(03-21-2018, 04:26 PM)McC Wrote: If not now, when, right?  And I couldn't agree more.  Who was the one guy Carson Palmer pointed to most often about who made the killer offense go in '05?  Paul Brown took 3 C's in the first round when he was running things.

I've been waiting on "that guy" since Braham got injured in '06. As important as he was to the line, you'd think they would've taken the position more seriously. Now with Pollack on board, and looking at how the Cowboys took Travis Frederick in the 1st round, and how important he's been to that line's success, maybe Pollack can convince Mike that we need to follow suit.

(03-21-2018, 04:32 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Correct.

QB - 1 (Palmer)
RB - 1 (Perry)
LB - 2 (Pollack, Rivers)
WR - 2 (Green, Ross)
OT - 2 (Smith, Ogbuehi)
OG - 1 (Zeitler)
TE - 2 (Gresham, Eifert)
CB - 5 (Joseph, Hall, Kirkpatrick, Dennard, Jackson III)

Thanks. So d-line, center and safety are the only positions we haven't taken in round one.

(03-21-2018, 04:47 PM)Wyche Wrote: This is where I am too.  Fred is right, it is a bit of a need this season, and will definitely be one next year, but man we need to solidify the trenches on offense.  We've got a decent start there, keep the momentum going and get it fixed.  I think with Dunlap/Lawson/Willis/and even MJ, we have the personnel to get it done for one more year.  We GOTTA fix that o line.

Jordan Willis is getting too m uch love here.

He has done nothing to show that he can be a good NFL DE.

Will Clarke and Margus Hunt both had better seasons than Willis in '17. Maybe we can bring back one of those studs if Dunlap leaves.

(03-21-2018, 05:06 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Thanks. So d-line, center and safety are the only positions we haven't taken in round one.


 

They've taken several Centers in Round 1, it's just been awhile.....

(03-21-2018, 04:18 PM)Au165 Wrote: This is one of the worst DE classes we have seen in a while. You wait until next year for DE IMO. Willis and Lawson give you some time before you have to go get someone. Worst case you can tag Dunlap if you can't get something done and buy yourself another year.

Agreed not a good draft class and I would tag Dunlap like you said. I like Dunlap a lot he can play the run and the pass, it’s getting harder to find 4-3 DE’s who can do both. I like Lawson as a rush specialist, I think if he played all 3 downs he would get worn down and be less affective at rushing the passer. Hopefully Willis progresses this year and can replace Johnson at DE next year opposite Dunlap. We have more pressing needs then DE in first couple of rounds plus I don’t think there’s a player worth taking this year in the 1st. I would wait till next year and see how the Dunlap thing plays out plus it might be a better draft next year for DE’s.

(03-21-2018, 05:16 PM)Sled21 Wrote: They've taken several Centers in Round 1, it's just been awhile.....

None since Marvin got here.

(03-21-2018, 05:17 PM)McC Wrote: None since Marvin got here.

Nope...... just talking team history.

(03-21-2018, 05:19 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Nope...... just talking team history.

Daddy Paul obviously thought they were important.

(03-21-2018, 05:17 PM)McC Wrote: None since Marvin got here.

Hopefully that changes this year.

(03-21-2018, 05:27 PM)masonbengals fan Wrote: Hopefully that changes this year.

Couldn't agree more.

(03-21-2018, 05:15 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Jordan Willis is getting too m uch love here.

He has done nothing to show that he can be a good NFL DE.

Will Clarke and Margus Hunt both had better seasons than Willis in '17.  Maybe we can bring back one of those studs if Dunlap leaves.

I see Jordan Willis as good rotation depth rather than a replacement for Carlos Dunlap.

If Dunlap leaves then an upgrade over Willis may be needed unless Willis steps it up in year two.

(03-21-2018, 05:17 PM)McC Wrote: None since Marvin got here.

That's what I was talking about. The Marv era. I get the feeling that may be changing though. Travis Frederick was a big part of the success in Dallas, and they took him in the first round. I hope Pollack remembers that and isn't afraid to push us that way.

We won't lose Dunlap next year, worse case scenario he gets the Franchise tag......

(03-21-2018, 06:58 PM)corpjet Wrote: We won't lose Dunlap next year, worse case scenario he gets the Franchise tag......

Thats like the third time ive seen that in this thread.

Did i miss a Geno extension or something?

