So here’s another installment of the Jungle Report. I’m toying changing the name to the “The Jungle Journal” (But I might just leave that to “Jagman’s Journals”). Let me know what you all think
So the “boring” part of the off season has officially begun. The draft is over, mini-camps are done, and now we all just sit around and wait for the preseason and training camp to begin. Let’s make it interesting, and speculate about my beloved Bengals.
First off, the Bengals finally did something I’ve been hoping they’d do for about a year. They released starting OLB Kevin Hardy.
Hardy had been riddled with injuries, and had not done much for the team in his two years here. Further, Hardy’s vacancy leaves an opening for first round pick David Pollack. Pollack is a huge upgrade over Hardy in my opinion. Although Hardy’s veterans presence will be missed in the locker room, I fully expect Pollack to become a vocal leader for the revamped (somewhat) defense in 2005.
I don’t think the team is done cutting veterans either. Nate Webster, another LB who has been down with injuries often should see the door. He has already lost his starting spot to last years 3th round pick Landon Johnson, who led the team in tackles in his rookie season.
The other guy I foresee the Bengals cutting/trading is Peter Warrick. P-Dub was a first round pick, and never really lived up to his potential. When healthy, Warrick is one of the best 3rd down receivers in the game. However, he may never be fully healthy again. With the depth that the team already has at WR, and the fact that they drafted 2 more guys in the draft, Warrick could be shipped somewhere for a middle round pick next year, or just cut all together
You’re probably asking yourself, “What else is happening with the Bengals?” Well I’d be happy to enlighten you. I see the Bengals switching to a 3-4 defense more heavily this year, and converting their base D to 3-4 permanently next year. It makes perfect sense. We have a young LB group that includes: Landon Johnson (2nd year), Odell Thurman (rookie), David Pollack (rookie), Khalid Abdullah (3rd year), Caleb Miller (2nd year), and veteran Brian Simmons. On the line, we could rotate Bryan Robinson and John Thornton at DT, along with many other younger guys. Justin Smith would play RE, and Carl Powell, Robert Geathers, and Duane Clemons could split time at LE. We need a place for Odell Thurman to play, because he is a beast against the run, which was our biggest problem last year.
(yes that is top 10 pick Carnell Williams being taken down )
That’s about all I got for now folks. Sorry, this article isn’t as interesting as the other two were.
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