SB Nation - Billy Farris

Time to Witness Dominance: Keys to the Game and Predictions

irish1611 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:10:28 -0000

This has been one of the more difficult pre-game write-ups to begin. I have re-wrote at least five times to try and describe the excitement of the season opener with a fair blend of urgency that the program must exhibit starting today. At first, I went at the post in an overly positive way but that didn't exhibit all of the feelings. Then, I added some negatives but who wants to be negative when you haven't even played a game yet. So I decided on keeping it simple, keeping it short and saying little other than what should be expected today.

Most Colorado Buffalo fans have a few different feelings going through their system this morning. Excitement is surely one of them, anticipation to see the black and gold run out of that tunnel is most certainly there, but for me, the overwhelming feeling is that desire to bear witness of something that we haven't seen in the past. That is where the nervous feeling comes from this Sunday morning.

It is time to bear witness to a team that can come out and dominate. Not necessarily dominant on the scoreboard with a forty point win but dominate physically, dominate by being the better coached team, dominate on special teams, dominate the halftime adjustments, dominate in preparation and dominate by being the more energized team. Basically, see a discernable difference over the team the Colorado State Rams put on the field today but also the Colorado teams that we have seen trot out the past three years.

Just flat out dominant in the detailed aspects of the game.

The question is, are the Buffs ready to dominate?

Yes, if for no other reason than they better be. Will they? We will see soon enough.

Time to get things done and it starts today against the Rams.

Short, simple and easy, nothing but what is now the defined motto for the Buffs on the Ralphie Report: "Dominate and No Excuses." I like it better than "10 wins and no excuses" anyway.

Now on to the Keys of the Game & The Ralphie Report's 2009 first game predictions.

Stick it to Stucker
The smell of fresh meat is in the air and it's coming from Colorado St. Rams' quarterback Grant Stucker. Stucker will be making his first start against the Colorado Buffaloes today at Folsom Field in front of a close to capacity crowd. What does that mean? Be aggressive & creative in your attempts to get to rattle Stucker. Make his life miserable all day long. Last year, the Buffs sacked first time starter Billy Farris five times and never let him get settled in the pocket. The Buffs went on to win by three touchdowns. It has been well documented that the Rams have a very experienced offensive line but I look for the Buffs to have prepared extremely well in creating mismatches and blitzes that will confuse CSU upfront to get to Stucker. Look for B.J. Beatty, Marcus Burton and Doug Rippy to lead the charge from the linebacker spot in constantly applying pressure on the Rams.

Clearly, Colorado State feels they have a few matchups that they can exploit the Buffs at and one is upfront. Nothing will dishearten the Rams more than showing them early that they don't have the advantage there and nothing will be a bigger detriment to the Buffs chance at victory today than letting Stucker get comfortable in the pocket and throw to his talented receivers.

Special Teams
If the Buffs are going to be a bowl team in 2009, drastic improvement in the specialties play must occur. Colorado cannot give the Rams points or field position in the special teams game. This goes back to the statement of dominance and being mentally tough football team. Special teams is a "want to", not a "have to" assignment for a good football team and its players. You have to have an attitude to play special teams and that attitude wasn't there a year ago. Colorado has better depth and talent than Colorado State and that should show through today in this aspect of the game.

Finish in the Red Zone
Based on the last seasons results, Colorado fans hope to not see a field goal attempted today and because of that, efficiency is crucial in the red zone. Substitute field goal attempts with strong execution for touchdowns.

Playmaking ability
In 2008, it seemed the Buffs had zero playmakers on the field. Maybe they were all too young but I believe it was the fault of the coaching staff in not getting the right scheme offensively to feature talent. Coach Eric Kiesau has led the charge back to a more traditional pro-style offense but he will be tasked today with finding mismatches and featuring players that can be difference makers. Whether it is RB Brian Lockridge in the slot, WR Andre Simmons in a deep ball package scenario, RB Rodney Stewart in the screen game, RB Darrell Scott on the edge or one of the tight ends making an impact across the middle, it is time to have a plan to get these players in favorable situations; something that did not exist a year ago.

