Who are the Bengals targeting?

[happyrid]

Great work by all who have contributed to this thread. Very interesting to read through and see where everyone has been.

I posted about a month back that for the first time ever, I got some inside info on the Bengals. My guy told me that the Bengals really, really want to come out of the draft with a pass rushing OLB. So even though they run a 4-3, watch for the Bengals to get one of the guys being talked about as a 3-4 OLB. He specifically mentioned Sergio Kindle. It is interesting to see that we are putting guys like Derrick Morgan through those LB drills. I think we may try to find another David Pollack DE and move him to LB to complete our young trio there (Rivers at WLB, Rey at MLB, Rookie at SLB).

By the way, I love Thaddeus Gibson as a 2nd or 3rd rounder b/c he was amazing in that LB/DE role for OSU last year. Very underrated guy in my opinion. I doubt he makes it to us in the 2nd though as I've heard he's really impressed a lot of teams.

[Bengals1181]

[quote]One of the tougher evaluations in the upcoming draft is Arizona [b]TE Rob Gronkowski.[/b] The talented tight end is considered one of best prospects in the draft at his position, but missed all of last season with a back injury, and was not ready to run drills at the NFL Scouting Combine.

He was finally able to work out in front of scouts on Saturday, and his performance was eye-opening. He ran outdoors on grass in front of representatives from 15 teams. Bengals tight end coach Jonathan Hayes ran the position drills.[/quote]




http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/03/27/finally-healthy-gronkowski-looks-good-at-workout/

[oldschooler]

[url="http://twitter.com/joereedy"][color="#0a0501"]joereedy[/color][/url] Pierre-Paul watch? RT @[url="http://twitter.com/usffootball"][color="#0a0501"]usffootball[/color][/url]: Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is the building for [url="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23ProDay"][color="#0a0501"]#ProDay[/color][/url].
[url="http://twitter.com/joereedy/status/11315885972"]15 minutes ago [/url]via [url="http://www.tweetdeck.com/"]TweetDeck[/url]

[Bengals1181]

first pro day I've seen Marvin reported being at.

Other guys he may be there to watch: DE George Selvie, FS Nate Allen, WR Carlton Mitchell, CB Jerome Murphy, and LB Kion Wilson

[oldschooler]

[b]Hot draft prospect Dez Bryant will visit Cowboys
[/b]Posted Tuesday, Mar. 30, 2010
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

[email="cjwilliams@star-telegram.com"]cjwilliams@star-telegram.com[/email]



LUFKIN — Former Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant will arrive at Valley Ranch tomorrow, fresh off his workout for NFL scouts at his former high school.

More than 20 NFL scouts and coaches attended Tuesday's session, including San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, [b]Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski[/b] and receivers coaches from the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bryant ran outside on the artificial turf at Abe Martin Stadium, where he first became a star. Wearing no shirt and bright yellow cleats, Bryant ran three times -- once against the wind and twice with the wind. He was clocked in 4.53, 4.61 and 4.58. One scout had Bryant at 4.49 on his third 40 time. "I ran a lot better than I thought, but I can run a lot faster than that," Bryant said. "We all know I can run on the field."

Bryant measured 6-1 1/2 and weighed 224 pounds. He did everything for scouts Tuesday after not working out at the combine. He had a 38-inch vertical, an 11-1 broad jump and had 14 reps in the 225-pound bench press. He kept slipping on the three-cone drill and short shuttle but finally posted times of 7.21 on the cone drill and 4.48 on the short shuttle.

"I'm a little conflicted to be honest with you," said Mike Mayock, NFL Network's draft analyst. "...He runs a 4.55 average with and against the wind. The 40 was a disappointment. I love the explosion and the jumping. I love the quickness off the line of scrimmage, and I love the way he catches the football. But he was struggling with his footing. The 40 is going to bother some teams. When you're talking about an elite receiver and a potential top-10 pick, a 4.55 doesn't always add up."

Bryant is the top-rated receiver, having caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2008 along with two punt return touchdowns. But he had only 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns in three games last season before being ruled ineligible for lying to NCAA investigators.

Besides the Cowboys, Bryant also [b]has visits lined up with Cincinnati[/b] and Tampa Bay. His agent, Eugene Parker, said teams have been calling about Bryant, who also could visit Denver and San Francisco, among others.

