(Yesterday, 06:26 PM)Au165 Wrote: He will compete with the rookie and whoever else is still here come camp to start. They are essentially making sure they have bodies if the draft doesn’t shake out a specific way that they are comfortable starting.

Think Trent Brown last year.

Maybe, but they need two guards.

It is malpractice to go into the draft need two starting guards to protect the team's highest paid players.

Doubled by the money they put into Chase and Higgins, which is pointless if Burrow has no time or gets hurt.

I know that is not your position, just my frustration with the franchise, not to mention not helping the running and short yardage game...

(Yesterday, 05:20 PM)jj22 Wrote: Once again our coaches are doing the picking. I'm sure our Dline coach is familiar with him from GB, and our LB coach familiar with him from the Saints. Which makes sense, but this is what you get when you don't have scouts (and the one we do have needs to focus on the draft).

It would be nice to have a scouting department that could find talent that maybe coaches aren't familiar with or haven't worked with before. But much of what we are seeing isn't about signing a gem (if we aren't going with a known name), it's about familiarity. 

Do you have a source for who brought him in or is another one of your rants.

I have my concerns as well, but just because they are not getting your guy(s) does not end of our season.

(Yesterday, 06:23 PM)Synric Wrote: At the Combine Sawyer measured in with sub 32 inch arms. That's some of shortest arms I can remember on a draftable edge prospect.


I wonder if the NFL is going to take it with a grain of salt though because whoever was measuring OL at rhe combine was a solid half inch short on arms than what guys measured at both the Senior Bowl & East West Shrine.

Most likely different method of measurement. Not exactly sure how they do it at the All Star Games or the Combine, but it would seem to me to be an easy thing to standardize. Just have a graduated bar with a sliding perpendicular piece. Have the athlete stand palms against the wall and when the standard reaches the shoulder blade, lock it down and that's the measurement.

Imagine an old school draftsman's T-square, only longer and the "T" slides and can be secured into place.

The goal should still be an OL room where Patrick is the primary IOL reserve. Ford the secondary one.

LT: OBJ
LG: draft pick
C: Karras
RG: Moderate FA signing (Scherff, Hernandez, etc).
RT: Mims
----------
G3/C2: Patrick
OT3: ???
G4/OT4: Ford
------------
Let Volson, Lee, Kirkland, Stueber, & Cochran fight for the last 1-2 spots. Losers to the PS.

We probably view Ford as the swing tackle. Which is not good, IMHO.

(Yesterday, 12:12 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I am curious. What guard/OT who can play huard should we target?

Round 1 - 
Round 2- 
Round 3 -

1. I really don't have anyone here lol, mainly because I don't expect anyone to be targeted. I guess Booker, if one were to be drafted in the 1st.
2: Ratledge
3. Miles Frazier

A T that can slide over would also be possible, but I don't like our track record with that lol

I expect a Cody Ford type role for LP.
Versatile depth who may compete for a starting role.
If this is all that's done in FA for OL, I highly expect an IOL to be drafted to compete for one of the starting G spots.

(Yesterday, 07:14 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: 1. I really don't have anyone here lol, mainly because I don't expect anyone to be targeted. I guess Booker, if one were to be drafted in the 1st.
2: Ratledge
3. Miles Frazier

A T that can slide over would also be possible, but I don't like our track record with that lol

I will play: 

Rd1: Booker, or W. Campbell or Membou if you think they are guards not tackles. 

Rd2: Jackson, Zabel, Savaiinaea, Conerly, Mbou
Rd3: Ratledge, Grant
Day 3: Gray, Kandra, Fairchild

Again, some of those guys are OT conversions. Zabel & Jackson won't last till 49, but if we trade back they are options. 

If there us no one I think can really be a stud there at #17 (Walker at LB/Edge, Warren at TE, Johnson at CB, Campbell at LB, Emmanwori at S, Campbell/Membou at G), then I think about trading back. 

I think one of Starks, Booker, Nolen, Harmon, Grant, Zabel, or Jackson will still be there. If I get an extra Day 2 pick out of it, I am really happy. 

(Yesterday, 07:27 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I will play: 

Rd1: Booker, or W. Campbell or Membou if you think they are guards not tackles. 

Rd2: Jackson, Zabel, Savaiinaea, Conerly, Mbou
Rd3: Ratledge, Grant
Day 3: Gray, Kandra, Fairchild

Again, some of those guys are OT conversions. Zabel & Jackson won't last till 49, but if we trade back they are options. 

If there us no one I think can really be a stud there at #17 (Walker at LB/Edge, Warren at TE, Johnson at CB, Campbell at LB, Emmanwori at S, Campbell/Membou at G), then I think about trading back. 

I think one of Starks, Booker, Nolen, Harmon, Grant, Zabel, or Jackson will still be there. If I get an extra Day 2 pick out of it, I am really happy. 

Mbow is another in round 2 I'd be more than comfortable with: he looks great.

Campbell isn't going to make it to us IMO: if he does, I would race to the podium.

(Yesterday, 05:26 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I like it at that number. Patrick is a high-end, versatile backup or a low end starter. But is still an upgrade from Cappa, Volson, & Ford. When healthy, at least. There are durability concerns here. Cappa, Volson, Ford have been oretty durable, at least. And Patrick's pass pro grades have trended upwards the last 3 years.

