Credit Due

Around this here corner of the intertubes, we make a living criticizing Mike Brown.  As a matter of fact, stay tuned on that front because we have some very interesting information to share with you guys this week.  Overall, Mike Brown is quite possibly the worst owner in all of American professional sports and has no business making personnel decisions on a day-to-day, year-to-year basis.

However, in any way you want to look at it, it's hard to knock the man for what he did this weekend.  You can say he got lucky that certain guys essentially fell into his lap.  A fair point.  You can say a broken clock is right twice a day, which is certainly true.  You could even point out that it was silly to make all 11 selections, because they can't all make the roster.  I'd agree with you there. 

Still, it's hard for me to take any sort of serious, sky-is-falling, negative outlook on the Bengals' draft in 2009.  Obviously, we don't know how all of these guys will pan out.  For all of their production at the college level, all picks in the NFL Draft have "bust" potential.  However, to be perfectly honest, it would be hard for me to pin their failures on Mikey Boy. 

Now, I know I'm just a guy who writes for a blog, but let's run down all 11 picks and I'll give my opinion.  I could be wrong, I could be right, I could be grossly misinformed, but I'm going to do it anyway.

Round 1, Pick 6 - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

As has been mentioned in this space before, Andre Smith was a consensus top 3 pick on January 1st.  Then, he missed the Sugar Bowl, left the Combine, and took off his shirt.  Now, don't get me wrong, there are some red flags with him.  His weight is an issue, as is his maturity and motivation.  However, you could find some red flags with all of the top flight tackles.  Jason Smith basically never put his hand on the ground at Baylor.  Some people questioned whether or not he'd transition well to the NFL.  Eugene Monroe, for all of his talents, has knee problems which is obviously a huge concern for a man his size.  Michael Oher has all-world upside but lacked consistency.  Fact is, the Bengals needed a tackle.  No matter which one they took, there was some downside.  To be honest, I'd rather have Monroe, but it's hard to kill them for this pick.

Round 2, Pick 38 - Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

Why did he slip so far?  I have no clue.  It's possible that what they say is true.  That he freelances far too much and always looks for a big hit.  Some teams were probably scared by some off the field incidents in his past.  I'm sure some Bengals fans are tired of guys with character concerns, and I am too for the most part.  However, this guy has a chance to be a star.  His production at the college level was insane.  He's a highly competitive, alpha male type that every defense needs to be elite.  None of us know how he'll pan out as a pro, but if he's out of the league in five years I'm not going to say we shouldn't have drafted him.  Quite possibly the happiest I've ever been for a Bengals draft pick.

Round 3, Pick 70 - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

I wasn't a fan of this pick to be honest.  The guy has a load of potential but never really came close to putting it all together.  To me, he's a poor man's Robert Geathers.  Both can wow you with their athletic ability but aren't really great football players.  The Bengals certainly need a pass rusher, and he can be great in that role.  I wouldn't bet on him ever being a reliable pro, however.

Round 3, Pick 98 - Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri

This was a guy I was really hoping the Bengals would draft.  He's a physical freak at tight end.  He's not the most fluid athlete but has such a large frame that he's almost impossible to miss.  He has excellent hands and is great when the ball is in the air.  For as big as he is he's a terrible blocker but I'm totally fine with that.  Fact is you know exactly what you are getting with this kid.  I'm sure Carson is a happy man tonight knowing he's finally got his receiving tight end.

Round 4, Pick 106 - Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas

I'm a fan of an SEC team so I watch a lot of SEC football.  I like this guy a lot.  He's got good but not great size.  He's not going to blow you off the ball but he is still an effective blocker.  What really excites me about him is what people say about his intelligence.  To me, that's such a huge key at center, especially playing Pittsburgh and Baltimore four times a year.  I'm a bit concerned about his ability to handle the mammoth NT's of the AFC North, but you could certainly do worse in the fourth round. 

Round 5, Pick 142 - Kevin Huber, P, Cincinnati

Normally, I'd rail pretty hard on drafting a punter, quite possibly the most fungible position in football, in the fifth round.  But you know what?  I don't care.  I hate Kyle Larson that much.  He was probably the worst punter in the league last year.  It always seemed as if opposing returners had 15 yards of space every time they caught the ball, mainly due to his lack of hang time.  

Round 6, Pick 179 - Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan

I really don't know much about him but some friends said that he regularly got torched in college, which means he'll battle Leon Hall for the "Michigan Alum Who Regularly Gets Torched" award.  Darrelle Revis, how I long for you so.

Round 6, Pick 209 - Bernard Scott, RB, Albeline Christian

Remember when I said I was OK with the Maualuga gamble because he could be a star?  Well, this is the exact opposite of that.  There's no need for your third back to have these sorts of character issues.  Who Dey NYC already covered this a bit, so I'll refrain from saying any more than this: the guy punched one of his coaches.  Odell never even did that.  I'd bet he would if one of them complained about him cutting line at a water park though.

