Get Up!

Imagine a boxer laid out, face first on the canvas. He’s tired and swollen, but an inkling of fight rouses his head from the ground. He rises to a knee and takes a few deep, painful breaths. He’s ready to stand.

We know this boxer well, and can feel every pang of his aches and pains. We have collectively been clubbed to the ground with him, but, as goes the mantra of our persistent, unchanging leader, Marvin Lewis, we’re moving forward.

Free agency in the NFL only serves to whet the appetite. Once all of the pressers and meet-and-greets, all of the forced smiles and flash bulbs, all of the demonstrating of the jersey with the team emblem wall-papered in the back ground has finally worked itself out, the football nation will greedily turn their attention to the draft, hungry for more. Much more.

With the sixth pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Bengals have only a couple of logical decisions.

“If they don't take an offensive tackle, I won't understand it,” said Jerry Jones, author of the annual NFL Draft guide The Drugstore List. “Levi Jones has injury concerns. Stacy Andrews does too and he gave up a lot of sacks last year. Anthony Collins is a good player, but they need a left tackle and this draft has a lot of those.”

The highest rated tackle on most draft expert’s list, including Jones’, is Baylor’s Jason Smith. Smith moved up the charts after Alabama tackle Andre Smith, once considered the best at his position, mysteriously left the NFL Scouting Combine, leaving the sports world perplexed by such an unusual decision; one that will likely cost him a lesser contract.

“Andre Smith has dropped to later in the first round because he left the combine,” said Jones.

Other highly touted offensive tackles in this year’s draft include Virginia’s Eugene Monroe and Mississippi’s Michael Oher – considered by Jones and others as the most athletic of the bunch. Oher’s stock has dropped from a poor performance at the combine, and some worry about inconsistencies with his pass protection.

While I would be completely satisfied with an offensive tackle, I would encourage Mike Brown, Marvin and the staff – consisting of mostly Brown’s immediate family members – to consider the unconventional player with this pick. A player like linebacker Ray Maualuga will make an immediate impact on whichever team drafts him. Marvin has told the media that he wants that kind of player. Another outside-the-box pick could be defensive tackle B.J. Raji from Boston College.

“He's a brick wall. Immovable. Huge,” Jones said. “ Peko is a fine player but you want more in the rotation because defensive tackles wear down.”

A major concern many Bengals’ fans fear is that Mike Brown will take a running back with their first pick. Based on the lack of highly rated prospects at that position, it seems unlikely and illogical to reach for Beanie Wells just to fill a need, but one mustn’t overestimate the ineptitude of Lord Protector Brown’s decision-making ability.

“I hope they don’t take a running back,” said Jones. Me neither, Jerry.

Another necessary upgrade that needs addressed is that of a new center; one that doesn’t get mauled by the man-eating bears that play defensive tackle in the AFC North. According to Jones, there are three or four good centers in this year’s draft and a second-round pick of one of these prospects is very much in question.

“Taking a center in the second round is quite possible. Ghaiciuc has taken a lot of heat; I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. They've been looking for a center for a while now,” Jones said.

The top-three centers expected to be taken are California’s Alex Mack, Oregon’s Max Unger and Eric Wood from Louisville. Another center that has gained attention among scouts is Arkansas’ Jonathan Luigs.

Adding more beef on either line makes the most sense. More than anything else, the Bengals as a team looked physically soft last season and providing more girth will help.

There are still needs at the skill positions and some fine prospects to be taken in the mid-rounds to fill those holes. Penn State receiver Derrick Williams plummeted on draft boards everywhere after attempting to participate in the Combine while ill. His numbers suffered and, in turn, could be huge for a team like the Bengals in the third round. Not the most polished receiver in the draft, Williams can return kicks with the best of them and could be utilized in trick plays and wildcat formations, should the Bengals actually experiment with what the rest of the league has proven to be successful.

Another nice fit in the mid-rounds could be Virginia running back Cedric Peerman, who showed speed at the combine by running the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds. Peerman could become that change-of-pace back that has proven to be vital in today’s NFL. He can catch (44 receptions last year) and can also be a dangerous return-man.

For the later picks, an upgrade at punter seems sensible, and why not take the home-grown Kevin Huber? Jerry Jones considers the two-time first-team All-American from the University of Cincinnati as the best punter in the draft. Kyle “Beth” Larson is utterly useless and the acquired free-agent punter formerly of the Redskins, Ryan Plackemeier, has worse numbers than Larson. For a team with little offensive firepower like the Bengals, a talented punter really can win games. Cincinnati’s special teams is unimpressive in every way and improvement to the unit through the draft should be emphasized.

So as the boxer makes it to his feet and stumbles around the ring, concerned onlookers wonder how long he can last. With a smart approach to free agency and the draft, this fighter could pull it together for a few more rounds, but let his guard down for a second and he’s back on the mat. How long can he last?

Mojokong – Thanks goes out to Jerry Jones and to Faisal Khatri for their contributions on this piece.