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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > April > 01 > Entry
Bengals must take quality over quantity
BENGALS MUST RESIST
WR-RB TEMPTATION
IN DRAFT’S 1ST ROUND
There’s no possible way that 11 fresh-faced rookie draft picks are going to make the Cincinnati Bengals’ 53-man roster.
Let’s face it, folks. There’s not enough room.
There’s already too much depth, and too much talent, for that to happen.
And so, the most important thing for the Bengals to consider as the 2009 NFL Draft approaches is this:
Quality must rule over quantity.
If I were owner/president Mike Brown, I’d package some of my picks, move up, and get the handful of players I want, and need, to make the team better.
In other words, if the Bengals come out of the draft with solid players at left offensive tackle, defensive end, center, middle linebacker and defensive tackle, I’d be happy.
That will take some creativity, which is not the Bengals’ forte.
TOP NEEDS
1. Left Offensive Tackle — Levi Jones’ health issues make this the most glaring need. Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Michael Oher are on the radar, but don’t be surprised if the club attempts to redeem talented, but troubled, ‘Bama star Andre Smith.
2. Defensive end — With incumbents Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom coming off injury-riddled seasons, the team needs a difference-maker to pump life into a dormant pass rush and take the pressure off the secondary. Georgia Tech’s Michael Johnson would be a perfect fit.
3. Center — A smart, tough and mobile center is needed to anchor the point of attack against the AFC North’s rugged DTs. The team needs to make a bold move up for Cal’s Alex Mack or Oregon’s Max Unger.
BIG TEMPTATION
Owner/president Mike Brown is notorious for his love of skill position players. The obvious choice is an OT, but the temptation to draft a WR or TB at No. 6 will be great. The team needs quality, not quantity, on the OL and DL. Shore up both lines and the playoffs are within reach.
CHAD OCHO CINCO
Wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, in an interview with NFL Network during Super Bowl week, promised he’d make all the offseason workouts.
Wrong.
The time to trade Chad is now. I’d settle for a second-rounder. Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell — who spent a month working out with Palmer in California — must get on the field with Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry.
“He’s looking better and better,” Palmer said about Simpson. “You can tell that he’s been working. You have to really like what those two guys (Simpson and Caldwell) have done. Not many guys in the NFL have done what they’ve done. They’ve given up a lot of their offseason and been away from their families to get better.”
MICHAEL CRABTREE?
How would Carson Palmer feel if the club drafted Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree?
“I’d love it,” Palmer said. “We’ve got a lot of depth at the receiver spot, but anytime you get the sixth pick in the draft, he’s somebody who can help your team. I’ve seen a lot of him on film and he looks like a good player. Being a quarterback, you always want offensive linemen and receivers or a running back. We’ve got a number of holes. Hopefully, we can fill them.”
2009 SCHEDULE
The Bengals’ 2009 schedule should be released in mid-April.
This much we know:
HOME OPPONENTS — Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Denver, Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit and Houston.
ROAD OPPONENTS — Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Oakland, San Diego, Green Bay, Minnesota and the New York Jets.
RITES OF SPRING
The Masters golf tournament is April 9-12.
The NFL Draft is April 25-26.
The Kentucky Derby is May 2.