On the flip side, Colorado matches up extremely well against and the Rams two best playmakers in WR Rashaun Greer and WR Dion Morton. I expect corners Jimmy Smith, Cha'pelle Brown, Jalil Brown and Ben Burney to compete successfully against the duo of Morton and Greer especially with the graduation of TE Kory Sperry. The Buffs defense cannot let these two receivers beat them. Limit the big plays and Colorado should come out victorious.

Win the Turnover Battle
Cody Hawkins or Tyler Hansen cannot let Grant Stucker outplay them in this category. Be smart with the football.

Make the Rams Come From Behind
Colorado should not be considered a prolific offense yet so it needs help from the defense and has to exhibit precision when it has the ball. If the Rams get up on the Buffs, it might be a recipe for disaster if Colorado needs to rely on an unproven group of receivers to make plays. The CU defense has to be stout in the first few drives of the season, let the Colorado offense get in a rhythm and score a few points. Start well and the Buffs will be in a strong position to win the game.

Prediction Time:

Short, simple and straight to the point just like our motto: 28 - 13. Give us your prediction too!

Message to the fans: get up, make some noise and get it started off right!

Join us for the Live Game Thread during the game today. Go Buffs, Beat the Rams!

Poll

What is your prediction for today's game?

Buffs win big, easily cover the spread of 11 points

92 votes

I think the oddsmakers have this one pegged, put me down for around 11 points

35 votes

It's a rivalry game and is usally pretty close. The Buffs win but not in convincing fashion

30 votes

Rams pull the upset, send Buffs into an early tail spin

52 votes

209 votes | Poll has closed

Colorado State Offensive Preview

irish1611 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:06:09 -0000

The matchup between Colorado Buffaloes' corner Jimmy Smith and Colorado State's receiver Rashaun Greer should be fun to watch.

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What you need to know about the Rams' Offense:

You have heard it a hundred times by now; the Colorado St. Rams have the most experienced offensive line in college football. Yes, 129 total starts between the five players up front. Last season, the Buffs were able to get to then senior quarterback Billy Farris five times and held the Rams to a net 71 yards rushing. Colorado hopes to have the same sort of success against the most experienced offensive line as once again the Rams try to break another new quarterback in Grant Stucker. OG Shelley Smith and C Tim Walter are the two studs on the line, but Smith is questionable for the game Sunday due to a high ankle sprain. Walter has the ability to be the top center in Mountain West and is the anchor of the line.

Walter and Smith, if healthy, will be in charge of protecting Grant Stucker, the 6-2, 207-pound senior, saw little action last year completing just 3-of-5 passes for 22 yards. Stucker is a decent athlete who will certainly be more mobile than Billy Farris was a year ago but most have said Farris is the better pure passer. Head coach Steve Fairchild was not afraid to voice his displeasure at the quarterback position this offseason as Stucker or Jon Eastman failed to grab the reins of the position, with Stucker almost winning by default due to injuries elsewhere. Stucker will be at a disadvantage compared to the Farris last year as the Rams will have to replace two stalwart running backs in Gartrell Johnson and Kyle Bell. John Mosure, who rushed for 122 yards last season will get the start. Mosure, 5-10, 200-pounds, will add a little speed to the Rams backfield but it is hard to be convinced with the loss of Farris, Bell and Johnson that this year's backfield will be better than last year's.

continue reading the preview after the jump...

The real excitement for the Rams comes from the wide receiver spots as they have two of the better ones in the Mountain West conference. Rashaun Greer, a 6-1, 203 pounder senior, emerged last year after the receivers were labeled as the weak spot on the offense. Greer caught 63 passes for a team leading 1,114 yards and averaging an impressive 17 yards a reception. He only scored three times, though, something that Steve Fairchild would like to see amplified. Greer had a nice coming out party against Colorado last season, hauling in 8 for 80 yards. Dion Morton rounds out the dynamic duo at the receiver spot. Morton, a 5-10, 163-pound senior, was second on the team with 51 catches for 859 yards and a record-setting ten touchdowns. He is also dangerous in the return game, something that Buffs need to be aware of as they try to buck the trend of last year's special teams play.

