeing action in 11 games with one start … Made his only start as a fill-in at SS in season opener vs. Marshall. 2000 — As a freshman, his primary position changed from WR to CB late in fall drills … Played every game, and made his first college start at RCB vs. Kentucky, logging a forced fumble and 5 tackles … Had no regular-season INTs, but made first of his career on a big stage, picking off a pass by Miami’s Ken Dorsey in Sugar Bowl. 1999 — Signed with Florida in February, but did not enroll; re-signed with Gators in spring of 2000.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Whitehall-Yearling High School in Columbus, OH, where he was a two-way standout at WR and DB … Earned All-America honors from SuperPrep and National Bluechips magazines … Over the course of his junior and senior seasons, had 88 receptions for 1640 yards and 25 TDs, plus 9 INTs … Final year in high school was 1998-99 … Sat out 1999-2000 year before enrolling at Florida for 2000-01 school year.

PERSONAL: Born in Youngstown, OH … Sociology major at Florida … Full name is Keiwan Jevar Ratliff … First name is pronounced “KEE-wahn.”

[BlainThePain]

I wouldn't be surprised if Greg Brooks pushes for a lot of playing time this year too. I really liked how he played in college and I remember reading something about the coaching staff being impressed with him. If it wasn't for a nagging hamstring injury last year, I think he could have turned some heads. If we could just find us another speedy safety to go along with Madieu, we could have one of the top secondaries in the league.

[Who?]

Thanks for the info Blain, I'll look it up next time, sorry if that troubled you at all!

[Kazkal]

Be nice to who he's a good guy for liking the browns

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Was Ratliff drafted last year? If so what round was he picked in, his name sounds familiar.

Another brilliant post. Sure hope this guy sticks around all year.

That was a brilliant post. Remember, Who? is a Browns fan. He knows our stars and our starters, and isn't likely to know much about the rookie who played some nickleback for us last year....

I hope he does stick around all year. It's more fun to pick on the rival fan's when their team implodes when they are around a while.... And the Browns WILL implode.

[BlainThePain]

Thanks for the info Blain, I'll look it up next time, sorry if that troubled you at all!

You're welcome. It wasn't any trouble.

[HairOnFire]

So Blain and Who are butt buddies now?

Fags.

[schweinhart]

James hopefully has got the goods for another year but his time is coming to an end on the field. He gives a lot of cushion underneath and has to have help over top when he's up vs. a WR w/ speed.

O'Neal is the closest to a shut down CB on the team. If teams are willing to test him this year, he stays healthy (Marquand Manuel was the reason he got hurt last year), and he's truly up for the challenge to establish himself once again as an elite CB in the NFL, then he should thrive at a Pro Bowl level.

I like Ratliff alot. He's physical vs. run and has the knack for playing the ball needed for a slower straightline CB to make it. If he holds on to the ball this year, and I can see Ratliff getting 6 or 7 picks out of the nickel.

The wildcard at CB IMO is Rashad Baumann. I would say he's the quickest in short area of all of them if his achilles is healed. There'll be a roster spot battle between him, Terrell Roberts, Greg Brooks, maybe K2 and whoever else shows up (Williams, Body, etc.)

[CantStop85]

James hopefully has got the goods for another year but his time is coming to an end on the field. He gives a lot of cushion underneath and has to have help over top when he's up vs. a WR w/ speed.

O'Neal is the closest to a shut down CB on the team. If teams are willing to test him this year, he stays healthy (Marquand Manuel was the reason he got hurt last year), and he's truly up for the challenge to establish himself once again as an elite CB in the NFL, then he should thrive at a Pro Bowl level.

I like Ratliff alot. He's physical vs. run and has the knack for playing the ball needed for a slower straightline CB to make it. If he holds on to the ball this year, and I can see Ratliff getting 6 or 7 picks out of the nickel.

The wildcard at CB IMO is Rashad Baumann. I would say he's the quickest in short area of all of them if his achilles is healed. There'll be a roster spot battle between him, Terrell Roberts, Greg Brooks, maybe K2 and whoever else shows up (Williams, Body, etc.)

Tory James is a very smart player...he doesn't have the speed of some wide receivers so he has to make up for it with good decisions and good ball skills. However, I still wouldn't want to see him covering a team's #1 receiving threat.

I wish we still had Dennis Weathersby...I think he could have been pretty good had he not gotten hurt like he did.