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Bengals don’t see need at left tackle

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By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer 12:46 AM Wednesday, April 22, 2009

CINCINNATI — With the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select ...

Don’t be surprised if he’s not a left offensive tackle.

Head coach Marvin Lewis made it clear the club won’t be swayed by all the mock-draft projections of a left tackle.

“I wouldn’t really think that’s a high priority,” Lewis said at his predraft news conference on Tuesday, April 21. “We feel real comfortable with some guys we have in-house doing the things we need them to do to play productive football.

“I don’t think we’re going in there saying we need to have a left offensive tackle. We have three guys who played the spot for us last year, so we’re not going into the draft thinking that way.”

Levi Jones, Andrew Whitworth and Anthony Collins played LT in 2008. Jones started 10 games and Collins the final six. Left guard Whitworth replaced an injured Jones in the first quarter against Philadelphia on Nov. 16 only to be sidelined in the third quarter by a season-ending ankle injury.

The loss of Stacy Andrews in free agency to Philadelphia leaves a hole at right tackle, and that’s what makes Alabama’s Andre Smith so intriguing. The 6-foot-4, 332-pounder, who played left tackle for the Crimson Tide, could play right tackle for the Bengals.

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All the suggestions we have been giving ML and MB these last few months for drafting their special needs; I can't believe they would pass up the valuable information on draft day. Must be a smokescreen!

photoman
1:17 PM, 4/23/2009

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we need so much help one guy isnt going put us in the playoffs. while a young ot would be smart we could use a dt or de. does anyone remember the last time we had a decent passrush. let alone stopping the run. losing players like pollack thurman irons all 1 or 2 rd picks have been murder on or depth. we need some luck pure and simple boys!!!!!!!!!!1

spike
9:01 PM, 4/22/2009

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Been a Bengal fan for 20+ years, Ill be negative all I want. The only thing gonna save the Bengals is Mike Brown no longer being affiliated. Word is Ozzie Newsome is looking to move to the top 10 and would be willing to give their first and third round to do it. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and always expecting a different result.- Albert Einstein. Time to try something new Bengals.

guru
5:10 PM, 4/22/2009

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i dont think the should trade levi jones he is good and the reason i think so is because he is my cuzzin i dont want him to leave so i dont think they need a left tackle

Rodney king
3:26 PM, 4/22/2009

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@guru

The problem with trading down is you have to find someone willing to trade up. Quite frankly, the facts that top-10 picks are overpaid and you can usually get good talent throughout the first round are pretty much common knowledge, so it's not like everyone's bending over backwards to trade up and you know something they dont.

Matt
2:03 PM, 4/22/2009

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