05-01-2016, 11:26 AM
Time for the first post-draft look at our roster. On the whole we seem to be in good shape, although lacking proven depth at WR and DE. Some spots (DT) are going to be a barfight to decide who we keep while others like OT seem pretty set.
Note that I haven't included UDFAs yet because they haven't been officially signed and I don't know enough about them to make any comments.
Starting with the Offence
QB
Dalton, McCarron, Wenning
We have a solid starter and a backup that can come in and win games if needed. Ideal.
RB
Jeremy Hill, Bernard, Burkhead, Peerman, Bronson Hill
Will Jeremy Hill get back to his best this year? We'll likely keep the same four as last year unless an UDFA comes in and makes a very strong run to unseat Peerman or Burkhead.
FB
Hewitt
Didn't have his best year last year, but with no apparent competition the question is really whether Zampese wants a FB on the roster or not. I'd say he's safe.
TE
Eifert, Kroft, Uzomah, Lengel, Peters
The Tylers are safe and you'd expect CJ Uzomah to be as well. Peters and Lengel are probably fighting for the PS unless an injury happens.
WR
Green, LaFell, Boyd, Alford, Tate, Wright, Kumerow, Core, Bennett
Wow this position is competitive. Behind the three locks of Green, LaFell and Boyd we really don't know what we have. Tate's place may depend upon Special Teams, while the other five WRs have the opportunity to earn a roster spot in camp.
OT
Whitworth, Ogbuehi, Fisher, Winston
We're set here. The only question is whether Ogbuehi or Fisher start the season at RT, but the clubhouse leader seems to be Big Ced.
G
Zeitler, Boling, Westerman, Hopkins
You have to feel for Trey Hopkins after his broken leg a couple of seasons ago hurt his chance to cement a spot on the roster. With the drafting of Westerman you have to think that Hopkins will be facing off against TJ Johnson for the final OL spot. If Boling is thought of as the backup C, you could even make a case for going with 8 OL...
C
Bodine, TJ Johnson
Russell Bodine has become public enemy number one with the Bengals faithful thanks to his weakness at the point of attack. However, there is no clear competition for him this year.
Defence
DL
Ends: Johnson, Dunlap, Hunt, Clarke
Tackles: Atkins, Peko, Sims, Thompson, Billings, Williams
Swing Man: Hardison
The team seem to see Hardison as being able to fulfil the Fanene/Gilberry role of coming inside on passing downs. The four ends look set as no competition was drafted - fingers crossed Hunt and Clarke fulfil their potential this year. Inside at tackle we have a real log jam with the huge potential of DeShawn Williams and Andrew Billings playing off against last year's backups in Thompson and Sims. Don't be surprised if one or both of Sims and Thompson fail to make the team.
LB
Burfict, Maualuga, Dansby, Rey, Dawson, Vigil, Flowers, Dimanche, Roach, Luc
Another position where we are set for starters and have plenty of competition for depth. Burfict is suspended for three games so there may be an extra spot for someone to fight for in the first three games. Flowers, Dimanche, Dawson and Vigil will need to show they are capable of playing to earn that final spot or two.
CB
Jones, Kirkpatrick, Dennard, Shaw, Lewis-Harris, Jackson, Brown
We are set at CB with four 1st-rounders, Shaw who can play corner or safety and the reliable Lewis-Harris who has shown he can come in and play a role in big games. The only question is whether we have the room to keep them all.
S
Iloka, Williams, Smith, Mays, Fejedelem, Raven
Mays starts the season suspended, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him cut when he becomes eligible. There's a real opportunity for Fejedelem to claim his spot in camp.
Special Teams
LS: Harris
P: Huber
K: Nugent, Hocker
Hocker is a camp body; these three positions are set.
Note that I haven't included UDFAs yet because they haven't been officially signed and I don't know enough about them to make any comments.
Starting with the Offence
QB
Dalton, McCarron, Wenning
We have a solid starter and a backup that can come in and win games if needed. Ideal.
RB
Jeremy Hill, Bernard, Burkhead, Peerman, Bronson Hill
Will Jeremy Hill get back to his best this year? We'll likely keep the same four as last year unless an UDFA comes in and makes a very strong run to unseat Peerman or Burkhead.
FB
Hewitt
Didn't have his best year last year, but with no apparent competition the question is really whether Zampese wants a FB on the roster or not. I'd say he's safe.
TE
Eifert, Kroft, Uzomah, Lengel, Peters
The Tylers are safe and you'd expect CJ Uzomah to be as well. Peters and Lengel are probably fighting for the PS unless an injury happens.
WR
Green, LaFell, Boyd, Alford, Tate, Wright, Kumerow, Core, Bennett
Wow this position is competitive. Behind the three locks of Green, LaFell and Boyd we really don't know what we have. Tate's place may depend upon Special Teams, while the other five WRs have the opportunity to earn a roster spot in camp.
OT
Whitworth, Ogbuehi, Fisher, Winston
We're set here. The only question is whether Ogbuehi or Fisher start the season at RT, but the clubhouse leader seems to be Big Ced.
G
Zeitler, Boling, Westerman, Hopkins
You have to feel for Trey Hopkins after his broken leg a couple of seasons ago hurt his chance to cement a spot on the roster. With the drafting of Westerman you have to think that Hopkins will be facing off against TJ Johnson for the final OL spot. If Boling is thought of as the backup C, you could even make a case for going with 8 OL...
C
Bodine, TJ Johnson
Russell Bodine has become public enemy number one with the Bengals faithful thanks to his weakness at the point of attack. However, there is no clear competition for him this year.
Defence
DL
Ends: Johnson, Dunlap, Hunt, Clarke
Tackles: Atkins, Peko, Sims, Thompson, Billings, Williams
Swing Man: Hardison
The team seem to see Hardison as being able to fulfil the Fanene/Gilberry role of coming inside on passing downs. The four ends look set as no competition was drafted - fingers crossed Hunt and Clarke fulfil their potential this year. Inside at tackle we have a real log jam with the huge potential of DeShawn Williams and Andrew Billings playing off against last year's backups in Thompson and Sims. Don't be surprised if one or both of Sims and Thompson fail to make the team.
LB
Burfict, Maualuga, Dansby, Rey, Dawson, Vigil, Flowers, Dimanche, Roach, Luc
Another position where we are set for starters and have plenty of competition for depth. Burfict is suspended for three games so there may be an extra spot for someone to fight for in the first three games. Flowers, Dimanche, Dawson and Vigil will need to show they are capable of playing to earn that final spot or two.
CB
Jones, Kirkpatrick, Dennard, Shaw, Lewis-Harris, Jackson, Brown
We are set at CB with four 1st-rounders, Shaw who can play corner or safety and the reliable Lewis-Harris who has shown he can come in and play a role in big games. The only question is whether we have the room to keep them all.
S
Iloka, Williams, Smith, Mays, Fejedelem, Raven
Mays starts the season suspended, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him cut when he becomes eligible. There's a real opportunity for Fejedelem to claim his spot in camp.
Special Teams
LS: Harris
P: Huber
K: Nugent, Hocker
Hocker is a camp body; these three positions are set.
