Combine Wrap Up and Major Shakeups

The 2007 NFL combine is in the books at last and now it is full speed ahead to April's draft. It was an exciting and memorable six days. If you tuned in on NFL network you were rewarded with seeing a 6' 5" 239 lb monster that is Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson run a freakishly fast 4.35 forty yard dash with a borrowed pair of shoes. If you tuned in longer you watched Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn's stock disappear like Britney Spear's hair. Seriously, what was she thinking? Anyway, the combine answered a lot of questions about how the draft will play out and maybe I can shed some light on the other picks the Bengals have after the 18th overall pick.

First of all, the group that surprised me the most beyond a shadow of a doubt is the defensive backs. They must have been born in the back of a '69 Chevelle while going 95 miles per hour down the freeway because they arrived at the combine saying "I wanna go fast." I'm sure Ricky Bobby would be proud. I expected the 40 times to slow for this years crop of cornerbacks, especially because the projected top corner, Leon Hall, was supposed to run between a 4.45 and 4.5. Instead Hall ran a 4.39 and cemented himself as a lock for the first round a showed he has the ability to excel in the NFL. Times were fast across the board with 8 defensive backs running under 4.4. Saftey LaRon Landry's 4.35 elevated him into the top ten so Bengal's fans can say good bye to the possibility of drafting that L.S.U. Tiger.

However a recent development out of Cincinnati changes everything significantly. Linebacker Brian Simmons was cut by the team earlier today in a move that came about strictly for cap space. Simmons' salary did not match his declining production as of late and something had to be done. How can one linebacker change the entire out-look on the offseason? It enough for me to take everything I said about the inactive free agency and a fore sure cornerback selection in the first round and throw it out the window. Now the Bengal's telephone wire will be buzzing with offers to free agents because of the increase in cap space and the possibility of Reggie Kelly, Kenny Watson, and Kevin Kaesviharn's deals not being done by the start of free agency.

This also means the first round draft pick is a toss up between a linebacker and a cornerback. Simmons departure means the next middle linebacker on the depth chart is Ahmad Brooks, a second year player. I'm not so sure if Brooks is ready to handle that responsibility just yet and I think the Bengals might feel the same way. Patrick Willis from Ole Miss is the best middle linebacker available in the draft and if he is there at 18, the Bengals will seriously consider it. However, the cornerbacks looked so strong at the combine that the linebacker pick may have to wait until the second round. Then the Bengals will hope that someone hasn't taken the fiery H.B. Blades from Pittsburgh off the board. Blades is the best linebacker name I've heard in a long time and his play matches it, fast and ferocious. Either way I think the first two picks are linebacker/cornerback for sure. I don't think the Bengals can afford to pick any other position.

Since the Bengals lack a third round pick, the next Bengals selection will occur on the second day of the draft in the 4th round. Another combine standout may last until then, but his performance this weekend may have him sneaking into the third round. That guy is Arizona running back Chris Henry (Not the wide receiver). The kid weighs 230 pounds and tied Adrian Peterson with a 4.4 forty. That is amazing for anyone that weighs that much. Chris Perry's injuries and the possibility of Kenny Watson not returning begs for a running back at this spot. I hope that Henry is there but if he isn't the Bengals might be interested in Cincinnati native Deshawn Wynn from Florida.

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm really started to get excited about all of the recent activity in the NFL. It is definitely an interesting time to be a Bengals fan.

Fasten Your Seatbelts and Buckle Your Chinstraps, The Combine is Here

Get ready, the much anticipated NFL scouting combine is here. Anticipation has been mounting over the past few weeks and it is finally time poke, prod, measure, time, and evaluate all the top draft picks in Indianapolis. A player's stock can rise or fall as unpredictably as the tides, but one thing you can count on this weekend is that the results will bring the draft picture into focus. We will know who is first round talent or a 7th round hopeful and who might be available at the important 18th pick in the draft. The Bengals will have their eyes on several players with a lot to prove this weekend. Who's showing at the combine will determine the Bengals selection? Lets take a look in the latest draft day profile.

Lets be honest, is there any possibility that the Bengals don't pick someone on defense? The Bengals '06 defensive unit was tied for bottom in the league in scoring and pass defense. Therefore a major overhaul is in need. So what has to happen for improvement in '07?

First of all, it starts up front with the defensive line. Recently, ends Justin Smith and Robert Geathers were locked in for 2007. Therefore, I don't think the Bengals will be partaking of the deep class of defensive ends in this year's draft. Sam Adams and John Thornton are getting up there in terms of age so there is a need to infuse some young talent at tackle. Look for the 19 year old Louisville tackle Amobi Okoye to get the most attention from the Cincinnati brass this weekend for a lot of reasons. Obviously he has a lot of tread on the tires being only nineteen and he has the smarts to graduate that fast. At 317 pounds, he has the size to plug up the middle against the run and he has the strength and speed to rush the quarterback.

