TEAM BY TEAM NEEDS FOR APRIL'S DRAFT (Balt. & Cincy)
I will analyze each team's gains & losses in free agency, I'll recap their 2008 draft & list their overall needs.
Baltimore Ravens:
The Ravens were probably the 2nd best team in the AFC last year, problem was, they played Pittsburgh 3 times & lost all three times. They did it with a rookie coach, John Harbaugh & a rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco. Plus they had to win 2 playoff road games to get to the championship game. This team plays with real passion & they should continue to stay in the Super Bowl hunt. Baltimore suffered numerous injuries to their secondary last season & with the free agency defections & releases, they will need to shore up their roster of DB's. Chris McAlister, a many-time pro bowl player, was benched & later placed on injury reserve. Samari Rolle, also a starter, had a fine season but was released in a salary cap move. Safety Jim Leonhard, who started for the injured Dawan Landry, play very well but left with ex-defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan & went to the Jets. Inside linebacker, Bart Scott, a big impact player, also went to the Jets. Wide receiver Mark Clayton is a restricted free agent the Ravens wish to resign. Starting center, Jason Brown, flew the coop to St. Louis, the best lead fullback I've ever seen, Lorenzo Neal, hasn't been resigned yet & both PK Matt Stover & P Sam Koch are without contracts. The heart of the Ravens team, Ray Lewis, was finally resigned after some posturing by both sides. To replace C Jason Brown, they signed longtime Minnesota pivot, Matt Birk. They also signed L.J. Smith, former Eagle TE, CB Dominique Foxworth formerly with Atlanta and ex-Titan, Chris Carr, a cornerback & return man. They hung onto OLB Terrell Suggs by putting the franchise tag on him, which was a must. The forgotten man, QB Kyle Boller, signed with the Rams recently.
If Baltimore did nothing else in the 2008 draft besides picking QB Joe Flacco in the first round, their draft would be considered a success. Flacco started all 16 games & became the first rookie QB to ever win 2 playoff games, He won them on the road, even more impressive. Their 2nd pick, RB Ray Rice, was huge during midseason. McGahee was benched & Rice got most of the snaps, rushing for 454 years including a team-best 154 yards vs Cleveland. He also had 33 receptions for 273 yards. ILB Taveras Gooden had surgery during camp & barely played. S Tom Zbikowski became a decent KR & a headhunter on kick coverage teams. Sixth round pick, S Haruki Nakamura, played in all 16 games, was a demon on coverage teams & even logged some time in dime coverage. The remaining draft picks made little contribution because of injury or release.
WR Derrick Mason is entering his 14th season & had injuries troubles yet again. Mark Clayton only caught 41 passes, but he did average 17 yards per catch. They really need help at this position. The other biggest needs are in the secondary with the loss of McAlister, Rolle & Leonhard, I expect the Ravens to select several DB's. ILB could be a source of need with Bart Scott's departure & '08 draft pick, Tavares Gooden, recovering from hip surgery. I could see them go WR or CB in the first round. Possibly WR Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina or CB Darius Butler from UConn. The second round should bring whatever position they didn't take in round 1. Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias or San Jose State CB, Coye Francis. My third round guess would be Wake Forest safety, Chip Vaughn.
*Note on 4/06: The Ravens resigned CB Samari Role who had earlier been released.
Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals continue to disappoint, every season it's something different, last year it was QB Carson Palmer's elbow or the O-line giving up 51 sacks or the meager 16 sacks their defense recorded or the continual distraction of Chad Johnson/Ocho Cinco who had his worst season as a pro or the fact that Bear draft bust, Cedric Benson, was their leading rusher. I like Marvin Lewis, but when is he going to get this team turned around? He's been captain of this ship for what, 9 years? Their losses weren't numerous but costly. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh went to Seattle, WR Glen Holt left for Minnesota, starting DT, John Thornton, backup G, Evan Mathis, plus one restricted free agent, starting center Eric Ghialuc. They franchised their PK, Shayne Graham, they resigned Cedric Benson, CB Chris Crocker & LB Darryl Blackstock. They brought CB Hank Poteat & WR Lavernaunes Coles over from the Jets.
