That slow sinking feeling

Y'know that feeling?  That feeling that hits you before something is even going to start happening that you know it is not going to go well?  I've got that feeling about the Bengals and the draft.  With the #6 pick, there is no way that the Bengals are going to be able to find three immediate contributors (which is the ultimate goal of any draft for any team.  Either by picking or trading - three contributors for the next year). 

Clearly the team needs an O-Tackle or D-Tackle (with a mean streak, sorry John Thornton) in the first round, the best center available in the second round, and a linebacker in there somewhere.  And you just know that the Bengals are going to wind up with some ridiculous combination of running backs, wide receivers, and some defensive LB/DE tweener like David Pollack (i.e. UC's Connor Barwin). 

And then WDR will be there to point to this post three months before the draft saying that we called it. 

And we DON'T WANT TO BE THE PEOPLE TO CALL IT!

Comments

[Robinsgr]

I could not agree more. What we need is a L. tackle in the first and a center in the second, both of them man-eating, fell-out-of-bed-with-an-attitude guys with mean streaks four miles long. But like you, I fear MB will do something stupid - again - like draft a running back (perhaps Beanie Wells) thinking, as he always does, that a great back does not need a good line (I hear Paul rolling over in his grave again). And MB would hate to pay a mere lineman top-six money. Also, MB will think such a move will draw Buckeye fans to PBS to buy tickets, jerseys, etc.

PB knew the importance of the O-line and always built the teams strength up the middle, drafting three centers in the first round (Johnson, Bush, and Rimington). Even though Bush was still in his prime, PB did not pass up the opportunity to draft Rimington, a better player, at an already strong position.

How did PB spawn such an incompetent son, who obviously was asleep when he should have been studying his father's actions?

[JMo]

No center, we don't have time to bring a guy along. Jeff Saturday, Matt Birk, and Chris Brown are all free agents. I say throw some money at Saturday. I say take the best tackle available at six or the middle linebacker at USC. The draft is deep at tackle so I would even say take 2 in the next four rounds. Dtackles sure but not in the first two rounds. I also feel that a scat back to complement Benson is a must in the first four rounds. If we draft another reciever im going to projectile on Mike Brown's wife's clevage.

[Robinsgr]

At this point it is unsure if Benson will re-sign with the team. If he does not, then I think the team needs to draft a between-the-tackles runner. Someone who can pound out yards. But if you draft and build a good line, you can get an effective running back in the later rounds.

You made a good point about singing a veteran center instead of trying to develope one. I did not realize these guys were all free agents this year, but you know MB does not like to spend money on top of the line free agents.

[Homer J]

As dumb as MB has been, he is not afraid or unwilling to take a tackle in the top 10. He chose 2 pretty god ones in Anderson and Jones. I think the question will be which tackle does he take? That could end up being his mistake.

As for the second round, I could not disagree more with the selection of a Center. We need a Free Agent Center and then can draft a Center in Round 3. Centers are the leaders of a defense and nothing would get Carson killer quicker than a rokkie Left Tackle and a rookie Center. Get a vet and let the rookie earn his way into a starting spot.

A more pressing issue is a playmaking Safty, playmaking Tight End and Inside/Strongside Linebacker. I would imagine we will get a comp pick for Justin Smith in the 3rd or 4th so we should be able to fill these needs in the first 4 rounds.

[JMo]

Kiper has us taking Jason Smith senior out of Baylor with the 6th pick. Tackles are hit or miss but I do like the fact that the guy stayed all four years. Looks like the guy from Alabama will be long gone. A veteran center is the one position we need to spend some money on in free agency this year. Saturday, Birk, or Brown are all available. I think Saturday would leave since he has a ring already.

We need another dtackle to rotate with Pat Simms and Peko, Shirley cannot be counted on yet and is more of a #4. I like Brandon Jackson and Keith Rivers but a playmaking mlb is something we need as well as a competent 3rd corner. I think we found our playmaking safety in Crocker and he will team up nicely with Duke and Marv White rotating in if his knee responds. I wouldn't be against drafting another safety after the 3rd round.

Benson will be resigned and that means a running back will have to be selected with one of our 2 3rd round picks (Justin Smith comp pick). A 3rd down scat with good hands and quick burst. The recievers are fine Henry will start at Y and whatever they decided to do w/ Chad or T.J., one will be gone. As more time passes it looks like T.J. will be gone. Thats fine, Chad is the X and Caldwell takes over in the slot, with Simpson and Chapman rounding out the corps. Maybe Marcus Maxwell pushes Glen Holt for the final spot. Utecht will bounce back and R. Kelly is R. Kelly. I think taking another blocking TE in the 6th or later is a nice depth builder.

Shayne Graham and Kyle Larson both suck donkey ball sweat and are not worth their weight in hummus. Larson is under contract so he stays, Graham is a joke of a kicker with no leg strength and chokes on Ron Jeremy's member as soon as a big kick stares him in the face. He would benefit kicking for the Lions in a dome with no wind to help aid his pathetic kickoffs and where he will never have to make a meaningful kick. I am hard on Graham cause he is the most overated kicker in the history the past 20 years. He just flat out sucks. Sorry for the rant.