David Pollack's possible career ending injury has left a hole in the hearts of all Bengals fans as well as a hole in the depth chart. I hope he has the ability to make a comeback and suit up as number 99 again, but I don't want him to end up in a wheel chair the rest of his life if he came back. This, along with Brian Simmon's age, garners the possibility of a linebacker selection at 18. I think there is only one linebacker that fits the bill for this team. He is physically gifted, a leader, and can be a dominant linebacker for a decade. He is simply known as the "Poz" at Penn State, but you may know him as Paul Posluszny. At the "Linebacker U" that is Penn State, Posluszny developed into such a play maker at outside linebacker that Penn State alumnus and Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham called him, "the best linebacker to ever play at Penn State." Consider him in the mold of A.J. Hawk in his instincts and nose for the ball and his stats and awards back it up. He is the winner of the Butkus award in 2005 and a two time winner of the Bednarik award for best linebacker and best defensemen, respectively.

A lot of questions circle the secondary this off season, questions that need to be answered. Who will take Tory Jame's starting spot? Will Deltha O'Neal be on the team in week one? If so, then will he return to his 2005 pro-bowl form? Will Madieu Williams stay at safety or will he make the transition to corner? Number 18 could be used to settle some of those questions with the corners available. All though this year's corner class isn't as strong as last year's class, there is a possibility for the Bengals to find a Jonathan Joseph clone. Michigan's Leon Hall and Pitt's Darrelle Revis are considered the cream of this year's crop, but they need to have strong showings at the combine to be considered. Hall's stock fell after mediocre wide receivers burned him all day at the senior bowl. A fast 40 time would fix that real quick but I don't see him breaking 4.45. Revis needs to show that his punt return against West Virginia in 2006 wasn't a fluke and that he can cover the big time receivers in the NFL. If Madieu Williams makes the switch to corner, a safety would be needed to fill his spot. The Bengals want a dominant, hard hitting safety that changes the game when he is in the lineup. Florida's Reggie Nelson or L.S.U.'s LaRon Landry could become a player like Bob Sanders or Ed Reed for the secondary.

Playing Tag

It looks like the Bengals are getting ready to play tag this offseason, franchise tag that is. With so many key players slated to become free agents in a few weeks, the front office is preparing to roll out the tag for one player to guarantee a one year tender for that player. The front runner for it looks to be Justin Smith, edging out starting guard Eric Steinbach.

Should the Bengals decide to slap the tag on Smith, it will greatly effect the way the offseason plays out for the team for many reasons. The tag would cost the Bengals 8.6 million for one year, the average for the top five defensive ends in the league. This means that the team would have less than ten million in cap room and with the necessity for signing draft picks, it leaves them without the space for a big name free agent like Asante Samuel or Adalius Thomas.

Should Smith not be tagged, the team will be forced to look for a replacement in the first round of the draft. However, with Smith tagged for '07, the draft board changes dramatically. It would give the Bengals the ability to draft the best defensive player available instead of being limited to picking an end that might not be worth the pick. Picking the best player available is very important this year because the Bengals are without a third round pick due to the Ahmad Brooks supplemental draft selection.

Tagging Smith makes a lot of sense to me because even though he has never been the home run hitter on defense, he has always been solid in pass rush and run defense. Even though a big free agent would help, it would not help as much in the long run as building through the draft. A guy like Paul Posluszny could be the staple of the linebacker corps in Cincinnati for a decade and he might be available at 18. Without Smith tagged, the proclaimed "best linebacker ever to play at Penn State" would have to slide right by the Bengals because of the need for an end.

Manning, Colts give Bengals Something to Aim For

While watching the game in the dorm, I had to endure the Colts and Bears faithful screaming up and down the halls at every big play. Part of me was jealous because I haven't been able to watch the Bengals in the Super Bowl since I was one year old. I wanted the opportunity to see my team in the biggest game on the biggest stage of all. Some Bengals fans will resent their neighbor to the west for winning the most coveted trophy in all of sports, but something good did come from the game last night for Cincinnati. It shed light on the path to the Super Bowl and how to do it.

Consider this: The Colts have an All-Pro Quarterback, two Pro-Bowl receivers, a solid running game, a veteran offensive line, and a defense that just two years ago was surrendering 370.6 yards per game. Sound familiar? It should, its the Bengals of 2006.

The Bengals have an All-Pro Quarterback, one Pro-Bowl receiver, one receiver that should be, a Pro-Bowl running back, a veteran offensive line, and a defense that allowed 355.1 yards per game this year.

What has made the Colts champions two years later? It has to come down to two things: the concept of team first and a defense that plays solid and won't lose the game for you.

