Diner Morning News: Bengals Draft Talk

FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

18 March 2009

QUOTE:   “Physical strength can never permanently withstand the impact of spiritual force.”  ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

FROM CARLOS ‘BIG C’ HOLMES OF THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS... The Cincinnati Bengals have the sixth overall selection in this year's NFL draft and will be in search of an impact player on either offense or defense. The prospect evaluation process has long begun and the franchise is beginning to narrow down its choices. One impact player ranked high on the team's list is Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. The Bengals have a need for a playmaker at the running back position behind starter Cedric Benson, and Wells is scheduled to visit the organization in Cincinnati the first week of April.

The Bengals have so many needs that it’s not unreasonable to think they could draft a back.  They have to prepare for all options, and even if a wide receiver that they graded high were still on the board, they would probably select him.  The Bengals rely on their coaches to grade the players correctly, and they rely on what they believe they need to determine whom they’ll pick. They’re all about team needs, so no matter where they pick in the round, they go with their predetermined need. 

The problem with how the Bengals approach the draft is that no one has seen all the players and can determine who is actually a better player, not necessarily someone who fills a need.  They have no one who can look at the draft board and make a horizontal determination as it relates to all the positions.  The position coaches make a vertical determination, but there’s no one who can look across the board and make the right call as it relates to talent.  Therefore, the Bengals allow the debate to begin but are really locked into their team needs.  Typically, whoever can argue the loudest and has the strongest opinion will be the voice heard in this kind of situation.  So the Bengals’ course of action in the draft will be determined by team needs and by the coach with the strongest opinion, regardless of his position.

This is why, when you hear someone say a player is a good fourth-round pick, or this person is a third rounder, it really makes no sense.  As someone in the league said to me last week about the draft, “When you hear scouts or executives talk about rounds and where they would draft them, they really do not get the draft concept.”  Scouts should describe the player, and based on that description, it will indicate the round.  Unless you have seen all the players at every position, it’s impossible to talk about rounds.  Rounds should equate to what a player does during his NFL career.  So first and second rounders should be starters, third and fourth are potential starters and fifth through seventh rounders are more likely back-up/role players and developmental players.  Nevertheless, no one is a fourth rounder.  Art Modell, the former owner of the Browns, used to say about the draft process, “When they come out of their mother, they do not say they’re a second rounder. We make them a second rounder.” 

A player who’s picked in the second round is only a good pick if he starts.  It’s not where the player is picked but how he plays once he enters the league.  The critical aspect is to make sure the evaluation matches the selection.  I used to laugh after the draft when scouts would come into the draft room, look over the board and say, “I thought that player was a second, thought he was a fourth and thought he was a free agent.” What does that mean?

Describe the player, describe his role for the team this year and next year, and that will tell you where he should go in the draft.  It’s all about how they play, not where we pick them. 

FROM VAUGHN MCCLURE OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE... Tackle John St. Clair signed a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns (Tuesday). The Bears had offered their free agent tackle a three-year deal worth more than $4 million but St. Clair went with the higher offer from the Browns.  According to a source close to St. Clair, the deal is worth $9.1 million with $1.25 guaranteed.  Coach Lovie Smith said the team wanted to re-sign St. Clair but said there were other options in case he didn't.

I was amazed that John St. Clair was able to play left tackle last season, and I understood the plight of Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner in coming up with new ways to hide St. Clair in protection.  But that was at left tackle, and when I look over the Bears’ offensive line, I see many holes. Having St. Clair was not a perfect solution, but at least he could function and allow you to buy time until you find a replacement who’s better.  That better player might be Frank Omiyale, whom the Bears signed when free agency started.  Omiyale will be the right tackle and Chris Williams the left tackle, so it will be interesting to see how the Bears handle protection in the preseason.  One thing is for certain, if I were with the Bears, I would make sure Williams and Omiyale play a ton in the preseason.  I mean three quarters in each game to make sure they’re ready for the rigors of the NFL season. 

The season doesn’t start until September, so the Bears have time to fix some of their line problems.  They had better make sure they have a great draft because they’re placing a large degree of their success in ‘09 on their ability to pick.  I prefer to think of the draft as a way to help the next year’s team and not have a sense of desperation with each pick. But there are times when you can hit a bonanza. 

FROM JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS... Jay Cutler wants out of Denver and has asked the Broncos to trade him. Many of you seem to think swapping Tony Romo for Cutler is a great idea.  It's not.  Actually, it's a horrible idea.  Consider this: What has Jay Cutler ever done? Nothing.  He has a great arm, but he's never led the Broncos to the playoffs. Don't forget, they choked away a three-game lead with three games to play last season, and he throws dumb interceptions with regularity because of his unwavering faith in his powerful right arm.  Yes, Romo can be frustrating with his gunslinger mentality and the turnovers it produces. And you wish he'd be more of a leader since, ultimately, that's the quarterback's job.

I don’t think anyone could have made the Broncos a playoff team, not with that defense and a lack of fundamental size and power.  Cutler is the reason they won as many games as they did.  The Broncos also had no running game. In his first season, they a bad offensive line, and in his second season as a starter, they had a defense that couldn’t stop USC. 

I think Cutler is wrong in some areas for this mess, but blaming him for not getting the team to the playoffs isn’t fair.  The Broncos had so many problems on defense, but because of Cutler's talent they won some games they had no business winning. Does he take chances?  Yes.  Does he make mistakes?  Yes.  Does he force the ball?  Yes.  Does he compete?  Yes, too much at times.  However, he’s still growing as a player, and we all know that the more you play the position, the better you become. 

I like the Romo-for-Cutler idea. What do you guys think? 

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