Bryant spent the four weeks after the combine in New Orleans working out with trainer Duke Rousse. He first had to get his hamstring healthy, and then he started working specifically to get ready for Tuesday. Former Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid threw passes to Bryant, and[b] former Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal also ran routes. McNeal, who played seven games with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006, is trying to return to the NFL as a receiver. [/b]He has spent the past two seasons playing for Toronto in the Canadian Football League.



Read more: [url="http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/30/2077639/hot-draft-prospect-dez-bryant.html#ixzz0jgsbyw5j"]http://www.star-tele...l#ixzz0jgsbyw5j[/url]

[oldschooler]

Just talked to WR Eric Decker. He told me 1 of the teams he has a visit with is the Bengals. More in my upcoming Draft Buzz feature. [url="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23NFL"][color="#3a3b5f"]#NFL[/color][/url]
[url="http://twitter.com/Ed_Thompson/status/11276934703"]about 23 hours ago [/url]via web



[url="http://twitter.com/Ed_Thompson"]http://twitter.com/Ed_Thompson[/url]

[New Jersey Bengal]

[b]It would be nice to grab Kindle but he will be gone by the time we pick b@ #21...If we go defense in Round 1 I hope we grab Dan Williams or Brain Price to solidify our D line..Earl Thomas would be bad either.. If we go offense I really want Golden Tate. He will be a very good player in the NFL....[/b]

[akiliMVP]

[quote name='New Jersey Bengal' date='30 March 2010 - 08:06 PM' timestamp='1269993994' post='874128']
[b]It would be nice to grab Kindle but he will be gone by the time we pick b@ #21...If we go defense in Round 1 I hope we grab Dan Williams or Brain Price to solidify our D line..Earl Thomas would be bad either.. If we go offense I really want Golden Tate. He will be a very good player in the NFL....[/b]
[/quote]
We are more than good at DT with Peko, Tank and Sims.

[JC]

Big, big, Eric Decker fan. Guy is going to be solid.

[oldschooler]

Taylor Mays is coming to Cincy for a visit . . .



Electing to stand on his much-debated 40 at the combine, Mays was solid in position drills but might have left teams wondering if he has the necessary coverage and ball skills to justify a top-32 pick.

A three-time All-American, Mays finished with just five career interceptions. He was often lined up 15 yards off the line of scrimmage, raising questions if Mays can guard slot receivers in a league that increasingly employs three or four wideouts.

"I didn't back peddle too much on film, didn't do too many one-on-ones and didn't play in the slot. I just took a couple steps and ran to the ball, so showing the change of direction and ball skills is what I wanted to show," Mays said. "These DB drills were most important to me, because that's what I don't show on film. They know I can run fast and hit and all that stuff, but being able to move as a bigger safety was the biggest question mark.

"In the NFL, you get paid to get interceptions. I wasn't really coached to do that at USC," he said.

With his former coach in Austin attending [url="http://texas.scout.com/"][color="#000000"]Texas[/color][/url]' pro day, Mays admitted his pre-draft routine is the opposite of how he was treated as a top player in high school.

"Man, when I was recruited, they were loving me up and telling me everything in the world. Now, they killing me," he said with a laugh.

Mays has meetings scheduled with the Browns on Thursday, the Chiefs on Sunday, [b]then on to Cincinnati[/b], but has not decided if he will travel to New York City for the Draft.




[url="http://usc.scout.com/2/958663.html"][color="#000000"]http://usc.scout.com/2/958663.html[/color][/url]

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='oldschooler' date='01 April 2010 - 09:29 AM' timestamp='1270128540' post='874435']
Taylor Mays is coming to Cincy for a visit . . .


[/quote]


why on earth would they be interested in him?

[Jason]

[quote name='Bengals1181' date='01 April 2010 - 09:06 AM' timestamp='1270130768' post='874444']
why on earth would they be interested in him?
[/quote]

Trojan is obviously Marvin's favorite brand.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='Jason' date='01 April 2010 - 11:04 AM' timestamp='1270134259' post='874464']
Trojan is obviously Marvin's favorite brand.
[/quote]


you apparently missed the sarcasm.

[Jason]

[quote name='Bengals1181' date='01 April 2010 - 11:47 AM' timestamp='1270140471' post='874498']
you apparently missed the sarcasm.
[/quote]
nope

[oldschooler]

[b]Source: Conner invited to Bengals' local prospect day
[/b][b]Kentucky fullback completes Cowboys visit[/b]
Aaron Wilson

April 01, 2010 Now that he has completed visits with the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions, University of Kentucky fullback John Conner has another meeting on his itinerary.

