Wasn't a fan. With draft grades!

[Shake n Blake]

(05-01-2017, 02:22 AM)Benton Wrote: I think I've beaten Ross' points to death, so no reason to keep going over 1 & 2. I'll disagree to disagree.

3. I'm not mad about anything. I didn't just get dumped for a different prom date.  

That aside, I agree, it wasn't a good draft for OL. My main issue wasn't with the OL. I'm not really sure where I've implied we should have drafted an OLman. I'll go ahead and toss out there, I don't think we should have drafted an OL high. I would've been OK with one or two OL guys in the later second or later (namely Elflein), but I wouldn't really have wanted him early in the second, either.

My main gripe about the line is DL. Has been for about four years. So... yeah...

4. I keep getting told injuries are to be ignored, so Gio should be gtg. And Hill just needs a coach. We've had several in the last few years and it's showing. Fix the coaching. Improved OL would also be a big issue here.


So, I'll say heading in, both our lines werent good. Our OL, as I've saidbefore, will be better next year. Our DL won't. This draft had very little impact on either. 

As far as Pacman and Mixon, I wasn't directly comparing the two as far as offenses go; it was a comment on people complaining about how the team is veiwed as rule breakers and thugs and criminals, but then are cool with Mixon. Burfict with his twisting ankles and other on the field play gets lumped in there, even if he is clean off the field. I seriously am not following where you'd say we haven't had players — from mail order weed to DUIs to underage girls to Pacman being Pacman — that give us a reputation for a team with problem children.

And I'm not rallying against it. Some of our best players aren't nice guys. I don't mind the label as one of the dirtiest teams. But I'm not pretending Mixon is any more of a character guy than Pacman, and I don't get upset when people refer to drafting low character guys as a "typical Bengals move."

1 & 2. That's fine, but just keep in mind that you're disagreeing with the tape and pretty much every scouting report out there. Not sure why you're being so stubborn.

3. Ok, so I guess you're indifferent and that's why you made a multi-paragraph thread on the subject.  

4. From what I've heard, Gio won't be ready and Ross will be...if that's what you're talking about. Could be a coaching problem/scheme fit with Hill. Who knows? What I do know is that Hill has averaged 3.7 YPC over the last 2 years and that's unacceptable. I've always thought the line was a huge part of it, and I guess to an extent it probably is, but Burkhead looked great behind the same line. That softened my stance on that subject. I was ready for new talent at the position. I guess that's just where we disagree. 
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So it looks like you're just mad annoyed that the Bengals didn't take a DE in the first couple rounds. Lawson/Willis didn't do enough for you there? I mean they both were viewed as players that could've went sooner. Both great athletes that produced. I'd say at least one of them has a great chance to crack the rotation and make an impact. Who is in their way? Gilberry? 

Offensively (bigger problem than defense), the line was clearly a need that we should've taken more seriously...but other than line/coaching (neither of which could be fixed in this draft), speed, rushing and overall playmaking were without a doubt weaknesses. I'd say we fixed those issues, on paper. 

Then of course, they hammered away on the d-line after that. I feel they addressed all the issues they could, and did so in the correct order. Just trying to help you feel better, although it seems you're pretty set on your opinion for now. Hopefully these guys prove you wrong.

As for the team reputation as thugs, it's not earned and I'll stand by that. Sure we've had a few incidents outside of Pacman (like the weed thing with Simpson you mention)...but what team hasn't had players get arrested? IMO, the reputation was earned in 2006 and every incident since has been blown up thanks to the reputation. The Bengals have rolled the dice on a few guys, but outside of Pacman, we currently have no guys that have been arrested multiple times as a Bengal, and outside of Tez, we don't have any dirty players. And to be frank, Burfict's reputation far exceeds what he's actually done on the field. The NFL and the Steelers had their little smear campaign in 2015, but outside of a small handful of incidents, how bad has Burfict really been?