With difference makers like AJ Green, Nick Fairley, Marcell Dareus, Cam Newton and other great options sitting there in round 1 makes this million dollar decision especially hard to make. No doubt the Bengals should be able to walk away with a great talent regardless but the fear of a bust always looms large for Bengals fans. I have gone back and forth a thousand times trying to figure out who is the perfect fit for the Bengals. I keep coming back to Patrick Peterson. His ability to play the role of shut down corner, roaming safety and his skills as an amazing kick returner makes him a versatile talent. I think Peterson is the right prospect to take with the 4th overall pick.
The 2010 Bednarik Award Winner (Nation's Top Defender) and the 2010 Thorpe Award (Nation's Top Defensive Back) Peterson is ready to make the leap. He weighs in at 222 pounds and stands 6’1” plus he can fly like the wind when he flips the switch. The three year starter at LSU played in 39 games, starting 30 times. Peterson finished his career one year early collecting 135 tackles, 22 pass breakups and seven interceptions. He scored touchdowns three different ways during his time playing for LSU with punt 2 return touchdowns, an interception returned for 6, and returned a blocked field goal showing off his versatility.
Round 2: Watkins - OG - Baylor:
This pick gave me trouble but I went with production and need over the sexy WR/RB options at the top of round 2. The Bengals O-Line had a very productive 2009 season leading the way to an AFC North title. In 2010 I was expecting much of same thing but the O-Line as a whole outside of Whitworth struggled. We could blame it on the Bengals shifting focus and becoming more of a finesse team. Ignoring the success we all enjoyed the previous season playing smash mouth football. The Bengals O-Line is huge unit that was built to inflict damage in the running game. When they are asked to pass block this exposed the lack of athletic ability on the O-Line. The pass protection was suspect at best.
Needless to say things did not work out. After a dreadful 4-11 season the Bengals need an invasion of talent to rescue the O-Line from the pit of mediocrity they fell into last season. Games and championships are still won in the trenches people. The Bengals O-Line needs to get better.
Danny Watkins is a massive of a man at 6’4 and 312 pounds who started at left tackle for the Baylor Bears. NFL scouts are buzzing about Watkins' physical and hostile play at left tackle for the Baylor Bears. The thing is Watkins is projected by most as a Guard at the next level. Why you ask? His size is less than perfect for an NFL left tackle. Until the Senior Bowl, no scouts had actually seen him play guard. After a monster week of practice in Mobile Watkins might have pushed his stock up into the first round of the NFL Draft. Watkins has a good combination of strength, agility and exceptional technique. His athleticism to reach linebackers at the next level is what makes me think he will be a great RG in the NFL. Watkins was all ready drafted fourth overall in the May 2010 CFL Canadian Draft by his hometown B.C. Lions but he has his sights set on the NFL.
Round 3: Dalton – QB - TCU:
The Bengals need to make sure they are not sucked in by the hype surrounding Cam Newton. I would prefer to take a winner who has proven that he can play the position at a high level. I am talking about Andy Dalton out of TCU. He posted a 42-7 record in his four years as a starter, was a three-time bowl game most valuable player and two-time MWC Offensive Player of the Year. I think he is a perfect fit for the WCO that Gruden is bringing back to Cincinnati. He did play in the spread and I know this will take time to make the transition. I just have a feeling this kid will be a field general after the growing pains fade away.
One of the major knocks on Dalton is that he didn’t have to rely on deep throws down field to make plays in the TCU system. The TCU offense bread and butter is screens plus other timing based intermediate routes to move the ball. My answer to this criticism is how many throws do you really want the QB talking shots down field in a game? 3 or 4 deep throws at best? The west coast offense should be a nice fit for Andy who shows great zip and accuracy on the short and intermediate routes that should allow our wide receivers to put in work after the catch.
Dalton was smooth dropping back from center during the Senior Bowl witch was a concern due to the fact Dalton took a most of his snaps for the Frogs out of a shotgun formation. He was able to survey the field and making accurate passes during the week of practice. Scouts and media said that he placed the ball with accuracy between defenders and showed the touch needed to take advantage of big plays down the seam. The film he left behind leads me to believe Dalton can play in the NFL with proper coaching. Let’s hope the Bengals new offensive coordinator is ready for this type of challenge.
I guess if I had to compare him with a former pro it would be Chad Pennington without the persistent shoulder issues. I think he has the brains and skill set to be a solid NFL starter for many years. Will he wow the talking heads during the draft hype with his speed or athletic ability? I don’t think so but the body of work this kid put in at TCU is down right special. He racked up over 10,000 passing yards and scored 71 touchdowns. He never had a QB rating lower that 118 in a season while winning 42 and loosing only 7! I think he is a winner and if his 3rd to 5th round grade holds true the value is indisputable. I love this player!
