Summer Camp Roster Talk

[Carson4MVP]

With Josh Rosen getting cut by Miami, thoughts on signing him to be backup to Joe Burrow and letting Finley go? There was nothing Finley showed me last year that makes me think we could win a game with him at QB. 

[Johnny Nix]

23 minutes ago, Carson4MVP said:

With Josh Rosen getting cut by Miami, thoughts on signing him to be backup to Joe Burrow and letting Finley go? There was nothing Finley showed me last year that makes me think we could win a game with him at QB. 

I personally would

[INbengalfan]

9 minutes ago, Johnny Nix said:

I personally would

The name change?

[SmittyBacall]

38 minutes ago, Carson4MVP said:

With Josh Rosen getting cut by Miami, thoughts on signing him to be backup to Joe Burrow and letting Finley go? There was nothing Finley showed me last year that makes me think we could win a game with him at QB. 

Honestly, can’t be worse than Finley.

[Johnny Nix]

9 hours ago, INbengalfan said:

The name change?

Had to flip the script bro

[INbengalfan]

Feel like I had a good read on this year's initial roster.  Interested to see if they make any waiver claims. 

[west tx bengal fan]

9 hours ago, INbengalfan said:

Feel like I had a good read on this year's initial roster.  Interested to see if they make any waiver claims. 

Yes we were pretty much all over this one.  I think everyone had the D with 9 DL, 6 LB, 4 S, and 6 CB.  We discussed bringing in a new DT.  I think most had all the D names correct.. I thought they’d waive TBrown (instead of Rose) and then bring him back when Waynes goes to IR-Return.  Now I’m guessing that Rose returns.

On O we knew 9 OL and 7 WR.  Most knew all the names correctly.  The only mystery was who’d be the last 2 guys on the O roster after the top 2 RBs, top 3 TEs, and top 2 QBs.

So now we wait and see whether there are any waiver options who might be better than bubble guys like maybe Redmond or Evans.  Seems like Zac’s not high on Rosen, and I don’t see them finding upgrades on D except maybe a 6th CB to replace Waynes’ spot.  

Other than this, the mystery goes to who will be the 16 on PS.  I’m thinking Allen, Dolegala, Patrick, Schreck, Wilcox, Dugas, Morgan, Dishonor, Spears, Henderson, and McTyer would be top options if available (with Rose going back into the 53).  That leaves 5 more spots with maybe a few guys coming from other teams’ cut downs.

[INbengalfan]

1 hour ago, west tx bengal fan said:

Yes we were pretty much all over this one.  I think everyone had the D with 9 DL, 6 LB, 4 S, and 6 CB.  We discussed bringing in a new DT.  I think most had all the D names correct.. I thought they’d waive TBrown (instead of Rose) and then bring him back when Waynes goes to IR-Return.  Now I’m guessing that Rose returns.

On O we knew 9 OL and 7 WR.  Most knew all the names correctly.  The only mystery was who’d be the last 2 guys on the O roster after the top 2 RBs, top 3 TEs, and top 2 QBs.

So now we wait and see whether there are any waiver options who might be better than bubble guys like maybe Redmond or Evans.  Seems like Zac’s not high on Rosen, and I don’t see them finding upgrades on D except maybe a 6th CB to replace Waynes’ spot.  

Other than this, the mystery goes to who will be the 16 on PS.  I’m thinking Allen, Dolegala, Patrick, Schreck, Wilcox, Dugas, Morgan, Dishonor, Spears, Henderson, and McTyer would be top options if available (with Rose going back into the 53).  That leaves 5 more spots with maybe a few guys coming from other teams’ cut downs.

This year was an easy one.  The only places where people went different ways were on the number of players at specific positions, but in the end, Darrin Simmons always gets those last few choices.  

 

I think Rose got cut because he didn't get exposed to waivers, whereas Brown would.  So he's free to sign back, and I would think they had the deal in place once waynes moves.  Remember when everyone ether lost their mind or helped usher Michael Johnson out the door a few years ago, only to see him return the next day on the exact same deal?  This is the way all teams are dealing with it, it seems.

