I thought it was interesting to see how the team listed these guys on the roster on bengals.com. Sure, things can change but I think it gives us a glimpse into what the initial plans are for these guys. I didn't notice anyone else who's position was odd but all of our UDFA signings aren't listed yet.

EDIT - it looks like they updated the roster to have Wilson listed as a Safety.

Called it

Well I'm hoping you guys haven't fallen too much in love with Alex Erickson

(05-02-2017, 02:04 AM)eoxyod Wrote: Called it

Yes, you did.

(05-02-2017, 02:04 AM)eoxyod Wrote: Called it

You nailed it!

Everything post draft called him a Safety, even in the Bengals presser the DB coaches were doing it and were talking about being the ones who worked him out.

Roster spot wise I see this kid competing directly against Peerman and Alex Erickson. Mixon is taking Burkhead's vacant RB spot on the roster.

I know they love Peerman, but he is older now and the Bengals are clearly looking to get younger, faster, bigger, stronger.

I thought it interesting, though, that on Bengals.com Hobson recently noted that the Bengals coaches love Erickson and that keeping 7 WR was likely, with cuts at other positions.

Erickson, I thought, showed great potential last season as a WR, but he was outstanding on Kickoff returns.

This will be one exciting offseason of camps. Hopefully they all stay healthy and competition makes the units stronger.

So a position battle we should be paying attention to at training camp is Carl Lawson and Nick Vigil?

.................

(05-02-2017, 07:57 AM)yellowxdiscipline Wrote: Well I'm hoping you guys haven't fallen too much in love with Alex Erickson

NFL football is a game of field position. Do you really think they will cut the AFC leading punt returner? Doubt it....

(05-02-2017, 08:30 AM)Takedown Wrote: So a position battle we should be paying attention to at training camp is Carl Lawson and Nick Vigil?

No, I think Lawson will be similar to what we wanted to do with Harrison in that he will move around and put his hand down in various packages along with LB. I think Vigil will still play in the base package when we do go to it. I would guess starters are Burfict, Minter, Vigil and back ups Lawson, Rey, Dawson/Evans?

The Wilson at RB thing is interesting. I think Cedric Peerman may be in trouble. When we drafted this kid I think the idea was he is a swiss army knife that can cut his teeth on special teams. He is a great athlete and has versatility which makes him a great back end of the roster guy.

(05-02-2017, 08:56 AM)Sled21 Wrote: NFL football is a game of field position. Do you really think they will cut the AFC leading punt returner? Doubt it....

I think you have a hard time justifying him a game day 46 spot when we have other guys who can return (Mixon, Ross, Pacman, Malone, Boyd). I think the only thing that saves him is if none of the other guys can return punts. Keep in mind Boyd wasn't an option to do returns last season because of how thin we were at WR, now we could see him get some time there.

(05-02-2017, 01:28 AM)Nizoj Wrote: I thought it was interesting to see how the team listed these guys on the roster on bengals.com. Sure, things can change but I think it gives us a glimpse into what the initial plans are for these guys. I didn't notice anyone else who's position was odd but all of our UDFA signings aren't listed yet.

Not surprised. Wilson's at his best with the ball in his hands. He is in prime position to compete with Peerman for the final RB spot with a focus on ST.
Also not surprised with Lawson being listed at LB, although it really doesn't matter. The Bengals could choose to go with nine DL and six LB or eight DL and seven LB.
Given the Bengals need pass rush and Shawn Williams can come down to play nickel LB, I think they go nine DL and six LB with Lawson counting as one of the LBs.

(05-02-2017, 08:30 AM)Takedown Wrote: So a position battle we should be paying attention to at training camp is Carl Lawson and Nick Vigil?

No no no. totally different players.

Vigil, I think, will be a traditional LB & ST contributor.

Lawson will probably be a specialist on passing downs in some capacity.

- A player like Nick Vigil at his potential, is a staple, consistent guy to have playing on a defense on regular downs. Versatile and athletic. He can be a jack of all trades and do a lot of things in playing the run and the pass.

- IMO, Carl Lawson, if he can reach his potential, is a game changer. He can develop into a weapon that would have to be accounted for by opposing offenses whenever he is on the field. I think Lawson can end up being a huge impact player on passing downs. The Bengals have been searching, unsuccessfully, for this type of player for over a decade.

Both types of players are needed in today's NFL. I'm seeing a real change of philosophy here for the Bengals in the type of player they draft and their roster makeup. I hope they find packages and situations to maximize all of these guy's potential. The roster is looking very different in all 3 phases than the Bengals have had, maybe ever.

(05-02-2017, 08:30 AM)Takedown Wrote: So a position battle we should be paying attention to at training camp is Carl Lawson and Nick Vigil?