According to an NFL source with knowledge of the situation, Conner has been invited to attend the Cincinnati Bengals' local prospects day.

Conner, who rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns last season, is the top-ranked fullback on most draft boards because of his size, speed and blocking skills.

The 5-foot-11, 241-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, also bench pressing 225 pounds 24 times and posting a 35-inch vertical leap.

He has been projected anywhere from the middle rounds to the latter portion of the draft.

Conner met with team owner Jerry Jones during his Cowboys visit.



[url="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Source-Conner-invited-to-Bengals-local-prospect-day.html"][color="#000000"]http://www.nationalf...ospect-day.html[/color][/url]




Other players coming for a visit or going to be part of the local prospect day . . .


The Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles have all scheduled private workouts with Morgan State wide receiver E.J. Morton-Green. According to one observer, the former Miami (OH) player ran a 4.47 forty-time at his pro day, and posted a 4.28-second short shuttle. At 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, Morgan's a big target who can also get up high for the ball as evidenced by his 37 1/2-inch vertical leap.



Boston College center Matt Tennant will participate in the Bengals' pro day for local athletes on April 13. The anchor of B.C.'s offensive line, who started 41 consecutive games, has already worked out for the Broncos and the Falcons.

University of New Mexico center [url="http://profootball.scout.com/a.z?s=127&p=8&c=1&nid=4371523"][b]Erik Cook[/b][/url] is scheduled to work out for the Bengals this week, but has also been drawing interest from the Browns, Bills, Titans, Panthers, Dolphins, Texans, Raiders and Redskins. The Lobos' Most Valuable Player Award winner in 2009 was a three-year starter who also gained some experience at tackle and guard earlier in his college career.



Brigham Young University tight end [url="http://profootball.scout.com/a.z?s=127&p=8&c=1&nid=4240765"][b]Dennis Pitta[/b][/url] and Notre Dame center [url="http://profootball.scout.com/a.z?s=127&p=8&c=1&nid=4335135"][b]Eric Olsen[/b][/url] will be visiting the the New Orleans Saints on April 11-12. That visit falls roughly a week after Pitta's April 5-6 visit with the Bengals and Olsen's workout at the New York Giants' pro day for local prospects. Pitta's a three-time first-team All-Mountain West selection who rolled up over 1,900 receiving yards during the last two years at BYU. Olsen started at guard for the Fighting Irish part way through his sophomore year and then moved to center for the team's 2009 campaign.





[url="http://profootball.scout.com/2/959004.html"][color="#000000"]http://profootball.s...m/2/959004.html[/color][/url]

[oldschooler]

UC’s Mardy Gilyard will also be visiting as part of the local workouts on April 13

[url="http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010/03/31/add-dez-bryant-to-the-list/"]http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010/03/31/add-dez-bryant-to-the-list/[/url]

[oldschooler]

[b]Source: Mickey Shuler visiting the Jets, Saints and Bengals[/b]
[b]Penn State tight end gaining interest
[/b]Aaron Wilson

April 02, 2010


Penn State tight end Mickey Shuler Jr. is scheduled to visit the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a source close to the Nittany Lions' program.

Shuler made a big impression on NFL personnel directors and scouts with a strong Pro Day workout.

His performance would have ranked him in the top three in all categories among the tight ends that attended the NFL scouting combine.

The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds, which would have ranked him third among the tight ends.

He posted a 37 1/2 inch vertical leap, which would have ranked him third.

His 10-11 broad jump, 6.70 in the three-cone and 11.19 in the 60-yard shuttle would have been the top tight end showing, and his 28 bench press repetitions and 4.25 in the 20-yard shuttle would have ranked him second overall.

Shuler was an All-Academic Big Ten selection who caught 27 career passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns.

His father, Mickey Shuler Sr., played tight end in the NFL for 14 seasons after playing at Penn State. So, the bloodlines are definitely there for the younger Shuler.





[url="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Source-Mickey-Shuler-visiting-the-Jets-Saints-and-Bengals.html"][color="#000000"]http://www.nationalf...nd-Bengals.html[/color][/url]

[alleycat]

Interesting... Shuler didn't catch many passes at Penn State, but seems to have the wheels. Caught this little nugget from Walterfootball:

Mickey Shuler, Penn State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 251.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.69.
Benchx225: 28. Vertical: 37. Arm: .
Projected Round (2010): 7-FA.
1/21/10: Finished his senior year with 11 catches. Contributed mostly with blocking.