Colorado State does lose some fire power on the edge in tight end Kory Sperry. Although Sperry was keyed on last season by the Buffs and had little impact on the game, he still had an impressive senior season before departing for the NFL. Colorado fans will be glad not to see him or Gartrell Johnson on the field this year. Taking over for the athletic Sperry will be Eric Peitz, a 6-5, 250-pound junior who played two years ago Sperry went down with a torn ACL. Peitz is more known for his blocking ability rather than his playmaking, catching only 5 passes for 29 yards in 2008. Sperry's 492 yards and six touchdowns will be difficult to replace this season as will his presence in the middle of the field.

Stat To Know About:

Other than the offensive line's 129 total starts, the Rams lose some firepower off of their 7-6 team from a year ago...some might not be the right way to put it. Colorado State has to replace 91% of its passing yards and 100% of its passing touchdowns in Billy Farris. They lose 74.3% of their rushing attempts, 88.1% of their rushing yards and 72.2% of their rushing touchdowns with the departure of Kyle Bell and Gartrell Johnson. The loss of receiving statistics is only about 30% between Sperry, Johnson and Bell but still is significant considering safeties had to stay home to cover Sperry instead of being able to provide strong over the top help for corners covering Morton and Greer. With Peitz now taking over at tight end, I expect the Buffs to key much more on the receivers and less on Sperry.

The Best Matchup:

If you are at the game, make sure you keep an eye on the Buffs' corners against the Rams' receivers. The matchup of CB Jimmy Smith against WR Rashaun Greer will be worth the price of admission as 6'3" 200 corner will have the forum to show off his skills against a talented receiver. And don't forget about the little guys on the other side who are no slouches in their own right. CB Cha'pelle Brown, an all conference performer a year ago, will go up against the Rams touchdown leader from a year ago in Dion Morton. These matchups should provide great theater all day long. Smith, Brown, Jalil Brown and Ben Burney better be ready as these will be two of the better receivers the Buffs will face all year.

Matchup Buff Fans Should be Worried About:

Clearly it is in the trenches. This group of CSU linemen have been through a lot together and they should be the rock of the offense. On the other side of the ball, the Buffs have lost most of their experience upfront from a year ago replacing three senior starters with sophomore Curtis Cunningham, redshirt freshman Will Perciak and sophomore Lagrone Shields. If the Rams can get a solid running game going, they could raise some issues for the Buffs this Sunday. I expect Colorado defensive coordinator Ron Collins to be ready to make many in game adjustments based on how the battle in the trenches goes. The good thing for the Buffs is the cornerbacks should be able to hold their own, allowing more in the box to stop the run and get after Stucker. But if things start going wrong for the Buffs, look to this matchup as the reason.

What Remains to Be Seen:

The obvious answer is Grant Stucker. How he plays in his first real collegiate game on the road in a nationally televised spot will get most of the attention. No doubt he has some talent at receiver but Colorado matches up extremely well there. The biggest question in my eyes is can the defensive line of the Buffs keep the Colorado St. line occupied enough to let the deep group of linebackers run rampant. Colorado doesn't have that proven huge space filler unless it is true freshman Nate Bonsu and who knows if he is "college ready." How quick do the Buffs switch from the 4 - 3 to the 3 - 4 will also be something to watch.

If Colorado gets any play out of the front four, the Rams are not going to have much success against the Colorado defense.