 

Agree with your first 11 for the practice squad.  Add Washington and Lodge at WR.  I'd think Freedom (the DE) makes it too.  That leaves two, and if we claim anyone on waivers, the guys they replaced could end up here.  I know I'm in the minority, but I like the idea of Vizcaiano on the PS.  He punts and kicks, so we'd have an immediate option if Bullock gets dinged.  I think they'd like to keep Godsil around, but you are probably right, in that they want a positional player there.  But maybe he sticks and works on perfecting timing with Viz if both are back.  It can't hurt to have extra specialists for some practices, but those are mostly in camp.  

 

The only guy I think might get scooped up os Morgan, but he passed thru waivers twice last year, so hopefully he makes it back a third time.

[Johnny Nix]

 

[Johnny Nix]

Seems like an underwhelming add

 

would have liked to add a player with line flexibility like Calvin Throckmorton 

[sparky151]

I would have liked to pick up Shaquem Griffin from the Seahawks. He's the guy missing his left hand but he's very fast and athletic. We could use a coverage LB.

[INbengalfan]

1 hour ago, Johnny Nix said:

Seems like an underwhelming add

 

would have liked to add a player with line flexibility like Calvin Throckmorton 

he's replacing the 9th and last OL on the roster.  

Agreed about Throckmorten

[Johnny Nix]

Still have 2 open spots on the PS, would like to see us add more OL

[west tx bengal fan]

Cutdown date often carries like that Christmas evening feeling you had as a kid... all the presents were opened .... and even tho you got some good $hit, there was just a sense that the surprises were gone.

So here we are with (mostly) the roster that we saw coming.  Yes, there were a few teasers in there.  Let's name them on both the roster and PS:

Roster

• CB: TBrown over Rose surprised me a little (based on the camp talk we got), but McTyer back onto the 53 over Rose was really surprising.  As much talent as some want to say there is at CB, we still don't know whether our top 2-3 will meet demands.  I think ultimately that the coaches went with McTyer's experience over Rose's promise knowing that Rose will be back onto the roster sometime this season.
• QB:  Most thought we'd keep 3 on the 53.  Most thought Dolegala would be back at least on the PS

Practice Squad

• Players I thought would make it but didn't (so far, with 2 spots still left):  QB Dolegala, LB Spears, OL Dugas, DT Dishon
• Players who I was surprised to make it:  DE Futrell, DT McKenzie
• Roster areas that aren't covered in the current PS:  OL (only Knipfel), LB (none)

In these last three notes, I have these comments:

• Dolegala:  it sounds that Dolegala was very underwhelming in this camp and that, perhaps, the presence of Burrow now puts a different type of need in what we want from other QBs on the roster
• Spears:  In looking at collegiate film, I felt that Spears was too slow and not explosive enough.  They talked him up quite a bit, and maybe he will be back on the PS.  However, we don't really have any sense about many of these guys who have no pro game tape to review.
• Dugas:  He looked promising in 2019 camp and pre-season but apparently didn't even rate higher than Knipfel, who missed much of camp with an injury.
• Dishon:  Another relative unknown, he is a DT tweener who isn't explosive enough to be a 3-DT factor but isn't big enough to play NT
• McKenzie:  Son of Reggie (Raider great OL), Khalil was a DT in college at U Tenn before converting to OG in the NFL for two years.  Now the Bengals pick him up in the last two weeks of camp and want to try to develop him back at DT?  I think what they're seeing is the size (at 6'3", 314) that is hard to find (and that Dishon, at 6'2", 296, lacks), but I don't have a lot of hope that this one is going anywhere.
• Futrell:  He may be the most interesting story of the camp (because it hasn't been told).  He's a (very) undersized DE at 6'2", 222 who I suspect they are trying to develop as a 3-4 OLB type.  It would be nice, though, just to see him take some snaps and see what makes him a promising developmental NFL player at his size and position.

Finally, a positional roster assessment:

QB:  We have our franchise QB but can expect a year of ups-and-downs with a rookie taking his lumps.  At #2 we have a player who is unlikely to EVER be a guy you want starting for more than a game or two.  Zac Taylor just didn't want to shake things up by taking a flyer on Rosen and giving up on Finley.... I think it's that simple.

