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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 > 26 > Entry
Bengals are headed in the right direction
FIRST SEVEN PICKS AN A+;
LAST FOUR? WHY BOTHER
The 2009 NFL Draft was like a good marriage for the Cincinnati Bengals.
They addressed major areas of need with the kind of quality talent designed to make them a more physical, aggressive and faster team.
The additions of OT Andre Smith, MLB Rey Maualuga, DE Michael Johnson, C Jonathan Luigs and TE Chase Coffman will allow the team to compete in the rugged AFC North and even contend for the division title.
Showing they’re serious about special teams, the Bengals got the punter they wanted in Kevin Huber and beefed up the secondary with a big, fast, physical cornerback in Morgan Trent.
Big strides were made to increase the talent level and depth on both sides of the ball as the club strives for only its second playoff berth in 19 seasons.
BENGALS QUOTES
“We have two new guys who love to play football. They’ve been looked upon on their teams as the best players and the leaders, guys that have helped their teams win a lot of games. That’s pretty good. That makes a big difference as well.” — Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis on the addition of OT Andre Smith and MLB Rey Maualuga.
“I’m going to show that the Cincinnati Bengals picked the right person to come in and play, compete, work hard and help change the franchise for the good. I think I’m the most prepared out of all the other football players. I had an opportunity to work under coach (Nick) Saban, who has worked with Belichick. I love to run block and I also love to pass block. I consider the quarterback to be my mother. So by any means necessary, I’m going to defend him. I made a few bad decisions; took some bad advice. But it’s a stepping stone. I hate having to learn that lesson on such a large scale in front of the whole entire United States, but it’s a great lesson. I got to learn from it. And the biggest thing I’m going to do is change the perception that people have of me. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing.” — OT Andre Smith, Alabama
“This kid is a tremendous, tremendous athlete. He doesn’t play hard all the time. That’s our job to make sure that he does that. But he is a tremendous athlete. Like I told the guys up in the draft room, when we talk about this kid and you watch him on tape, there are some plays that you say ‘Oh wow, I can’t believe he did that.’ Then some of the other plays, you say, ‘Oh heck, he didn’t do very good there.’ But he does have a little bit of a wow factor in some of his measurables and some of his plays on tape. He just doesn’t have it enough. Hopefully by the end of the rookie minicamp, we’ll have that straightened out.” — Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer on DE Michael Johnson
“I am coming up there with an open mind trying to make the team and ultimately earn a starting spot. I like watching (Tennessee Titans center) Kevin Mawae’s nastiness. I like how Jeff Saturday plays the game with his head and knows how to use angles to his advantage. I look at all of the great NFL centers and take bits and pieces from each one of them.” — C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
BENGALS DRAFT PICKS ANALYSIS
• Round 1/No. 6 — Andre Smith, OT, Alabama: A road-grading run blocker and strong pass protector who will serve as QB Carson Palmer’s body guard and help open holes for TB Cedric Benson. Look for him to start immediately at RT.
• Round 2/No. 38 — Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal: A heavy-hitting enforcer who attacks the run and brings physicality to a fast-improving unit. Will be groomed behind Dhani Jones and land in the starting lineup early in the season.
• Round 3/No. 70 — Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech: Johnson is a third-round steal because he has first-round talent. He won’t start, but is expected to make an immediate impact as a third-down pass-rusher. He’s an exceptional athlete with long arms, good strength, outstanding quickness and explosive pass-rushing moves. But he lacks consistency because he doesn’t play hard all the time. The club’s goal is to light a fire under Johnson so that his potential can match his talent. If he shows the necessary improvement, he could land a starting job by midseason.
• Round 3/No. 98 — Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri: Coffman is the combination blocker and receiver the club needs to upgrade the position. He’s not the swiftest TE in the draft, but he’s one of the most complete. He has a knack for getting open because he runs crisp patterns, has excellent hands and shows good body control. His outstanding strength and effort make him an effective, reliable blocker. He’ll get an opportunity to impact the running and passing game early and push for the starting job.
