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2006 Bengals Draft Article

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Folanator

Folanator

Brawndo's got electrolytes...
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<!-- PRINTER FRIENDLY LINK -->I would be very very happy with Greg Blue from Ga or Gabe Watson from TSUN if he is there. We need comeone that can tackle in the secondary and a major fat ass in the middle of the d-line.


Wednesday, December 7, 2005 <!-- ARTICLE HEADLINE -->Room for improvement
Could take DT or S with a pick in 20s
By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
<!-- ARTICLE SIDEBAR --><TABLE class=sidebar_table cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 border=0><!-- MAIN PHOTO --><TBODY><TR><TD class=photosidebar align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=100 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>[URL="http://cmsimg.enquirer.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AB&Date=20051207&Category=SPT02&ArtNo=512070387&Ref=AR&Profile=1066&MaxW=300&MaxH=700&border=0"]http://cmsimg.enquirer.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AB&Date=20051207&Category=SPT02&ArtNo=512070387&Ref=AR&Profile=1066&MaxW=300&MaxH=700&border=0[/URL]</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc colSpan=2>
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</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD width=36></TD><TD class=photosidebar_body align=right>The Associated Press/John Bazemore

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=photosidebar_body colSpan=2>The Bengals could tap the Georgia pipeline for the second straight draft by taking hard-hitting safety Greg Blue, here sticking Georgia Tech receiver James Johnson.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><!-- OTHER FEED PHOTOS --><!--RELATED PHOTO GALLERIES--><!-- RELATED MULTIMEDIA ASSETS --><!-- MAIN FACT BOX --><TR><TD class=sidebar_head>DRAFTING DEFENSIVELY</TD></TR><TR><TD class=sidebar_body>The Bengals could have draft needs at safety and defensive tackle. A look at some top prospects:

<TABLE class=enqtable cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=enqtdhead><TD align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Player</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>College</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Ht., Wt.</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Comment</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>SAFETIES</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Jason Allen</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Tennessee</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-2, 201</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Can play cornerback; battled injuries.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Pat Watkins</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Florida State</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-5, 202</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Instinctive, makes good reads; needs to add bulk.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Greg Blue</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Georgia</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-2, 211</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Big hitter, good in coverage.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Brian Iwuh</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Colorado</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>5-11, 226</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Outside linebacker in college well-suited for strong safety.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Roman Harper</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Alabama</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-0, 196</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Aggressive against the run, not great in coverage.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>DEF. TACKLES</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD><TD class=enqtd align=left></TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Gabe Watson</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Michigan</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-3, 334</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Clogs the middle; excellent quickness for girth.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Claude Wroten</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>LSU</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-2, 295</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>High-motor player controls point of attack.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Orien Harris</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Miami (Fla.)</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-2, 299</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Inside run stuffer; brother of 49ers Kwame.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Rodrique Wright</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Texas</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-5, 306</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Has overcome injuries to enjoy solid senior year.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=enqtd align=left>Jesse Mahelona</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Tennessee</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>6-2, 299</TD><TD class=enqtd align=left>Quick off the ball; needs to improve reads.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Mark Curnutte



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</TD></TR><!-- RELATED ARTICLES --><!-- RELATED EXTERNAL LINKS --><!-- ADDITIONAL PHOTOS --></TBODY></TABLE><!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->The Bengals are one of the NFL's hottest teams. They're in the top five of just about every expert's power rankings following the victory Sunday at Pittsburgh.
But the process of improving the team - even one most likely headed to a division title - is ongoing.
Bengals scouts have traveled the country. They're preparing reports on college prospects.
Though the Bengals are 9-3, they have some weaknesses. The defense is ranked 28th in yards allowed per game. And in spite of their solid performance against the Steelers' run game, there are some problems.
Some draft experts look at the Bengals and see a need at defensive tackle and safety.
Of course, the loss of second-year starting free safety Madieu Williams has hurt the defense. His return in 2006 will help, both against the run and pass.
If the Bengals make the playoffs, they will pick in the 20s. The last time their original first-round pick was in the 20s was 1989, the year after the team won the AFC title.
"The 20s are a good place to find a safety or a defensive tackle," said Jerry Jones, the former Mariemont pharmacist and author of the Drugstore List, a renowned draft guide now in its 29th year.
Last year, only one safety went in the first round, just three in the top 40 picks. Also, just three defensive tackles were among the first 32 picks in the first round.
Four safeties are projected by Jones and some other draft experts as first-round picks in the draft, scheduled for April 29-30. Underclassmen will declare after Jan. 1.
Last year, the Bengals liked Georgia safety Thomas Davis, who went to Carolina three slots before the Bengals took Davis' Georgia teammate, David Pollack, at No. 17.
The top senior safety this year is Tennessee's Jason Allen, who has battled injuries, including a recent hip problem.
There are three other projected first-round safeties: Florida State's Pat Watkins, Georgia's Greg Blue and Colorado's Brian Iwuh.
Blue, at 6 feet 2, 211 pounds, is used much the same way Davis was in the Bulldogs' defense. He is a big hitter who has speed and range. He is Georgia's leader with 88 tackles, 63 solo. He has 4½ tackles for loss and two interceptions.
The Bengals lost both of their starting safeties to injury this year - Williams and strong safety Kim Herring. Backups Kevin Kaesviharn and Ifeanyi Ohalete have started for most of the season.
At defensive tackle, the Bengals received a spark Sunday from rookie seventh-round pick Jonathan Fanene, and Shaun Smith has played well in place of Bryan Robinson, who has a sprained foot.
The defensive line could be headed to a state of transition. Second-year player Matthias Askew, a fourth-round pick in 2004 who has been inactive for all 12 games, could be pushed to perform or let go come August.
The draft's top defensive tackle prospect is Michigan's Gabe Watson, expected to be gone by the time the Bengals pick. But LSU's Claude Wroten, the Miami's Orien Harris and Texas' Rodrique Wright could be there.
NFLdraftscout.com's early mock draft has the Bengals taking Tennessee defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona in the first round. He is almost 6-2, 300 pounds and is strongest against the run.
"They need to improve the depth at tackle so they can rotate the guys," the Drugstore List's Jones said.
Wroten plays with abundant energy and has 45 tackles, 9½ for loss, to go along with five sacks. He is almost 6-2 and weighs 295.
"They've drafted well under (coach Marvin) Lewis," Jones said. "Those players are getting better all the time."
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Those are certainly the two positions that need the most improvement. I'm excited for Madieu Williams to return, but Kaesviharn and Ohalete are serviceable, at best. As far as interior DL, they seem to bring in a new veteran each year, but it never seems to get too much better. I'm starting to wonder whether it is perhaps the aggressive scheme causing some of the problems with run defense.