RB:  Mixon is one of the better RBs in the league, or so said Bill Belichick last season.  If they use Bernard correctly, he's a decent 3rd down and spot back.  I'd like to see them use all the RBs more and see what/how Perine and TWilliams can contribute while knocking Mixon's carries down maybe 5-6 per game (to a 15-18 average and maybe get him 2-3 more passing targets in exchange).

TE:  No surprises here.  No flash.  Sample might produce a little more, but he's never going to be a dominant receiving TE.  Burrow could bring out more in Uzomah, so I'm interested in watching that development.  With Carter becoming a UFA next season, a better receiving TE might be on the wish list in the 2021 draft.

WR:  We have a pretty deep set of receivers with 6 guys who can contribute regularly and a 7th (Erickson) who might surprise with a QB who knows how to use his talents (which he showed, for instance, in the Jax game last season).

OL:  I expect this group to be better than the 2019 group right out of the box since we have 3 of 5 back who were starting at the end of last season.  The two new guys are a top end 1st round pick in JWilliams at LT and the UFA RG XSF.  Williams, I think, will progress to be very good within a season.  XSF is not going to dominate anyone, but he has more maneuverability than the 2019 RG John Miller, who appears to be starting at that position this year for a Carolina OL that is likely to struggle.  This Bengal team, however, will have decent OL depth with Billy Price able to backup all interior spots and Fred Johnson able to function adequately as a swing tackle.  Further, the rookie Adeniji has looked very good in camp (according to several observers) and can play all spots except for C.  Finally, the pickup from the Dolphins (Calhoun).  Was he the best OL option available on the entire wire?  We'll have to take Duke & Co's word for it.  If you look at the Calhoun acquisition purely as a trade out for Redmond, it looks like a decent decision.  Calhoun costs less, is quicker, has better feet, has more seasons until he's up for RFA/UFA, while Redmond was a slow brawler who was injury prone and made a lot of mental mistakes.  Redmond's 2019 PFF scores were in the 60's and Calhoun's were in the 40's, but Redmond's run in Cincy was about over with him being unlikely to generate much interest (and potential 2022 Supplemental pick value) as a qualified vet who'd be entering UFA in spring 2021.  Right now he's also an option as a street FA to return here as long as he remains off other rosters.

DL:  This is the most solid positional area on the team.  The biggest hole is probably the lack of bulk behind Reader at DT (with Tupou and Wren both out for the season).  The DE spot will be interesting to watch with Sam Hubbard appearing to be getting better every season and Carl Lawson going into a UFA year, needing to stay healthy, and looking for production.  Also, don't sleep on Andrew Brown who has shown that he can play every DL spot except NT.  And Khalid Kareem looked solid in limited camp as well.

LB:  It will be interesting to see how well the three rookies (Wilson, ADG, and Bailey) progress as well as how improved Pratt will be after a good season under his belt.  This is the position that could determine whether the Bengals are much improved or still a disappointment on D.

S:  No surprises here.  Looking for good things from the starting pair of Bell & Bates as well as more focused production from Shawn Williams who can focus on his role in situations and special teams.

CB:  Lots of ifs, but also more talent here.  Can William Jackson finally put together a whole season?  Can Phillips emerge in Waynes' absence and play consistent coverage while hawking the ball as is his style?  Can Alexander and Sims both provide the high quality snaps for which they're know?  And can the TBrown and McTyers at the bottom of the roster contribute and provide quality snaps when needed?

STs:  Same old guys from the 2019 #1 STs unit in the NFL.

I'm not ready to forecast anything because we haven't seen these guys play a snap yet.  I don't even have a clue of what to expect.  If the team can use the momentum it started the last two weeks of 2019 with improved OL and D play, maintain help in the key skill players, and advance the schemes that Taylor and Anarumo began to shape in 2019, I'd be really disappointed to see them much below 0.500.  Because it is so rare to see a rookie QB dominate enough to put his team into the playoffs, I also be surprised to see the Bengals to emerge as one of 7 such teams in the AFC this season.  But the season has had a very strange start and promises to be weird and very interesting... so let's just see how things look on the field before we go too high or low in our expectations.

Edited September 7, 2020 by west tx bengal fan

[Johnny Nix]

Who’s making the GDT?