04-29-2017, 11:14 PM
(04-29-2017, 08:00 PM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: Another strong draft. I wasn't completely sold on the Ross pick at #9, but in combination with our later picks I think this more than made sense. If we don't fix the OL, then just load up on guys for Andy to throw to. Ross/Eifert in the short game should really be a force. Boyd, LaFell, AJ.... Andy has some serious firepower to play with.
I'll keep it on the field in terms of Mixon, it's obviously a great pick and a 'steal' in terms of ability. I think he might go on to be our starter as the season goes on. I hope for a redemption story off the field also.
Willis and Lawson are absolute steals for their draft position. Malone makes a stacked offence even more so. Elliot I think was a really shrewd pick as kicker, he is experienced with bad weather kicking and was very reliable in college. Intelligent pick.
The main disappointment is obviously O-Line. I don't think we have a shot at playoff success without a functioning O-Line. I also have not been a fan of our continued lack of focus on the linebackers. I know we have Burfict, but have always felt a strong linebacking corps would take our D to the next level. We didn't really have great options for O-Line in this draft, but we definitely did at LB.
All in all, I think the Bengals should be exciting to watch. I see us putting up a lot of points, but also being a fairly mistake heavy team (no OLine = turnovers). Maybe playoffs, but fun to watch.
In the past, our o-line has been good because of scheme, not so much raw talent and brute force.
Remember, when this o-line was playing it's best, Bodine was still the starting center and Andre Smith and Boling were starting as well. That's 60 percent of the o-line with minimal talent. Obviously, this year we'll have even less talent, but you catch my drift.
Seems these offensive skill laden drafts have worked well for us in the past, like when we drafted T.J., Chad, and Rudi, Dalton and Green, and Eifert and Bernard.
And unfortunately, this was a very weak o-line draft. The only player I would have wanted is Forrest Lamp. Cam Robinson looks like a poor man's Andre Smith, and Ryan Ramcyzk seems like a technique guy at a position that requires a lot if strength (see: Ogbuehi).
All in all, I say good draft. B+, because rating a commodity you can't yet know anything about as an "A" seems kind of silly to me.