• Round 4/No. 106 — Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas: Luigs fills a massive void in the heart of the line in front of QB Carson Palmer. He’ll have a chance to start right away because he’s a quick, mobile, athletic technician. With his strong hands, active feet and his ability to keep his pad level low, Luigs gets good leverage in pass protection. He’s very smart, but needs to get stronger so he can become a more effective drive blocker.
• Round 5/No. 142 — Kevin Huber, P, Cincinnati: Huber’s selection is a clear message the club is ready for a change at punter. Huber has a powerful leg and shows fine distance and direction. He knows how to hang ‘em high and is poised under pressure. Look for Huber to win the job over incumbent Kyle Larson and veteran newcomer Ryan Plackemeier. Larson is steady but not outstanding, and the club has had enough of his inconsistency. Larson will be searching for a new destination.
• Round 6/No. 179 — Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan: Trent adds talent, depth and competition to a position that needs strengthening. He won’t start right away, but he’ll push fourth-year LCB Johnathan Joseph, who has struggled with foot and ankle injuries. Trent is a big, fast and strong CB who makes the secondary more physical.
• Round 6/No. 209 — Bernard Scott, TB, Abilene Christian: Scott is highly-productive and multi-talented rusher and receiver who needs to mature. His draft stock plummeted because of his checkered past that includes multiple run-ins with police. If he stays out of trouble, he’ll be a third-down back to complement starter Cedric Benson.
• Round 7/No. 215 — Fui Vakapuna, TB, BYU: He lacks quickness and change of direction skill, but he’s a big, strong runner who could win the FB job and become the club’s goal-line hammer. All indications are he’ll be a situational back who can be productive in short-yardage.
• Round 7/No. 249 — Clinton McDonald, DE Memphis: A physical, athletic pass rusher who needs time to develop and get healthy. The first-team All-Conference USA pick had seven sacks in ‘08, but a midseason injury caused his stock to fall. He’s ticketed for the practice squad.
• Round 7/No. 252 — Freddie Brown, WR, Utah: A big target, Brown led the Utes’ receivers in catches (77), yards (900) and TDs (7). He can move the chains, but doesn’t hit many home runs because he lacks blazing speed.
WORK TO BE DONE
The Bengals have assembled arguably the finest collection of talent in head coach Marvin Lewis’ seven seasons. But they still have work to do.
More depth is needed at guard behind starters LG Andrew Whitworth and RG Bobbie Williams; fullback remains a problem area; and the club can’t afford injuries along the defensive front.
The club has plenty of safeties, but the competition at cornerback must increase because starters Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall need to be pushed.
The team has a franchise-tagged kicker and quality competition at punter, but the special teams are void of a breathtaking kick returner that strikes fear in the hearts of opponents.
The Bengals will scour the waiver wire and sign some speedy college free agents in an attempt to find that elusive kicker returner because incumbent PR Antonio Chatman struggles to stay healthy and second-year KR Andre Caldwell played in only seven games as a rookie because of leg and ankle injuries.
DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE
WR: Chad Ocho Cinco, Chris Henry
LT: Levi Jones, Anthony Collins
LG: Andrew Whitworth, Nate Livings
C: Jonathan Luigs, Kyle Cook
RG: Bobbie Williams, Scott Kooistra
RT: Andre Smith, Dennis Roland
TE: Reggie Kelly, Chase Coffman
WR: Laveranues Coles, Andre Caldwell
QB: Carson Palmer, J.T. O’Sullivan
TB: Cedric Benson, Chris Perry
FB: Daniel Coats, Fui Vakapuna
DEFENSE
LE: Robert Geathers, Michael Johnson
LDT: Domata Peko, Jason Shirley
RDT: Tank Johnson, Pat Sims
RE: Antwan Odom, Frostee Rucker
SLB: Rashad Jeanty, Darryl Blackstock
MLB: Rey Maualuga, Dhani Jones
WLB: Keith Rivers, Brandon Johnson
LCB: Johnathan Joseph, David Jones
RCB: Leon Hall, Morgan Trent
SS: Chinedum Ndukwe, Kyries Hebert
FS: Chris Crocker, Corey Lynch
SPECIALISTS
K: Shayne Graham
P: Kevin Huber
KR: Andre Caldwell
PR: Antonio Chatman
LS: Brad St. Louis
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Neil
April 27, 2009 12:44 AM | Link to this
After looking over the draft picks made by the Bengals, I am slightly more than just excited!! I like to think this new team has tremendous potential. We could even make the playoffs this year!By onceabengal