Spring Recap: Defensive Backs

irish1611 — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:40:03 -0000

Anthony Perkins during football practice at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado April 13, 2009. CAMERA/Mark Leffingwell

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Pre-Spring Thoughts:

Coming into the 2008 season, the cornerback position was highlighted as a weak spot on the Buffs defense while the defensive line was supposed to be the strength. I think most CU fans would say they were more impressed with the cornerback play in '08 than they were with the defensive line. Given that the Buffs lost two starters from the 2007 team in Terrence Wheatley (NFL) and Ben Burney (5'11" 190 Sr.) (injury), that 2008 assumption was not a bad one to make. But the cornerbacks overachieved last season. CB Chapelle Brown (5'7" 170 Sr.) was arguably the story of the year in the secondary, becoming a consistent playmaker and tackler. CB Jalil Brown (6'1" 205 Jr.), CB Anthony Wright (6'0" 190 So.) and CB Jimmy Smith (6'3" 200 Jr.) all saw action in 2008 and for the most part, performed well. At safety, the 2008 team was led by seniors Daniel Dykes and Ryan Walters, who are now both gone and graduated. Not so lucky for Walters and Dykes but for the future of the Buffs program, both players had health issues during the year allowing true freshman, Patrick Mahnke (6'1" 205 So.), and red-shirt freshman, Anthony Perkins (5'10" 200 So.), to get invaluable time both as reserves and a starters.

In one of the more surprising moves of the offseason, secondary coach Greg Brown received some good news. Ray Polk, a four star running back in 2008 asked to be converted to a safety. Although Polk needed offseason surgery and still has to learn the position, Buff fans should expect to see good things from him when he gets healthy and acclimated. The remaining but useful players at safety include S Tyler Sandersfield (6'1" 205 So.), who made some nice plays last year on special teams as well as S Vince Ewing (6'0" 200 RFr.) and Bret Smith (5'11" 190 Jr.).

Although the loss of three starting defensive backs from 2008 (CB Gardner McKay, S Dykes and S Walters) could cause a bit of concern on most teams, coming into spring, I had the expectation that this year's unit would be better at all positions. The cornerback spot will definitely be improved with the emergence of Jimmy Smith and the return of Ben Burney. Smith showed well at the end of the last season. Known as the most athletic and "pro ready" player on the roster, the game clicked for Smith in 2008 as a sophomore and he was expected to gain a stranglehold on one of the starting cornerback position this spring. With 2007 starter Ben Burney, 2008 starter Cha'pelle Brown and 2008 nickel back Jalil Brown all returning, their was plenty of reasons to be optimistic for 2009.

click after the jump to read the rest of the cornerback recap...

Post Spring Thoughts:

Now that spring practice has come and gone, I am still brimming with optimism. The biggest area of concern, if applicable, was at the safety position. Although Mahnke and Perkins played last year, being a full time starter is a different story. That being said, they looked solid during my viewing (four practices and two scrimmages). The good thing for these two sophomores are the players surrounding them. The Buffs have great depth & talent at cornerback and a strong linebacker corp. They can be assignment oriented (no man beats you deep) but also feel loose enough to be able to press the line of scrimmage, something we saw Ron Collins and the Buffs defensive staff use a lot this spring. Many times, the defense would be in a 3 - 3 - 5, bringing in a nickel cornerback or safety.

The spring practices further proved that cornerback should be a strong point this season. Jimmy Smith has first round talent and Ben Burney returned to the lineup, bringing another physical corner to the defense. The first day of practice, the Buffs ran one on ones to see who would run sprints (very much a jog) at the end of practice. The offense tried to run a double move on Jimmy Smith. No luck, picked off and a defensive celebration ensued. I expect that from Smith all season. Smith is also special because he can support the run. His size also allows him to handle bigger receivers and his quickness allows him to cover the speedsters. He is the complete package that should be a treat to watch this year. I am already circling the Kansas and Oklahoma State games to see Smith go up against Dezmon Briscoe and Dez Bryant.

Cha'pelle Brown got a stomach virus that didn't allow him to participate as much as he would have liked this spring but he will surely be in a battle with Jalil Brown, Burney and Anthony Wright for the other starting job as well as the nickel spot. The Buffs also moved 2008 grey shirt, Paul Vigo, to cornerback, adding another player into the fold along with Arthur Jaffee and Jonathan Hawkins.