2/8/09: [b]An elite blocking tight end,[/b] Mickey Shuler chipped in with nine receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown in 2008.

7/27/08: Mickey Shuler caught just seven passes in 2007, but he happens to be [b]one of the top blocking tight ends in the 2010 class[/b].



7th round? Yes, please.

[oldschooler]

[url="http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/04/02/east-carolinas-pro-day-filled-with-defensive-line-prospects/"][b][size="5"]East Carolina filled with defensive line prospects[/size][/b][/url][size="5"]
[/size]Posted: April 2nd, 2010 | Gil Brandt | Tags: [url="http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/2010-pro-days/"][color="#364c88"]2010 Pro Days[/color][/url], [url="http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/c-j-wilson/"][color="#364c88"]C.J. Wilson[/color][/url], [url="http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/jay-ross/"][color="#364c88"]Jay Ross[/color][/url], [url="http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/linval-joseph/"][color="#364c88"]Linval Joseph[/color][/url], [url="http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/matthew-dodge/"][color="#364c88"]Matthew Dodge[/color][/url], [url="http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/scotty-robinson/"][color="#364c88"]Scotty Robinson[/color][/url]

A pair of Pirates defensive linemen are quickly moving up draft boards. The best indication of defensive tackles [b][url="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/linval-joseph?id=496802"][color="#364c88"]Linval Joseph[/color][/url][/b] and [b][url="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/jay-ross?id=496847"][color="#364c88"]Jay Ross[/color][/url][/b]' rising stature may be that 10 defensive line coaches were among the 31 team representatives in attendance at East Carolina's pro day on March 25.

[size="3"][b]Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes ran the drills[/b][/size], and Joseph and Ross also worked out for the Eagles individually on Wednesday.

The pro day, which took place outdoors on grass in slightly windy conditions, featured five notable prospects.

Joseph (6-foot-4 1/4, 319 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds with the wind, 5.16 seconds against the wind, had a 31 1/2-inch vertical jump, an 8-foot, 6-inch broad jump, a 4.52-second short shuttle, a 7.62-second three-cone drill and stood on his bench press number from the [url="http://www.nfl.com/combine"][color="#364c88"]NFL Scouting Combine[/color][/url]. He was very good in drills.

Ross (6-2 7/8, 302) ran the 40 in 4.99 seconds with the wind, 5.16 seconds against the wind, had an 8-1 broad jump, a 4.56 short shuttle, a 7.67 three-cone drill and was outstanding in drills.

DE [b][url="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/c.j.-wilson?id=496875"][color="#364c88"]C.J. Wilson[/color][/url][/b] (6-2 7/8, 288) had a 4.50 short shuttle, a 7.65 three-cone drill and stood on his 40-yard dash, broad jump and bench press from the combine.

DE [b]Scotty Robinson[/b] (6-4 1/8, 275) ran the 40 in 5.12 with the wind, and 5.10 against the wind, had a 30-inch vertical, a 9-3 broad, a 4.70 short shuttle, a 7.59 three-cone drill and did 27 bench press repetitions at 225 pounds.

P [b][url="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/matt-dodge?id=497079"][color="#364c88"]Matthew Dodge[/color][/url][/b] (6-1 3/8, 229) has a chance to get selected late in the draft, and had a 34-inch vertical, a 9-6 broad jump and 23 bench press reps.




[url="http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/04/02/east-carolinas-pro-day-filled-with-defensive-line-prospects/"]http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/04/02/east-carolinas-pro-day-filled-with-defensive-line-prospects/[/url]

[Bengals1181]

[quote]As usual, USC had no shortage of elite prospects at its pro day on Wednesday. All 32 teams had representatives in attendance, including Panthers coach John Fox and mutliple offensive and defensive coordinators[/quote]

http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/04/02/thomas-steps-above-the-crowd-at-uscs-pro-day/

[Bengals1181]

[quote]NFL teams are going nuts over a pair of under-the-radar players that you should keep an eye on over the next month. Both of the players, defensive end Danny Batten and running back Deji Karim have created a lot of buzz for themselves over the last couple of months despite earlier projections this year that they would be late-round or on-the-bubble selections.

