Bengals roster projections

[magikod]

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2015/08/26/bengals-roster-projection-20/32435853/

Quote:Quarterbacks (2)

In: Andy Dalton, AJ McCarron

Practice Squad: None

Out: Keith Wenning

Decisions: Not much of one. Wenning will fight for a practice squad spot, but the Bengals have been known to grab PS quarterbacks from other teams this time of year. Wouldn't be shocking to see that again, unless Wenning shows particularly well in his remaining snaps.

Running back/Fullback (5)

In: Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard, Rex Burkhead, Cedric Peerman, Ryan Hewitt

Practice Squad: Terrell Watson

Out: James Wilder Jr., Mark Weisman

Decisions: Maybe the most interesting battle will be between Wilder and Watson for the practice squad. Watson can clearly run the football, but his shortcomings as a special teams player hurt him. The five to make the squad are set.

Wide receiver (5)

In: A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Brandon Tate, Mario Alford

Practice Squad: Jake Kumerow

Out: Greg Little, Denarius Moore, Onterio McCalebb, Tevin Reese, Michael Bennett, Desmond Lawrence

IR: James Wright

Decisions: Quite a mess at the back end of the receiver position. A veteran battle kicked up between Brandon Tate, Greg Little and Denarius Moore. Tate's reliability on special teams gives him an advantage. Little showed better than Moore during camp and the preseason thus far and earned himself another shot. The issue being if they opt for five official receivers since Burkhead also serves as a wideout. That would clear another spot elsewhere and Little would go. And don't forget about Kumerow: He could make one more play for a final spot as well.

Tight end (3)

In: Tyler Eifert, Tyler Kroft, C.J. Uzomah

Practice Squad: None

Out: John Peters, Matt Lengel

Decisions: Kroft and Uzomah earned their roster spots, as was expected with their draft position. Haven't seen enough from either of the other two to guarantee a practice squad spot, but one could sneak on.

Offensive line (9)

In: Russell Bodine, Kevin Zeitler, Clint Boling, Andrew Whitworth, Andre Smith, Eric Winston, Jake Fisher, T.J. Johnson, Trey Hopkins

PUP: Cedric Ogbuehi

Practice Squad: Dan France, Tanner Hawkinson

Out: Jake Smith, Matt O'Donnell, Chris Jasperse

Decisions: Battles for the final two spots continue to put this room in question. Beyond Winston and Fisher after the starters, those two spots continue to be up for grabs. Dan France enjoyed a nice camp and took a step forward, but will that be enough? Hopkins will need to get back on the field and show something to solidify a spot.

Defensive line (10)

In: Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, Domata Peko, Michael Johnson, Brandon Thompson, Wallace Gilberry, Margus Hunt, Will Clarke, Marcus Hardison, Pat Sims

Practice Squad: DeShawn Williams

Out: Kwame Geathers, Devon Still, Sam Montgomery

Decisions: For the first time under Marvin Lewis, I think the Bengals expand to 10 defensive linemen. I just don't see any of those 10 getting cut. Or maybe they pull a trade for a receiver. Depth and rotation have been preached all offseason and this will be a chance to prove it. They'd love to clear a spot for Williams, but he's a nice fit on the practice squad for now.

Linebackers (7)

In: A.J. Hawk, Emmanuel Lamur, Rey Maualuga, Vinny Rey, P.J. Dawson, Marquis Flowers, Chris Carter

PUP: Vontaze Burfict, Sean Porter

Practice Squad: Trevor Roach, Nico Johnson

Out: Jayson DiManche

Decisions: Nobody made a larger splash this preseason than Chris Carter. He's carved out a niche as a nickel rush end, he just needs to grow as a linebacker. I think the Bengals give him that chance and steal the extra linebacker spot at the expense of a 10th DB. This is an extremely tough call and one of the final spots to be determined. Flowers finds himself on the bubble as well.

Cornerbacks (5)

In: Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard, Adam Jones, Leon Hall, Josh Shaw

Practice Squad: Troy Hill

Out: Chris Lewis-Harris, Brandon Ghee

Decisions: These have been the clear top five for a while now. Hall's versatility to help at safety allow the Bengals to sneak an extra spot for the linebacker position.