Round 7, Pick 215 - Fui Vakapuna, FB, BYU

Does this move put Jeremi Johnson on notice?  Was there a reason to resign the Round Mound of Letdown anyway?  No, probably not.  I don't have much of an opinion on this pick, because I don't spend much time scouting Mountain West fullbacks and ESPN Insider doesn't have any information on him. 

Round 7, Pick 249 - Clinton McDonald, DE, Memphis

Round 7, Pick 252 - Freddie Brown, WR, Utah

I've got nothing for either of these guys.  ESPN Insider's short blurb on Brown sounds farily promising.  It reads, "Brown possesses excellent size and good overall ball skills. He also flashes the ability to make the tough catch. However, he lacks the top-end speed to stretch the field and needs some refining with his overall route-running." 

A 7th round wideout from a western school who lacks elite speed but is willing to make the tough catches?  It's certainly worked out in the past.

Comments

[Robinsgr]

Everyone speculated the Bengals would take Smith, but with Monroe still available, I would have preferred to see him picked. Monroe knows how to pass block and does not have the character issues. No one expected Rey Maualuga to still be on the board in the second round. I think the Bengals were surprised as well and took the best player available. He could give the defense the attitude it has lacked for years. I would have preferred the best center in the third round because this draft was loaded at the tight end position.

[Robinsgr]

Additionally, I believe Huber is a two-time All American punter. If you have ever seen him kick, he drives the ball like he hits it with a sledge hammer. He could definitely be an upgrade if he punts as well as he has in the past. We all know the Bengals punt too many times a game, so I think this was a good value in the fifth round.

[Ben]

When I first heard we picked up Maualuga in the second round, I pictured him and Rivers gang-tackling Hines Ward from opposite directions, one going high, one going low, and separating his torso from the lower half of his body. While I don't know what that says about my mental stability, it means I like this pick.

[Rich]

Good post. I was sure that the Bengals would draft Wells or another running back very high. In the past, they seemed to have picked position players when they should have picked boring linemen and the like. That's part of the reason they are in this mess now. But, they seemed to make some smart picks and I hope that Huber can make the roster.

[The Real Tyke Beasly]

Have to say I'm pretty happy with the draft. I don't know why Maualuga was there, but glad he was, though I would've taken Laurinitis instead if he hadn't gone two picks before. The best late round pick for us is Kevin Huber, the punter from UC. I watched 3 or 4 UC games on T.V last year and each time I was amazed by at least one of the kicks this kid made. Not only can he bomb it when pinned back, it seems he can drop it inside the 15 at will from almost anywhere on the field. He was the best punter in the NCAA last year for a reason. I don't care what happens in camp, this kid better be our punter this year.

[SM]

Top to bottom, easily our best draft since 2001 and probably the best since the days of Anthony Munoz. Unlike most people here, I would have drafted Andre Smith over all other tackles. Yeah, he's definitely a better fit at RT, but I think Anthony Collins can play LT and we need a "road-grader" to help us run the ball. Smith is probably the best run-blocking OT to come out in the last five years.

Maualuga in the 2nd round was a dream I dared not dream, but it's probably the most excited I've been about the Bengals since January of 2006 (not much worth cheering for since). Michael Johnson is totally worth the gamble in the 3rd round, and Chase Coffman will start by next season. Oh, and the punter is totally legit. My only problem with this draft is the THUG from Abilene Christian. Pointless pick that could blow up in their face, per usual.

[stripedwarrior]

Count me as another fan that was pleasantly surprised. As soon as Alex Mack went off the board, I wanted the Bengals to trade up and grab Wood, though I knew it would not happen. I also wanted Unger, when it came time for our 2nd round, but will not complain about someone that adds intensity to our D.
I was acutally in the minority on picking Huber in the 5th. That is when I had told my brother we should grab him. I believe another punter went off the board shortly after that, so they did real good with this pick.
I can only hope that Johnson, Coffman and Luigs can become the players that we need. Many seem to think so. Not real familiar with any, but I did see Coffman a few times last season and remember thinking that he could be a nice target for Carson.
Not sure what it is that they saw in Trent, or Scott. Scott has the potential to be another PR nightmare. Trent could very well be the next CB to be named toast.
The fullback, will either take Johnson's spot, or give him the motivation to be the player that he can be.
When it comes to the comp picks, at the end of the draft, I think you can pretty much throw a half dozen names in a hat, pull one out, and hope you get lucky. In the past, I think MB did this with all day 2 picks.

[KYCATS]

Great post, thank you for giving the Bengals credit when deserved. I am cautiously optimistic, like last year, that we have a shot to be decent this year.

Maualuga is a beast. Period. On NFL Network, John Gruden was going crazy when the Bengals picked him... said he was going to be NFL defensive rookie of the year... wants to buy his jersey.