I think the following "veteran" players will be competing for roster spots and have a chance to be cut:
Marquis Flowers
PJ Dawson
Brandon Thompson
DeShawn Williams
Pat Sims
Marcus Hardison
Cedric Peerman
Wallace Gilberry
Bene Benwikere

(05-02-2017, 09:40 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think the following "veteran" players will be competing for roster spots and have a chance to be cut:
Marquis Flowers
PJ Dawson
Brandon Thompson
DeShawn Williams
Pat Sims
Marcus Hardison
Cedric Peerman
Wallace Gilberry
Bene Benwikere

I agree. Barring injury...

PJ Dawson GONE
Marquis Flowers GONE
Brandon Thompson GONE/IR
DeShawn Williams GONE
Pat Sims 
Marcus Hardison GONE/IR
Cedric Peerman GONE
Wallace Gilberry 
Bene Benwikere GONE

(05-02-2017, 09:48 AM)PDub80 Wrote: I agree. Barring injury...

PJ Dawson GONE

Brandon Thompson GONE/IR
DeShawn Williams GONE
Pat Sims 
Marcus Hardison
Cedric Peerman GONE
Wallace Gilberry 
Bene Benwikere GONE

I think it's either Hardison or Gilberry they play the same hybrid DE/DT position. I think it's a similar situation with Thompson and Williams. I don't know that Pat SIms makes this roster.

final 53 roster

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18_cLXbo8_eVE9dSOqP0RWviIj7kwKcioHoZ5kejQoEs/edit?usp=sharing

Lawson will act as a DE and OLB which makes this roster possible. Willis will take over in the roll of Gilberry kicking inside on 3rd downs and also can play LDE. Glasgow and Hardison will fight for the backup Dt's. Another key battle will be at safety with Fejedelem competing with Wilson for the Nickle Safety position. Wilson was a RB coming out of college, but he will be converted via camp and that's their plan for him

This roster just got a lot deeper! Brandon Wilson is an interesting selectee and I think Marvin Lewis just learned a lesson from Bill Belichick. I like to use Julian Edelman as the quintessential example here: A superb athlete who can be coached to play football. Brandon Wilson is the same way in that he was a cornerback in college who is converting to offense in the pros just like Julian did.

(05-02-2017, 09:51 AM)Au165 Wrote: I think it's either Hardison or Gilberry they play the same hybrid DE/DT position. I think it's a similar situation with Thompson and Williams. I don't know that Pat SIms makes this roster.

I think Hardison is being converted to full-time DT. He's up to 310 lbs now. You can't really succeed as a 4-3 DE with that size.
Personally, if Hardison reaches the potential he was expected to be when he was drafted, I keep both Gilberry and Hardison. Sims, Williams, and Thompson are then cut. Bengals can stash Josh Tupou on PS and he can be promoted if anything happens to Billings or Glasgow.

(05-02-2017, 09:51 AM)Au165 Wrote: I think it's either Hardison or Gilberry they play the same hybrid DE/DT position. I think it's a similar situation with Thompson and Williams. I don't know that Pat SIms makes this roster.

I think Sims stays due to the leaving of Peko.

The Bengals need fatties along the line.

Sims, Billings, Glasgow are the fatties I see making it. Sims is up there in age, though, so there's a chance he doesn't hold up and someone else swoops in.

Not including rotational guys, that makes the Bengals DT rotation: Atkins, Sims, Billings, Glasgow.

I think guys like Gilberry and Clarke make it due to their being able to move inside on passing downs. So the 3 fatties I listed are there for depth and as rotational pieces depending on package, down, look, etc.

Bengals D-line looking like...

Dunlap DE
Johnson DE
Gilberry DE/DT
Willis DE
Clarke DE/DT
Sims DT
Billings DT
Glasgow DT


^ I don't see how they need more than that as long as they are healthy. That's a versatile group with experience and youth. They can mix that up for run or pass. Athletic. Fat. Fast. Stout.

And with some of the DEs being able to move inside to DT on passing downs, I just think that mix has it all.

This also allows them to see what Lawson has in the LB group and set him on the edge as a rusher, while keeping their best, biggest players on the field.

(05-02-2017, 09:16 AM)Au165 Wrote: I think you have a hard time justifying him a game day 46 spot when we have other guys who can return (Mixon, Ross, Pacman, Malone, Boyd). I think the only thing that saves him is if none of the other guys can return punts. Keep in mind Boyd wasn't an option to do returns last season because of how thin we were at WR, now we could see him get some time there.

Pacman can return no doubt, but he's getting up there and seems to maybe have lost a step last year. I don't think Marvin is going to risk Ross's knees on punt returns. If Mixon is starting RB, I don't see him making punt returns then going in to run the ball on the next play. Malone and Boyd are options, unproven as it is, and not everyone is a willing punt returner. Erickson is a proven commodity. I still think he has last receiver position locked because of it. Simmons is not going to let his star returner go easily......