Safety (4)

In: George Iloka, Reggie Nelson, Shawn Williams, Derron Smith

Practice Squad: Floyd Raven Sr.

Out: Shiloh Keo

Decisions: Derron Smith showed all the playmaking ability in camp that he did in collecting 15 picks at Fresno State. Think he beats out the veteran Keo for the final safety spot and the Bengals only keep four.

Specialists (3)

In: K Mike Nugent, P Kevin Huber, LS Clark Harris

Practice Squad: None

Out: Tom Obarski

Decisions: None to be made. These three have been and will continue to man the specialists positions.

[J24]

Why is Peerman a lock? Burkhead can do everything Peerman can? Plus Wilder looks really good out there!

I would rather have Moore on the Team then Tate personally. Moore has been better throughout his career than Tate plus it would be a mistake not to have another Quality WR on the team after what happened last season with the injuries to that position.

Deshawn should make he team over Hunt. At this point what has Hunt done to prove he is capable of anything?

The only way we should keep 7 Linebackers is if they want Vontaz to get some practice time before week 6 if not go with 6. Hawk should be the odd man left out.

We should go with 6 corners and not 5. You can never have to many Corners. If Hall can play some safety then why not cut Williams or Smith at Safety instead of an extra corner?

[BengalChris]

(08-27-2015, 02:23 AM)J24 Wrote:

Why is Peerman a lock? Burkhead can do everything Peerman can? Plus Wilder looks really good out there!

I would rather have Moore on the Team then Tate personally. Moore has been better throughout his career than Tate plus it would be a mistake not to have another Quality WR on the team after what happened last season with the injuries to that position.

Deshawn should make he team over Hunt. At this point what has Hunt done to prove he is capable of anything?

The only way we should keep 7 Linebackers is if they want Vontaz to get some practice time before week 6 if not go with 6. Hawk should be the odd man left out.

We should go with 6 corners and not 5. You can never have to many Corners. If Hall can play some safety then why not cut Williams or Smith at Safety instead of an extra corner?

I'm with you on Wilder. He played very well when given the opportunity. He had a couple of tackles on special teams and ran the ball well. Neither Gio nor Burkhead can play Hill's role of a primary RB. They are both complementary RBs. Peerman is another complementary guy.

We still haven't found a WR/returner who's better than Tate and that's disturbing.

[EatonFan]

I thought I remembered Hue Jackson say Moore was one of the best returners he'd ever seen, yet we haven't seen him back there fielding any punts.

Was I just imagining that?

[BritishBengal]

I think they have nailed that lineup.

[*SHRacerX*]

(08-27-2015, 01:44 AM)magikod Wrote: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2015/08/26/bengals-roster-projection-20/32435853/

I would have no problem with these decisions whatsoever.  I have been very impressed with Troy Hill out of Oregon, and I would bet he would get swooped up off the PS.  The Bengals might try to carry him on the roster at the expense of Flowers, but I don't really know how strong he performs at special teams. 

At RB, I think they like Wilder as the bigger back that would be able to be a bell-cow, but I don't think they knock off Peerman due to his special teams ability.  Maybe they keep Wilder over Flowers? 

I would say those are the biggest questions moving forward.  It should be interesting to see a WR like Kumerow get a lot of targets this next game to see if he can show he belongs. 

[*SHRacerX*]

One other thing: They would have a LOT of decisions to make when those guys are ready to come off the PUP. Maybe Ogbuehi gets placed on the (single spot) IR-designated to return list. This is just one of the many reasons I would like to see rosters expand to 60 players.

[*ochocincos*]

(08-27-2015, 02:32 AM)BengalChris Wrote: I'm with you on Wilder. He played very well when given the opportunity. He had a couple of tackles on special teams and ran the ball well. Neither Gio nor Burkhead can play Hill's role of a primary RB. They are both complementary RBs. Peerman is another complementary guy.

We still haven't found a WR/returner who's better than Tate and that's disturbing.

Could have if the Bengals selected Tyler Lockett in the second round and either Ogbuehi or Fisher in the first round instead of taking both OTs in the first two rounds. But shoulda, woulda, coulda....

