OldCleat redrafted the Bengals draft in 2008 and did OK. Of course, after the draft, I thought I did better than after the year. I will examine that before the start of the season. But it is time for OldCleat to redraft the Bengals draft, 2009. As last year, the rules are, I would draft a player that the Bengals had drafted, or someone drafted after the selection, until the Bengals selected again. So, my universe of players that I would have chosen were the players in-between the Bengals draft. I, of course, had the benefit of hindsight on this. Here is the OldCleat draft, 2009 edition.Round one, sixth pick overall. The Bengals selected Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. I would have taken Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia, slightly over Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal, and Smith. When a team in the NFL is selecting in the high first round, I think that the most important thing is the floor, not the ceiling. I thought that Monroe was the best, most complete left tackle in the draft, even over the second overall pick, Jason Smith. I think Monroe will be a left tackle who can play in the NFL starting this season. Smith was the best tackle in college football last year, but he has, let's say, some issues. Having said that, I think that if he isn't a left tackle, he probably is a right tackle. He probably is a better run blocker than Monroe. Smith also will most likely be a fine guard if he can't play tackle. Andre Smith reminds me of Leonard Davis, the tackle from Texas who failed with the Cardinals at tackle and is now an expensive guard for the Cowboys. And I LOVE Maualuga. I would have had very little problem with the Bengals taking him here. But I think the pick should have been Monroe.
Round two, 38th pick overall. The Bengals selected Maualuga. I would have taken Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal. I just have a feeling that this will end up being one of those franchise-changing picks. (The image of Maualuga, above right, is from Jodatoa’s Blog). No pressure, however. This sort of makes up for the Jerome Simpson pick of last year.
Round three, 70th pick overall. The Bengals selected Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. I would have taken Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech, closely, over two Alabama players -- Rashad Johnson, S, and Antoine Caldwell, center. Rashad Johnson seemed like a safe pick at this point. Caldwell, a little less so. Rashad may start for the Cardinals, and he will likely be a great special teamer because of his athletic ability and football instincts. Caldwell may have some problems from the get-go at center because of his size. But he is athletic and good and should be a good center. Michael Johnson, however, could become a GREAT pass rusher. And at this point I would be willing to give up these two choices for the possibility of greatness. One hopes that Michael Johnson decides to become great, because he supposedly has some of the most impressive physical tools at that position, and he did have some pretty good games in college.
Round three, 34th pick, 98th overall. The Bengals selected Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri. I would have taken Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson, over Travis Beckham, TE, Wisconsin. Coffman was TE of the year in college, just like Beckham was the year before. But I think Beckham is a better athlete who is a more explosive player with more upside, and neither of them are blockers at this point. Coffman is healthy, and Beckham isn't, and so Coffman may be more of a sure thing. Scott is a 6'4", 325-pound space eater in the middle who would have been a pretty good backup and spot player from the get-go.
Round four, sixth pick, 106th overall. The Bengals selected Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas. I would have taken Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas. He's a big boy who has been a great player in college for many years. I think he can come in and start early. This was a very nice pick by the Bengals. Don't get me wrong, the Bengals passed on some nice players, especially D.J. Moore, a corner from Vandy who should become a starter and Mike Thomas, WR and returner from Arizona State who will be a nice slot receiver. Some others that I liked but wouldn't have worried too much about such as Louis Murphy (speedy WR), Mike Goodson (speedy RB - ?returner??), David Bruton (size-speed prospect at S who wasn't a great player at ND), Terrance Taylor (squat NT from Michigan), Gartrell Johnson (size-speed prospect at TB from Colorado State), and Kenny McKinley (quick but slight WR from South Carolina). But Luigs is a top pick.
Round five, sixth pick, 142 overall. The Bengals select Kevin Huber, P, U of Cincinnati. I would have taken any of at least 18 players instead of a punter. I am very very much not a fan of taking a punter or a kicker, especially this high. Huber better be damned good, because I think it's close to a wasted pick. I guess out of all the players, I would have taken Jasper Brinkley, MLB, South Carolina. He's a big boy who would have been a good run-stopper. I'll just mention a few of the others I would have taken, more or less in order: Duke Robinson, very large G, Oklahoma; Victor Harris, CB, VA Tech; Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida; James Casey, TE and slash, Rice; Nic Harris, OLB-SS, Oklahoma; Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State; Javon Ringer, third-down RB and returner, Michigan State; Herman Johnson, larger G than the Duke, LSU; and there are others.
