Bengals Draft Analysis: Part One

Heading into the draft, many critics, and my fellow Bengals fans, were saying this was the most important draft for Marvin Lewis since he became the Bengals coach in 2003. 

A day after the draft has finished, the majority of the draft experts have given Lewis and the Bengals high draft scores, with some declaring their draft a victory. 

While reviewing the draft for the Bengals I'm going to break things down into four parts, giving details on the individuals drafted and how it effects the team's future at the position.

With the sixth pick in the draft the Bengals selected offensive tackle Andre Smith out of Alabama. 

While it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Bengals were going to draft one of the four top rated offensive lineman, the question was which one would drop to them as well as who the team rated most highly. 

A dream solution occurred when both Smith and Eugene Monroe, who was rated higher, dropped down to them at the pick. 

Most people thought the team would go with Monroe, the more polished of the two, ready to jump into action, and someone with no character issues in the past. 

However, the Bengals have shown through their picks over the years that character issues are not going to stop them from picking the highest rated player on their board.  That player was Smith. Marvin Lewis stated that he was their No. 2 guy on the draft board and was just too good to pass up. 

Smith is considered a devastating run blocker who paved the way for the Crimson Tide to run wild on SEC defenses.  The reason he wasn't rated as highly as Jason Smith and Monroe on some people's lists is because they don't see him as a left tackle in the future. At this moment, Smith lacks the agility and pass blocking skills necessary to be a bookend left tackle for the next 10 years.

The problem this creates is finding someone on the Bengals roster who has the skills to become a left tackle for next year. 

With word out of Cincinnati that last year's starter, Levi Jones, is set to be released or traded, it basically leaves two people fighting for that last sport.  These two people are Andrew Whitworth, who would move over a spot from his current position at LG, and Anthony Collins who started the final six games there last year and held his own, only giving up a sack to Dwight Freeney. 

If ask me, I would chose Collins at that spot because he is basically a tackle only in the NFL and I consider him one of the top five offensive lineman on the team, so it's tough to have him sitting on the bench.  You have to start Smith from day one on the right side of the line, and keeping Whitworth at LG solidifies the line for next year.

The biggest surprise on day one of the draft for me was that Rey Maualuga was sitting there at pick No. 38. 

Heading into the draft, Maualuga was the consensus No. 1 LB in the draft, but was passed over by teams in favor of two of his teammates and James Laurinaitis. While Maualuga brings questions when it comes to his speed and his maturity, one thing that you can't question is that he is a tackling machine and a intimidating on the field. 

Maualuga brings the intensity and tenacity that the Bengals haven't seen since Takeo Spikes left for Buffalo and Odell Thurman was suspended for his off the field problems.

Most of the analysts see Maualuga as only a two down back because of his speed.  While he is not the fastest LB, he has the closing speed you need at the position to get to the QB on passing downs, as well as showing in the past that he is able to stay with tight ends and receivers out of the backfield.

The pick of Maualuga basically guarantees this starting lineup, barring injury, for week one; Keith Rivers, Dhani Jones, and Maualuga.

This pick creates more depth for the line backing crew in general by moving both Brandon Johnson and Rashad Jeanty to the bench.  Both showed promise last year, with Jeantry making countless plays throughout the season, coming up with a career high 96 tackles. 

Johnson, who was overshadowed by fellow newcomers Cedrick Benson and Chris Crocker, had himself a hell of year, taking over from Rivers after his season-ending jaw surgery.  He produced 83 tackles as well as showing play making ability by coming up with two picks and 1.5 sacks. 

This pick also gives the team their heir apparent to Dhani Jones at MLB, where Maualuga is most comfortable and best suited.

The Bengals were clearly happy getting both of these guys in the first two picks. They will hopefully push the Bengals in the right direction, bringing the toughness which is sorely needed to compete year in and year out in the AFC North.