I think Patrick is the #4 OL atm. We could cut Volson, though I think he sticks around through at least 1 more signing. Nothing about $2.1 mil prevents more signings or a draft pick. But he's an ideal backup: LG, C, RG experience. 

OTC/Spotrac have different Tee cap hits. OTC is lower this year and bigger next, while Spotrac is the opposite. 

Exactly, cheap and a low end starter at worst. But a very serviceable interior O-line depth piece for sure. Needs to stay healthy as you say
though, but he hasn't been near as banged up as Teven Jenkins or coming off an ACL tear like Hernandez. This is cheap enough to easily add
another Guard in FA which we should do just to give a guy a shot like Scherff or somebody who fits the scheme.

(Yesterday, 05:48 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I agree, seeing him as a top tier back up.

Hopefully the Bengals do not see him as the new starter...

We will see how the Draft rolls. But this is a very good insurance policy. Patrick doesn't let the QB get hit or sacked much no matter his rating.

And he is a decent run blocker.

(Yesterday, 06:26 PM)Au165 Wrote: He will compete with the rookie and whoever else is still here come camp to start. They are essentially making sure they have bodies if the draft doesn’t shake out a specific way that they are comfortable starting.

Think Trent Brown last year.

Nailed it as usual. Stays healthier than Trent Brown too and is younger, so upside if our new OL coach can get the best out of him.

I think they are relying on Peters being able to develop these guys whether we like it or not. Had to bring back our guys first I guess was
the major theme this FA and with this cheap pickup we can add another to compete for the other Guard spot along with a rookie from the 
Draft.

(Yesterday, 07:27 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I will play: 

Rd1: Booker, or W. Campbell or Membou if you think they are guards not tackles. 

Rd2: Jackson, Zabel, Savaiinaea, Conerly, Mbou
Rd3: Ratledge, Grant
Day 3: Gray, Kandra, Fairchild

Again, some of those guys are OT conversions. Zabel & Jackson won't last till 49, but if we trade back they are options. 

If there us no one I think can really be a stud there at #17 (Walker at LB/Edge, Warren at TE, Johnson at CB, Campbell at LB, Emmanwori at S, Campbell/Membou at G), then I think about trading back. 

I think one of Starks, Booker, Nolen, Harmon, Grant, Zabel, or Jackson will still be there. If I get an extra Day 2 pick out of it, I am really happy. 

They recently met with Conerly so maybe they think he can play guard.

There are some that think Josh Simmons could start out as a G if needed.

(11 hours ago)Goalpost Wrote: There are some that think Josh Simmons could start out as a G if needed.

He likely could, but do the Bengals want to risk another try on an injured OL?

(11 hours ago)pulses Wrote: They recently met with Conerly so maybe they think he can play guard.

To be frank, OBJ has not exactly knocked it out of the park at LT given his salary. A guy who can maybe play LT down the road, be OT3 and and candidate to start at guard right away makes a lot of sense. Campbel, Membou, Jackson, and Conerly all fit that profile. 

I am not wild about OT to G conversions. They do not always work (Carman, Jackson). But it is a real option. Still  I'd much rather have the guy I already know is great at what I want him to do: Warren, Johnson, Walker, J. Campbell, Emmanwori, etc. 

High draft pick at one G spot then Ford, Volson or Lucas at the other?

(11 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: He likely could, but do the Bengals want to risk another try on an injured OL?

You may be right.  But just to follow up....

Simmons, who's coming back from a torn patellar tendon, is believed to be ahead of schedule in his recovery and the expectation is he'll be ready for the start of the 2025 season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Rapoport noted that Simmons' medical reviews during the combine have gone very well.

We have signed unrestricted free agent G Lucas Patrick.

?: https://t.co/lTzEHLAzxL pic.twitter.com/jp2BxI4da1

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) March 21, 2025

Willie Lutz
@willie_lutz
There was a time when this fanbase was literally screaming for Quinton Spain from the tops of buildings.

They’re bringing in someone that’s basically the same level for a visit and so many of you are acting like they’re committing public murder.

Lucas Patrick is a seasoned pro.

This is a decent signing.

(10 hours ago)Soonerpeace Wrote: Willie Lutz
@willie_lutz
There was a time when this fanbase was literally screaming for Quinton Spain from the tops of buildings.

They’re bringing in someone that’s basically the same level for a visit and so many of you are acting like they’re committing public murder.

Lucas Patrick is a seasoned pro.

Well, he's been trending upward the last 3 years, according to PFF.  Perhaps he got stronger or figured things out, because 2024 was pretty good relative to 2023 and 2022 in terms of PFF grades and he had a pretty good year in terms of sacks and pressures allowed.  As one poster mentioned, he didn't seem to be on anybody's lips when free agency started, but if he plays up to 2024 standards then I think we would be delighted.

They still need 2 starting caliber guards. If you're going to go all out on the offense, hey you might as well go all out. What's the point of having weapons if your QB is constantly flushed out of the pocket? There are some weaknesses that you just can't paper over. 

Patrick was a fine acquisition. Nothing wrong with signing competition for Lee as the primary backup at center. I'm hoping he can help with the runs.