Because right now Geno is set to be a free agent as well. And with one tag to use im putting it on the HoFer. And DE money is insane in free agency. 

(03-21-2018, 09:01 PM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Thats like the third time ive seen that in this thread.

Did i miss a Geno extension or something?

Because right now Geno is set to be a free agent as well. And with one tag to use im putting it on the HoFer. And DE money is insane in free agency. 

I'd say the thinking is that Geno will be the first priority and will get extended, no matter what and Dunlap is maybe more in doubt.

Rasheem Green from USC would be nice He is like a Michael Bennett clone. Also wouldn't Kentavius Street from NC State.

Center in the first please.

We need to get this O-line fixed to give these guys a chance, we can get a DE next year.

(03-21-2018, 04:15 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: If I'm not mistaken, we've never taken a d-lineman in round 1 under Marvin. I'm not guaranteeing it won't happen, but obviously our tendencies suggest we'll probably look at d-linemen in the middle rounds. Tbh, as much as I know Fred is right that we need d-line (not THAT big a need with Lawson/Willis around), I really want that 1st round Center. I'm so tired of half-assing that position. Take a top prospect. We're in the perfect spot to nab the top Centers.

Agreed.

There's some positions the team views as first round, judging by what we usually take there. WR, CB, T, CB, TE, CB, TE, WR, OT, LB, CB, CB. 12 drafts and only one pick (Rivers) that wasn't a corner, receiver or tackle in the first. 

My opinion there is the team sees those positions (outside of probably a QB) as big ticket free agents. You can pick up a center, LB, RB and safety all pretty cheap, comparatively. Usually a decent guard or DL. But need to top shelf receiver, corner or LT? That's going to cost, so better to draft those in the first even if it's not BPA or a need, because it's better than getting in a bidding war for an empty spot.

I've been whining for DL in the first for a few years. Last year and this year I wouldn't mind a center. But in reality, I'm not going to be shocked when it's a OT or corner. Outside chance it's a LB. We've probably already got as good as we're going to get with DL.

(03-21-2018, 05:15 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Jordan Willis is getting too m uch love here.

He has done nothing to show that he can be a good NFL DE.

Will Clarke and Margus Hunt both had better seasons than Willis in '17.  Maybe we can bring back one of those studs if Dunlap leaves.

Willis in 2017 had 17 tackles, 8 assists, 1 sack.
Hunt in 2013-2016 (his 4-year Bengal run) had 16 tackles, 13 assists and 1.5 sacks.

Willis' trajectory so far is higher. In one year he's got comparable stats to 4 years worth of Hunt. Plus, he can play football whereas Hunt did that wander-around-and-fall-onto-people thing. Which, admittedly, in his fifth season he's seemed to perfect into a marginally better season than Willis' first year playing.

And Clarke had 1.5 more sacks in 2017 than Willis, but around 40% less tackles. Soooo... that's subjective on "better."

(03-21-2018, 04:15 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: If I'm not mistaken, we've never taken a d-lineman in round 1 under Marvin. I'm not guaranteeing it won't happen, but obviously our tendencies suggest we'll probably look at d-linemen in the middle rounds. Tbh, as much as I know Fred is right that we need d-line (not THAT big a need with Lawson/Willis around), I really want that 1st round Center. I'm so tired of half-assing that position. Take a top prospect. We're in the perfect spot to nab the top Centers.

I have to agree with this. A quality Center is something this team has not drafted since Mikey Brown inherited the team and appointed himself GM, so I give this a 50/50 change. It's the logical decision, but our GM isn't well endowed with football logical.

OT McGlinchey might be there at 21 and who might be able to play RT, then be an eventual top flight LT in a few years when Glenn's contract is up. There's also OG Hernandez, but I'd rather we took a C over a G just from a need stand point.

It really will come down to how the draft unfolds. I've seen McGlinchey mocked both higher and lower and at 21. We may just take Bill Price.

If the team wants to cut Michael Johnson after the draft to make cap space to extend Atkins and Dunlap, then DE will be a priority early.

I'd normally be pounding the table for a DE in the first, but not in this draft with this current roster.  Ends tend to take less time to develop when compared to offensive guys, for one.  If the idea is to win in the next couple of years, they can plug and play a high round DE from the next couple of drafts if they have to.  Add in that Lawson is a really good player, that no one knows what they have in Willis, AND the question marks at DT, RT, OG, LB, and OC...I think that they have bigger fish to fry than DE at the moment.