Tony Dungy and Bill Polian, the Colts president, worked together to build a defense full of talented players with the intention of propelling them into the NFL title game along with the already established offense. Players like Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney, and Robert Mathis were all on that defensive unit in 2004 that allowed 370.6 yards per game, but all of these players headline their defense that shut down Larry Johnson, Steve McNair, the New England running backs, and the entire Chicago offense. I guess this shows you what two years of playing with the same guys will do. The defense simply needed time to gel and learn each other's tendencies so they could compliment each other and the desire to perform up to their potential for their teammates.

Tony Dungy convinced his players to play as a team instead of individuals. This isn't just limited to the defense. Peyton Manning didn't need to have the ball in his hands on every play to prove himself. He gladly handed it off to Joseph Addai or Dominic Rhodes and watched them tear up the Bears for 190 yards on the ground. Both of his receivers don't complain for the ball because they understand that they can't have it all the time. To every member of the roster, the Super Bowl wasn't the Peyton Manning show or the Joseph Addai show, it was the Colts show.

The Bengals envy the Colts because they are where the Bengals want to be. They are what the Bengals want to become. Maybe it clicked for some of the Bengals as they were watching the game last night, realizing that is what it takes to hold up the Lombardi trophy. The Bengals are where the Colts were, now they have to take the next step and follow their lead. The Super Bowl is not that far off for Cincinnati, can you feel it yet?

Pondering Free Agency and Super Bowl

While most of the states of Indiana and Illinois are paying close attention to the news generating from South Florida, every one else in the NFL is looking forward to March and the start of free agency. It is just enough excitement to keep NFL fan's attention until the draft in April, especially with the amount of big name players that don't have a contract after this season ends. As of right now, the Bengals have 16.6 million in cap room to play around with this off season, but most of that has to be left over for draft picks and re-signing important guys in house like Reggie Kelly and Kenny Watson. However that should leave enough for one or two key signings to take place in the coming months. Who are possible targets for Coach Lewis? Lets take a look.

Asante Samuel: CB, New England Patriots
-Ball-hawking corner that would fit right in with the Bengal's opportunistic defense.

Lance Briggs: OLB, Chicago Bears
-Pro-Bowl linebacker that pairs with Brian Urlacher to make Chicago's defense one of the most dominant in the league.

Adalius Thomas: OLB, Baltimore Ravens
-Plays and excels at every position on defense. Therefore his presence would be felt in the run game and the pass game. He would fill the vacancy left by David Pollack at strong side linebacker very well.

Daniel Graham: TE, New England Patriots
-Solid receiving tight end that will likely hit the market due to Ben Watson's success and the drafting of David Thomas last year.

Eric Johnson: TE, San Fransisco 49ers
-Another solid tight end that is on his way out of the Bay Area because of up-and-coming Vernon Davis.

Jerramy Stevens: TE, Seattle Seahawks
-He has fallen out of favor in Seattle with his constant drops and lackadaisical play. Could he make a comeback in Cincinnati?

Dwight Freeney: DE, Indianapolis Colts
-I honestly don't see Freeney hitting the free agent market without the Colts making a serious run at him. I wouldn't count on him landing in Cincy even if he does hit the market because of a high price tag even though his freakish speed would do the defense wonders.

Nate Clements: CB, Buffalo Bills
-Young corner with a lot of talent and two Pro Bowl selections. Need I say more?

Wouldn't it be great if all these guy wound up in the queen city in '07? Of course. Is it likely? Not at all. Keep in mind that only one, two, or none of these players end up in stripes next year because the Bengals usually prefer to build through the draft and not pay top dollar for established veterans.

Draft Day Note: If Asante Samuel or Nate Clements is picked up in free agency, the team should try to pick up Amobi Okoye, a 19 year old defensive end from Louisville, in the first round. Right now he is projected to fall in the first 10-20 picks in the draft and the Bengals pick 18th. However, the combine will give him a chance to up his stock even more after an impressive Senior Bowl. I still think getting a dominant corner is top priority though.

A Midwestern Guy's Thoughts on a Midwestern Super Bowl:
I live in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU campus and most of the students here are either Colts fans (Central and Southern Indiana) or Bears fans (Northern Indiana and Chicago Suburbs) so you can image the war of words being fought in the class room and all around campus the past two weeks. Colts fans think Rex Grossman (a Bloomington native) is more a "Gross Man" than the Sexy Rexy he was known as during his high school days. Bears fans can't wait to see Peyton Manning crumble in the big game against their hero, Brian Urlacher, and his defense. With all these predictions, how does a neutral member of campus feel? A lot of people expect a high scoring game from the Colts offense but I think the score will end up being closer to 20-17 or 17-10. It will be a slow boring game because both teams will try to run the ball to control the clock, especially the Bears to keep the vaunted Indy offense off the field. However I think Indy pulls it out in a close one because of Peyton Manning's will. It is finally time for him to display his prowess on the biggest stage of all and he will not let his team or himself down.