Jump to content

Mel Kiper: Bengals take Cam Newton


Recommended Posts

[size="5"][b]Mel Kiper: Bengals take Cam Newton[/b]
[/size]March, 9, 2011


The NFL draft is getting closer, and this week ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. provided [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/insider/news/story?page=KiperMockDraft3.0"][color="#225db7"]his third installment[/color][/url] [img]http://assets.espn.go.com/icons/in.gif[/img] in a popular series of mock drafts.

Let's examine how Kiper views the AFC North.

[b][url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/cin/cincinnati-bengals"][color="#225db7"]Cincinnati Bengals[/color][/url] (No. 4)[/b]

[b]Kiper's pick:[/b] [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27308/cam-newton"][color="#225db7"]Cam Newton[/color][/url], QB, Auburn

[b]Analysis:[/b] Newton is [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/25193/five-words-or-less-cam-newton"][color="#225db7"]the most polarizing player[/color][/url] in the NFL draft, and Kiper believes the Bengals will take him at No. 4. [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/25209/carson-palmer-feels-bengals-are-hopeless"][color="#225db7"]Cincinnati's quarterback position is in turmoil[/color][/url] with starter Carson Palmer demanding a trade and threatening to retire. But is Newton the right replacement? He has tremendous athleticism but also comes with boom or bust potential. Because of his athleticism and one year of starting experience, [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/25030/cam-newton-akili-smith-comparisons-fair"][color="#225db7"]some have compared[/color][/url] Newton to Akili Smith. Right or wrong, those comparisons will only increase if he goes to Cincinnati.

[b][url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-browns"][color="#225db7"]Cleveland Browns[/color][/url] (No. 6)[/b]

[b]Kiper's pick:[/b] [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26072/aj-green"][color="#225db7"]A.J. Green[/color][/url], WR, Georgia

[b]Analysis:[/b] The best receiver in the draft goes to Cleveland, according to Kiper. The Browns' receivers desperately need help, and Green would give them a legitimate No. 1 option in their new West Coast offense. I'm not against this pick, but there is a lot of debate in Cleveland about whether this team should address its defensive line in the first round. I think the Browns are leaning more in that direction. Cleveland is going to a 4-3 scheme in 2011 and need help at both defensive end and defensive tackle. There should be some good prospects there at No. 6.

[b][url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-ravens"][color="#225db7"]Baltimore Ravens[/color][/url] (No. 26)[/b]

[b]Kiper's pick:[/b] [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27258/jimmy-smith"][color="#225db7"]Jimmy Smith[/color][/url], CB, Colorado

[b]Analysis:[/b] Kiper remains steadfast in believing the Ravens will take a cornerback in the first round. In his second mock draft, the pick was corner [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27022/aaron-williams"][color="#225db7"]Aaron Williams[/color][/url] of Texas. In this mock draft, it's Smith. The Ravens do have the propensity to take the best available player, but I think they will address a need in the first round. Baltimore definitely could use help at offensive tackle and also with its pass rush. According to Kiper's mock, Colorado offensive tackle [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26076/nate-solder"][color="#225db7"]Nate Solder[/color][/url] would be available at No. 26, and that would be a great value pick for Baltimore. With starting cornerback Domonique Foxworth returning, I would be surprised if Baltimore takes a corner early.

[b][url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers"][color="#225db7"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/color][/url] (No. 31)[/b]

[b]Kiper's pick:[/b] [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/26173/danny-watkins"][color="#225db7"]Danny Watkins[/color][/url], G, Baylor

[b]Analysis:[/b] With Florida guard [url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/27201/mike-pouncey"][color="#225db7"]Mike Pouncey[/color][/url] long gone in this mock, Kiper says Watkins is the pick. The Steelers need depth and youth on their offensive line. But I believe Pittsburgh is the most likely AFC North team to trade up in this draft. The Steelers are coming off a Super Bowl appearance and were very close to winning a championship. They only need a few pieces, and if the right cornerback or offensive lineman is available, the Steelers shouldn't be afraid to part ways with some of their picks.