Even though there wasn't that true impact player from the 2008 draft, there's reason for hope. First pick, OLB Keith Rivers was only able to start in 7 games after getting his jaw broken by Hines Ward, but he looked like a 1st round pick. Second pick, WR Jerome Simpson, was picked about 2 rounds too early, but he does have potential. Pat Sims, a 3rd rd. pick, got a lot of playing time, recording 50 tackles. Another 3rd rounder, WR Andre Caldwell, looked good as a kick returner & got some playing time on offense. Anthony Collins, a 4th round pick from Kansas started the last 5 games, after LOT Levi Johnson was injured and faired pretty well. The rest of the draft class didn't contribute much because of injury, off the field trouble(a longtime Bengal strength) or just slow development.
Obviously the 4-11-1 Bengals have needs, but if some key players return from injury, it won't be such an uphill struggle to improvement. Lewis is going to have to make some tough decisions in regard to his WR corp. Houshmandzadeh & Holt had enough & left in free agency. Chad Ocho Cinco had a dismal season & then there's the real bad boy, Chris Henry, an off-field nightmare. They get little production from their tight ends & Cedric Benson only caught 20 passes in 12 games out of the backfield, so it's been crucial their WR's produce in a big way. Normally both Houshmanzadeh & Ocho Cinco would snare 90-100 passes & their slot man would get 30-40. Only Houshmandzadeh delivered last season & he's gone. Replacing the departed center, Ghialuc, is a necessity as well. Both DE's underachieved, managing a whopping 5.5 sacks between them, so this is also a need. Picking their draft really isn't that difficult, with the 6th overall pick in the first round, I think they will take one of the Brian Orapko/Everette Brown/Aaron Maybin trio to bolster their pass rush. The second round it will be the spot to grab their needed center, how about Oregon's Max Unger? If they retain Ocho Cinco & start Caldwell opposite him, Arizona's Mike Thomas would be a good pick in the 3rd. Thomas runs precise routes, has great hands & is a fine punt returner.
Next up: The Cleveland Browns & World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Baltimore Ravens:
The Ravens were probably the 2nd best team in the AFC last year, problem was, they played Pittsburgh 3 times & lost all three times. They did it with a rookie coach, John Harbaugh & a rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco. Plus they had to win 2 playoff road games to get to the championship game. This team plays with real passion & they should continue to stay in the Super Bowl hunt. Baltimore suffered numerous injuries to their secondary last season & with the free agency defections & releases, they will need to shore up their roster of DB's. Chris McAlister, a many-time pro bowl player, was benched & later placed on injury reserve. Samari Rolle, also a starter, had a fine season but was released in a salary cap move. Safety Jim Leonhard, who started for the injured Dawan Landry, play very well but left with ex-defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan & went to the Jets. Inside linebacker, Bart Scott, a big impact player, also went to the Jets. Wide receiver Mark Clayton is a restricted free agent the Ravens wish to resign. Starting center, Jason Brown, flew the coop to St. Louis, the best lead fullback I've ever seen, Lorenzo Neal, hasn't been resigned yet & both PK Matt Stover & P Sam Koch are without contracts. The heart of the Ravens team, Ray Lewis, was finally resigned after some posturing by both sides. To replace C Jason Brown, they signed longtime Minnesota pivot, Matt Birk. They also signed L.J. Smith, former Eagle TE, CB Dominique Foxworth formerly with Atlanta and ex-Titan, Chris Carr, a cornerback & return man. They hung onto OLB Terrell Suggs by putting the franchise tag on him, which was a must. The forgotten man, QB Kyle Boller, signed with the Rams recently.
