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Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis didn't mention any names, but he sure dropped a lot of hints about the club's draft plans this weekend. With the ninth overall pick Saturday, April 26, he wants an impact player. The signs point toward defense — tackle Sedrick Ellis, end Derrick Harvey or middle linebacker Keith Rivers. "I'm hoping that when we step up to pick at nine, the value and the match are there," Lewis said.
Holes to fill in draft In addition to the offensive and defensive lines, Lewis said the "skill spots — running back, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back — are areas we will address" in the draft. "With 10 picks, it's an opportunity for us to kind of retool some things, add some depth and actually add people that probably will press to start very early," he said. "That's important. The way, hopefully, the draft will unfold, we'll have a little luck, and things will unfold to hit us in an area of both quality and need. That's what we're looking forward to." Glad when it's over Is this time of year fun or stressful? "It's not stressful," Lewis said, "but I am excited to get the draft over with so we can get on to real football. That's the part of the year I prefer, not the speculative, nebulous part of football that everybody seems to make such a big deal out of. The value of this (draft) is where these guys are a year from now and two years from now." Thurman faces tests Middle linebacker Odell Thurman, reinstated after a two-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, still has a lot to prove. "He's got to be able to make the team and do things the right way constantly," Lewis said. "That remains to be seen whether he can handle that kind of scrutiny day in and day out. He's still under the same guidelines he's been under through the NFL. He has done, to this point, well enough to be given this opportunity. Hopefully, he can continue on that path and separate himself from those who seem to follow him around." Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/oh/story/sports/pro/bengals/2008/04/23/ddn042308spbennotes.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=25 |
