Anyone seen a Tight End Lately?

[BULLDOG28]

I was just thinking...How much effective would our offense be if we had a tight end that was DECENT? I mean, we have 3 tight ends who are great at nothing and average or below at everything. The analysts say that Reggie Kelly is one of the better blocking tight ends, but he get's routinely manhandled at the point of attack by almost everyone that he attempts to block....even safeties on blitzes! Matt Schoebel was supposed to be a great receiving threat coming out of college, but he is EXTREMELY inconsistent and drops plenty of catchable balls. Please let me not mention his blocking. Tony Stewart probably has the best value due to his work on Special Teams, but is a liability from scrimmage. I wish we had somebody that at least was a great blocker and average receiver, like a Kyle Brady in Jacksonville, or a great receiver and average blocker like a Antonio Gates for the Chargers. The players we have at this position absolutely bring nothing from scrimmage and are probably not even accounted for in the opposing teams game planning....

I hope we take a good look at Marcedes Lewis from UCLA in the draft....if Darnell Bing from 'SC is not available.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

The Bengals wanted Heath Miller in the draft and wanted to trade down into the mid-twenties for him, but it didn't work out that way when Pitt took him....per Lapham.

They absolutely would benefit (as would the WR's and Rb's) from a real TE threat. I don't know what the problem is. But obviously they are ok with who they have unless they can find a real upgrade (versus signing another Stewart).

Gotta think someone else could be there next year. Would love to have a Daniel Graham type.

[Stripes]

I want to see what Ronnie Ghent can do. I think bringing him up in place of Tony Stewart for a week would be great to test him. He flashed speen and good hands in the preseason.

[walshfan]

some gifted tightends are in the draft this year....

Mercedes Lewis 6'6" 256lbs that can stretch a defense and good hands.

Leonard Pope 6'7" 250lbs can catch and block effectively..

Vernon Davis 6'3" 253lbs.. runs a 4.47 forty!

there are 3 or 4 others the Bengals might be interested in ...

[Kazkal]

don't forget day from oregon

[cincykent]

some gifted tightends are in the draft this year....

Mercedes Lewis 6'6" 256lbs that can stretch a defense and good hands.

Leonard Pope 6'7" 250lbs can catch and block effectively..

Vernon Davis 6'3" 253lbs.. runs a 4.47 forty!

there are 3 or 4 others the Bengals might be interested in ...

Pope is a monster

Tight end and safety are the two main areas that need to be addressed in the offseason

[Columbusbengal]

Tight end and safety are the two main areas that need to be addressed in the offseason

No way! We have decent safeties if Williams and Herring are not injured and we certainly don't need a TE with the offense we run. It would be nice to get another safety and a better TE, but this is nowhere near as urgent as the need we have for defensive linemen. That said, I'd rather get the lineman in free agency and draft a safety and TE among our first day picks. But if we can't sign one in free agency, we need to draft defensive linemen with our first three picks and hope one turns out.

[CBin2k7]

Tight End is a huge need. A good tight end makes the offense so much better, especially in the offense's two biggest weaknesses, 3rd down conversions and in the red zone. The Colts showed us how good you can be with an effective TE. Antonio Gates takes SD's offense to another level. Even Pittsburgh semi-schooled us with Heath Miller.

For the offense to take the next step, they must address the TE position in the off-season.

[jjakq27]

The Bengals wanted Heath Miller in the draft and wanted to trade down into the mid-twenties for him, but it didn't work out that way when Pitt took him....per Lapham.

They absolutely would benefit (as would the WR's and Rb's) from a real TE threat. I don't know what the problem is. But obviously they are ok with who they have unless they can find a real upgrade (versus signing another Stewart).

I heard that the other day too.

On paper it looks like they should have taken Miller regardless of their pick but if they aren't going to utilize that position then it would have been a wasted pick.

If they have a way to integrate that person into the offense then I think they missed a great opportunity. Especially since their main rival (this year) ended up taking him.

[andybren]

I'm all for having a more dependable, every down TE, but I don't see the desperate need for another weapon. All the TE's mentioned in this thread play for teams that don't have the options that Carson already has.