Injuries:

OUT FOR SPRING - S Ray Polk (shoulder surgery)
WAS LIMITED - CB Cha'pelle Brown (stomach illness), CB Ben Burney (multiple injuries), CB Paul Vigo (leg injury), Anthony Wright (knee injury)

All should be ready to go in the fall with the addition of incoming commits: Deji Olatoye and Parker Orms.

Player(s) Who Emerged:

The four players who stood out this spring were Ben Burney, Jimmy Smith, Patrick Mahnke and Anthony Perkins. Basically, the guys who we needed to step up did to solidify the positions. Another person to watch out for is Tyler Sandersfield. He just seems to make plays, something the coaches have noticed. He is currently #2 on the depth chart at safety but also played in that nickel/rover spot where he adds another physical presence.

Final Assessment:

If the Buffs can generate any sort of pass rush, this group has the ability to cause a lot of turnovers and be a special unit in the Big 12. Forcing turnovers is always an emphasis in spring camp, especially so after the 2008 season when the Buffs finished 94th in the nation in turnover margin. Oklahoma finished first and you can see what bowl game they played in last year. It will all depend on the pass rush, though. If spring practice holds true throughout the season, Ron Collins won't be afraid to play three down linemen and be aggressive with the linebackers, safeties or cornerbacks. The good thing is all of the back seven or eight (plus depth) are returning players which will come in handy if the Buffs are trying to teach a very diverse defense with multiple blitz/cover/responsibility packages.

The secondary should also be aided by a few big wide receiver/quarterback combos coming off the schedule in 2009:

TEAMS WHO LOST PLAYMAKERS FROM LAST YEAR

CSU - will have another starting quarterback but return a pretty good receiver in Rashaun Greer who was ranked 19th in the nation with 1,114 yards receiving last season.
West Virginia - loses QB Pat White who was not a big passing threat but the run-pass option still made defenses nervous.
Kansas State - gone is QB Josh Freeman, the 19th pick in the NFL draft.
Missouri - the Mizzou trio who just killed the Buffs the past two seasons - QB Chase Daniel, WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman - all gone. Good riddance. The loss of Maclin alone accounts for 2,800+ total yards in '08 to be replaced in '09.
Nebraska - gone is QB Joe Ganz, WR Nate Swift and WR Todd Peterson. Swift and Peterson combined for 125 receptions, 1,727 yards and 14 touchdowns. TE Mike McNeill is the leading pass catcher returning...who?

TEAMS WHO RETURN MOST OF THEIR PLAYMAKERS

Texas - loses leading receiver Quan Cosby (1,123 yards) but returns WR Jordan Shipley and QB Colt McCoy. Plus its Texas, they reload.
Kansas - QB Todd Reesing (has never lost to the Buffs) and WR Dezmon Briscoe return. This combo should be dangerous again in '09.
Oklahoma State - along with Kansas and Texas, Oklahoma State returns a lot of explosiveness. TE Brandon Pettigrew is gone but the real playmakers in QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter and WR Dez Bryant are all back.

TEAMS WHO RETURN PLAYERS BUT NOT READY TO CALL THEM PLAYMAKERS

Texas A&M - has their core of young skill players returning.
Iowa State - QB Austen Arnaud returns but who is he going to throw to?

Competition for third-string quarterback already being waged

Kirkendall — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:15:33 -0000

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

7 months ago: Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman who was invited for a tryout, throws during a drill at the Cincinnati Bengals rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium, Friday, May 1, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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The Cincinnati Bengals are working out former the Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback, Todd Boeckman. The same quarterback that was benched, or had his role significantly reduced after losing to Southern Cal 35-3. That's the same game that Rey Maualuga intercepted a Boeckman pass and returned it for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Rey. Todd. Both are working out this weekend with the same team. Fate and its ironies are a beautiful thing.

While he and fellow rookie quarterback Billy Farris are rotating snaps this weekend, neither have thrown a pick.

“It’s a great indoctrination for them,” offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. “We’re throwing a lot at them. We’re moving along quickly. It’s very challenging for them, and they’re doing a good job with it.”

