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Bengals to have roster battles at WR, DL, DB
By Joe Reedy • jreedy@enquirer.com • May 8, 2010
After going through the draft, college free agent signings and the addition of a couple free agents, it's time to gage the roster for the first time going into five weeks of the on-field coaching sessions, which will conclude with the mandatory minicamp on June 15-17.
The quick first impression of Bengals' rostertology for 2010 - it's going to be an interesting couple of months at receiver, defensive line and secondary.
At receiver only one thing is certain (barring injury) - Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant are the top two receivers. After that it's nine guys fighting for four spots.
The competition begins at the number three spot between third-round pick Jordan Shipley and Andre Caldwell. The early expectations are for Shipley to become that inside receiver and possession-type receiver that was missing last year with the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. But to expect anyone to come in and fill Houshmandzadeh's shoes without any dropoff is a little unrealistic - Carson Palmer said last week that no one performs at that role better than T.J. However the one thing the Bengals do need is more consistency there.
Depending upon who becomes the third receiver, the other three spots will be just as much as a free for all. The wild cards are Matt Jones and Jerome Simpson. Jones just began coming into his own as a receiver two years ago in Jacksonville but did not play last year. Simpson is down to his last chance and has to show some semblance than he can be on the field.
After the draft the player whose odds got longer is Quan Cosby, who finds competition not only for a receiving spot but as a returner. Shipley and Adam "Pacman" Jones could return punts while Bernard Scott has the inside track to be the kick returner.
"There's going to be heated competition. It's going to come down to who can stay healthy and consistent," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said.
On the defensive line, the selections of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins has created a lot of competition. There are 13 tackles and ends on the roster competing for what in the past has been eight spots.
The biggest surprise out of training camp could be who doesn't make it from here or if the Bengals try to make a trade. Antwan Odom is coming off an Achilles injury and Robert Geathers has been underwhelming in the three seasons since his double-digit sack season of 2006. In an uncapped year, if either got injured or was outplayed, one of them could be traded or released.
And now to the secondary, where the signings of Gibril Wilson and Jones will give the Bengals 17 players vying for possibly 10 spots. The third corner spot becomes a four-way battle between Jones, Morgan Trent, David Jones and third-round pick Brandon Ghee.
Wilson's addition also provides an upgrade at safety. If Roy Williams, who has played only seven games the last two years, would get injured again, either Wilson or Chinedum Ndukwe could step in.
CLEARING SOMETHING UP: In the wake of the Miami Dolphins asking Dez Bryant about his mom's occupation, the Associated Press had their writers survey different draft picks about the most unusual question they received during the pre-draft process.
Atkins said last weekend that one club asked him about his sexual orientation. Atkins told the AP that he did not recall which team asked him the question. Some blogs and others have commented that Atkins said it was the Bengals, which he did not say. Said Atkins to the AP: "The only unusual question I got was if I was straight or gay. 'McDonald's or Burger King?' I think 'pillow or blanket?' was another one. Those were the strange, unusual ones I got. I was like, 'What does that have to do with football?' I think they were kind of trying to loosen me up a little bit."
With players sometimes knowing what the questions are before the teams even ask them, coaches and scouts have tried to mix things up and take players out of their comfort zone. However, it will be interesting to see if the league tries to come up with a set of standards on what is and isn't appropriate.
A GOOD CAUSE: John Thornton's Jockgive Foundation will hold its eighth annual Bowling For Autism event on June 12 at Princeton Bowl. Players, coaches and local media members will be celebrity bowlers.
Bengals to have roster battles at WR, DL, DB
By Joe Reedy • jreedy@enquirer.com • May 8, 2010
After going through the draft, college free agent signings and the addition of a couple free agents, it's time to gage the roster for the first time going into five weeks of the on-field coaching sessions, which will conclude with the mandatory minicamp on June 15-17.
The quick first impression of Bengals' rostertology for 2010 - it's going to be an interesting couple of months at receiver, defensive line and secondary.
At receiver only one thing is certain (barring injury) - Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant are the top two receivers. After that it's nine guys fighting for four spots.
The competition begins at the number three spot between third-round pick Jordan Shipley and Andre Caldwell. The early expectations are for Shipley to become that inside receiver and possession-type receiver that was missing last year with the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. But to expect anyone to come in and fill Houshmandzadeh's shoes without any dropoff is a little unrealistic - Carson Palmer said last week that no one performs at that role better than T.J. However the one thing the Bengals do need is more consistency there.
Depending upon who becomes the third receiver, the other three spots will be just as much as a free for all. The wild cards are Matt Jones and Jerome Simpson. Jones just began coming into his own as a receiver two years ago in Jacksonville but did not play last year. Simpson is down to his last chance and has to show some semblance than he can be on the field.
After the draft the player whose odds got longer is Quan Cosby, who finds competition not only for a receiving spot but as a returner. Shipley and Adam "Pacman" Jones could return punts while Bernard Scott has the inside track to be the kick returner.
"There's going to be heated competition. It's going to come down to who can stay healthy and consistent," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said.
On the defensive line, the selections of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins has created a lot of competition. There are 13 tackles and ends on the roster competing for what in the past has been eight spots.
The biggest surprise out of training camp could be who doesn't make it from here or if the Bengals try to make a trade. Antwan Odom is coming off an Achilles injury and Robert Geathers has been underwhelming in the three seasons since his double-digit sack season of 2006. In an uncapped year, if either got injured or was outplayed, one of them could be traded or released.
And now to the secondary, where the signings of Gibril Wilson and Jones will give the Bengals 17 players vying for possibly 10 spots. The third corner spot becomes a four-way battle between Jones, Morgan Trent, David Jones and third-round pick Brandon Ghee.
Wilson's addition also provides an upgrade at safety. If Roy Williams, who has played only seven games the last two years, would get injured again, either Wilson or Chinedum Ndukwe could step in.
CLEARING SOMETHING UP: In the wake of the Miami Dolphins asking Dez Bryant about his mom's occupation, the Associated Press had their writers survey different draft picks about the most unusual question they received during the pre-draft process.
Atkins said last weekend that one club asked him about his sexual orientation. Atkins told the AP that he did not recall which team asked him the question. Some blogs and others have commented that Atkins said it was the Bengals, which he did not say. Said Atkins to the AP: "The only unusual question I got was if I was straight or gay. 'McDonald's or Burger King?' I think 'pillow or blanket?' was another one. Those were the strange, unusual ones I got. I was like, 'What does that have to do with football?' I think they were kind of trying to loosen me up a little bit."
With players sometimes knowing what the questions are before the teams even ask them, coaches and scouts have tried to mix things up and take players out of their comfort zone. However, it will be interesting to see if the league tries to come up with a set of standards on what is and isn't appropriate.
A GOOD CAUSE: John Thornton's Jockgive Foundation will hold its eighth annual Bowling For Autism event on June 12 at Princeton Bowl. Players, coaches and local media members will be celebrity bowlers.