Thank goodness Spring is here.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By nyc
April 1, 2009 10:06 AM | Link to this
you red and bungal fans are hilarious..the reds will be done by june 1st….the bungals..lol…will never amount to anything…with brown in-charge…stop getting your hopes up…no playoffs for this team…..4 - 12 at best….stop dreaming because a new season is coming…the end will be the same….and thats a fact!!!!!By brian
April 1, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this
Hmm … let’s see nyc …seems you’re reading Chick’s blog and keeping up with both teams. If they’re no good, why are you bothering? If you don’t care, why waste your time? We certainly don’t care about your opinion … so perhaps you should get a job, folllow whatever bandwagon team you favor and go away.By Ft. Myers Foursome
April 1, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this
OT and Center should be the priorities. Job one should be to protect Palmer. The season will be over when he goes down. Speaking of the Masters Golf Tournament, the Ft. Myers Foursome will be there on August 7th for a practice round.By Ft. Myers Foursome
April 1, 2009 1:17 PM | Link to this
Make that an April 7th practice round.By Incredibly informative post
April 1, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this
you red and bungal fans are hilarious..the reds will be done by june 1st….the bungals..lol…will never amount to anything…with brown in-charge…stop getting your hopes up…no playoffs for this team…..4 - 12 at best….stop dreaming because a new season is coming…the end will be the same….and thats a fact!!!!!By Homer_Simpson
April 2, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this
“There’s already too much depth, and too much talent, for that to happen.” What??? There is no depth on this team and very little talent. What team have you been watching? Will 11 rookies make the team? Of course not, but come on “depth and talent”, ain’t no way. And Mikey will draft a WR or RB for sure. Gotta sell those jerseys.By Ron
April 3, 2009 8:03 AM | Link to this
There is no way Monroe or Smith will be available at pick 6. The Bengals need to trade down with the Eagles for their 21st and 28th pick and also their 3rd round pick. Trade Chad for a 2nd rounder to Dallas or Chicago’s two third rounders. Also trade down from the 21st pick with Miami, I think they will be open to moving up to grab the WR that they want. You could pick up a 3rd and a fifth. Nevertheless,I think Marvin is gone after this year so Mikey Boy want even listen to him during the draft. I expect the Bengals to pick Michael Crabtree at WR,RB Lesean McCoy,and a OL with their first 3 picks. They will finish 7-9 because they have no playmakers on defense and teams didn’t attack the defense aggressively because the offense was so bad. The Bengals defense is still mediocre and will be ignored during the Draft.By Ron
April 3, 2009 8:04 AM | Link to this
There is no way Monroe or Smith will be available at pick 6. The Bengals need to trade down with the Eagles for their 21st and 28th pick and also their 3rd round pick. Trade Chad for a 2nd rounder to Dallas or Chicago’s two third rounders. Also trade down from the 21st pick with Miami, I think they will be open to moving up to grab the WR that they want. You could pick up a 3rd and a fifth. Nevertheless,I think Marvin is gone after this year so Mikey Boy want even listen to him during the draft. I expect the Bengals to pick Michael Crabtree at WR,RB Lesean McCoy,and a OL with their first 3 picks. They will finish 7-9 because they have no playmakers on defense and teams didn’t attack the defense aggressively because the offense was so bad. The Bengals defense is still mediocre and will be ignored during the Draft.By Ron
April 3, 2009 8:04 AM | Link to this
There is no way Monroe or Smith will be available at pick 6. The Bengals need to trade down with the Eagles for their 21st and 28th pick and also their 3rd round pick. Trade Chad for a 2nd rounder to Dallas or Chicago’s two third rounders. Also trade down from the 21st pick with Miami, I think they will be open to moving up to grab the WR that they want. You could pick up a 3rd and a fifth. Nevertheless,I think Marvin is gone after this year so Mikey Boy want even listen to him during the draft. I expect the Bengals to pick Michael Crabtree at WR,RB Lesean McCoy,and a OL with their first 3 picks. They will finish 7-9 because they have no playmakers on defense and teams didn’t attack the defense aggressively because the offense was so bad. The Bengals defense is still mediocre and will be ignored during the Draft.By Chick Ludwig
April 3, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this
Ron: You’re wrong-wrong-wrong-wrong and wrong. Monroe will be there. Why trade down? That’s ridiculous. The Bengals already have 11 picks. How many do you want? Twenty? Like I wrote, there’s NO WAY all of them are going to make the 53-man roster. The Bengals need to package some of their later picks and move up. Saying the Bengals will ignor the defense is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a long time. Wake up. The team needs quality, not quantity.By joel
April 6, 2009 9:23 AM | Link to this
chick: what the heck ru guys talking about chad be traded lets look just over a few players let go tj, willie, dexter jackson,etc,etc i think enough is enough keep what u have an build weed out the ones that cant perform chad has had bad yr or 2 but overall he is good i hanged out with cah a few times and he is winner get the chemistery around him to do itBy joel
April 6, 2009 9:25 AM | Link to this
chick: what the heck ru guys talking about chad be traded lets look just over a few players let go tj, willie, dexter jackson,etc,etc i think enough is enough keep what u have an build weed out the ones that cant perform chad has had bad yr or 2 but overall he is good i hanged out with chad a few times and he is winner get the chemistery around him to do it