Round six, sixth pick, 179th overall. The Bengals selected Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan. I would have taken Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan, I guess, over Coye Francis, CB, San Jose State, and Cory Harris, CB, Southern Cal. I actually think Trent is a special teamer, corner, and safety. Francis and Harris are sub-package corners. Trent may not be the cover corner Francis and Harris is, but Trent will be a contributor I think right away. If Francis or Harris can't cover the slot, they are in trouble.
Round six, 36th pick, 209th overall. The Bengals selected Bernard Scott, RB, Abilene Christian. Morons. I think that every pick is important. I think they got cute with this one. Scott is smallish, 25, from a DII school, a toublemaker who has gotten kicked out of two schools, and has had run-ins with the law. He is also a good player. But, so what? I would have taken Vance Walker, a talented but smallish DT out of Georgia Tech slightly over Chris Ogbonnaya, a 220-pound RB out of Texas.
Round seven, sixth pick, 215th overall. The Bengals selected Fui Vakapuna, RB and FB, BYU. Vakapuna is 5'11", 245, and he can run and catch. I am OK with this pick. But I would have taken Nick Reed, DE - LB, Oregon. I also liked Rickey Jean-Francois, DT, LSU, who was injured and a little size-challenged but talented. But Reed was extremely productive in his career. He might not have the combine measurables, but he certainly was able to get the job done in college. And he seems to be one of those guys who knows how to rush the passer.
Round seven, 40th, 249th overall. The Bengals selected Clinton McDonald, DT, Memphis. I would have taken Clinton McDonald, DT, Memphis, slightly over Derek Kinder, WR, Pitt, and Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty. Those were my only options, because with the 252nd selection, the Bengals took a Utah WR.
Round seven, 43rd overall. The Bengals took Freddie Brown, WR, Utah. I would have taken one of many players not drafted. I guess that at this point, they all look good compared to Freddie Brown to me, but I'll go with P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin. As a sophomore, he looked like Beanie Wells, the first-round pick out of Ohio State. Then last year, Hill had a DUI, got a little hurt, a little out of shape, and he didn't look very good. If you can light a fire under him, I think he can be a starter in the NFL in the right system.
So here are the picks. I really only have issue with two picks, the punter in the fifth round and the running back in the sixth. If more Bengals drafts had been like this one, they would be a better team. So the differences I took are just players I liked slightly more. I don't know if my draft is all that much better than Cincy's.
Cincy
1. Andre Smith, OT, Alabama.
2. Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal.
3. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech.
3. Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri.
4. Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas.
5. Kevin Huber, P, Cincinnati.
6. Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan.
6. Bernard Scott, RB, Abilene Christian.
7. Fui Vakapuna, FB, BYU.
7. Clinton McDonald, DT, Memphis.
7. Freddie Brown, WR, Utah.
OldCleat
1. Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia.
2. Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal.
3. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech.
3. Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson.
4. Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas.
5. Jasper Brinkley, MLB, South Carolina.
6. Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan.
6. Vance Walker, DT, Georgia Tech.
7. Nick Reed, DE-LB, Oregon.
7. Clinton McDonald, DT, Memphis.
7. P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin.
And here is the 2008 draft comparisons:
Cincy
1 Keith Rivers, LB, USC
2 Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina
3 Pat Sims, DT, Auburn
3 Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida
4 Anthony Collins, T, Kansas
5 Jason Shirley, DT, Fresno State
6 Corey Lynch, S, Appalachian State
6 Matt Sherry, TE, Villanova
7 Angelo Craig, OLB, Cincinnati
7 Mario Urrutia, WR, Louisville
OldCleat
1 Keith Rivers, LB, USC
2 Quentin Groves, DE/LB, Auburn
3 Pat Sims, DT, Auburn
3 Justin King, CB, Penn State
4 Jack Ikegwuonu, CB/S, Wisconsin
5 Jonathan Goff, LB, Vanderbilt
6 Andre’ Woodson, QB, Kentucky
6 Chauncey Washington, RB, USC
7 Angelo Craig, OLB, Cincinnati
7 Wesley Woodyard, LB, Kentucky
thankyouverymuch,
OldCleat
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