The point here is that both quarterbacks competing with each other, and eventually with Jordan Palmer, to earn a third-string quarterback job with the team. Jordan has a leg-up for limited experience in training camp, as well as some snaps during the regular season. Oh, and there's the whole gushy quarterback brothers on the same roster angle.

It's not the high profile position battle, like what we'll see on the offensive line, or at fullback, or possibly on the defensive line; however, it is a battle that will be fought. And if I get a "crickets" comment from Walrus on this, I'm calling Jason Bourne and/or Jack Bauer.

Bengals announce undrafted free agent signings

Kirkendall — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:48:45 -0000

The Cincinnati Bengals finally announced their undrafted free agent signings. The number of players totals nine, which included those we knew about already, with Quan Crosby scheduled to arrive in Cincinnati on Friday. One of the signings is fullback Chris Pressley.

Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2004	5	11	36	3.3	0	0	0	0
2005	12	3	5	1.7	0	0	0	0
2006	RS	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2007	13	8	56	7.0	1	2	8	1
2008	12	3	6	2.0	0	0	0	0
Totals	42	25	103	4.1	1	2	8	1

Sports Illustrated examines Pressley:

BIOGRAPHY: Part-time starter who lined up with the first team when Wisconsin used a lead blocker to begin the game. Senior rushing totals included 3/6 after 8/56/1 as a junior.

POSITIVES: Traditional lead-blocking fullback who opens big holes for the running game. Aggressive, squares into defenders, and easily controls opponents at the point of attack. Displays good blocking vision, and recognizes blitzes thrown by the defense.

NEGATIVES: Marginal athlete with limited ability in space. Lacks the speed to get out in front of ball carriers.

ANALYSIS: Pressley is a throwback at the fullback position, but he lacks the speed to have any impact in the NFL. He could catch on as a pure lead blocker if he produces on special teams this summer.

From Bengals.com

A list of the college free agents that had signed deals as of Thursday night:

Colin Dow, G, 6-5, 310; Montana, Billings, Mont.
Billy Farris, QB, 6-3, 234; Colorado State; Baton Rouge, La.
Marlon Lucky, HB, 5-11, 216; Nebraska; North Hollywood, Calif.
Rico Murray, CB, 5-11, 191; Kent State; Cincinnati, Ohio
Tom Nelson, S, 5-11, 200; Illinois State; Arlington Heights, Ill.
Greg Orton, WR, 6-3, 207; Purdue; Dayton, Ohio
Chris Pressley, FB, 5-11, 257; Wisconsin; Woodbury, N.J.
David Richmond, WR, 6-2, 197; San Jose State; Anaheim, Calif.
Dan Skuta, LB, 6-2, 251; Grand Valley State; Flint, Mich.

Greg Orton is a 6'3" wide receiver from Purdue (as if you couldn't read that above). From NFL.com

Overview

Receivers in a spread offense aren't typically 6-feet-3 and 210 pounds, but Orton's an exception to the rule. He moved the chains consistently throughout his career, averaging 65 receptions for 754 yards and four touchdowns over his three seasons as a starter.

The strength he gained through hard work during his days in West Lafayette certainly paid dividends against smaller defensive backs in college, although his lack of elite speed may make the transition to the NFL a difficult one. Had an arm span of 33 3/8 inches and a hand span of 9 1/4 inches at the combine.

High School

Ranked as No. 19 wide receiver in nation by SuperPrep ... No. 53 wide receiver in nation and No. 21 player in Ohio by Rivals.com ... first-team all-state selection as senior ... caught 65 passes for 1,058 yards (16.3 average) and nine touchdowns ... named to CBS SportsLine All-Regional team ... had 59 receptions for 782 yards (13.3 average) and 11 touchdowns his junior season ... two-time all-area and all-conference honoree ... coach was Jay Minton ... also participated in basketball and track and field.

NFL Draft Bible says that the Bengals worked out guard Colin Dow in late March. Sports Illustrated says of Dow.

