Bengals outlook
First-Round Prospects
Pos Player School
LB James Farrior Virginia
LB Jamie Sharper Virginia
CB Tom Knight Iowa
CB Michael Booker Nebraska
CB Sam Madison Louisville
CB Chris Canty Kansas St.
Bengals picks:
Round 1: 14th
Round 2: 13th (43rd overall)
Round 3: 16th (76th)
Round 4: 15th (111th)
Round 5: 14th (144th)
Round 6: 13th (176th)
Round 7: 16th (217th)
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Though the Bengals will concentrate on obtaining defensive players with their seven selections in this weekend's NFL Draft, they won't totally ignore the offense.
They'll strongly consider selecting a running back to push Ki-Jana Carter, who alarmed club officials by appearing at a recent offensive mini-camp in poor physical condition. Cincinnati also may try to improve its depth on the offensive line and at wide receiver.
Defense will be Cincinnati's emphasis when the draft begins Saturday, though. Joking that they'd grab all-solar system offensive lineman Orlando Pace of Ohio State if he were still available, coach Bruce Coslet reiterated Thursday that the Bengals can be expected to take a defensive player with its 14th overall choice in the first round.
Coslet explained that none of the available running backs merit being selected with the 14th pick, given the outsized signing bonus this draftee would command:
''I don't see us taking anybody in the first round Š They're not a bargain at that price Š In my mind, there's no big-time running back. (Florida State's) Warrick Dunn's great, but he's 180 pounds. I love watching him play, but I don't think he is going to be an Emmitt Smith or anybody like that.''
However, the Bengals might be able to secure a decent halfback in the second or third round if they were so inclined.
Draft expert Jerry Jones asked rhetorically, ''The thing with running backs is that there are 30 teams, and how many of those jobs are already booked?'' Answer: Most. ''Therefore,'' Jones added, ''(the Bengals) can afford to take a running back pretty far down.''
The Bengals have no shot at the University of Houston's Antowain Smith, who's rated as the draft's best all-around back and should be drafted in the first round. Dunn, Washington's Corey Dillon and Texas Tech's Byron Hanspard have been mentioned as possible first-rounders.
Coslet's comment about Dunn's weight indicates that Cincinnati would prefer a more sturdily built back. That description fits Dillon (6-foot, 215 pounds) and Hanspard (5-10, 195), should they last until the second round. Northwestern's Darnell Autry (5-11, 205) and Tennessee's Jay Graham (5-11, 215) also fit this profile.
But the runner who might suit the Bengals' needs most is Virginia's Tiki Barber (5-9, 200), who accumulated 2,757 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in his final two seasons. Barber's potential as a kick and punt returner is said to intrigue the Bengals, who have dedicated themselves to improving their special teams.
''He has fantastic quickness,'' Jones said of Barber.
Another back who appears in no mock drafts or Top 10 rankings might be worth monitoring: San Diego State's George Jones, who scored 34 touchdowns in only 19 Division I-A games. Skeptics have criticized his speed, but he obviously knows how to find the end zone.
The Bengals restocked their offensive line in last year's draft, when they obtained Willie Anderson (first round), Ken Blackman (third) and Rod Jones (seventh). Anderson is viewed as a budding All-Pro, Blackman proved to be a capable starter and Jones' potential remains highly regarded.
This year is different. The line is a less pressing need, and Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander isn't so enamored with the depth of prospects in this draft.
''There's a handful of players I really like,'' Alexander said. ''It may fall that we get none, but it may fall that one of the guys I like is there and we could be encouraged to take him.''
But the health problems of center Darrick Brilz (foot),
guard-tackle Kevin Sargent (neck) and still-unsigned guard Scott Brumfield (spine) might prompt the Bengals to take a lineman for depth purposes.
''I told them, 'Don't expect me to say much on draft day, but if there is a guy (available) at a time when I think it's worthy, you better take him,' '' Alexander said.
Previous draft stories
DRAFT HOT AT THE CORNER April 17, 1997
LB SEARCH NEAR AN END April 16, 1997
'IMPACT' PLAYER, TRADE UNLIKELY April 13, 1997
14TH PICK NOT TOO LATE TO GRAB GOOD PLAYER April 13, 1997
Other recent stories
BRAHAM STAYS, GRAHAM SIGNS ON April 16, 1997
PATRIOTS MAKE OFFER TO BRAHAM April 15, 1997
BRUMFIELD GETS OK TO PLAY April 11, 1997
TWO MORE FREE AGENTS VISIT April 9, 1997
BEN-GALS TRYOUTS BEGIN SUNDAYApril 9, 1997
McCULLOUGH TRIES AGAIN April 8, 1997
BOOMER FEELS AT HOME April 6, 1997
ESIASON ACCEPTS 2-YEAR DEAL April 5, 1997
WITH BOOMER, BENGALS ARE BETTER Sullivan column - April 5, 1997
PACK WAITS AS ESIASON MEETS WITH BENGALS April 4, 1997
PLAYERS MIX FUN, SUN AND FOOTBALL April 3, 1997
ESIASON TALKS WITH GREEN BAY April 1, 1997
SIRAGUSA, SMITH ENCOURAGED; BORGELLA SIGNS March 26, 1997
SIMMONS SAYS NO TO BENGALS March 25, 1997
LAST DAY FOR SIMMONS March 24, 1997
OFFER TO SIMMONS EXPIRES THIS WEEKEND March 22, 1997
BRAHAM INTERESTS PATRIOTS March 21, 1997
SIMMONS MAY FIT IN BUDGET March 19, 1997
BOOMER COULD BE BACK March 18, 1997
SARGENT SIGNS FOR 2 YEARS March 13, 1997
SUTTER SIGNS; SIMMONS TO VISIT March 12, 1997
HEARST HANDS BALL TO CARTER March 8, 1997
HARRIS, COLLINS LOOK ELSEWHERE March 6, 1997
MAP FAVORS BENGALS WITH FREE AGENTS March 5, 1997
3 FREE AGENTS VISIT TODAY March 4, 1997
CB HARRIS SETS FREE-AGENT VISIT Feb. 27, 1997
BENGALS MAKING HEADWAY WITH FREE AGENTS Feb. 25, 1997
BENGALS HAVE CAP ROOM FOR FREE AGENTS Feb. 15, 1997
BENGALS WON'T CHASE TOP FREE AGENTS Feb. 14, 1997
