No position on the Bengals roster has more talent and more questions than the Bengals running backs.  Without the addition of a Shaun Alexander, Rudi Johnson is all but assured of a roster spot.  Kenny Watson’s versatility and special team’s play likely give him a spot as well.  Knowing the team is unlikely that leaves Perry and DeDe Dorsey battling for the playmaking running back spot.  If Kenny Irons recovers from his knee injury he will also be in the 3rd running back mix (more likely he will be a PUP candidate).

Welcome back Perry but you know nothing is guaranteed anymore, your first round status is a distant memory.  To make this team you will need to prove you can survive the rigors of the NFL season.   Here’s to hoping the 2005 Perry makes a 2008 his comeback season.

 P.S.

The best non-story of the OTA’s is the lack of a Chad Johnson storyline.  It is remarkable how quiet Ocho has been now that the draft has past and the line is officially drawn in the sand.  Sadly, I have likely jinxed myself by writing this.

Cincinnati Bengals 2008 Undrafted Free Agents:

CB/S Simeon Castille, Alabama - The biggest name player among the undrafted, Castille will benefit from his ability to play both CB and S.  He is a physical player with excellent awareness but his lack of speed will make it an uphill battle.

G/T James Blair, Western Michigan - A huge prospect at 6′3 323, Blair is a developmental type who was recruited as a DT before switching to offensive line after his freshman year.  He projects as a guard and is known for his strong run blocking skills.  This mauler may get my vote as the UFA’s best chance to make the roster.

WR Travis Brown, New Mexic0 - A late addition after getting an early heave ho from the Seahawks.   Solid possession type at 6′2 202 coming off a strong senior season in which he caught 76 passes for 1031 yards and 6 TDs.

G/C Justin Britt, Alabama - Has a chance because center is the weakest and thinnest unit on the offensive line.

RB Brad Glatthaar, Cincinnati

RB James Johnson, Kansas State

FB Tyler Whaley, Ohio State

LB Anthony Hoke, Cincinnati

DT Michael Marquardt, Arizona State

WR Clyde Logan, Idaho State

LB Dan Howell, Washington

In addition to these eleven, Bengals.com is reporting the team is nearing an agreement with WR Maurice Purify out of Nebraska.  Purify is a name many will recognize as he is a talented player with excellent size at 6′3 224.  He is known for making big plays esp. in the red zone.  He is coming off a senior season in which he caught 57 passes for 814 yards and 9 touchdowns.  In addition to his talent, Purify has character concerns resulting from two arrests prior to the 2007 season.  Before anyone (all the networks and PFT) gets too carried away, remember he would be an undrafted free agent (not a 1st rounder like Aqib Talib or a 3rd rounder like Mario Manningham) on a very short leash and a major uphill battle to make the team.

With all the negative press the team has taken on the character front, signing Alexander isn’t out of the question just not likely.  If he is willing to take a small deal in the $1.5 million or less range for a chance to show his wares, he could be worth a look but I doing it at Rudi’s expense would be a mistake.  In the end, remember the Bengal’s struggles running the football last year had as much to do with the offensive line’s struggles (esp. Willie’s injury) as it did with Rudi being injured.

Overall, I give the Bengals draft a B.  Not bad, not spectacular and definately not aggressive but there is some definate talent at positions of need.   Below are breakdowns of the individual day two selections.

3a. Pat Sims, Auburn - Has better size than Ellis and Laws and has the talent to be a top notch defensive tackle.  He has a quick burst and can get into opposing backfields (11.5 TFL).  Should be able to push the pocket and get after the passer a little as well (4.5 sacks).  His quickness should be a good compliment to Domata Peko.  His motor is a little bit of a concern but he has tremendous upside.  Personally I had him as the 5th best DT in the draft.

3b. Andre Caldwell, Florida - If you flip flop the Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell picks, the Bengals draft looks a lot better.  That isn’t a knock on Simpson so much as a sign of what kind of value the team received with Caldwell.  Graded as a 2nd or 3rd rounder, Caldwell has had tremendous post-season workouts.  Has good size at 6′0, 204 and deep speed (4.37 40).  Displays great run after catch skills.  Also, has good kickoff return potential.

4. OT Anthony Collins, Kansas - After watching 8 tackles get selected in round 1, it is amazing that the team was able to get a quality tackle like Collins in round 4.  Some mocks had Collins going as early as 27th overall to San Diego and ranked the6th best OT by Sports Weekly and 7th best by NFLDraft101 and PFW.  Has experience at left tackle but he is a better fit as a RT or G.  

5. DT Jason Shirley, Fresno State - A bit of a risky pick that looks worse when you consider fellow big bodies Athyba Rubin and Frank Okam were still on the board.  Shirley is has excellent athleticism and upside for a 6′5 335 pounder but his character issues will lead to strong criticism (well deserved from what I can tell).  Despite the character issues remember this is a boom-bust 5th round pick not a 2nd or 3rd rounder.  

6a. S Corey Lynch, Appalacian State - A solid 6th round pick who will join Dexter Jackosn, 2007 4th rounder Marvin White and 7th rounder Chinedum Ndukwe in a competitive safety competition.  Lynch has excellent intangibles and will likely make his biggest impact on special teams.  Most famous for blocking the kick that clinched the win over Michigan.