Batten, who played his collegiate ball at South Dakota State and then participated in the Texas vs. The Nation game, has fielded a whopping 11 requests from NFL teams--six for formal visits and five for private workouts--after multiple scouts noted his non-stop motor and intensity. Teams are projecting the 6-foot-3, 246-pound defender as a linebacker in the NFL.
NFL DRAFT RANKINGS

Sam Bradford
Who's are scouts drooling for this offseason? Check Scout.com's top 20 draft prospects.


After 10 NFL teams sent representatives to his school's pro day, a dozen representatives--including three linebackers coaches--attended a private workout that Batten held at a Phoenix-area high school a few days later.

The Colts, Dolphins, Packers and Bengals are among the six teams that he'll be visiting, while the Lions, Rams and Eagles are among the five teams that will be flying out to Batten's turf for a personal workout.[/quote]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-hearsay-early-april-draft-buzz


Also, looks like Marvin talked with CB Jerome Murphy while he was at the South Florida pro day:

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jerome-Murphy-runs-a-448.html

[oldschooler]

There are also the local workouts, which are not included among the 30, and will be held on April 13. That's where UC's Mardy Gilyard and Tony Pike get one final chance to impress the Bengals along with Kentucky fullback John Conner (Lakota West), Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan (LaSalle), Morgan State wide receiver E.J. Morton-Green (Princeton), who also played at Miami University, Miami receiver Dustin Woods (Purcell Marian), Boston College center Matt Tennant (Moeller) and Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph (St. Xavier).

Other UC players that we know who will be participating are Craig Carey and Alex Daniels. Carey has been working out with Connor Barwin.



[url="http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100403/SPT02/4040333/1066/Could+Bengals+get+wideout++gift+with+21st+pick"]http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100403/SPT02/4040333/1066/Could+Bengals+get+wideout++gift+with+21st+pick[/url]?

[Jom112]

Micah Johnson, LB, Kentucky
Sam Maxwell, LB, Kentucky

[quote]
Former University of Kentucky linebackers Micah Johnson and Sam Maxwell worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday at the Nutter Training Facility.

Johnson and Maxwell were both All-SEC picks in 2009. Johnson is projected as high as a third-round by some draft analysts, while Maxwell hopes to either sneak in the late rounds or sign a free-agent contract

http://www.fanfeedr.com/ncaa-football/2010/04/05/johnson-maxwell-work-out-for-bengals
[/quote]

[oldschooler]

Bearcats CB . . .


There’s a Grand Canyon of a gap between Sam Bradford and Brad Jones in one aspect of the NFL draft.

Bradford is the likely No. 1 overall pick. Jones once intercepted a Bradford pass.

That doesn’t make Jones’ dream any smaller than Bradford’s. He is the latest prospect to have played high school football next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame with a serious shot at pro football.

NFL.com draft guru Gil Brandt said Jones had “an outstanding workout” at the University of Cincinnati pro day. Brandt nodded to the Bearcats’ big names, quarterback Tony Pike and wideout Marty Gilyard, but added, “It was Jones who really used the opportunity to vault himself.”

Jones played for a McKinley team that reached a state title game and then spent four years at Cincinnati overshadowed by a secondary that has produced six picks in recent NFL drafts.

He broke through as a starter and co-captain as a fifth-year senior in 2009, on a team that went 12-1.

“I think I played very well,” Jones said of his 2009 season. “I didn’t give up a touchdown all year.

“I’m way confident. I know I have the ability to compete and to play.”

The Bengals are among teams that have nosed around Jones since the pro day. He has gained insight into the NFL from a cousin, former McKinley All-Ohioan Mike Doss, who played a few games for the Bengals in 2008.

“We hung out frequently when Mike was down here,” Jones said Monday from Cincinnati. “I got a good perspective of the NFL from Mike.”



[url="http://www.cantonrep.com/stark/canton/x998207579/McKinley-grad-Jones-looking-for-shot-in-NFL"]http://www.cantonrep.com/stark/canton/x998207579/McKinley-grad-Jones-looking-for-shot-in-NFL[/url]

[Bengals1181]

[quote]Louisiana-Monroe hybrid pass rusher Aaron Morgan conducted a private workout today for the San Francisco 49ers, according to a source close to the program with knowledge of the situation.

Morgan has been drawing interest form the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals.[/quote]


http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Source-Aaron-Morgan-works-out-for-49ers.html