Ray dropped because he ran a 4.8 at the combine. To that point, I would note he weighs 260. Dhani weights 230. If he dropped a few lbs, i'm sure he could run 4.6... i don't think that's a big deal. The OSU guy can't hold a candle to this talent level. If you need any verification of that, rewind to anytime a big 11 team plays USC (or the SEC for that matter).

[Lloyd Christmas]

Hey Showtime, what SEC team do you root for out of curiosity?

[JohnnyHollywood]

Please don't praise mike brown. Nothing has changed. The best
part of the draft was when we got F. Brown. That's right F Brown.

[Michael Rabiner]

Top to bottom this draft was almost flawless. I may eat my words in a few years, but based on what was needed, this was not a home run, but a grand slam.

Andre Smith left the combine because he was frustrated with himself. He made an immature decision, and he fired his trainer and focused on preparing for pro-day over the next two weeks. Watching extensive tape on Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe and Big Andre, the other two aren't in his league. Not even close. I dont care what anyone says, I have played football at the collegiate level and watched a lot of tape in my day. Andre Smith made a few bad decisions and was penalized for it. He was widely considered to be a top 3 pick locked-down, until this immaturity surfaced. Jason Smith is a former TE who will never be a dominating drive blocker, and frankly his feet are average for a T his size. Eugene Monroe is a poor man's D'Brickashaw or Brandon Albert at best. Not bad, but not in Andre Smith's league.

Forget about it. The kid is a competitor, and he plays with a fire under his ass. He finishes aggressively, knows his assignments, and will pave the way for a run game that will in turn open up our play action game (which any fan with half of a brain knows that is what opened up the deep ball in 2005... you have to have a run threat to go deep, and keep the secondary on their heels.) Not to mention having a big-bodied Tight End with soft hand ala Mark Bavaro. Coffman will be a beast once he improves his blocking, but when he was given the shot to get dirty in the trenches he blocked well.

Rey Maualuga. What else can I say. I screamed like a little bitch when I saw his name come over the screen as our selection in Rd 2. I did a Tribal dance of sorts... I think he fell because of lack of "measurables" after tweaking his hammy at the combine, but do you really care how many reps he had on 225 or what his 40 time is? Nonsense... watch the tape. He routinely makes plays and is always around the ball, and plays with an intensity that is unparalleled. This attitude will be contagious, and that alone is worth the pick. I prefer my middle linebacker doesn't know who joe biden is, and scored poorly on the wonderlic. As my legendary college football coach Dick Farley noted, "intelligence and football talent are typically negatively correlated. That's why you guys play for Williams College. There is no division 4."

Michael Johnson was a consensus top 10 pick, that will be justified on 3rd downs rushing the passer, and on special teams blocking kicks if NOTHING ELSE. His upside is ridiculous, and he's a classy guy with great work ethic, and just needs to coached a little more and bulk up to be a three-down STUD.

A punter at 5 is an upgrade that i figure will be good for a net 30 more yards per game, which is excellent. Most fifth rounders are out of the league in 2 years. Good bet.

After that, who cares. If Fui can make a straight man out of Daniel Coats and force Jeremi Johnson to lay off the krispy kremes for 4 weeks than that pick was worth it. Bernard Scott is 25 years old, and has been convicted of punching a coach (which is bs, if you read more about it the coach was trying to break up a fight between Scott and another player.) This happens in football, and Im sure he didnt mean to hit the coach. So he's nuts. Join the crowd... he stole an iPod? At least hes not driving drunk selling/doing drugs and beating women. At the end of the day he is now a 25 year old man who will sit on the practice squad. A non-event.

I am typically as critical as every writer on this site, but this draft was almost flawless. No kudos to Mike Brown, but Marvin and Mike Zimmer clearly did some homework. Even if they were lucky to have these guys fall into their laps, they didn't shit the bed and they executed the right picks that mattered. UPTICK. Who-Dey...

[BengalAnthony13]

This was a great draft. Between the draft and free agency I count 10-11 upgrades of the 22 starting positions (not counting an upgrade at Punter) from the 2008 roster. RB, FB, LT, C, RT, TE, DT, MLB, SAM LB, FS and P. DE could be an upgrade depending on Michael Johnson's production. I was happy to see that they didn't let Center go by the wayside in the draft. Yes, Luigs isn't in the class of Mack, Wood and Unger but the guy can play. Their first 5 picks in this draft were stellar.

[BenzooPeesOnMikeBrown]

Hilarious, hilarious stuff. Funnier than watching pathetic Cubs fans (their team is actually *good* lately)
You suckers really do deserve a good swift kick from Mike Brown. And he'll be happy to oblige. The Bungles will be lucky to win 4 games this year.

[eric]

This was a great draft! Let's not forget we still have daddy warbucks as an owner and not get to excited until he forks over the money these players are asking for.

[WCH]

Yup! He's the worst owner... he has presided over a 900% increase in the value of his team -- through no action of his own.