Do you keep a 5th RB or a 7th WR?

[andybren]

From Curnette's article on the depth chart:

Running back (5): Big money has not changed Rudi Johnson, who continues to work like a rookie free agent. This group is deep, and Johnson, Chris Perry, Kenny Watson and Quincy Wilson all could stay as tailbacks because Watson and Wilson can play special teams. Jeremi Johnson might be the only fullback on the roster.

Wide receiver (6): Again, special teams will play a major role in shaping the bottom half of the six or seven receivers on the roster.

Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry are in. Kelley Washington has played his way onto the roster for a third year. The wild card is Peter Warrick because of his knee and shin injuries. Healthy, Warrick stays. Nos. 6 and 7 could be Kevin Walter and Tab Perry, but Jamall Broussard is hard to ignore.

If the Bengals keep four running backs instead of five, a seventh wide receiver might stay.

Tight end (3): Reggie Kelly, an excellent blocker at the point of attack, will return. After Kelly, though, there are questions. Matt Schobel and Tony Stewart have not had stellar camps catching the ball. Coaches like tight end-fullback (H back) Ronnie Ghent a lot.

I don't know how many RB's the Bengals usually keep on roster, but this article seems to suggest that that there's room for a 5th, namely Quincy Wilson. But it also raises the possibility that the spot might be designated for a 7th WR, presumably Kevin Walter or Tab Perry. Whoever holds the spot, one certainty is that the player would need to play special teams fulltime.

Personally, I don't know how fast Wilson is, or what the benefits are of having a RB vs. WR running back kicks. But based on what has been written about his training camp performance, Wilson might be more special, more valuable than Walter or T. Perry. Maybe more valuable than a 3rd tight end.

Plus, there's the question of who can be assigned to a practice squad and not get picked up by another team.

If I were the boss, and I had settled on keeping Watson, Warrick and Washington, I would also keep Wilson and Walter (#6), assign Perry (#7) to the practice squad, and cut Tony Stewart.

But then they wouldn't cut a guy who's writing an online training camp diary, would they?

[buck3y3d]

If i was going to take a guy as the 7th WR, i'd rather have Broussard than Walter. Walter looked bad when i went to training camp, and as his main role would be on special teams, i think a speed guy like Broussard would do nicely.

[Spain]

Good ?, off the gut go with wrs for ST! Rudi is solid and Injury free!

[BENGAL]

If i was going to take a guy as the 7th WR, i'd rather have Broussard than Walter. Walter looked bad when i went to training camp, and as his main role would be on special teams, i think a speed guy like Broussard would do nicely.

I thought Walter looked pretty good at camp? What makes you say otherwise...

[Spain]

ST thats it but the guy needs some hands! He has everything but the hands and that can be taught.

[DontPushMe]

If i was going to take a guy as the 7th WR, i'd rather have Broussard than Walter.  Walter looked bad when i went to training camp, and as his main role would be on special teams, i think a speed guy like Broussard would do nicely.

hahahaha and Broussard looked good??? He might be the worst WR on our entire team!

I dont think people should discount Cliff Russell. He played solid last year when called upon. I think I'd probly take him over Walter or Tab Perry. Tab Perry to me seems like a practice squad guy, and Walter is strictly a special teamer. As for Broussard, he might be an ok backup.. in the CFL.

[walshfan]

the Bengals arent going to let Tab Perry go ... on no no no ...bank on it.

Walter may go.....Stewart may go....Broussard should go....

but Tab oh no no no.......

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Warrick won't make the squad, which means Walter or Russell will.

I'd like to see them keep Quincy RB but I don't think he'll survive final cuts unless he flat out beats Watson out of a job and Perry is healthy.

[HairOnFire]

This isn't a prediction....and I wouldn't be a bit shocked to learn from readers that I've been sniffin' glue, smokin' crack, or riding the short bus.....but has anyone else noticed the public beating Matt Schobel has been taking recently? I won't comment further due to my inability to see camp action, but how safe is Schobel's spot on the roster?

[Bobcat Bengal]

This isn't a prediction....and I wouldn't be a bit shocked to learn from readers that I've been sniffin' glue, smokin' crack, or riding the short bus.....but has anyone else noticed the public beating Matt Schobel has been taking recently? I won't comment further due to my inability to see camp action, but how safe is Schobel's spot on the roster?

Ever since he whiffed about, what, 8 times trying to tackle Troy Polamula last year, I just kinda lost respect for him.

Now, he better be this pass catching TE I keep hearing about this year, or I think Matt is looking at the door.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I've been calling for Matt Schobel's demise for the last three years. Yes, he can catch (sometimes) and make big plays. He has that potential. But hell, more often than he makes a big play, he drops an easy first down. I'd rather have a guy who can block and be counted on to catch the easy first down pass than a guy who is only good for a rare big play.

[HairOnFire]

Now, he better be this pass catching TE I keep hearing about this year, or I think Matt is looking at the door.