Round 4: M.Foster – OLB - Washington:
I see Foster as mid-to-late round linebackers who could come into camp on day 1 and compete for Rey’s old spot outside. He ran in the 4.65-4.70 range and moved with fluidity in drills. Foster is a nice strong-side 'backer prospect capable of running with tight ends. His injury past and off-field issues drop his grade into the 4th round range. Foster was one of the most prolific tacklers in the country last season and could sneak into the third round if a team likes his ability.
Foster reads and reacts like he was born to play LB. He is an instinctive defender that can make key reads quickly and gets to the ball with on wasted motion. Great production and made many tackles beating blockers to the point of attack. Rarely fooled by misdirection, though he is aggressive in attacking the line of scrimmage and can be tricked by good play-action. Keeps his head on a swivel in coverage and reacts quickly to the throw. Is always around the ball and a great pick for this defense.
Round 5: V.Brown – WR - SDSU:
Living in San Diego I had the opportunity to follow Vincent Brown’s career at San Diego State. Brown asserted himself as one of the most impressive players at the Senior Bowl, but whatever momentum he built there ended in 4.71 second 40 he ran at the combine. His poor showing could push him into the later rounds but this guy can play the position. He would make for a great possession receiver and his route running is pro ready. Brown went over 1,000 receiving yards in 2010. He was named first-team All-Mountain West last year. Brown was the team's leader in receptions (69), yards (1,352) and touchdowns (10) last season.
Vincent became a starter three games into his true freshman season, bringing in 31 passes for 349 yards and two scores in addition to returning 25 kickoffs for 547 yards. He led the team with 64-631-5 as a sophomore before emerging as a deep threat in 2009. The second-team All-Mountain West pick racked up 778 yards and six scores on 47 catches in just seven games, losing the rest of the year to a right thumb injury.
Brown is a perfect WCO WR prospect with the footwork and body control to make a living on slants and crossing routes. Fights through the press cover jam with quickness, though he must use his hands more consistently. He will play physically with his man to make sure he gets the first down but needs to do this more consistently at the next level. Used in the slot and outside in a pro style offense at SDSU he has just enough speed and route-running savvy to gain a step on his man on deep routes. Reliable hands, good concentration to go up in traffic or lay out for errant passes. Brown is good at setting up defenders in the open field to elude tackles. Locks up his man on the outside as run blocker and works toward the correct angle.
Round 6: Royster – RB - Penn State:
Evan Royster knows the biggest knock on him is that he's just not fast enough to be a big-time NFL running back. He also believes a Penn State-record 3,932 rushing yards means just a little bit more than his 40 time. "I trust that the scouts and coaches out there know what kind of player I am," Royster said Friday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine. "That's what those guys get paid for. There are definitely a lot of things (other than 40 time) that go into what kind of player you are." It's not that Royster is slow. But he's not going to run a 4.2 or 4.3 when the running backs sprint here at Lucas Oil Stadium. Then again, 2010 NFL rushing leader Arian Foster ran 4.73 at his Pro Day. You never know. "It's not like I'm going to come out here and run a 4.7 or something like that," Royster said. "I don't really know what to expect out of my 40. I'd like to get in the low 4.5's or high 4.4's." "A lot of people question my desire," he said. "That's crazy. I think I play with a lot of desire. I think the coaches and scouts will see that." Royster said he often hears comparisons with Bears running back Matt Forte, another tailback without blazing speed - he ran a 4.59 at the 2008 Combine - and he said he'll be glad to become a player like Forte. "If I can turn myself into that guy, that would be great," he said. "That's the goal." - Reuben Frank, CSNPhilly.com
Evan Royster has distinguished himself amongst all the superlative running backs that have worn the blue and white. His 22-yard burst on his first carry in the 2009 win at Michigan State pushed him past the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive year, becoming just the seventh Nittany Lion to record multiple 1,000-yard campaigns. The vastly talented and intelligent Royster has joined a great fraternity. Curt Warner, Tony Hunt, Blair Thomas, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter and Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti are the only other Lions to accomplish the feat. The quick and elusive Royster already has passed some of the Penn State greats in career rushing, entering the season in eighth place with 2,918 yards.
Round 7: R.Winterswyk – DE - Boise State:
Winterswyk enjoyed a highly decorated career at defensive end with the Broncos after joining the program as a walk-on in 2006. He became a three-time first team All-WAC honoree after starting 43 games in four seasons. Winterswyk finished his career ranked fourth at Boise State in career tackles for loss (44.5) and fifth in career sacks (21.5). He also recorded 168 tackles for his career.
2010 ALL-WAC FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: DL-Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State, 6-4, 267, Sr., has been selected All-WAC First Team for the 2010 college football season as selected by the WAC's nine head coaches. - WAC football
Please note I would not go into the season with DALTON, J.PALMER and LeFevour as our quarterbacks. I would hope that the Bengals sign a FA QB (McNabb, V. Young or Bulger) to be the band aide for a year while we wait for the QB drafted this year to become the next face of the franchise. Much like the Bengals did with Palmer his rookie season.
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