The Bengals had a choice in the first round of Saturday's NFL draft. They could make the league's ninth-ranked defense even better by adding a player such as cornerback Phillip Buchanon. Or they could add a top offensive player, such as tight end Jeremy Shockey, to bolster the league's lowest-scoring offense. They decided on a franchise left tackle.

        Levi Jones of Arizona State, a 6-foot-5 1/2, 304-pound, long-armed player, could start next season and be a fixture at the most important position on the offensive line for the next several years.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

NFL experts ripped the Bengals' first pick (Story). So did Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty (Columns) Enquirer columnist Tim Sullivan favors it. (Column). Tell us what you think. E-mail us your comments about the Bengals draft choices. Just click here and vent. Or go here and see what some fans are saying

DRAFT POLL

What do you think of the Bengals' draft strategy?

Based on what you've seen so far, what do you think of the Bengals' draft strategy? Click at the bottom if you just want to view the results without voting.   Looking good   Could be better   This is awful View current results

        “That's a spot where we need some shoring up for the long term,” Bengals president Mike Brown said.

        “We looked at our football team after the break, the bye week last year, and our defense gave up 16 points on average a game,” Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said. “Since we played a fairly balanced schedule, I surmised that our defense got to that level of play.

        “We think we need to increase the productivity of the offense.”

        In the third round, the final round Saturday, the Bengals added tight end Matt Schobel, who had 19 receptions and five touchdown catches as a senior at Texas Christian.

        The Bengals traded their third-round pick, No.73 overall, to Carolina for the Panthers' third-rounder, 67th overall. The Bengals also gave Carolina their fifth-round pick, the 145th overall, to get Schobel. Schobel was on the phone with Detroit, who picked at No.68, when the Bengals drafted him.

        The Bengals had just 29 receptions from their tight ends last season.

        But they didn't ignore the defense. In the second round, the Bengals took free safety Lamont Thompson of Washington State. He was second in the nation last season with 10 interceptions, and he led the Cougars with 93 tackles.

        The Bengals are hoping he will help them increase the number of turnovers generated on defense.

        All three players — Jones, Thompson and Schobel — will challenge to start, and the Bengals' front office and coaches left Paul Brown Stadium pleased with the outcome of the first three rounds.

        “It was a very good day,” offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said.

        Four more rounds will be held today beginning at 11 a.m.

        The Bengals, who had the 10th pick overall, were projected to select more well-known players with greater star power.

        Some experts had the Bengals competing for quarterback Joey Harrington of Oregon (he went No. 3 to Detroit) or one of two Miami (Fla.) teammates, Buchanon or Shockey. Both of them were available when the Bengals picked.

        Jones was projected as a mid-first-round pick, and the Bengals were criticized by the national sports media for picking him too early.

        The Bengals didn't see it that way. They had Jones rated in the same neighborhood as the top two left tackles taken in the draft — Buffalo's Mike Williams (fifth overall) and Minnesota's Bryant McKinnie (seventh).

        “He's probably the most athletic tackle in the draft,” offensive line coach Paul Alexander said.

        The Bengals are hoping to get one more productive year from their aging tandem of left tackles, 12-year veteran starter Richmond Webb and 14-year backup John Jackson. Picking Jones this year prevents the Bengals from having to panic next year and draft a left tackle they don't like as much as Jones.

        Jones, 22, was a three-year starter at Arizona State. Like almost all rookies will do, Jones took a verbal backseat to Webb.

        “They have a left tackle who is a tremendously good player,” said Jones, a native of Eloy, Ariz., who is almost 6 feet 6 and plays at 325 pounds. “Any time you can get around a veteran (like Webb) that's been there and done it, that's a plus for everybody. I know I'm going to have to get in there and earn my keep.”

WHO IS LEVI JONES?

More info about the Bengals' first-round pick at: • ESPN • NFL • USA Today

        Jones went to college on an academic scholarship and earned a football scholarship as a defensive lineman. He played his second season at guard before moving to tackle for the final two seasons.

        Offensive coaches at Arizona State wanted him, Jones said, “because they liked my nasty attitude.”

        Bengals defensive coordinator Mark Duffner and safeties coach Darren Perry said Thompson is a playmaker who would add a turnover threat to the defense.

        “The stats that he has and the instincts he has make him special,” Duffner said. “We were aware we needed to get turnovers and interceptions.”

        Thompson is 6 feet 1, 220 pounds and runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash.

        “I really feel comfortable back there at safety, and I think I'm capable of doing whatever the coaches ask,” Thompson said.

        Schobel comes from a football family. A former college quarterback who transferred to Texas Christian from Texas A&M, Schobel is the brother of Buffalo defensive end Aaron Schobel.

        Schobel can run a 4.65 40 and can catch the ball over the middle in traffic. He also was the holder on extra points and field goals.

Surprise, Bengals take tackle What do you think of the Bengals' picks Experts rip Bengals pick DAUGHERTY: Bengals spoil the party again SULLIVAN: Bengals' timing might be right Jones combines brains and brawn Nose for ball Thompson's key strength Trade yields TE Schobel First round goes to linemen Harrington surprised by Detroit Draft choices by selection Draft choices by team

Reds 6, Cubs 1
Rijo makes first start since '95
Baseball sells 'condensed games' for online viewing
Strikeouts plague Reds
Reds Notebook: Percentages pay for Boone
Down on the farm
Reds box, runs
Reds Q&A with John Fay
RedHawks put offense on display
RB Pinner stars in UK spring game
Women honored for athletics
TMC coach has head for softball
Lexington win puts Lukas back in Derby
Enquirer power rankings
Coming up this week
Cincinnati high school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
Brossart rolls to track victories
N.Ky. high school results

• Return to Bengals front page...