I don't think there's any doubt Schobel is the best "recieving" TE the Bengals have on their roster. And that's the rub. We know the Bengals don't feature the TE position under the best circumstances...so if he's having a horrible camp and repeatedly drops passes when "wide open" then what value does he really have?

[HairOnFire]

I'd rather have a guy who can block and be counted on to catch the easy first down pass than a guy who is only good for a rare big play.

I've supported Schobel to a point, but I've never been tempted to pimp him very hard...mostly because he's never given me much reason to. That said, if his performance in camp is so poor that the idea he might finally be breaking through can be rejected out of hand...well I think I'd lean towards keeping an extra WR or FB over Schobel.

[TippCityRick]

I agree with you, Next that Pdub won't make the squad and that will open it up for Russell or Perry. And Hair, I agree with you that Wilson makes it only if he beats Watson out, however that will be tough knowing how much ML loves Kenny.

It's looking like D-day has arrived for either Stewart or Shoebel. They moved Ghent back to TE and he can backup at fullback and plays great on ST, so if he can hold onto the ball he'll be the third TE. Good luck figuring who stays though. I'm unimpressed with our encombant trio.

[DontPushMe]

I've been calling for Matt Schobel's demise for the last three years.

Wow, so you have been saying we should cut him since 1 week into his first NFL training camp?

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

I've been calling for Matt Schobel's demise for the last three years.

Wow, so you have been saying we should cut him since 1 week into his first NFL training camp?

I've been saying ever since his rookie year that he isn't what we need. I said it as we entered the 2003 season (after his rookie year), as we entered the 2004 season, and now as the 2005 season approaches, I say again...

INCONSISTANCY IS UNACCEPTABLE

[membengal]

The drop that set off the coaches was in the endzone, and it was egregious. They went with a stacked receiver set to the left of the line, Schobel a part of it, they were around the five yard line or so, Bramlet at QB. Bramlet took a short drop, read correctly Schobel popping wide open on a square in (or whatever, he ran striaght for five yards then cut to the middle of the field) just inside the endzone and threw it to his numbers. I said to my better half "touchdown" and then a second later loud groans from those closer to it. Not the kind of play you want to make and have the coaches think of you fondly.

Schobel is a puzzle. Always seems like he should be slightly better than he is.

[Irish Bengal]

Schobel has made some clutch catches for us over the years. I believe that Stewart will be cut hasn't really done that much since he's been here. i think Ghent may have sealed his fate. Can you name one big play stewart has made?

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Schobel is a puzzle. Always seems like he should be slightly better than he is.

He's the most inconsistent player I've ever seen. Hell, at least with Akilli Myth and David Klingon, you KNEW it was going to be a busted play!

[Stripes]

Almost half of Schobel's statistics from last season came on a single play, a 76 yard touchdown against the Cowboys. We seem to play better with Stewart or Kelly on the field, no matter what the playcall may be.

[Kazkal]

schobel h8ers >_<

[HoosierCat]

well I think I'd lean towards keeping an extra WR or FB over Schobel.

Well, bengals.com gave a big wet sloppy smooch to Ghent today and talked about how they've moved him back from FB, at least temporarily, to TE because of injuries. If schobel was waiting for a wake-up call, I think it just came.

I have no desire to see Matt let go...on the other hand, given how the team uses the position, it wouldn't be the end of the world, either.

[Kazkal]

Ghent is kinda short for a TE no? 6'1ish

not a very good redzone target

I'll wait to judge him till he actually plays in a game.

[HairOnFire]

Well, bengals.com gave a big wet sloppy smooch to Ghent today and talked about how they've moved him back from FB, at least temporarily, to TE because of injuries. If schobel was waiting for a wake-up call, I think it just came.

I have no desire to see Matt let go...on the other hand, given how the team uses the position, it wouldn't be the end of the world, either.

Like I said when I brought it up, it's not a prediction. It's just a nagging thought I haven't been able to shake for a couple of weeks. And yeah, the Ghent stuff is starting to smack of the same idea being played out from a different angle.

I'm not calling for the guys head because I still have hopes he can step up his play. It's still early, right? But it's starting to feel like we're being prepped for something.

[andybren]

I wasn't aware that Schobel was doing so poorly in the pass-catching department. It truly makes you wonder what his purpose is. Reminds me of the Dodgers' catcher who couldn't throw out a baserunner all night. Exactly why was he given the job in the first place?

I truly wish we had a TE that could block and was a legitimate receiving threat. (I was hoping that Kori Dickerson kid was going to turn out to be in the Antonio Gates mold --- any word on his training camp?) But if the pass-catching TE can't catch passes, then I say give his job to a blocking TE and give his roster spot to a comer.

And by the way Spain, you could've made the same comment a few years ago about Corey Dillon. He's healthy, he kicks ass...why do we need this Rudi Johnson kid?