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Home > Blogs > Big C's NFL Blitz > Archives > 2011 > May > 03 > Entry
Bengals making the grade in rounds 1-2
After carefully analyzing the Cincinnati Bengals selections in this year’s draft, it’s time for me to critique and handout my team grades. Bengal fans have every reason to beat their chests because the team notorious for making bungle picks actually fared well. The team wants to build an identity on offense and is off to a promising start after snagging two outstanding prospects early in the draft.
Round one: Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green was heralded as the team’s first round selection since the process began. This pick was like shooting fish in a beer barrel. You couldn’t miss unless you were drinking the beer.
Green is a play-making receiver with superb route running and athletic skills. He can start right away and brings an added dimension to the teams’ offense due to his big-play ability. Green is a well-polished receiver who takes a business approach to the game. That will be refreshing for Cincinnati and its fans after dealing with the antics of Chad Ochocinco for years.
No question Green will succeed Ochocinco as the No. 1 receiver sooner rather than later. Ochocinco’s tweet that his time is up in Cincy further indicates the team is moving onto greener pastures.
Grade: A
Round two: The Carson Palmer saga continues, but let’s put an end to the question of his return. The answer is NO! Palmer couldn’t return to Paul Brown Stadium if he wanted to. The vultures would pick his carcass clean with one lackluster performance. I’m expecting for Palmer to start receiving the LeBron James treatment in Cincinnati any day now.
When the team selected TCU quarterback Andy Dalton with the 35th overall pick that was like sticking the fork in Mr. Palmer. Dalton is an intelligent passer which is essential for a West Coast offense quarterback. He’s an efficient passer with a high completion percentage. He shows good mobility and can make plays outside the pocket with his arm.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Dalton is not the most athletic quarterback drafted running a 4.82 in the 40-yard dash and 29.5 inch vertical jump. He does, however, make up for those inefficiencies with good pocket awareness to anticipate the rush, toughness and experience. Like any quarterback, he will need sound protection from the offensive line to be successful.
There are a lot of fans be-bopping around over the Dalton pick as if he’s the savior for this season, but I beg the differ. Dalton came from a spread offense in college and will have to make the transition to taking the majority of snaps from under center. He will also have to learn the nuances of receiving route at the pro level. Not to mention the dubious task of learning the complex West Coast offense. There is much work to be done and will wait to next season to sing his praise. The longer it takes to resolve the lockout situation, the further he falls behind.
I like what I see in Dalton, but realistically speaking I don’t see him as an effective starter this year. It would be in the team’s best interest, in fact critical to bring in a veteran quarterback to groom the young quarterback. The Bengals mindset coming into the season needs to be win ball game. If that’s not the case scrap the season now.
Overall Green and Dalton are solid selections for a new foundation on team’s offense for the Bengals.
Grade: B
Picks in rounds 3 and 4 to follow…
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Comments
By slag
May 4, 2011 9:03 AM | Link to this
Big C, There ain’t “nobody” not named Andrew Luck that’s ready to start in the league as a rookie….Newton is the biggest risk in the history of the NFL. Can’t read a D,ran through guys in college, took few snaps under center, can’t hardly audible…Hell, couldn’t even grasp a simple conversation with Gruden about this/that without Gruden bailing the guy out.It will take this kid at least a couple years for the game to slow down enough for his IQ to kick in. Absolutely no doubt that Dalton is one of the top 2 that came out.
By Bob
May 4, 2011 5:54 PM | Link to this
Well you change your coordinator and draft a new “WR phenom” and take a chance that Dalton is your next QB. We may be drafting a WR next year also. But lets finish the job and trade Carson and pick up a good mature QB that can start for 6 games and help teach Dalton along with Gruden.