Gas On The Fire

The Bengals are 0-7 and people are again demanding change out of Mike Brown. They will not get it, at least not the type of change they would like which would result in Brown bringing in a general manager. I don't think it is too much to ask for Brown to increase the scouting department in order to put the best possible product on the field. Brown has argued that his system does work, and I decided to see how good it has been. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment;

1998 Draft

Round 2: Artrell Hawkins (43 overall)

• (44) Patrick Surtain, (45) Brian Kelly, (46) Samari Rolle. Everyone remembers the Artrell Hawkins era in Cincinnati, and it is amazing that we spent a second round pick on him. What is more amazing is the fact that these three corners went immediately after him. How on earth could you miss this badly on a selection? My guess is that Brown was able to scout Hawkins since he played at UC, so he went with the guy close to home. The other three corners have been to 4 Pro Bowls combined.

1999 Draft

Round 1: Akili Smith (3 Overall)

• Edgerrin James (4), Torry Holt (6), Champ Bailey (7), Chris McAlister (10), (15) Booger McFarland, (16) Jevon Kearse, (17) Damien Woody. We also passed on the Saints offer which would have given us their entire stockpile of picks so they could get Ricky Williams.
  

Round 2: Charles Fisher (33 Overall)

• (36) Mike Peterson, (37) Jon Jansen, (38) Mike Rucker, (41) Dre Bly, (46) Kevin Faulk.
  

Round 3: Cory Hall (65 Overall)

• (73) Joey Porter, (78) Marty Booker, (85) Dat Ngueyen, (87) Mike McKenzie.

Round 4: Craig Yeast (98 Overall)

• (100) Hannibal Navies, (105) Brandon Stokley, (106) Warrick Holdman, (109) Aaron Smith, (111) Roosevelt Colvin, (113) Dexter Jackson.

2000 Draft

Round 1: Peter Warrick (4 Overall)

• (5) Jamal Lewis, (6) Corey Simon, (7) Thomas Jones, (8) Plaxico Burress, (9) Brian Urlacher, (12) Shaun Ellis, (13) Donnie Abraham, (16) Julian Peterson.

Round 3: Ron Dugans (66 Overall)

• (67) Mark Simoneau, (78) Lavarneus Coles, (80) Darrell Jackson

Round 6: Neil Rackers (169 Overall)

• (177) Dhani Jones, (186) Adelius Thomas, (189) Mike Anderson

2001 Draft

Round 1: Justin Smith (4)

• (5) Ladainian Tomlinson, (6) Richard Seymour, (13) Marcus Stroud, (17) Steve Hutchinson, (18) Jeff Backus, (19) Casey Hampton, (21) Nate Clements

Round 3: Sean Brewer (66)

• (74) Steve Smith, (80) Kevan Barlow

2002 Draft

Round 2: Lamont Thompson (41)

• (51) Clinton Portis, (52) Anthony Weaver, (54) Maurice Morris, (56) Ladell Betts, (59) Sheldon Brown, (62) Antwan Randle-El, (65) Deion Branch.

Round 3: Matt Schobel (67)

• (73) Will Witherspoon, (89) Akin Ayodele, (91) Brian Westbrook

Round 4: Travis Dorsch (109)

• (110) Aaron Echols, (126) Jarvis Green, (128) Larry Foote, (135) Najeh Davenport

2003 Draft

Round 3: Kelley Washington (65)

• (68) Lance Briggs, (69) Jason Witten, (71) Nate Burleson

2004 Draft

Round 1: Chris Perry

• Vince Wilfork, Steven Jackson, Chris Gamble

Round 2: Kiewan Ratliffe (49), Madieu Williams (56)

• (57) Antwan Odom

Round 3: Caleb Miller (80)

• (81) Chris Cooley, (84) Shawn Locklear

Round 3: Landon Johnson (96)

• (98) Shaun Phillips, (108) Jericho Cotchery, (110) Nathan Vasher

Round 4: Matthias Askew (114), Robert Geathers (117)

• (119) Mewelde Moore, (126) Jared Allen

Round 5: Maurice Mann (149)

• (154) Michael Turner

2005 Draft

Round 4: Eric Ghiaciuc (119)

• (123) Kerry Rhodes, (130) Darren Sproles, (132) Chris Canty

2006 Draft

Round 2: Andrew Whitworth (55)

• (57) Devin Hester, (60) Maurice Jones-Drew

Round 7: Ethan Kilmer (209)

• (215) Cortland Finnegan

Anways, you get the idea. The Bengals have failed to develop quality depth because they are unable to find talent in the middle rounds of the draft. Sure, we can't expect them to get it right all the time, but missing out this often on this many players is a shame.