I don't know enough about these college guys to have a preference, but I trust in Coach Williams to pick out the best. He's done very well in the draft so far and I expect that to continue.

I would still love to see the Bengals pick up a big-time receiving tight end, ala Shockey, Heap, Gonzalez. That's the only component, in my mind, that is missing on offense.
 
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BK the TE question certainly has been bantered about in Cincy talk radio. It sure would be great to get one. I have no idea if they are a premium pick or can you find value in the 3rd or 4th round for a TE. Don't follow the pro draft that close.

We have finesse on the D and this shows in our pickoffs. We need the big and nastys, the David Fulcher types.
 
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Antonio Gates - undrafted
Jeremy Shockey - 1st round, 14th pick
Alge Crumpler - 2nd round, 4th pick
Tony Gonzalez - 1st round, 13th pick
Chris Cooley - 3rd round, 18th pick
Todd Heap - 1st round, 31st pick
LJ Smith - 2nd round, 29th pick
Jason Witten - 3rd round, 5th pick
Erron Kinney - 3rd round, 6th pick
Jermaine Wiggins - undrafted


These are the top ten TE's in receiving yards. It seems you can find a diamond in the rough every now and then, but most of the time, a good TE will cost you a first day draft pick. I'm not sure if it is that much of a pressing need at this point.
 
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I think they will probably go "best player available" between TE, DL, and S, which look to be their needs. Lewis is smart in that he doesn't reach if there isn't that level of guy there when they pick. In fact, just the opposite, he seems to pick up a lot of guys who drop.

When's the last time we said the Bengals don't have a big need come draft time?

One thing that has surprised me since Marvin Lewis came to Cincy is that his DTs have been the smaller, mobile types instead of the big run stopper types he had in Baltimore and Washington as defensive coordinator.
 
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We also need some help with our kicking game. I have not been impressed with our punter and while our FG kicker is accurate he is very short on kickoffs. It might be nice to get a kicker late on the second day.
 
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Sorry for the question, but doesnt Cincy run a 4-3 instead of Baltimores
3-4? The 3-4 requires bigger/slower lineman to occupy the blockers, their only assignment is to hold their ground and occupy as many offensive lineman as possible.
 
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I've always been a fan of Roddy Wright from Texas...Also like Orien Harris from Miami...Anyways, hopefully we go for D-line first...Could use another safety though....Too bad Big Daddy Watson won't be available when the Bengals choose....
 
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not sure if it would even fit with the bengals but Texas' TE David Thomas is going to provide someone with a great H back type in the mold of Dallas Clark or Chris Cooley. If you are looking for that type of pass catcher he would be available in rounds 3-5 i would think. I guess thats probably just me being selfish wanting him to go to a good team
 
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I'd rather see the Bengals go DT in the 1st round, but I wouldn't be disappointed if they snagged Blue. Allen seems more of a FS type-w/ Williams back they don't need that. The best DT around could very well be Haloti Ngata of Oregon-6'5 340lbs of bad ass-but no one is sure if he will declare after this year or not. As far as TEs go, the top 2 are Marcedes Lewis-who should be gone way before the Bengals pick, and Vernon Davis of Maryland- 6'3 255 4.5 40, 500lb bench-they seem to be the only true gamebreaker, 1st round type of TEs. Pope from Georgia has great size,and good hands, but his speed might not be the same as the 2 mentioned above. What elite DTs and/or SSs are free agents this year?
 
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