This was a good thread to bump, Norris - I forgot how much of our draft projections came through
It would be a good time to review the draft so far and how the players have fared. It's pretty interesting to note that the impact of this draft really has yet to be fully felt - a good sign actually, it means we've got some real depth now IMO.
On to the picks:
1.06 Andre Smith. The saga of man-boobs is well known, his workout regimen in hard knocks being the stuff of legend (or at least good fodder for the rookie show at Bengals training camp). Hasn't dressed for a game yet and the line play has been so awesome that it hasn't been noticed at all. How he fits in will be an interesting part of the story for the 2nd half of this year. If he's the player he was in college our line will fully turnover from a major weakness to a real strength in the space of one year.
2.06 Rey Maualuga. Has tailed off the last couple of games, but he took the starting job in camp and has been a great contributor on special teams as well. 30 tackles and 1 sack. Has been a definite difference maker and can only imagine where he'll go from here.
3.06 Michael Johnson. Still a backup but he's starting to come around a bit (got half-a-sack last game) and his true impact has yet to be felt.
3.34 Chase Coffman. Hasn't dressed yet which is a bit worrisome. Hopefully he'll find his way into the lineup sometime soon (not quite sure if he'd be the best guy to take Henry's spot on the active roster as basically a receiver). Have to think he, and not JP Foschi, is the future at the position.
4.06 Jonathan Luigs. Kyle Cook's emergence has made it unnecessary for Luigs to be more than usually a special-teamer so far this year.
5.06 Kevin Huber.
If you've looked at other predictions I've made around the boards this may prove to be my first and last called shot. He's been a massive massive improvement at the position and by-and-large has come as advertised IMO. 17th in punting average, but where were we last year? 14th in punts inside the 20. 23rd in net punting average - could be better, but frankly he's been punting a lot from better field position usually which probably has had some impact. Bottom line - I'm not worried when he comes on the field, which is a definite change from last year. Legend in the making. Future Hall of Famer.
6.06 Morgan Trent. He's played ever game and has provided good depth to this point.
6.36 Bernard Scott. Benson has basically eaten his opportunity to this point. 16 carries for 62 yards makes a decent average.
7.06 Fui Vakapuna. Got him back off the Arizona practice squad. Hasn't dressed yet.
7.40 Clinton McDonald. Practice squad.
7.43 Freddie Brown. Cut.
So, in sum, the jury is still out on this rookie class, but really outside of Maualuga and Huber there hasn't been a lot of impact so far. Certainly not as much as we have figured to this point.
-QG