Article Bengals impact rookies

[MichaelWeston]

http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/06/13/which-rookies-will-make-an-impact-for-cincinnati-bengals-in-2014/

The Cincinnati Bengals have really done a nice job the last few years in the NFL Draft, adding a plethora of home grown stars that have made this team a consistent threat to win the rugged AFC North year in and year out. Once again, the Bengals enjoyed a strong class in the 2014 NFL Draft, adding a few guys who should make an impact this fall.

Darqueze Dennard (CB, Michigan State), the teams first round pick, joins a loaded defensive backfield featuring four other former first round cornerbacks. Despite that fact, Terence Newman and Adam Jones will be 36 and 31 this fall and both have clearly lost a step, Leon Hall is constantly battling injuries and Dre Kirkpatrick is taking longer than expected developing. Dennard is as polished and pro ready of a defensive back as there was in this draft class, and his strong press cover skills should push him into a big role sooner rather than later.

Second rounder Jeremy Hill (RB, LSU) could replace BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the power back next to starter Gio Bernard this fall. Hill is surprisingly shifty for a 233-pounder and could eventually turn into a three down back down the road. Freshly promoted OC Hue Jackson is looking to implement more of a power run game and Hill could be the guy to provide that punch.

Russell Bodine (C, UNC), the teams fourth round pick will have every opportunity in camp to beat out out both Trevor Robinson and Mike Pollack for the starting center spot. Bodine is an absolute mauler with unbelievable strength who plays with the kind of nastiness and grit you want in interior linemen. Plus, with his versatility, even if he doesnt win the starting center spot, Id expect him to get rotational minutes backing up at both center and guard.

And no, its not just drafted guys who could make an impact this fall, but potentially an undrafted guy as well. FB Nikita Whitlock (Wake Forest) packs a load at 5-foot 10, 255-pounds, and is surprisingly nimble as evidenced by his 4.34 20-yard shuttle at his pro day. Fullback may be an endangered species in the modern football world, but Whitlock has the athleticism and competitive drive to carve out a lead blocking role for the Bengals tailbacks this fall.

Overall, the Bengals dont have any glaring holes requiring a rookie to come in and produce right away, but considering the talent theyve once again accrued this offseason, itd be a surprise if the guys mentioned above dont make some kind of impact toward the teams success in 2014.

[|Numbers|]

I think it will be a "rookie" coach that makes the impact this year.  3 defensive minded coaches and one offense.  All of them in areas that could be elevated.

 

http://forum.go-bengals.com/index.php?/topic/70076-duane-starks-and-brad-jackson-among-new-bengals-coaching-interns%e2%80%8f/

 

Posted by Jamie_B;

 

*Theron Grinage, Jr., defensive line coach at Long Island University-Post.  Grinage played in college at Hofstra. He  will work with the Bengals in July and a portion of August in training camp.

*Brad Jackson, a former University of Cincinnati player who spent four NFL seasons as a LB, with Baltimore and Carolina. Jackson is from Canton, Ohio. He will work in July and a portion of August in training camp.

*Andrew Jordan, Jr., a former NFL tight end who has coached at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. Jordan played eight years in the NFL, with Minnesota, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. He is presently working with the Bengals during minicamp and OTAs.

*Duane Starks, a former NFL defensive back who played eight seasons, with Baltimore, Arizona, New England and Oakland. Starks is working this month's minicamp and OTAs, and he will return to work in July and a portion of August in training camp.

[Jamie_B]

I think Hill and Bodine have the biggest chance to impact right away, Dennard will have to wait behind the guys in front of him.

[Khatmandude]

http://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/6/17/5815616/top-ten-potential-bengals-breakout-players-of-2014-safety-george

 

Top-Ten Potential Bengals Breakout Players Of 2014: Safety George Iloka, No.7

By Anthony Cosenza @CJAnthonyCUI on Jun 17 2014, 1:00p 1

Matt Sullivan

We continue our top-ten potential Bengals breakout players list with a young, up-and-coming safety on the roster.

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Take a look back at the Bengals' 2012 draft class for a moment. After having a solid handful of drafts the previous three years, it was this class that would truly define the overall depth and direction of the team. It was the first of two drafts where the Bengals had multiple high picks from the Carson Palmer trade with the Raiders, so they needed to make sure that they grabbed quality players.

After grabbing immediate needs with their two first round picks in cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, the team seemed to go best player available the rest of the way. What occurred was magic, as the team grabbed players anywhere from one to three rounds lower than most pundits predicted them to land. Safety George Iloka was considered one of those steals.

 

Coming out of Boise State, Iloka was a lanky guy with a lot of range and potential. There were times that he lined up on the edge as a corner, others in the slot and then deep in the secondary as any safety would. Some believed that he could go as high as the second or third round, but somehow he dove all the way to the fifth and into the Bengals' lap. It's not often that a 6'4", 220-pound defensive back that runs a 4.6 forty-yard dash makes it to a team that low in the draft.

The first three players that we have put on this list are deemed as backups and fringe roster guys that could be solid contributors next year. Iloka marks the point in the countdown where we look at starting players potentially making big leaps next year.

The Tale Of The Tape:

Iloka wasn't trusted as a rookie for significant time and was mostly on the inactive list as a rookie. But, things changed in 2013, as he was placed into a rotating role at free safety, where he was the primary starter. He played well as a deep safety and in the slot, garnering 66 total tackles (41 solo), six passes defensed, one interception, two forced fumbles and a recovery. He wasn't a shining star on the No.3 overall defensive unit, but he was a solid contributor.

Iloka flashed the ability to run with wide receivers and cover tight ends--two major bug-a-boos from past Bengals' safeties. It's often said that the third year is when NFL players begin to hit their stride and enter their prime, so we could see some high-level play from Iloka in 2014. Did I mention that he's 6'4", 220 pounds?

What To Expect In 2014:

I don't want to jump to conclusions and shout "Pro Bowl", but if Iloka continues his trend upward, he could could a high-impact player. Chris Crocker ate into his playing time a little bit last year and though he has left, Danieal Manning has been added to the fold and Taylor Mays is back from injury as both a safety and linebacker sort. Still, Iloka should have a hold on that starting safety spot next to Reggie Nelson.

When you look back at Iloka's 2013 season, he actually left about two more interceptions on the field. If he can work on his concentration and hands this offseason, it could create a nasty combination with his already-stout tackling ability. Where he will need to continue to be solid and even improve is with the covering of tight ends. The AFC North is littered with quality players at the position and need to be shut down for the team to make hay against the tough foes. It's a good thing that he sees a handful of quality tight ends in practice every day here in Cincinnati.

Iloka has almost all of the attributes that an NFL team would want out of the prototypical safety: size, speed, savvy in coverage and tackling ability. Now he just needs to continue to hone those skills, stay healthy and get more playing time.