Quote:
Originally Posted by Redhook
I'm talking about projects such as Jerome Simpson, Jeff Rowe, etc. I'm talking about Chris Henry, Odell Thurman, Frostee Rucker, etc. And let's not forget about the terrible pick of Chris Perry.
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I see what you're saying, but let's go player by player...
Jerome Simpson: Jury's still out. Keep in mind most first year WRs don't really make an impact their rookie year. However, the high rounders do often take off after that. From everything I've read, he's been a beast in practice but injuries have hampered his ability to show it come Sunday. Agreed that it's not quite the 1st-year impact player you'd expect out of a 2nd round pick, but he may just be the big receiver we need in '09 once TJ leaves.
Jeff Rowe: Still scratching my head over that one. Not sure what the scouts/coaches saw in him, but at least it only cost us a 5th rounder. Still, a definite project pick, and a bad one at that IMO.
Chris Henry: Wouldn't classify him as a project. As a 3rd receiver all he did was catch TD passes and stretch the field in ways that made DC's hate playing us. In fact he was Randy Moss-like in TD catches per reception when he was on the field in '05 and '06. Problem was, he couldn't stay on the field. Not sure I'd classify that as a project though.
Odell Thurman: Oozed talent. Legitimate DROY candidate in '05. Was a big reason the Bengals went to the playoffs that year. Yeah, he didn't pan out in the long haul, but again, not sure I'd qualify that as a project.
Frostee Rucker: Definite project. Although he did show some signs of life last year as far as penetration and ability to sniff out a screen. For a 3rd rounder, I want more, but not a glaringly awful pick, IMO.
Chris Perry: I got nothin'. Bad, bad pick.
The Bengals haven't been perfect when it comes to the draft the last few years, but I don't think they've been bad either. They've found some gems in the later rounds (Ndukwe, Marvin White, not to mention TJ himself was once a 7th rounder), and '08 is shaping up to give us several impact players. Hopefully with a top 10 pick (in each round) they can build on some of the foundation that's been laid.