In an article I wrote last quarter, I addressed the Cincinnati Bengals’ biggest issue-the quarterback position. I said for Bengals fans to look to the draft for help in that department, and sure enough in the second round, with the 35th overall pick, the Cincinnati Bengals picked Andy Dalton from TCU.This was not where I was hoping they would make their QB selection, because they had the fourth overall pick; however, I’m glad they still selected one.
Their first pick was A.J. Green from Georgia, who wasn’t a bad pick, what with Terrell Owens aging and rumors of trading Chad Ochocinco. The rest of Cincinnati’s picks were good ones, covering a couple issues on defense and establishing some depth on offense.
Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Steelers made some very good picks. Cameron Heyward out of The Ohio State University is a tremendous defensive end who will make that strong Steeler defense, even stronger. Curtis Brown, from Texas, and Cortez Allen, out of The Citadel, were third and fourth round picks in the corner position who are either going to be breakouts in one or two years or flat busts who will end up playing on the couch at home or the CFL.
Indianapolis had one major concern-protecting Peyton Manning. Anthony Castonzo out of Boston College and Benjamin Ijalana from Villanova are both high level offensive tackles. If Indy is going to make a deep playoff run, it will start from energy generated by that offensive line.
And the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers had a similar concern. By drafting OT Derek Sherrod out of Mississippi State, they hope to better protect Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a late season concussion in a 7-3 loss against the division rival Detroit Lions.
A few other notes from the draft would be to look at three QB’s drafted in the first round: Jake Locker (Washington) to the Tennessee Titans, Blaine Gabbert (Mizzou) to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Christian Ponder (Florida State) to the Minnesota Vikings. These are the three QB’s I’m going to be watching carefully to see who goes the farthest. I’m putting my money on Ponder, because he already has a veteran receiving corps in Minnesota, but Locker and Tennessee could be a dark horse.
All this is assuming the NFL has a season next year. In case you don’t know, they lifted the lockout for the week of the draft, then reestablished it indefinitely.
Fans don’t fear. I merely add this as a just-in-case. I believe the NFL will play next season, only because of the money they will lose if they don’t.