[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/25480/mel-kiper-bengals-take-cam-newton"]http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/25480/mel-kiper-bengals-take-cam-newton[/url]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[size="5"][b]Kiper calls Newton 'one-year wonder,' like Akili Smith[/b]
[/size]Posted by Evan Silva on March 9, 2011, 12:36 PM EST


ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper hosted a media conference call on Wednesday morning. Toward the end of the call, Kiper was asked about Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, and the possibility that the 2010 Heisman winner might land with the Bills.

Kiper says he's spoken to people he "trusts" in the league, and came away feeling that Newton isn't necessarily on Buffalo's radar.

"(Ryan) Fitzpatrick, to me, was a very good quarterback," Kiper insisted. Fitzpatrick, on his third NFL team at age 28, started 13 games last season and went 4-9.

Kiper predicted that one of this year's elite quarterback prospects (Newton, Blaine Gabbert) would almost certainly be available for the Bills. But if Buffalo decided to pick between the two, Kiper wouldn't expect it to be Newton. And that's why he's adjusted his latest mock draft.

"If you hit (on Newton), you could have a sensational quarterback for ten years," Kiper acknowledged. "(But) if you miss, it sets you back three, four, five years."

Kiper also assessed Newton's limited college career, in which he went 14-0 as a starter at the FBS level and 25-1 overall:

"He was a one-year wonder. Akili Smith was a one-year wonder."

Akili Smith, the No. 3 overall pick in 1999, is one of the biggest busts in draft history. A one-year starter at Oregon, Smith went on to start 17 games in the NFL, compiling a 3-14 record. His touchdown-to-interception ratio was 5:13. Smith finished his football career with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.

And special thanks to Joe Reedy of the [i]Cincinnati Enquirer, [/i]who [url="http://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/45540518834352129"][color="#d81718"]pointed out the biggest irony[/color][/url] of all:

Kiper sends Cam Newton to the Bengals in his latest mock draft.




[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/09/kiper-calls-newton-one-year-wonder-like-akili-smith/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/09/kiper-calls-newton-one-year-wonder-like-akili-smith/[/url]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[b][url="http://twitter.com/OmarKelly"][color="#0a0501"]OmarKelly[/color][/url][/b] [url=""] [/url] "He's the 1 player in this draft that possesses the biggest upside, and he's the one player that presents the biggest risk," Kiper on Newton
[url="http://twitter.com/OmarKelly/status/45531098947665920"]about 1 hour ago[/url] via [url="http://www.tweetdeck.com/"]TweetDeck[/url]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Bunghole' timestamp='1299696634' post='976137']
Please, Mike Brown, don't draft this guy!
[/quote]

I don't want him to be our starter in 2011. And he's not in my top 4 at 4. But if we got a veteran to start for a year or 2 (or 3) while Newton learned how to be an NFL QB the thought would repulse me a little less. Especially if we could trade back a few spots. None of these QBs are worth #4.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Jason' timestamp='1299697445' post='976139']
I don't want him to be our starter in 2011. And he's not in my top 4 at 4. But if we got a veteran to start for a year or 2 (or 3) while Newton learned how to be an NFL QB the thought would repulse me a little less. Especially if we could trade back a few spots. None of these QBs are worth #4.
[/quote]

We'll be lucky if one of the top 2 QBs is even there are #4. QBs are always "worth" more than people think 2 months before the draft....
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Jason' timestamp='1299697445' post='976139']
I don't want him to be our starter in 2011. And he's not in my top 4 at 4. But if we got a veteran to start for a year or 2 (or 3) while Newton learned how to be an NFL QB the thought would repulse me a little less. Especially if we could trade back a few spots. None of these QBs are worth #4.
[/quote]


you either have the intelligence to learn how to read defenses or you don't.


Sitting for 2 years to learn won't do much if you don't have the mental capacity to grasp it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1299698183' post='976143']
you either have the intelligence to learn how to read defenses or you don't.


