MichaelWeston Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/9055/bengals-projected-roster-training-camp?ex_cid=espnapi_public Examining the Cincinnati Bengals' roster: QUARTERBACKS (3) Andy Dalton Jason Campbell AJ McCarron The Bengals were content with having just two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster last season, but expect them to take three this year. McCarron would be the odd man out, but since they drafted him this year and made him a de facto heir apparent to the position in case something happens with Dalton in the next few seasons, they probably won't cut him or place him on the practice squad. In Campbell, the Bengals also get a tried and true veteran who could step in if Dalton's play is unsatisfactory, or if he gets hurt. RUNNING BACKS (5) Giovani Bernard Jeremy Hill Cedric Peerman BenJarvus Green-Ellis Orson Charles This grouping includes Charles at H-back, meaning the Bengals are more likely to take four true running backs. I'd argue that neither Green-Ellis, Peerman nor Charles is a lock right now to make the team, but there are compelling reasons for each being part of the 53-man roster. Rex Burkhead and James Wilder Jr. also have real chances to be part of the full roster. RECEIVERS (5) A.J. Green Marvin Jones Mohamed Sanu Dane Sanzenbacher James Wright The top three on this list are locks to make the team. The true battle during training camp will be for the other two spots. If this group holds, that means veterans Brandon Tate andJasper Collins, former Bengals practice squad player Cobi Hamilton and undrafted rookiesColin Lockett and Alex Neutz won't make the team. Tate would be the real notable cut here after performing well as a kick returner and filling in at punt returner last year. With a fully healthy secondary around him, though, expect Adam Jones to get back to returning punts. While the Bengals will give Tate opportunities to contribute in the passing game (he's had only 14 catches in three seasons with Cincinnati) this preseason, Sanzenbacher can also do much of what Tate can. Sanzenbacher has been more consistent in the passing game and could fill in as a returner on punts or kickoffs. Hamilton's size (6-foot-2) and leaping ability make him a possible pick to make the team, but performance would be a reason for cutting him. Wright's special-teams background and his strong showing in minicamp and organized team activities make him a possibility too. TIGHT ENDS (3) Jermaine Gresham Tyler Eifert Alex Smith Gresham is entering a contract year, and expectations have never been higher for him. The Bengals believe he can play better than he has in recent years and hope to get that type of production out of him. An offseason hernia surgery might have Gresham out of the mix early in training camp, but he ought to make the team, just like Eifert and Smith, who re-signed this spring to help bolster the position group after Gresham's injury. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9) Andrew Whitworth Andre Smith Kevin Zeitler Mike Pollak Clint Boling Marshall Newhouse Trevor Robinson Tanner Hawkinson Russell Bodine It's possible the Bengals end up taking only nine linemen so they can fit additional players at other positions. For instance, they could end up taking another running back or another receiver. It's common for most teams to have nine or 10 linemen, and this group seems to provide the versatility coaches are seeking. Hopkins, an undrafted rookie, was used at a variety of spots in the spring. Of the undrafted free-agent linemen the Bengals signed this year, Trey Hopkins -- a versatile guard who was used in a variety of ways this spring -- has the best shot to make the team, but even he's just barely left off this list. DEFENSIVE LINE (9) Carlos Dunlap Wallace Gilberry Margus Hunt Robert Geathers Will Clarke Geno Atkins Domata Peko Brandon Thompson Devon Still The only player on this list who wasn't on last year's 53-man roster is Will Clarke. The rookie was drafted in the third round in May. He effectively takes the roster spot of Michael Johnson, who signed with Tampa Bay in the offseason. This may be the most set group on the team. LINEBACKERS (6) Vontaze Burfict Vincent Rey Rey Maualuga Marquis Flowers Jayson DiManche Emmanuel Lamur Like the receivers, the top spots at linebacker are pretty much squared away. In this case, it's a veritable lock that Vontaze Burfict, Emmanuel Lamur, Vincent Rey and Rey Maualuga will make the team. The two remaining linebackers, on the other hand, will be part of one of the better position battles on the team. DiManche and Flowers have the best chances among the rest of the outside linebackers to make the team, but they'll have to fend offSean Porter, Brandon Joiner and James Davidson too. Dontay Moch could make the team because of his versatility as a stand-up defensive end and hybrid linebacker. J.K. Schafferwas snubbed on this list at middle linebacker, but there's