Bearfan Blue and Orange
Waterboy
This was written going into last season...
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Bengals: Depth At Receiver Means Tough Decisions Lay Ahead
In a Dayton Daily News article, Carlos Holmes writes for the first time in years, the Cincinnati Bengals head into training camp loaded with quality depth at the wide receiver position. A good thing, yes! However, it will be no easy task when it comes time to reduce their roster. This means some talented receivers could eventually hit the open market courtesy of the Bengals.
Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are the only two receivers guaranteed a spot, leaving veterans like Peter Warrick and Kelley Washington to fight for a place on the roster during training camp.
Although a number of receivers will be vying for a position, the one guy that may already have a leg up on the rest is Kevin Walter. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound receiver made it extremely difficult to be ignored with his performance during the team's recent minicamp.
Walter showed that he is steadily improving by being consistent and making plays. He was strong off the line, quick, ran good routes and demonstrated outstanding blocking skills. He also showed that he can stretch the field when he blew past CB Tory James and made a nice one-handed grab along the sideline before being pushed out of bounds. The sure-handed receiver was even more impressive during red zone drills when he put a move on CB Deltha O'Neal that left him caught like a deer in headlights, freeing Walter up to catch a touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone.
To improve his game, Walter said over the off-season he worked on his flexibility and watched lots of film as well as studying teammate Chad Johnson in an effort to try and pick up some of his techniques to become a more well-rounded receiver.
Selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2003 draft, Walter was released by the team out of training camp and claimed off waivers by the Bengals. There are several NFL scouts who feel that the Giants may have given up too quickly on Walter, much like the organization did with Ed McCaffrey and Joe Jurevicius, who both went on to receive Super Bowl rings with other clubs.
The Bengals have been patiently waiting for Walter to develop, mainly because they love his upside. Some see him evolving into a possession-type receiver and a go-to-guy in clutch situations. Keep in mind that this kid was regarded as the premier receiver in the Mid-American Conference in 2002, so he's no slouch.
Smith's Take: WR Chad Johnson is a stud who could lead the NFL in receiving this season if Carson Palmer can continue to grow as a player. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has worked hard on his game and he is guaranteed a roster spot after his 978 yard performance of a year ago. After that it is anybody's guess who will make this squad and see some playing time. Peter Warrick was a great slot receiver but it is unknown at this point whether he will ever be 100% healthy again. He did catch 253 passes and scored 18 times in his first four full seasons so he is capable of putting up decent numbers. Kelley Washington is a talented kid who has scored seven times over the last two seasons in limited action. This Kevin Walter kid sounds like the real deal and he is almost certain to make the roster. However to further complicate matters; the article doesn't even mention rookie sensation Chris Henry whom the Bengals appear to love. If I had to wager a guess at this point, the top four would be: Johnson, Houshmandzadeh, Walter and Henry with Warrick and Washington battling it out for a roster spot. If either player gets cut loose, you can guarantee some other team will pick either up in a heartbeat.
Link
Bengals: Depth At Receiver Means Tough Decisions Lay Ahead
In a Dayton Daily News article, Carlos Holmes writes for the first time in years, the Cincinnati Bengals head into training camp loaded with quality depth at the wide receiver position. A good thing, yes! However, it will be no easy task when it comes time to reduce their roster. This means some talented receivers could eventually hit the open market courtesy of the Bengals.
Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are the only two receivers guaranteed a spot, leaving veterans like Peter Warrick and Kelley Washington to fight for a place on the roster during training camp.
Although a number of receivers will be vying for a position, the one guy that may already have a leg up on the rest is Kevin Walter. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound receiver made it extremely difficult to be ignored with his performance during the team's recent minicamp.
Walter showed that he is steadily improving by being consistent and making plays. He was strong off the line, quick, ran good routes and demonstrated outstanding blocking skills. He also showed that he can stretch the field when he blew past CB Tory James and made a nice one-handed grab along the sideline before being pushed out of bounds. The sure-handed receiver was even more impressive during red zone drills when he put a move on CB Deltha O'Neal that left him caught like a deer in headlights, freeing Walter up to catch a touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone.
To improve his game, Walter said over the off-season he worked on his flexibility and watched lots of film as well as studying teammate Chad Johnson in an effort to try and pick up some of his techniques to become a more well-rounded receiver.
Selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2003 draft, Walter was released by the team out of training camp and claimed off waivers by the Bengals. There are several NFL scouts who feel that the Giants may have given up too quickly on Walter, much like the organization did with Ed McCaffrey and Joe Jurevicius, who both went on to receive Super Bowl rings with other clubs.
The Bengals have been patiently waiting for Walter to develop, mainly because they love his upside. Some see him evolving into a possession-type receiver and a go-to-guy in clutch situations. Keep in mind that this kid was regarded as the premier receiver in the Mid-American Conference in 2002, so he's no slouch.
Smith's Take: WR Chad Johnson is a stud who could lead the NFL in receiving this season if Carson Palmer can continue to grow as a player. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has worked hard on his game and he is guaranteed a roster spot after his 978 yard performance of a year ago. After that it is anybody's guess who will make this squad and see some playing time. Peter Warrick was a great slot receiver but it is unknown at this point whether he will ever be 100% healthy again. He did catch 253 passes and scored 18 times in his first four full seasons so he is capable of putting up decent numbers. Kelley Washington is a talented kid who has scored seven times over the last two seasons in limited action. This Kevin Walter kid sounds like the real deal and he is almost certain to make the roster. However to further complicate matters; the article doesn't even mention rookie sensation Chris Henry whom the Bengals appear to love. If I had to wager a guess at this point, the top four would be: Johnson, Houshmandzadeh, Walter and Henry with Warrick and Washington battling it out for a roster spot. If either player gets cut loose, you can guarantee some other team will pick either up in a heartbeat.