April 27, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
round One: Immature overeater. Round Two: can’t spell his own name. Round three: looks like a good choice. round 5.. A punter… really? a punter?By nick50
April 27, 2009 8:48 AM | Link to this
Woah….Neal…..Hold on to that playoff tix order! It’s just a player draft, big fella. What these new guys and this professional sports entertainment group has done here is……NOTHING!!! They haven’t won anything much less taken the field yet! Sucking is such a deeply rooted term that it indeed will take just a little more than the NFL kickline at Radio City Music Hall to convince this smart a*s that the Bengals have drafted little more than just a new bunch that have “the right to remain silent”! It’s not what you did, it’s what you’re doing and going to do that counts. Go count your cash, Mikey, the lemmings are lining up!By Brian
April 27, 2009 9:02 AM | Link to this
Optimism hurts, doesn’t it Nick?By Tom
April 27, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this
The Bengals have drafted talent before, only to watch it never develop. Playoffs? Are you kidding me? It’s just a draft.Most of these payers won’t even start.By Jeff
April 27, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this
Onceabengal: it is easy to rip a punter pick, but wait ti ll you see this dude kick a ball. Did you watch larson last year, fieldposition is the name of the game and huber can change it with one foot. great pickBy bubba
April 27, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
Chickster. You can calm down now. Your High Holy Days are over. You forgot one of the Bengal quotes from MIkey Boy. “Pete, hw much money did we save by not drafting that guy.”By Bogeyman
April 27, 2009 11:25 AM | Link to this
You guys got a superior back in Benard Scott. He may start as a 3rd down back but my guess is will quickly challenge Benson for the starting back position.By kudostoFO
April 27, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this
Is it possible that morgan can be the returner too? Good size and speed - not sure if he did any returning at Michigan. Overall a very good draft addressing needs. Much more physical level of players - getting a little away from teh fast finesse guys. Good draft finally - time to see it translate to the field.By SD
April 27, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this
Hey nick50, If you have such a negative outlook for this team, I have to wonder why you would even bother to read a blog about them? Hey Bogeyman, Scott looks like a skilled athlete, but if he wants a chance to shine on this team he better show his character has truly changed and start practicing punt returns.By ArGee
April 27, 2009 1:55 PM | Link to this
Hey Chick. Regarding your TE depth chart. Did the Bengals already cut Ben Utecht? They must have. Either that or he is the invisible man.By VoHo
April 27, 2009 2:10 PM | Link to this
Chick – The national “pundits” (code word for self-absorbed idiots), criticizing the Bengals for picking Rey Maualuga, crack me up. I bet a guy like Judge over at CBS would talk endlessly about “such a great move” if a team like Washington or New Orleans traded up and grabbed Maualuga at 38. But, when the Bengals take him at 38, it’s “the guy has issues” (hmm, that wasn’t a big deal last week) or “they only got a two down player” (watch a game – there’s lots of “two down” players doing a great job) or “every other team passed on him” (every other team passed on Everett Brown, Alphonso Smith, Darius Butler, James Laurinaitis, Max Unger and other sure-fire first-rounders). It’s good comedy.By cincyanon
April 27, 2009 7:04 PM | Link to this
According to NBCSports online draft report card, EVERYBODY in the AFC North had a better draft than the Bengals! One post season in 19 years will give you black colored glasses (as opposed to rose). I think so far this looks like the best draft ever under Mike Brown…was he out of town or suffering with the Swine Flu during the draft?By BenBengals
April 27, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this
I didn’t know that Henery is starting over Coles now… idiot.By thadanimal1980
April 27, 2009 11:09 PM | Link to this
benbengal, your a donkey… the depth chart is at each position. the draft went great, and i think we got the best out of the AFC north. All the people in the national media want to blast the Bengals, thats fine. All of you should be use to it by now. With the way that Utecht played(or not)I have no problem with Coffman. Go Bengals!!! If you don’t like what they did, then go jump on the Steeler bandwagon.