Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals Should Target RB Eddie Lacy in the Draft

With the Super Bowl this coming Sunday, teams are well into the process of evaluating new personnel acquisitions for next year's roster. Many of those decisions will amount to selections in the 2013 NFL Draft that draws ever nearer.

For this young Cincinnati Bengals team, several draft needs will certainly be filled in both the early rounds and the later ones. The offensive line will likely be targeted as a priority and needs in the secondary may also be addressed.

However, another unit the Bengals should put some thought into is the backfield. BenJarvus Green-Ellis overcame a slow start last season to finish strong. He ended up with over 1,000 yards on the season as he carried much of the offense in the final stretch, with about half of his total yardage coming in a five-game late-season stretch.

Many Bengals fans would like to see the team pick Montee Ball Jr. early in the draft. However, many of those fans are missing another potential steal as a candidate for the Bengals running back job, even if it is only a part-time one: Alabama running back Eddie Lacy.

The star back from the powerhouse SEC school fits the bill, with all the traits the Bengals could ever hope for in a feature back. Power, speed and a physical running style are all attributes that Lacy possesses.

He can take hits and run through a defender, often simultaneously. He has vision through the tackles and knows the angles he should take to get the most out of every play when his number is called.

In other words, he is a running back that could give the Bengals offense a much-needed spark after a dismal second half to the season this past year. The defense would definitely appreciate the help.

He may not get as much attention as a few other backs, so there is even the possibility that the Bengals might be able to get him as a value pick, considering the abilities he would bring to the team.

I don’t think Cincinnati fans would be sorry.