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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 > 2008 > August > 26 > Entry
FORE! A whack at the ‘Final 53’
GRIM REAPER PREPARING
TO MAKE A HOUSE CALL
22 MOVES MUST BE MADE
TO REACH ‘53’ ON SATURDAY
An NFL roster is a kaleidoscope.
Tweak it … and everything changes.
As you study my 53-man roster, keep in mind EVERYTHING is fluid and EVERYTHING is in flux.
The Cincinnati Bengals face the Indianapolis Colts in the preseason finale at brand new Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m..
One additional injury could cause a chain reaction that will change the 53-man roster.
Even after ‘CUTDOWN DOWN” on Saturday, Aug. 30, the Bengals will scour the waiver wire. For every addition, there must be a deletion.
You can MAKE the team on Saturday and be GONE 24 hours later.
Ahh, the NFL. It’s the most brutal, ruthless, cut-throat business in the free world.
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE …
LUDWIG AT LARGE would like to announce his Cincinnati Bengals’ 53-man roster. Loyal readers are encouraged to chime in with comments. Here goes:
OFFENSE: 24 PLAYERS
QUARTERBACKS (3) — Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe.
—-OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Jordan Palmer. This should be the year the Bengals keep a QB on the practice squad. Palmer is worth developing because Fitzpatrick will be elsewhere in 2009. Keeping Jordan around will keep peace with the Palmer family.
RUNNING BACKS (5) — Chris Perry, Kenny Watson, Rudi Johnson, DeDe Dorsey and Daniel Coats.
—-OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Jeremi Johnson, who must be held accountable for his offseason weight gain.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6) — Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Jerome Simpson, Glenn Holt, Antonio Chatman and Andre Caldwell.
—-OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Mario Urrutia, Maurice Purify and Clyde Logan. Urrutia is the top practice squad candidate. Some poor soul on the 53-man roster must be lopped when Chris Henry comes off suspension on Sept. 29.
TIGHT ENDS (2) — Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht.
—-OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Nate Lawrie and Matt Sherry. Sherry is a candidate for the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (8) — Levi Jones, Andrew Whitworth, Eric Ghiaciuc, Bobbie Williams, Stacy Andrews, Willie Anderson, Anthony Collins and Scott Kooistra.
—-OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Dan Santucci (center) should go on IR with a foot and ankle injury, and Kyle Cook (center) is a candidate for the practice squad. Bobbie Williams is your backup center and leader of the “Jurassic Line.”
DEFENSE: 26 PLAYERS
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9) — Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers, Domata Peko, John Thornton, Pat Sims, Jason Shirley, Jonathan Fanene, Frostee Rucker and Angelo Craig.
—-NOTE: Michael Myers could stick if Sims goes on IR with a severely sprained big toe. OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Eric Henderson. The coaches claim Henderson is injured. Henderson claims he’s healthy. LUDWIG AT LARGE doesn’t know who to believe.
LINEBACKERS (7) — Keith Rivers, Dhani Jones, Rashad Jeanty, Brandon Johnson, Corey Mays, Darryl Blackstock and Jim Maxwell.
—-ODD MAN OUT: Ahmad Brooks. Looks like Tarzan; plays like … well, you get the picture. He’ll get snapped off the waiver wire quickly. The Bengals had high hopes for Brooks when he was taken in the third round of the July 2006 Supplemental Draft. Sadly, he’s been an injury-prone bust.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (10) — Cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph, Leon Hall, David Jones and Deltha O’Neal; safeties Dexter Jackson, Marvin White, Corey Lynch, Chinedum Ndukwe, Kyries Hebert and John Busing.
—-OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: S Herana-Daze Jones and CB Simeon Castille. Jones could stick if Ndukwe goes on IR with sprained knee. Castille has a promising future, but needs development. He’s ticketed for the practice squad.
SPECIALISTS (3) — Shayne Graham (kicker), Kyle Larson (punter) and Brad St. Louis (long snapper).
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Brian
August 26, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
If Ahmad Brooks is let go and is immediately picked up by another team where he becomes a play making force while the Bengals’ D continues to flounder I may get a concussion from banging my head against the wall. I only hope these heavily hyped former Arizona Cardinals LBs don’t end up looking like Tarzan in practice only to play like Jane in games. NOTHING will change for this defense until a playmaker emerges who the other team has to game plan around. Brooks at least showed flashes of being that guy. Its frustrating and telling that they couldn’t coach him up from there.By Yippee
August 26, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Any chance the Bengals could bring back James Francis, Steve Tovar and Jason Buck?? (Rod “Toast” Jones need not apply…) Looks like the Bengals D will once again be “bottom-half of the League” material.By Antwan Odom in your face
August 26, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
STEP RIGHT UP SUCKERS…GET YOUR LIMITED EDITION KEITH RIVERS #58 JERSEYS….. Ahmad Brooks is playing for a job after being held in such high regard last year. To me, this is quite encouraging - if the “alleged” best LB of last year has a slim chance of making the LB corps this year, we must have done something right…well, FitzGerald did…anywho, Brooks isn’t versatile enough in special teams to make this roster…Keith Rivers #55 jerseys will be available sooner than expected….By greg
August 26, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Chick, I understand how important the kicking game is, but why don’t guys on the roster bubble (henderson,lawrie, cook) ever focus on long snapper? at least then we’d have a guy who can play more than 10-15 snaps a game. what happened to the guys that will do anything to get on the field?..thanksBy greg
August 26, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
I understand how important the kicking game is, but why don’t guys on the roster bubble (henderson,lawrie, cook) ever focus on long snapper? at least then we’d have a guy who can play more than 10-15 snaps a game. what happened to the guys that will do anything to get on the field?