Who does Rothlesberger throw to if not to Hines Ward or Heath Miller? Would Antonio Gates really get that many looks if he played on the same team as Chad, TJ, Chris Perry, Chris Henry, etc.?

I'd rather see our resources go to defense. And keeping Steinbach and Levi around long-term.

[Stripes]

Agreed 100% Andybren. Having a new young tight end would be just peachy keen in my book, but meh. It is our only real "need" on the offensinve side of the football, so it attracts more attention than perhaps it should. On the first draft day and during free agency, I want defense, defense, defense. I can think of a good four things I'd want over a new tight end. A starting strong safety, more safety depth, and the same for the defensive line, ends and tackles.

[Whur CHad At?]

We should move Pollack to TE

hahahahahahahah

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

The Bengals had absolutely no intention of drafting Heath Miller any more than they had of redrafting Heath Shuller. That's a bunch of BS that was put out there to keep people from realizing we wanted a pair of defenders, which we got.

The Bengals offense calls for a tight end to do one thing, and one thing well, and that is BLOCK. The non receiver passing goes to the running backs, not the tight end. We could have Tony Gonzales, LJ Smith, Todd Heap, Witten, Wiggings, The Soldier, whoever at tight end, and they STILL wouldn't catch many passes.

[Stripes]

I can't say whether or not the Bengals had real interest in Heath Miller, because I'm not working in the front office.

I agree for the most part, TNBT, as far as what tight ends do in this offense. Still, I think if we had more talented options at the position, it would be a substantial help to this offense. If we could find a guy that can catch 35 balls a year, that would make a difference. As I have said, I am not one to support drafting one on the first draft day, but if we go for one in the fourth or fifth round, knowing Marvin's draft history, I think we could really end up with a solid contributor.

We could also find one in free agency, of course. The Redskins have two excellent tight ends in Cooley and Sellers (I think that's his name). I don't know what their contract situations are, but if either would wind up available, I bet the Bengals would be in the hunt.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Anyone seen a Tight End Lately? Not as good as this one!: Even as nice as that they still wouldn't throw the ball much to her either. The Bengals offensive game plan simply does not call the tight ends number very often! Ask Brat why. It's not the tight ends fault if the play isn't called for them!

[NJ29]

Please don't start the "Draft a tight end in the first round talk" talk. Our offense is fine. Get some freaking defensive help. Make the defense serviceable before perfecting the offense. Please draft defensivly Marvin, please.

[alleycat]

The great thing about the tight end class in this year's draft is that it is deeper than it has been in a long time. There are at least four rated in the first round come draft day. But teams don't take Tight Ends too high, historically, and we may get a stud come the second round. I agree that drafting one in the first wouldn't suit us, but if you get someone with Kellen Winslow kind of talent (without the stupidity) at the bottom of the first, you'd have to think about it.

Vernon Davis is that kind of player. He has 4.4 speed (yikes), has broken all kinds of Maryland weightlifting records, and doesn't play for an offense that utilizes his talent. Only knock on him is that he's 6-3. Of course, he'll be an aboslute workout warrior at the combine and probably go way early, but...

I will say one thing. Other than Ngata, I don't find any DT's first round material in the draft. We should service that through FA (and light a fire under Askew's a$$).

[schweinhart]

I would agree about not picking a TE in the 1st. Most likely IMO Mercedes Lewis is the only senior who will go then.

There should be solid upgrades at TE available in rounds 3-4, especially if both Vernon Davis and Leonard Pope enter early because they'll both go before the Bengals pick in the second.

The ones I like best are Charles Davis Purdue, TJ Williams NC State, and Jeff King Va Tech.

It be great to have an upgrade at TE but the Bengals have proven they don't really need a great passing TE to win. They just need replacements for Schobel and Stewart if they don't resign them and eventually Kelly.

Ghent should get a good look next year as the replacement for Stewart.

[UofLnMU]

I realize that I live in a dream world, but I honestly think that L. Pope could fall to the second round. If he is there...get him, Bengals. I'm also a big Ronnie Ghent fan. He was one of the main receiving threats at Louisville, who had quite a prolific passing offense then, and he was not a terrible blocker. Lord, anything is better than Tony Stewart outside of the Home Depot Chevrolet.