a lot about his drive and internal makeup that could make him a repeat roster surprise. CORNERBACKS (6) Leon Hall Adam Jones Terence Newman Darqueze Dennard Dre Kirkpatrick Victor Hampton The top four positions are effectively locked down. Kirkpatrick runs the risk of being cut for performance reasons, but it's unlikely he will be dismissed because the Bengals would take a $1.2 million cap hit if they let go of the former first-round pick. The sixth cornerback spot will be a battle between Hampton, R.J. Stanford, Lavelle Westbrooks, Chris Lewis-Harrisand Onterio McCalebb. Hampton has some versatility and ability the Bengals like, as well as special-teams leanings. SAFETIES (4) Reggie Nelson George Iloka Danieal Manning Shawn Williams This may end up being one of the tougher cuts Bengals coaches have, if they end up keeping just four safeties. Taylor Mays would be the odd man out in this situation, which might come as a surprise given how well his spring practices seemed to go. Nelson and Iloka are virtual locks, Manning seems like a good possibility and Williams appears to factor into the team's future at the position. SPECIALISTS (3) Kevin Huber Mike Nugent Clark Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 They will carry at least 6 WRs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRAPradio Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 They will carry at least 6 WRs. If that's the case, what position group do you go light on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 If that's the case, what position group do you go light on? Maybe 5 CBs and 4 safeties since Manning can play nickel CB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelWeston Posted July 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 Maybe 5 CBs and 4 safeties since Manning can play nickel CB. If Mays makes it over Flowers, which I think is likely, then you can also have Mays playing LB and S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inigo Montoya Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 Not a bad effort, but I would make a few changes. OUT: BJGE, Charles, Wright, Flowers, Hampton IN: Hewitt, Hamilton, Tate, Porter, Mays Good chance Boling goes on PUP and Svitek takes his spot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyrid Posted July 21, 2014 Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 Not a bad effort, but I would make a few changes. OUT: BJGE, Charles, Wright, Flowers, Hampton IN: Hewitt, Hamilton, Tate, Porter, Mays Good chance Boling goes on PUP and Svitek takes his spot Agree with these, though I think it will be Nikita Whitlock over Hewitt. Hewitt is built the same as Orson and I think they want a true FB. Porter vs. Flowers is a tossup. Think Burkhead ends up making the roster also but tough to say who it would be over. Maybe an OL gets injured and they go with 8 OL? I wouldn't mind if McCarron stubbed his toe and ended up on IR. Though he wouldn't be able to practice so I guess that isn't ideal either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelWeston Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 QB Dalton 2014 Campbell 2014 McCarron 2017RB Bernard 2016 Hill 2017 Peerman 2014 Burkhead 2016FB Charles 2015WR Green 2015 Sanzenbacher 2014WR Sanu 2015WR Jones 2015 Tate 2014TE Eifert 2017 Gresham 2014 Smith 2014LT Whitworth 2015 Newhouse 2014LG Boling 2014 Hawkinson 2016C Pollack 2016 Bodine 2017RG Zeitler 2015 Robinson 2014RT Smith 2015K Nugent 2014P Huber 2017LS Harris 2017LE Dunlap 2018 Hunt 2016 Clarke 2017LT Peko 2016 Still 2015RT Atkins 2018 Thompson 2015RE Geathers 2015 Gilberry 2015SLB Lamur 2014 Dimanche 2015MLB Maualuga 2014WLB Burfict 2014 Rey 2015 Mays 2014S IIoka 2015 Williams 2016S Nelson 2015 Manning 2014CB Jones 2015 Kirkpatrick 2015 Dennard 2017CB Newman 2014 Hall 2015 McCalebb 2014Thats mine. I think Law firm gets added back after week 1 and Burkhead gets dropped. I don't think we pay him his full 3 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Agree with these, though I think it will be Nikita Whitlock over Hewitt. Hewitt is built the same as Orson and I think they want a true FB. Porter vs. Flowers is a tossup. Think Burkhead ends up making the roster also but tough to say who it would be over. Maybe an OL gets injured and they go with 8 OL? I wouldn't mind if McCarron stubbed his toe and ended up on IR. Though he wouldn't be able to practice so I guess that isn't ideal either. Hewitt has actually done what I think they want though. If they really wanted a "true FB" they would have signed one. There were FBs who went undrafted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelWeston Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 From the "pros" http://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/7/29/5946911/bengals-53-man-roster-prediction-analysis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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