Final 53: Bengals Roster Predictions

I don’t remember a year where the talent has been so deep. In the past, it was always the Bengals scouring the waiver wire on cut-down day looking to fill holes. Now it is the other way around. There are a lot of good players that will be cut by the Bengals on Saturday and will be playing somewhere else on Sunday. The Bengals have a great problem, they have too many good players. The talent on this team will make cut-down day 2013 a very interesting day. Here are my predictions for the Final 53 (in parenthesis is how many I believe they will keep at each position).

 

Quarterback (2)

Andy Dalton, Josh Johnson

Cut: John Skelton

Practice Squad: Zac Robinson (currently on PUP)

I think this one is easy. The Bengals aren’t going to keep a 3^rd QB and Johnson has outplayed Skelton and offers more with his ability to run.

 

Running Backs (4)

BJGE, Bernard, Peerman, Burkhead

Cut: Herron, Scott

Practice Squad: Herron (if he makes it through waivers, which is doubtful)

Herron has earned a spot on the team, as has Burkhead. Both contribute on special teams and both contribute on the ground. I think Burkhead offers more in the passing game and I don’t think Burkhead would escape waivers in order to make the practice squad. While I don’t think Herron will escape waivers either, I believe he has a better chance of doing so. Hence, Burkhead makes the team. Bernard Scott’s time with the Bengals is done.

 

Fullback (1)

Orson Charles

Cut: John Conner

PUP: Pressley

Conner is the better FB and deserves to make the team. However, Charles has more potential and offers more to the offense. With Pressley on the PUP list, I believe the Bengals take the chance with Charles and if it doesn’t work, they bring Pressley on once he is eligible.

 

Wide Receivers (7)

AJ, Sanu, Jones, Tate, Hawkins, Whalen, Hamilton

Cut: Sanzenbacher, Roy Roundtree, Taveon Rogers

Practice Squad: Roy Roundtree

I believe the Bengals keep 7 here in order to get Hawkins to the IR Retun list. To get to that list, he has to be on the 53-man roster. If they waive him, he will get claimed. This is where they use the spot they pick up by having Charles as the FB. Once Hawkins is moved, they can add another player. Sanzenbacher played the best of the WRs on the bubble, but he loses out based on the numbers game. Here is why: Whalen makes it over Sanzenbacher because of what Whalen provides on special teams (gunner -Sanzenbacher’s contributions – PR/KR – are already occupied by Tate and backed up by Jones and/or Bernard – it was not a coincidence Bernard fielded a punt last night). Hamilton makes it over Sanzenbacher because Hamilton has more potential and won’t clear waivers. Plus, one of your WRs doesn’t dress on Sundays – it doesn’t make sense for that WR to be Sanzenbacher – it does make sense if that WR is Hamilton.

 

Tight Ends (2)

Gresham, Eifert

Cut: Smith

Not much to discuss here. Smith was brought in as insurance. Charles is the 3^rd TE and blocking TE as well as the FB, making Smith dispensable.

 

Offensive Line (9)

Whitworth, Boling, Cook, Zeitler, Smith, Collins, Roland, Hawkinson, Pollack

Cut: Fragel, Sullen, Robinson, Johnson

Practice Squad: Fragel, Johnson

There are some surprises here. Originally, I thought the Bengals would keep Fragel because he wouldn’t clear waivers to make the PS. Then I saw him play. He will be cut, and he will make the PS. I also thought Robinson would win the starting center position. He did not. I believe the versatility of Pollack gets him on the team as a backup G/C. TJ Johnson should be able to get through to the PS which gives the Bengals a pure C if they would have an injury.

 

Defensive Line (10)

Dunlap, Atkins, Peko, MJ, Still, Thompson, Gilberry, Geathers, Hunt, Moch

Cut: Stephens, Evans

Practice Squad: Stephens, Evans

Usually they would only keep 8 or 9, however, given the play and versatility of Moch (DE, LB, teams), combined with Lamur’s injury, I think Moch makes the team either as a 10^th DL or 7 LB. In the last 2 years, Moch has 7.5 sacks in 8 preseason games…or, more like 7.5 sacks in 8 halfs of football. He could help this team. Hunt, though raw, makes it as well because of his potential and the fact that he won’t clear waivers. Stevens and Evans are good candidates for the PS.

 

Line Backers (6)

Burfict, Harrison, Maualuga, DiManche, Rey, Schaffer

IR: Lamur, Porter, Joiner

What was to be one of the most interesting position battles was cleared up by a string of devastating injuries. The Lamur injury is very disappointing as I was very excited about him in 2013. He is likely their most athletic LB, but a LB with a separated shoulder is not a good thing, so I see him going on IR. His loss is Moch and Schaffer’s gain. I believe the loss of Lamur causes the Bengals to feel the need to keep both Moch and Schaffer…which is not a bad thing. No way DiManche doesn’t make the team: 1) he earned a spot (and playing time), and 2) he won’t make it through waivers. If they do cut a LB and keep Moch as their 6^th LB, I see it being Schaffer, though I don’t think they can get him through to the practice squad.

 

Cornerbacks (5)

Hall, Newman, Jones, Kirkpatrick, Ghee

Cut: Prater, Lewis-Harris, McCalebb

Practice Squad: Prater, Lewis-Harris

The poor play of Prater and Lewis-Harris, combined with the Lamur injury, cause both players to be cut and the Bengals to enter the season with just 5 CB’s (5 very good ones though). Both should be able to make it to the PS whereby they could be brought back if needed.

 Safety (4)

Nelson, Iloka, Williams, Miles

Cut: Mays

This is a tough one. Outside of Nelson, I was not impressed with any of the other 4 – so unimpressed that I wonder if Crocker won’t get a call after before the season starts. I don’t see the point in keeping Mays. He has been given opportunity after opportunity and done nothing but disappoint. I think it is time for the Bengals to cut ties and move on. Miles is a special teams stud, so I see him staying over Mays, and Williams was a 4^th round pick this year, so he has more upside than Mays at this point. At this point you know what you get from Mays (and it isn’t good), so let’s see what the rookie can give the Bengals. Iloka starts more so by default than anything else.

 

Special Teams (3)

Nugent, Huber, Harris

 

Time to see if I am the Joe Lunardi of Bengal’s Rosterology!