6b. TE Matt Sherry, Villanova - After becoming shellshocked by the failures of Matt Schoebel and Sean Brewer in recent years, the Bengals finally drafted a TE.  Sherry is a receiving tight end with good size and speed.  With the signing of Ben Utecht, Sherry faces long odds in making the roster.  Could be a good prospect to stash on the practice squad for a year.

7a. DE Angelo Craig, Cincinnati - An undersized defensive end with a nose for the quarterback.  A good value pick in round 7.

7b. WR Mario Urrutia, Louisville - Another solid 7th round pick.  Urrutia was on the cusp of stardom after a stellar sophomore season only to struggles with injuries as a junior.  Probably should have stayed another year but he is a nice big receiver who would make a nice red zone target but will need to earn his stripes on special teams.  At 6′5 232 he could be a combo WR/TE if he bulks up a little. 

With Ellis no longer on the board at #9, the Bengals did not panic and take a running back or offensive tackle.  Knowing their defense needed help, they stayed on that side of the ball and selected the top linebacker in the draft, Keith Rivers out of USC.   With Ellis off the board, this was probably the best pick the Bengals could have made although Channel 19 in Cincinnati reported the team did pass on at least one offer to trade down.  Rivers is capable of playing all three linebackers spots and will likely start on the weakside.  On the plus side is Rivers’ athleticism and leadership skills.  On the negative side, he was probably the 3rd best of USC’s linebackers last season (behind Brian Cushing and Ray Maleauga).   All in all a good quality pick esp. if he can develop into the vocal leader the team and defense desperately needs.

In round 2, the Bengals made one of the draft’s most questionable day one decisions in selecting WR Jerome Simpson out of Coastal Carolina.  Casual Bengal fans were perturbed instantly not because the team selected a wide receiver but because they took one many had never heard of when Limas Sweed, Early Doucet and Malcolm Kelly were still on the board.  While we could question the merit of taking Simpson over the more familiar names, the more questionable decision was selecting a wide receiver when DT Trevor Laws was still on the board.  Laws is a poor man’s Sedrick Ellis, had a late 1st/early 2nd round grade and would have filled the defense’s need for a penetrating defensive tackle.  (Hint: this has been the defense’s biggest weakness for a decade).   Looking at the number of quality wideouts still on the board should have been a signal to the team they could have found a quality receiver in round 3 (probably Simpson).  The round 3 selections at defensive tackle aren’t nearly as inspiring.  It was a bad time for Mike Brown to implement his alternating offense and defensive picks strategy. 

Before we come down too hard on Simpson take a moment to read some of the scouting reports and watch the highlights on SI.com.  All in all, Simpson has a good combination of size and speed (6′1 and 4.4) and is esp. known for his excellent hands, work ethic and character.  On the negative side, his route running needs some work and he is not much of a blocker.  My favorite scouting report is from Pro Football Weekly’s Draft Guide:

Has huge hands, very long arms and can catch a B.B. in the dark…..Outstanding leaping ability…..great competitor.  Outstanding work ethic.  Team Player

All in all, Jerome Simpson is a pretty good player with tremendous upside. 

On day two the Bengals have 8 selections and at least 1 will be a defensive tackle (hopefully their 1st 3rd rounder).  A couple of  names to keep an eye on in round 3 are DT Pat Sims, DT Dre Moore, S DaJuan Morgan and RB Kevin Smith.  Also remember, the Bengals under Marvin Lewis have traditionally made their best picks in round 4.

Follow all the Bengals selections live on NFLDraft101.com’s Live Draft Coverage

While the team has set its eyes set on Sedrick Ellis to cure their interior woes, the team will likely need to move up to get him as New Orleans at #10 has similar ideas. If the team does not get Ellis in round 1, defensive tackle becomes a near must pick in round 2 as the talent drop-off at D-tackle is significant after the top six. In round 2 the team could possibly select Auburn’s Pat Sims, Maryland’s Dre Moore or with some luck Notre Dame’s Trevor Laws. Aside from whether or not Chad will get traded the other big questions on draft day will be what if Ellis is not on the board at #9 and how early does the team select a wide receiver. Personally, if Ellis is not there at #9 I would look at trade down options to acquire an additional 2nd or 3rd round pick. Teams picking between 11-15 will be fighting over the offensive tackle prospects and the Bengals could move down while still positioning themselves to draft the #3 DT in the draft Kentwan Balmer. Taking an offensive tackle when you have Levi Jones, Willie Anderson and Stacy Andrews with high cap figures already doesn’t make a lot of sense (don’t forget 2006 2nd rounder Andrew Whitworth either). #9 is too early to take a WR. LB Keith Rivers and DE Derrick Harvey are other possibilities.

All in all, not getting the DT in round one will limit the team’s ability to take advantage of an offensive player (preferably WR) who slides to them in round 2 (they need a DT in rounds 1 or 2). All in all expect at least 2 if not 3 defensive players to be selected with the team’s 4 selections in the first three rounds. If the team wants to select a WR and a RB in the first three rounds it is in their best interests to find a way to acquire an extra pick among the top 95. Also, be aware there should be good talent available at WR, RB and LB in round 3. Here’s to hoping Chad gets traded (we just don’t have the leaders in our locker room to ride out this potential storm).