Sitting for 2 years to learn won't do much if you don't have the mental capacity to grasp it.
[/quote]

Just out of curiosity, makes you so sure Cam does not have the capacity? I am not saying he does, but I can guarantee you no one on this board knows.....
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Tigers Johnson' timestamp='1299698296' post='976144']
Just out of curiosity, makes you so sure Cam does not have the capacity? I am not saying he does, but I can guarantee you no one on this board knows.....
[/quote]


I'm not saying he doesn't, but there are certainly questions and concerns out there whether he does.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1299698405' post='976146']
I'm not saying he doesn't, but there are certainly questions and concerns out there whether he does.
[/quote]

+1

Every analyst has criticized his lack of football IQ and his character. Its no secret that Auburn coach Chizik has stated he wasnt even sure Newton was going to be able to start in college and that he had no plans to center an entire offense around him. He played well in College, but his style and what history has shown us is that at the next level there is a great chance he will struggle.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='NASTYNATI' timestamp='1299698689' post='976149']
+1

Every analyst has criticized his lack of football IQ and his character. Its no secret that Auburn coach Chizik has stated he wasnt even sure Newton was going to be able to start in college and that he had no plans to center an entire offense around him. He played well in College, but his style and what history has shown us is that at the next level there is a great chance he will struggle.
[/quote]


Further, the Auburn offense was said to be beyond simple and Newton struggled with it at times.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1299698183' post='976143']
[b]you either have the intelligence to learn how to read defenses or you don't.[/b]


Sitting for 2 years to learn won't do much if you don't have the mental capacity to grasp it.
[/quote]

That's what Gruden and Zampese need to figure out.

And he has more to work on than just how to read a defense. His mechanics need refinement, he needs to learn to anticipate and hit what is an open receiver in the NFL. Plus he needs to learn the offense. I'd rather he not try and do that at the same time as trying to read a live NFL defense.

Honestly, Carson or no Carson, I don't want [b]ANY[/b] of the QBs in this years draft to be our starter in 2011.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1299698835' post='976151']
Further, the Auburn offense was said to be beyond simple and Newton struggled with it at times.
[/quote]

He was also a one year starter.....

Every level of football is scaled back for QB's when it is their first year in that system or on that level of football... The mere fact that the offense was made simple could reflect that fact and have no meaning towards what Cam can or can not do...

Fact is, no one really knows if Cam can do it or not because until this point he has not had to.....thats what makes him such a wild card.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't want a QB in the first. However, if you pick one this might be a good staff to do it with.


Akili Smith comparisons are still dumb, IMO. Akili didn't put the effort into it and the Bengals didn't surround him with the tools either.

People threw around former Bengal QB busts when Leftwhich and Palmer were being kicked around. The environment Palmer walked into was night and day. The environment any new QB will be night and day when compared to Akili.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If Mike Brown takes Newton, it will further alienate the fans for the 2011 season because there is NO WAY we'll have a winning season with him at QB.

It will prove that MB doesn't have a CLUE about player evaluation, that he doesn't give a damn about character, that his lack of an NFL-caliber scouting department can't perform adequate due diligence, and that he can't learn from past mistakes (i.e. Akili Smith).

So having said all that, I fully expect we'll end up with Cam Newton on draft day...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='GoBengals' timestamp='1299701591' post='976173']
marv is making the pick with his staff now.. not mikey poo...
[/quote]
Your signature makes me

wanna

cry.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Watch the most recent national championship game. If you know how a read option works, you'll notice that Cam fucks it up a dozen times over the course of the game (but was saved on occasion with his athleticism). If he can't read a DE or LB at the snap correctly in the read option, he'll be a major bust reading NFL defenses...especially seeing the Ravens and Steelers twice a year.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Arkansas Bengal' timestamp='1299701304' post='976171']
If Mike Brown takes Newton, it will further alienate the fans for the 2011 season because there is NO WAY we'll have a winning season with him at QB.

It will prove that MB doesn't have a CLUE about player evaluation, that he doesn't give a damn about character, that his lack of an NFL-caliber scouting department can't perform adequate due diligence, and that he can't learn from past mistakes (i.e. Akili Smith).

So having said all that, I fully expect we'll end up with Cam Newton on draft day...
[/quote]

[img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons/default/24.gif[/img]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...