Even though the Bengals will have an offensive head coach for
the first time in 17
years
Billy Price
Jersey , Bleacher Report thinks the Bengals will pick 3 defenders in the
first four rounds of the 2019 draft."The Bengals have gone in a new direction
and hired a young, 35-year-old head coach this week. It is just a matter of
weeks before he gets to start building out his brand new roster.Even though Zac
Taylor is fresh off his job as the Rams¡¯ quarterbacks coach, Bleacher Report had
the Bengals taking four defensive players in their new 7-round mock draft.In his
introductory press conference, Taylor mentioned that he was excited to build the
offense around the pieces they already have. This is probably a good idea,
considering offense¡¯s skill position players are loaded with talent. In fact,
the Bengals¡¯ losing streak started when the defense fell to shambles. So it
would make sense that the front office wants to target defenders.Cue Devin
White.The linebacker from LSU has probably been the one draft prospect most
linked with the Bengals. So it¡¯s no surprise that BR had the Bengals taking him
with their 11th overall pick.Here¡¯s what they said:White would make a perfect
first round pick if, like in BR¡¯s mock, other great prospects like Houston¡¯s Ed
Oliver or Alabama¡¯s Jonah Williams are off the board.If the Bengals address the
linebacker spot in the draft, then their other prominent needs will be at tight
end and the offensive line.So with White settling in comfortably in the middle
of the defense, BR has the Bengals selecting Alabama tight end Irv Smith in the
second round. In 15
games
Jessie Bates
Jersey , Smith caught 44 passes for 710 yards and 7 touchdowns in the
Crimson Tide¡¯s 2018 season. Smith would be drafted to help a unit with three
talented starters potentially becoming free agents in March.The only flaw in
BR¡¯s mock draft is that the Bengals don¡¯t address the offensive line until Day
3, taking two lineman back-to-back in the fifth and sixth rounds. But, then
again, there¡¯s still free agency.Here¡¯s how BR¡¯s mock draft shakes out:(11)
Devin White, LB, LSU(42) Irv Smith, TE, Alabama(72) Juan Thornhill, S,
Virginia(103) Terry Beckner
Jr.
Sam Hubbard
Jersey , DL, MissouriNate Herbig, OG, StanfordOlisaemeka Udoh, OT,
ElonSheldrick Redwine, CB, Miami(Note: since the compensatory picks have not
been announced, the order for the last three rounds is still up in the air. BR
went with draft position for those and decided not to include the overall number
because that will change before the draft.)Who would you like to see the Bengals
take? CINCINNATI (0-2) at GREEN BAY (1-1) Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
EDT
Malik
Jefferson Jersey , CBS OPENING LINE ¨C Packers by 10 RECORD VS. SPREAD ¨C
Cincinnati 0-2, Green Bay 1-1 SERIES RECORD ¨C Bengals lead 7-5 LAST MEETING ¨C
Bengals beat Packers 34-30, Sept. 22, 2013 LAST WEEK ¨C Bengals lost to Texans
13-9; Packers lost to Falcons 34-23 AP PRO32 RANKING ¨C Bengals No. 27, Packers
No. 7 BENGALS OFFENSE ¨C OVERALL (27), RUSH (22), PASS (22) BENGALS DEFENSE ¨C
OVERALL (5), RUSH (31), PASS (1) PACKERS OFFENSE ¨C OVERALL (7), RUSH
(27)
Mark Walton
Jersey , PASS (4) PACKERS DEFENSE ¨C OVERALL (8), RUSH (t-20), PASS (9)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES ¨C Bengals have won last three meetings. ¡ Each team had
four turnovers in last meeting in 2013, including fumble returned for touchdown
for each side. ¡ Bengals trying to avoid first 0-3 start since 2008, when they
went 4-11-1. They¡¯ve gone 0-3 13 times in club history, failed to have winning
record any of those seasons. ¡ Bengals first team since 1939 Eagles to open
season with two home games and fail to score TD. They haven¡¯t reached end zone
in 25 possessions, settling for three FGs. ¡ Last team to open season with two
home games and so few points was 1949 Packers. ¡ Bengals fired Ken Zampese after
13-9 loss to Texans on Thursday and elevated QBs coach Bill Lazor to offensive
coordinator. ¡ QB Andy Dalton¡¯s 28.4 passer rating in opening 20-0 loss to
Ravens was second lowest of career. He¡¯s thrown four INTs, lost fumble. ¡
Dalton¡¯s 47.2 passer rating is worst in NFL. Browns rookie DeShone Kizer is
second lowest at 55.6. Dalton led AFC in passer rating in 2015 at 106.3 ¡ DT
Geno Atkins had two sacks vs. Texans. He¡¯s been involved in sack in six straight
games, tied for longest streak in Bengals history. It¡¯s longest active streak in
NFL. ¡ Packers started week with several key players on injury
report
John Ross
Jersey , including starting OTs David Bakhtiari (hamstring) and Bryan
Bulaga (ankle), WRs Jordy Nelson (quad) and Randall Cobb (shoulder), and DL Mike
Daniels (hamstring). ¡ QB Aaron Rodgers reached 300 career TD passes in fewest
attempts (4,742) in NFL history. With 73 career interceptions, Rodgers also
first to reach 300 passing TDs before throwing 100 interceptions. He passed Tom
Brady (115) for fewest at time of reaching 300 passing TDs. ¡ LB Clay Matthews
(74 sacks) one sack from passing Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (74.5) for most in
franchise history since 1982. ¡ Fantasy Tip: PPR alert! WR-turned-RB Ty
Montgomery has been just as effective in short passing game as on ground,
including six catches for 75 yards and short shovel pass turned into touchdown
last week against Atlanta. He could be more involved in passing game if Packers
have more injury-related protection issues. ¡ª