Enjoy the draft. Check out NFLDraft101.com for live draft coverage this weekend. Interact with the staff at NFLDraft101.com (including yours truly) as we provide pick by pick analysis.

The top 10 picks from my latest three round mock draft are below: For the full draft click here (all Bengals selections are including at the bottom of the article).

1. Miami Dolphins - OT Jake Long, Michigan

2. St. Louis Rams - DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU

3. Atlanta Falcons - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College

4. Oakland Raiders - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas

5. Kansas City Chiefs - OT/OG Branden Albert, Virginia (I still think they need to take the tackle at #5)

6. New York Jets - DE/OLB Vernon Gholston

7. New England Patriots - DE Chris Long (if KC takes Long, then NE takes Albert or Clady in a surprise pick)

8. Baltimore Ravens - CB Leodis McKelvin

9. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sedrick Ellis - Does he make it to #9.

10. New Orleans Saints - LB Keith Rivers

Other Bengals picks:

Round 2: WR James Hardy - A big, fast receiver who will stretch defenses deep as a rookie while developing an all-around game. Needs to work on his route running. (Please don’t take Mario Manningham)

Round 3a: LB Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech - He may be a bit undersized but he is the type of playmaking linebacker the team lacks. His passion for the game is contagious.

Round 3b: DE Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest - Flying under the radar, Thompson is a good run-pass DE who could really develop at the next level. Would work well in a DE rotation.

From a draft prospective the team will be looking for a developmental nickel back to eventually replace Deltha O’Neal and possibly add a mid-late round safety to join in the competition.  Mid-round cornerback candidates could include Boise State’s Orlando Scandrick, Kent State’s Jack Williams  or Nebraska’s Zack Bowman.  Bowman in particular is an intriquing option as he was once considered a first round pick but knee injuries have dropped his stock.  His combination of size and speed would make an excellent fit in the team’s scheme.  At safety, don’t be stunned if the team jumps on DaJuan Morgan if he slips to round three.  He is a big hitter with tremendous upside.  Later round options (which are more likely) include Oklahoma’s DJ Wolfe, LSU’s Craig Steltz or Boston College’s Jamie Silva.  A deep sleeper who is flying under the radar and could be a Ndukwe-like 7th round find is “Pig” Brown out of Missouri - a good football player and big hitter coming off an achille’s injury.

Tomorrow, I will post my mock draft (conducted Tues. April 22nd) and don’t forget to check out NFLDraft101.com for live for pick by pick draft coverage Saturday and Sunday.  Stop by and interact with the staff at NFLDraft101.com including myself all weekend long.

For as much as we want Chad to return to the Ocho we once loved, reality says its not going to happen.  Furthermore, the Bengals aren’t the team to teach player’s a lesson about contracts.  The Bengals are already not in the best of graces with the media and this situation has had them unfairly painted in a bad light.  Furthermore, the Bengals locker room already has a fragile psyche and lack the locker room leaders needed to weather the storm of a likely T.O.-like situation with Chad (Willie, Carson, TJ, Reggie Kelly and Dhani Jones are good guys but not Boomer Esiason like leaders).   Watching highlights of Chad mouthing off to Carson and Marvin on the sidelines this past season were the clincher in deciding the team needs to take the best offer it can for Chad before the draft.  It is time to put the situation behind us and move on.   I firmly believe the Bengals will be a better team without Chad’s combustible personality and the distractions he brings when the going gets tough.  In the end, the Bengals would be smart to make this Carson’s team.  The past two season’s this has been to much about being Chad’s team.

 Washington made a quality offer for Chad’s services and while the team didn’t accept right away, we can only hope they are weighing other offers before finally saying good-bye to Ocho Cinco.   The cap hit is harsh at $8 million but should be workable for the league’s most conservatively managed cap.  Chad counts for approx $5.5 million even if he plays so all we are really talking about is $2.5 which can be accomplished by cutting or renegotiating an overpriced veteran (John Thornton?) or signing Stacy Andrews to a long-term deal (he’s currently a $7 million cap hit).  

One final parting shot, how could the Redskins have a $21 million guaranteed offer on the table if the Bengals have said Chad’s not going to be traded.  Didn’t the 49ers have to give up a draft pick for something along those lines.

Look for the Bengals to spend an early (1-3) and a late (4-7) draft pick in an attempt to continue rebuilding the linebacking unit.  While the team has utilized numerous picks on the linebacker position during the Marvin Lewis era, the team received marginal production at best.  Some players they could consider are Keith Rivers (1st), Jerod Mayo (2nd), Tavares Gooden (2nd-3rd), Erin Henderson (2nd-3rd), Xavier Adibi (2nd-3rd) and Jonathan Goff (2nd-3rd).  A few names to look at in the later rounds are BYU’s Bryan Kehl, BC’s Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Nebraska’s Steve Octavian and Clemson’s Nick Watkins.

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