[XenoMorph]

(08-27-2015, 02:32 AM)BengalChris Wrote: I'm with you on Wilder. He played very well when given the opportunity. He had a couple of tackles on special teams and ran the ball well. Neither Gio nor Burkhead can play Hill's role of a primary RB. They are both complementary RBs. Peerman is another complementary guy.

We still haven't found a WR/returner who's better than Tate and that's disturbing.

Wilder has shown me enough to replace peerman.... peerman might have been doing it longer... But wilder looks much better as a rb and is playing very well on special teams.

Watson is a wildcard he might not make it to the PS with all the RB injures around the league.

[Stormborn]

Williams deserves a spot over Hunt.

Not even a question.

[Interceptor]

I'm going to have to be on the Wilder bandwagon as well.

[XenoMorph]

(08-27-2015, 10:06 AM)Stormborn Wrote: Williams deserves a spot over Hunt.

Not even a question.

isnt williams playing DT?

DL could be shaken up a bit

Dunlap MJ Hunt Gilberry Hardison Carter

Geno Sims Williams

With Gilberry and Hardison able to slide inside. But they probly hang onto peko which pushes someone off the roster or they have carter as a line backer which push someone off there.

every year there are guys we dont think will make the PS but do so who knows.

[*bfine32*]

I think we go 25 on offense and 25 on defense. So you have to add one on offense and lose one on defense.

(-) Chris Carter
(+) Dan France

I also think Nico makes it over Lamur. The current projection has no backup Mike.

[Sweetness]

I feel like Wilder has shined both running the ball and on special teams in his lomitted attempts. We know what we get from peerman, solid ST play and nothing as a RB. How long do you keep a player just because you know what you're getting?

I also don't understand the continued love for Hunt. Dude has shown absolutely nothing other then he can't stay healthy. Would be awesome if he could turn it around, but why cut others for a guy already in what should be his prime who's doing nothing. The guy is already 28 for goodness sake.

[*SHRacerX*]

(08-27-2015, 11:10 AM)bfine32 Wrote: I think we go 25 on offense and 25 on defense. So you have to add one on offense and lose one on defense.

(-) Chris Carter
(+) Dan France

I also think Nico makes it over Lamur. The current projection has no backup Mike.

Lamur is the best nickel package backer we have when Burfict is not on the field....and they play in nickel around 2/3rds of the snaps.  There is no way Lamur doesn't make it. 

FWIW, Vinny Rey has filled in at Mike and so can Hawk. 

[*SHRacerX*]

A part of me also can't help but think they will be looking very closely at the waiver wire/practice squad WRs that become available.

[Stormborn]

(08-27-2015, 10:54 AM)XenoMorph Wrote: isnt williams playing DT?

DL could be shaken up a bit

Dunlap MJ Hunt Gilberry Hardison Carter

Geno Sims Williams

With Gilberry and Hardison able to slide inside.   But they probly hang onto peko which pushes someone off the roster or they have carter as a line backer which push someone off there.

every year there are guys we dont think will make the PS but do so who knows.

MJ, Geno, Peko, Dunlap, Gilberry, Hardison, Williams, Thompson/Still, Sims, Clarke, there's your 10. You wanna cut it down to 9, let go of He next worst player, Peko. 

10 lineman and 7 LBs work when you have the luxury of only keeping 5 WRs when your RBs and TEs line up in the slot and sometimes outside.

[magikod]

My only complaint is that Shawn Williams will prob get taken off our practice squad. And why should Peerman still make the team? Wilder has so much more upside.

[Bilbo Saggins]

This roster effectively has 11 d-linemen with Carter

I wouldn't be surprised if they kept Brock(the TE from last year) instead of Uzomah, or if they decided to cut Hunt for an extra WR or DE that they claim off waivers.

Overall it looks pretty believable.

[McC]

(08-27-2015, 10:02 AM)XenoMorph Wrote: Wilder has shown me enough to replace peerman....  peerman might have been doing it longer...  But wilder looks much better as a rb and is playing very well on special teams.

Watson is a wildcard he might not make it to the PS with all the RB injures around the league.

Wilder's not just big.  He's got some wiggle too, which I wasn't necessarily expecting.