Draft Grade
April 28th, 2008 by BrandonMost of the articles I’ve seen have given the Bengals somewhere around a C grade. I’d say C- to C if you’re being generous. This is a team with problems but they’ve started to rid themselves of that. Chris Henry is gone, a few other troublesome players are gone. Sure, there are still problems: Chad Johnson wants out, Levi Jones wants out (although he won’t make it the drama that the Johnson situation is).
The draft started out ok. They didn’t get Sedrick Ellis but I’m fine with Keith Rivers. He seems to be a talented guy who plays hard. I have no problem with having a guy on my team that people describe as “solid”. Then we get to round 2. They probably reached for Jerome Simpson but from what I understand, they really like him. If there is a guy you rate higher than everyone else, then you take him even if other players are there. With the other receivers falling, I have to imagine the Bengals thought they might still have a chance at one of them later (and they almost did).
They were able to grab guys at a few positions, although a few of the later picks will likely be helping on special teams. But that shouldn’t be looked at too badly. The Bengals were horrible on special teams last year. If any of these guys can come in and make a tackle or a big block on a return, all the better.
What I don’t understand at all are the picks of bad character players. How many times do the Bengals have to draft someone and then have to deal with their problems off the field? Maybe these guys have learned their lesson and we won’t be reading about them later. But I think I’ve hoped this before. Heck, I may have said that a time or ten about Chris Henry. I just don’t think the team needed this. After doing some good and getting rid of a few players, they go and bring in a couple of players with some of the same problems? I don’t get it.
I do think the team could have done more to maybe move up a time or two and get better quality players. I won’t get all down about reaching for Jerome Simpson, I will wait and see what he can do. I don’t know much about him so it’s just too early to say it was a bad choice. There were just several questionable choices here and if these guys don’t work out, something needs to be looked at and maybe they need to change how they scout and draft. The worst part about watching the draft was seeing other teams (like the Steelers) make good moves and get several players that could really help their teams.
Posted in Bengals Thoughts |
April 29th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I don’t understand why you are saying the Steelers made good moves on draft day. They just got lucky and had some big name players fall into their lap. It took no skill on their part to have Mendenhall fall to the 23rd slot, or Sweed at 53. Don’t give them credit for doing something special when they just got lucky.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:54 am
They drafted ONE guy in the fifth round that is a significant character risk. Pat sims gets docked for being a bad character guy because he left the team in his sophomore season because he was depressed about his sister dieing at the age of 34. She basicly raised him and he called her MOM. I can give him a pass for being depressed after losing the most important person in his life when she was just 34 years old.
Other than Shirley which was a pick where they gambled on talent, they drafted Caldwell, Rivers, Simpson, Lynch and Sherry (all team captains). Lynch has a physics degree, Sherry and Caldwell have college degrees and Rivers is three classes away from his diploma. They had 10 picks, 1 character risk and he was a fifth round selection. Give me a break this was a strong character draft with one knucklehead who, if he can get himself together, could be a Ted Washington type DT, he was the strongest player in the draft and they didn’t pick him until the 5th round.
Are the Bengals going to have to draft all Eagle Scouts from now on? Last I checked Carl Nicks got drafted (2 arrests) as did Malcom Kelly (multiple character issues) and Mario Manningham (pot and lied about to NFL teams) and all ahead of Shirley anyone dinging those teams? Did I see James Hardy get drafted? He had a domestic violence charge. This outrage over a fifth round pick is ridiculous.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I know Jerome Simpson personally and he is a terrific ball player. He has the skills and the ability to help the Bengals succeed. As far as character he is one of the most respectful young men that I have ever met and Jerome would be a asset to any NFL team. His stats speaks for itself.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:50 am
There was ONE bad character pick in the draft. Corey Lynch is married to Billy Graham’s daughter. Keith Rivers is an exceptional character, just read his blog http://www.yardbarker.com/users/KeithRivers … Simpson has no problems. I guess having a soul and caring about family is a knock on Sims. I mean who loves their sister??!!?
April 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I agree with the review…too many guys that have questions surrounding them.
And yes…until further notice teh Bengals should only pick Eagle Scouts. They have too many failed picks the last couple of years…they can not afford to take a chance on thugs and dead beats.