So now that the three day marathon. known as the draft, have come to end, it time for people like me to take the picks that Immediately impacts our football team examine them, and disect them and figure out how they will be used with this Cincinnati Bengals football team. What I will provide you with is the many guys that we drafted that I feel bring improvement and that I feel you'll see a lot of in the upcoming season barring injury.
Tyler Eifert Rd.1 Pick: 21 Tight End
This 6'6 Tall, Athletic Tight end was a surprise to just about everybody that at 21 he was still on the board. Tyler was a guy who was a projected top 10 on a lot of board, and a top 15 pick on everybody''s board. You can't find a mock draft the even gave the Bengals the opportunity to even draft him, because he was suppose to already be off the board. For the Bengals the tight end position wasn't an immediate need. but if you watch and follow the Bengals you know tight end was one of our weakest spot on this football team, in my opinion the second weakest spot after the strong safety spot. Jermaine Gresham has been a disappointment as a first round pick, yes he has potential but he is not the guy that dominates the middle of the, and when you got a guy like Green occupying not only a corner but also a safety, you got to have that tight end to dominate between the seams and behind them linebackers, Gresham can't do that, Eifert will get his opportunity. The drafting of Tyler will not only challenge Gresham, but also push him to be the best he can be, how good could that be is the real question??? Eifert has amazing skills as a receiving tight end, he of course have size, great leaping ability, great hands and his route running is his best skill, filming show's, as you can see Norte Dame use him a lot lined up on the outside. Where he struggles is his blocking ability, many question his low body strength, he has been known to hold when run blocking and lean and catch defenders when in pass pro. The Bengals couldn't pass up on Eifert once they seen that he was on the board at #21, yes it was a surprise to everyone that they took him, but it was a great pick.
Giovanni Bernard Rd 2. Pick 5. Running Back
Out of all the backs that was on the board came time for the Bengals to pick they made the best pick for what the Bengals are transitioning too in my opinion. I think it pretty clear to see that we are becoming a pass heavy team, BJGE is not the guy for that style of offense, even though he played in NE who is pass happy. BJGE is more of a between the tackles type of guy, and he will continue to be that type of guy for us. Giovanni will, in my opinion, slowly take the over the job here in Cincy if he comes along the way the Bengals like. He is the perfect back for our style of play. Giovanni is a explosive player, who has big playmaking ability, is quick elusive and very difficult to contain in the open field, Very good receiver out of the back field which is what separate him from the other backs like Lacy and Ball who are guys that are more in between the tackle type backs. He is also very reliable in pass pro. Now the bad..... He is not a big guy, many wonder if his size will hold up in the NFL, also he has a bad knee, already had a torn ACL, also missed 2 games this year from knee discomfort defiantly a BIG red flag. If he can stay healthy, he's a guy to watch out for, he definitely have the talent and skill set to be a feature back in a spread type of offense, he is in my opinion was the most complete back in this draft.
Margus Hunt Rd. 2. Pick 21. Defensive End
When the Bengals took this guy, it really surprised me, because the front line on D is by far the strength of this football and contains the most Depth. while this pick surprise me, as a fan it made me even more excited for this football team. I tell you as a guy like Michael Johnson your ears has to come up a little bit when you see this. Michael Johnson as we know was tag, but I clearly feel he is overpaid but with the rules of the tag, the Bengals are force to pay him a certain amount He is not an 8 figure a year type of guy and being that it a 1 year deal for Mike this Margus guy could be his replacement if Mike decide he won't to try to break the bank come next year. Margus Hunt is a one of a kind athlete, he first appeared on the international athletic scene after he won gold medals in both the shot put and discus events at the 2006 World Junior Track and Field Championships in Beijing. e went to SMU to do track and field, but eventually turn his attention to the football field. Hunt is a tall thick dude standing a 6'8 hitting the scale at 277, don't get it twisted though he amazingly athletic for that size and have what some calls the most upside and potential in this draft because of this combination. He is very versatile in his ability to play both the 3 and 5 Tech really really well. Expert calls this the steal of the Draft, as Hunt was projected to be a late first rounder by most. Playing at SMU you didn't hear much about him, but he was a top performer at the combine for his position and will make an immediate impact for the Cincinnati Bengals, might not be on defensive, but he holds the NCAA record for blocked field goals. I'm extremely excited to watch this guy develop in the next couple years, with the cast we already have here, this can get scary!!!
Shawn Williams Rd 3. Pick 22. Strong Safety
Shawn Williams is a big tough Safety from Georgia. He is what I think is every Defensive minded coaches dream. Big, Strong, Tough, punch you in the mouth type of safety. I think because the HUGE need for a Strong Safety if he play his card right he can impact this D immediately. He a guy who can play in the box and have no fear. He's a down hill type of guy who will lay out Receivers who decide to come across the middle or tight ends who think they own the seam. He won UGA's tough man award twice in the last 2 years, also he is a above average cover guy, who reads quarterbacks well, and with speed can guard any tight end and keep up with faster slot receivers For the weaknesses, he is not a guy that going to intercept a lot of balls, he don't have a lot of ball skills, no interceptions his senior year. His hard hitting can be his downfall at time as he been known to go for the hard hit and miss, but these weakness are thing that can be worked on, he is a big dude, which coach Lewis loves (i.e Taylor Mays), and he is full of toughness and attitude definitely a Zimmerman type of guy and could definitely be a starter in this league.
The Cincinnati Bengals in my opinion was definitely without question a winner in this past weekends draft. I feel they had a top 10 type of draft class, and I'm not saying that just cause I'm a fan. Eifert will add a two tight end attack that will take heat off Green, Bernard (not Scott) can very well be the starting back by seasons end, for he is exactly what we need in the style offense Coach Gruden want to run, Hunt was said by many to be the steal of the draft, and even though he plays at a position we are deepest at he will contribute on special team as he develop into another versatile and effect rotating lineman for us. I think I already mention he is a genius when it come to blocking kicks, and honestly the person I'm most excited to follow. Williams is a guy he give us improvement in the position we are weakest at strong safety, and I feel he can compete with Mays and Myles for that job, being an SEC guy he plays the closest thing to NFL talented in that conference, do not sleep on that. The Bengals seem to be starting a new trend for this organization and that drafting well and building, developing guys as they have done just that the last 4 to 5 years. This year they kept it going, they not only filled every need they need, but also got better while doing it. I seen a lot of B and a few B+ for the draft grade, I have to go more with B+ closer to A- just cause without these guys Bengals was AFC contenders, with this class they got a lot better and will have the most guys to contribute to what's already is a good team. Cincinnati be EXCITED for your football team, they have constantly improved, they will own the North this year, and could very well go undefeated in this league like 2005, and will be a team who can not only get to playoffs this year but also win in the playoffs!
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