BIOGRAPHY: Three-year starter awarded all-Conference honors since his sophomore campaign. Played at both center and guard with the first team.

POSITIVES: Explosive, hard-working lineman who plays with a nasty streak. Bends his knees, sets with a wide base, and quickly gets into blocks. Strong at the point, and easily controls opponents once engaged in a block. Anchors in pass protection, rides defenders from the action with good hand punch, or seals them from the play with body positioning. Keeps his head on a swivel, and works well with teammates.

NEGATIVES: Marginal skill in motion and better in a small area. Struggles to adjust and exploited by nimble defenders.

ANALYSIS: Dow is an adequately sized lineman with growth potential. He's been productive at several positions in college, and he has enough skill to make an NFL roster as a back-up lineman. Dow is a solid developmental prospect who should get better as he physically matures and fills out his frame.

Linebacker Dan Skuta could be very promising. From SI.

BIOGRAPHY: Four-year starter awarded all-Conference honors since his sophomore campaign and named GLIAC co-Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior. Totals last season included 40/14/1 when he also intercepted one pass and broke up four more. Junior numbers included 77/17.5/11.5.

POSITIVES: Undersized college defensive lineman who projects to outside linebacker at the next level. Quick off the snap out of a three-point stance and shows speed up the field. Plays with good pad level, gets leverage on opponents and tough to handle. Works his hands throughout the action.

NEGATIVES: Easily pushed from his angle of attack by a single blocker and struggles getting off blocks once engaged by opponents. Rarely asked to make plays moving in reverse.

ANALYSIS: Skuta has been very productive rushing the passer on the Division II level. He possesses the size and speed necessary to make a move to linebacker yet must show the ability to make plays in space.

Honestly, there's nothing wrong with a linebacker that digs playing Halo and Call of Duty. Here's another feature on Skuta.

Resetting the weekend; draft picks and undrafted free agents

Kirkendall — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:34:05 -0000

I know there's a lot of new stuff that's happened this weekend that will take some time to process -- and I'll do my best to present it easily rather than a bunch of posts detailing the acquisitions. For the time being, here's a run down of players that the Bengals selected in the draft and reportedly after the draft.

In the NFL Draft

Round	Overall	Selection
1	6	OT Andre Smith, Alabama
2	38	LB Rey Maualuga, USC
3	70	DE Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
3	98	TE Chase Coffman, Missouri
4	106	C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
5	142	Punter Kevin Huber, UC
6	179	CB Morgan Trent, Michigan
6	209	RB Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian
7	215	RB Fui Vakapuna, BYU
7	249	DT Clinton McDonald, Memphis
7	252	WR Freddie Brown, Utah

After the Draft, undrafted free agents (reported by Joe Reedy)

Player	Position	School
Quan Cosby	WR	Texas
Marlon Lucky	RB	Nebraska
Billy Farris	QB	Colorado State
Ty Steinkuhler	DE	Nebraska
Colin Dow	C	Montana

H/T to "the1austin" for finding another list that included all of the above, save for quarterback Billy Farris.

Player	Position	School
Dan Skuta	DL	Grand Valley St
Chris Pressley	FB	Wisconsin
Tom Nelson	S	Illinois State
Greg Orton	TE	Purdue

That's reportedly nine undrafted free agents, 11 drafted players, giving you a total of 20 new prospects on the team.

Bengals sign QB Billy Farris, Colorado State.

Kirkendall — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:23:00 -0000

Along with Quan Cosby and Marlon Lucky, the Bengals signed a quarterback that will predictably compete with Jordan Palmer for that third-string emergency quarterback spot. Billy Farris, quarterback out of Colorado State signed with Cincinnati late Sunday night.

YEAR	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YPA	LNG	TD	INT	SACK	RAT
2006	11	19	148	57.9	7.79	42	1	1	3	130.17
2007	9	20	91	45.0	4.55	15	0	0	2	83.22
2008	233	379	2934	61.5	7.74	79	19	13	21	136.19