Friday, April 27, 2012

Bengals Hit Needs Again

For the second year in a row, the supply met the Bengals demand. Last year the Bengals hit pressing needs in the first two rounds with wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton. This year the Bengals hit three needs in the first two rounds thanks to the two first-round picks on Thursday night. The argument could be made that the Bengals needed a safety, a wide receiver, or a running back in the second round instead of the defensive tackle they drafted. But there were no safties on the board good enough to take with a pick that high. There were a couple of wide receivers that could have been rated in that range, and the same with running backs. But Devon Still was too good for the Bengals to pass up. They needed another defensive tackle to add depth to the four-man rotation they like to play inside. They had great success with that type of rotation early last season. The knock on Still is inconsistency which is the knock on a lot of young guys. Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes suspects the fact Still had to play every down accounts for some of the issue. Somewhere in the draft the Bengals were going to grab their man to fill out the DT rotation. They jumped on a guy who is ready to play now. Wide Receiver and Safety would appear to be the most pressing needs as the draft trudges on. With cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler in the first round, a defensive tackle in the second, the Bengals have hit their needs. Did they hit those needs with capable players? You can never be sure on draft night but this observer is liking what the Bengals are doing.

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