If Baltimore did nothing else in the 2008 draft besides picking QB Joe Flacco in the first round, their draft would be considered a success. Flacco started all 16 games & became the first rookie QB to ever win 2 playoff games, He won them on the road, even more impressive. Their 2nd pick, RB Ray Rice, was huge during midseason. McGahee was benched & Rice got most of the snaps, rushing for 454 years including a team-best 154 yards vs Cleveland. He also had 33 receptions for 273 yards. ILB Taveras Gooden had surgery during camp & barely played. S Tom Zbikowski became a decent KR & a headhunter on kick coverage teams. Sixth round pick, S Haruki Nakamura, played in all 16 games, was a demon on coverage teams & even logged some time in dime coverage. The remaining draft picks made little contribution because of injury or release.
WR Derrick Mason is entering his 14th season & had injuries troubles yet again. Mark Clayton only caught 41 passes, but he did average 17 yards per catch. They really need help at this position. The other biggest needs are in the secondary with the loss of McAlister, Rolle & Leonhard, I expect the Ravens to select several DB's. ILB could be a source of need with Bart Scott's departure & '08 draft pick, Tavares Gooden, recovering from hip surgery. I could see them go WR or CB in the first round. Possibly WR Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina or CB Darius Butler from UConn. The second round should bring whatever position they didn't take in round 1. Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias or San Jose State CB, Coye Francis. My third round guess would be Wake Forest safety, Chip Vaughn.
*Note on 4/06: The Ravens resigned CB Samari Role who had earlier been released.
Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals continue to disappoint, every season it's something different, last year it was QB Carson Palmer's elbow or the O-line giving up 51 sacks or the meager 16 sacks their defense recorded or the continual distraction of Chad Johnson/Ocho Cinco who had his worst season as a pro or the fact that Bear draft bust, Cedric Benson, was their leading rusher. I like Marvin Lewis, but when is he going to get this team turned around? He's been captain of this ship for what, 9 years? Their losses weren't numerous but costly. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh went to Seattle, WR Glen Holt left for Minnesota, starting DT, John Thornton, backup G, Evan Mathis, plus one restricted free agent, starting center Eric Ghialuc. They franchised their PK, Shayne Graham, they resigned Cedric Benson, CB Chris Crocker & LB Darryl Blackstock. They brought CB Hank Poteat & WR Lavernaunes Coles over from the Jets.
Even though there wasn't that true impact player from the 2008 draft, there's reason for hope. First pick, OLB Keith Rivers was only able to start in 7 games after getting his jaw broken by Hines Ward, but he looked like a 1st round pick. Second pick, WR Jerome Simpson, was picked about 2 rounds too early, but he does have potential. Pat Sims, a 3rd rd. pick, got a lot of playing time, recording 50 tackles. Another 3rd rounder, WR Andre Caldwell, looked good as a kick returner & got some playing time on offense. Anthony Collins, a 4th round pick from Kansas started the last 5 games, after LOT Levi Johnson was injured and faired pretty well. The rest of the draft class didn't contribute much because of injury, off the field trouble(a longtime Bengal strength) or just slow development.
Obviously the 4-11-1 Bengals have needs, but if some key players return from injury, it won't be such an uphill struggle to improvement. Lewis is going to have to make some tough decisions in regard to his WR corp. Houshmandzadeh & Holt had enough & left in free agency. Chad Ocho Cinco had a dismal season & then there's the real bad boy, Chris Henry, an off-field nightmare. They get little production from their tight ends & Cedric Benson only caught 20 passes in 12 games out of the backfield, so it's been crucial their WR's produce in a big way. Normally both Houshmanzadeh & Ocho Cinco would snare 90-100 passes & their slot man would get 30-40. Only Houshmandzadeh delivered last season & he's gone. Replacing the departed center, Ghialuc, is a necessity as well. Both DE's underachieved, managing a whopping 5.5 sacks between them, so this is also a need. Picking their draft really isn't that difficult, with the 6th overall pick in the first round, I think they will take one of the Brian Orapko/Everette Brown/Aaron Maybin trio to bolster their pass rush. The second round it will be the spot to grab their needed center, how about Oregon's Max Unger? If they retain Ocho Cinco & start Caldwell opposite him, Arizona's Mike Thomas would be a good pick in the 3rd. Thomas runs precise routes, has great hands & is a fine punt returner.
Next up: The Cleveland Browns & World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
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