Bengals get some impact, some insurance Second-day picks fill defensive, backup needs Monday, April 20, 1998
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals raised some hopes for their depleted defensive line Sunday, and then raised some eyebrows as the NFL draft ended with a whimper instead of a bang.
One Cincinnati insider called Michigan defensive lineman Glen Steele "a big Tim Krumrie," which is a major reason Krumrie, the club's defensive line coach, wanted the 6-foot-3, 295-pounder in the fourth round and insisted he was ready to compete for a roster spot and move instantly into the rotation.
After sitting out the fifth round because they gave up the pick to the Colts to acquire quarterback Paul Justin, the Bengals took three players in the final two rounds who will struggle to make the team in reserve roles. The most notable was tight end Damian Vaughn taken in the seventh and final round with the 222nd overall pick, making him the first Miami University player drafted by the Bengals since his college coach, Randy Walker, in 1976.
The most notorious was sixth-rounder Jason Tucker, a wide receiver from Texas Chrisian who was suspended all last season after being implicated in a check fraud scheme. The Bengals also selected Virginia Tech fullback Marcus Parker, who was once suspended for a game for shoplifting and three more for academic problems, in the seventh round with the 202nd pick.
Both players talked about their past openly Sunday and Bengals General Manager Mike Brown is satisfied they were mistakes of youth. Parker, who is seen as a blocking back, rebounded to gain academic honors. Tucker, projected to go in the second round if he came close to his junior year accomplishments, cooperated with authorities to help bring down a check fraud ring. He's on three years probation and has paid a $1,000 fine.
"I reached a point where I said, "Why me?' and I started questioning myself," Tucker said. "I wasn't even thinking about the draft. I was just thinking about why I couldn't come back and play for TCU. They said it was school policy that they couldn't let me come back. That was the first and only time I've been in trouble and it won't happen again."
The Bengals liked what they saw from the 6-1, 182-pound Tucker at February's scouting combine, where he ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and finished in the top five in agility drills despite not playing last season. With receivers Carl Pickens and David Dunn working on one-year deals, the club wanted insurance.
The same with the 5-9, 244-pound Parker, who is more of a pure fullback than Scottie Graham, the lone backup for Brian Milne. If Milne gets hurt, they want to make sure they've got a lead blocker for running back Corey Dillon.
Krumrie made sure he got a guy who's not afraid of doing the dirty work when he opted for Steele, a first-team Big Ten player who played best in the big games, particularly against Ohio State. Back in November, he personally paralyzed the Buckeyes' vaunted offense with two sacks, three stops behind the line and a fumble recovery. "He's not worried about looking pretty in shorts. I wasn't either," said Krumire, who didn't shy away from comparisons to Steele. "He's the kind of guy who'll pop you in the mouth."
With left end John Copeland possibly out for the season with a blown out Achilles tendon, Krumrie said Steele will get work at end but could later move to nose tackle and be able to play both spots. Head coach Bruce Coslet remembers the 1983 training camp when Krumrie, the team's 10th draft pick, tortured the No. 1 pick, center Dave Rimington, with in-your-face challenges.
"That first time we're in training camp one-on-one in pads in live drills, Steele's got the temperament to do what Krumrie did to Rimington back in the stone age," Coslet said. "It will be interesting."
by Associated Press
Bengals draft
Bengals draft for speed
Brown says no Moss
Picks will have to win jobs
Some impact, some insurance
1. Takeo Spikes,
LB, Auburn
1a. Brian Simmons,
LB, N.Carolina
2. Artrell Hawkins,
CB, Cincinnati
3. Steve Foley,
LB, NE Louisiana
3a. Mike Goff,
G, Iowa
4. Glen Steele,
DE, Michigan
6. Jason Tucker,
WR, TCU
7. Marcus Parker,
RB, Va. Tech
7a. Damian Vaughn,
TE, Miami U.
Sullivan
Daugherty
Five Bearcats drafted
Fabini, Ransom, Monroe taken on second day
Jackson taken by Dolphins