With the UC Spring Game last night, I've been pretty swamped over the last two days so I don't want to give anything concrete yet. My first instinct is in the B-/C+ range...

 

Does that mean you are actually going to have to work??

 

The Yahoo people gave the Bengals a D-

 

Bottom line: D-. Rivers and Sims are immediate starters, but that’s almost by default. The Bengals wanted to get USC DT Sedrick Ellis in the first round, but got jumped by the Saints, who telegraphed their move for four days. The Bengals should have done something to counter New Orleans, but as is typical with Cincy, the Bengals let someone else determine their fate. Calling Simpson a “negative” is a little strong, but he’s just a reminder of how bad the situation is there between the dismissal of Chris Henry and the mouthing off by Chad Johnson. Where the grade really takes a hit is with Shirley, a guy who was in and out of trouble last season. The Bengals never learn.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-2008afcdraftgrades042808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

Kiper gave the Bengals a C +

 

Keith Rivers is solid player with great character. Jerome Simpson is a hard-working receiver and WR Andre Caldwell could be a second or third option right away. While junior DT Pat Sims was a very underrated player out of Auburn, OT Anthony Collins should have stayed at Kansas for another year. Still, he was decent fourth-round pick. Safety Corey Lynch is a playmaker (he blocked the field-goal attempt in the closing seconds of Appalachian State's upset win at Michigan last season). Some scouts I spoke with thought Lynch -- who went in Round 6 -- could go as high as the fourth round. Villanova TE Matt Sherry is not a very good blocker, but he has very good hands and could push for a roster spot. Wide receiver Mario Urrutia didn't have a great 2007 season and I'm not sure why he came out. Urrutia has talent, but should have gone back to Louisville for his senior season. Angelo Craig flashed pass-rushing abilities at times; at other times he disappeared.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=3357479&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft08%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dkiper_jr_mel%26id%3d3357479

It seems to me that the Bengals made good moves by drafting guys who "have talent, but should have gone back to school".

 

The talent is there, now it is up to the Bengals staff to develop these young guys and get them to contribute. I'm still a little confused about Jerome Simpson, but that's mostly because I've never seen him play. I've only heard positive things about him, but it seems that other players available were better. Oh well, we'll see how it works out.

 

I like the Caldwell selection a lot.

Does that mean you are actually going to have to work??

 

The Yahoo people gave the Bengals a D-

 

Bottom line: D-. Rivers and Sims are immediate starters, but that’s almost by default. The Bengals wanted to get USC DT Sedrick Ellis in the first round, but got jumped by the Saints, who telegraphed their move for four days. The Bengals should have done something to counter New Orleans, but as is typical with Cincy, the Bengals let someone else determine their fate. Calling Simpson a “negative” is a little strong, but he’s just a reminder of how bad the situation is there between the dismissal of Chris Henry and the mouthing off by Chad Johnson. Where the grade really takes a hit is with Shirley, a guy who was in and out of trouble last season. The Bengals never learn.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-2008afcdraftgrades042808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

Kiper gave the Bengals a C +

 

Keith Rivers is solid player with great character. Jerome Simpson is a hard-working receiver and WR Andre Caldwell could be a second or third option right away. While junior DT Pat Sims was a very underrated player out of Auburn, OT Anthony Collins should have stayed at Kansas for another year. Still, he was decent fourth-round pick. Safety Corey Lynch is a playmaker (he blocked the field-goal attempt in the closing seconds of Appalachian State's upset win at Michigan last season). Some scouts I spoke with thought Lynch -- who went in Round 6 -- could go as high as the fourth round. Villanova TE Matt Sherry is not a very good blocker, but he has very good hands and could push for a roster spot. Wide receiver Mario Urrutia didn't have a great 2007 season and I'm not sure why he came out. Urrutia has talent, but should have gone back to Louisville for his senior season. Angelo Craig flashed pass-rushing abilities at times; at other times he disappeared.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=3357479&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft08%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dkiper_jr_mel%26id%3d3357479

 

 

MSNBC says about the same thing

 

 

Cincy must have been disappointed with how the top of the draft went. Linebacker Keith Rivers fits their defense well, but they wanted his former teammate, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Then they took a project out of Coastal Carolina (Jerome Simpson) when seasoned wide receivers were on the board. The Chad Johnson drama forced them to overcompensate by taking another wideout Andre Caldwell late in the third round. Auburn defensive tackle Pat Sims and Kansas tackle Anthony Collins add necessary beef to the Bengals’ lines and were great values. They help an inconsistent draft.

Grade: C+

I wonder who they will take with the first overall pick next year?

I wonder who they will take with the first overall pick next year?

 

Tebow!!:banana:

Tebow!!:banana:

 

I don't think a fullback has ever been drafted first.

I think a C / C+ is a fair grade. Sort of ho-hum. Nothing great, but nothing that seems too damaging.

 

In fairness, it is hard to grade any draft. The teams that are good make wise selections and do wonderful scouting for future investments so they never really grade out high immediatley after the draft.

I think a C / C+ is a fair grade. Sort of ho-hum. Nothing great, but nothing that seems too damaging.

 

In fairness, it is hard to grade any draft. The teams that are good make wise selections and do wonderful scouting for future investments so they never really grade out high immediatley after the draft.

 

I agree. How many players will play in 08 for the Bengals, from their 02, 03,04 and 05 drafts? Those are the ones we can put a definite grade on.

C+

Rivers was the safe pick.

We will always look at either Trevor Laws, and Limas Sweed when grading out Simpson. Maybe he's a good pick.

Sims seemed like a solid pick

The OT also sounds good.

Real suprised about Shirley.

Like the other two recievers. I am kind of suprised with 3 and a TE being picked.

The TE is a recieving TE not a blocker, which is also suprising.

I like the Safety.

I would have liked to have seen 1 more DB.

I am real suprised at no RBs.

That's my take.

It's all speculation right now. Hopefully in a couple of years we can say this was a good draft year for the Bengals.

 

I have to give you credit; your assessment seem objective.

 

I agree that they need a CB with Deltha being gone after next season; it would be nice to groom a rookie to fill the "nickel" CB role in '09.

 

On Shirley, I believe he will work out; of all the problems the Bengals' players have had, alcohol seems to be the one that they have been able to overcome; J. Smith and Steinbach were examples.

I like the Simpson pick.

I like the Simpson pick.

 

To elaborate, I think he is a physical specimen, and a high character guy. I believe that he has a lot more potential than Sweed, Jackson, or any of them. If there is one thing that I trust the Bengals on, it is Wide Receivers.

I like picking Caldwell... I just don't know much about the kid from CCU.

To elaborate, I think he is a physical specimen, and a high character guy. I believe that he has a lot more potential than Sweed, Jackson, or any of them. If there is one thing that I trust the Bengals on, it is Wide Receivers.

 

I was just at a web site that list K Burton ahead of Simpson.

I was just at a web site that list K Burton ahead of Simpson.

I just typed in a website that Simpson is better than Burton... :jump:

I was just at a web site that list K Burton ahead of Simpson.

 

Well, I am a UK fan and I'd take Simpson. But I am more of a Bengals fan :lol:

 

Yahoo! has the Bengals as having the worst draft in the AFC, but Cris Carter was really giving the Bengals' draft some love.