Any interest in Lamont Thompson?

[truant]

This guy was the 3rd safety of last year's draft, after roy williams and ed reed. He's a washington state Cougar, but i saw a ton of him being on the West Coast. He was drafted in the second round and is a hard hitter and ball hawk. I believe he plays free safety. He has the school record and PAC 10 record in picks... as a safety. I really liked this kid coming out of college. I think he'd be worth a spot.

Well, amazingly, the bengals cut him. I know, i know, how bad must this kid be for the bengals to cut him... but i believe that he was made an example of to show that Marvin meant business.

I'd love to see this kid opposite of Bowen. He's a ballhawk with speed. I'd rather take a risk on him than terrell or franz.

here's a snippet on him:

ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a lean, athletic build, with only 4.4 percent body fat … Very quick to react to the play, showing excellent man-coverage ability brought upon by experience as a cornerback during his sophomore year … Very smooth coming out of his backpedal, showing the flexibility and effortless gait to easily turn on the ball … Has the deep acceleration to quickly cover ground in deep routes … Maintains eye contact on the ball in flight, tracking and chasing the ball down in an instant … Has excellent range in run support and gets an explosive jump on the ball in pass patterns … Natural catcher who hauls in the interception with his fingers (has experience as a receiver) … Quick to react, coming up with very sudden movements in run support … Shows good hand usage to avoid and shed blocks.

Negatives: Neck injury in 2000 (actually was a sprain after first being thought to be a fracture) could be a medical concern for some teams … Picks his spots to deliver the big hit and tends to tackle with his shoulders rather than wrapping (could be trying to protect and compensate for the neck) … Comes in low with his tackles, but by leading with his shoulder, several easy tackles are missed opportunities due to his refusal to face up and wrap … Backpedal could use refinement, as he looks a little too flat-footed at times.

(so i doubt he clears waivers, but if we have a chance to pick him up, i think we should)

[truant]

Here's a little article on Lamont, from
http://bengals.enquirer.com/2002/04/22/ben_nose_for_ball.html


If the Bengals aren't happy with second-round pick Lamont Thompson, Washington State gladly will take him back.

“No question,” Cougars secondary coach Chris Ball said of his former All-America free safety. “After five years of no trouble? We already miss him.”

The Bengals seem to be happy. The team made Thompson the 41st overall selection of the 2002 NFL draft Saturday. He was the third safety taken, after Oklahoma's Roy Williams at No.8 and Edward Reed of Miami at No.24.

In selecting Thompson, the Bengals passed over Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner, in whom the team had expressed interest before the draft. The Bengals also passed up a chance to draft a tight end in the second round.

Instead, Thompson, who excels at pass defense and is a solid tackler, will have a chance to improve a defense ranked ninth overall last season.

He's part of the Bengals' plan to add a playmaker to the secondary, to complement Justin Smith and the defensive line. Thompson left Washington State as the Pac-10's all-time interceptions leader (24).

“That just comes second nature to me,” Thompson said. “That's not something that I try to work on or try to do (specially). I think I've just been blessed with that kind of talent and it's something that I don't think about.”

Thompson said he knew the Bengals were one of the teams interested in him since the NFL scouting combine in March.

Coach Dick LeBeau said Thompson will have a chance to start next season.

“If he comes in here with the ability to get to the ball and pick the ball off, then he's got an excellent chance of coming here and getting on the field for us,” LeBeau said. “However, we'll have to mix and match and move.”

To make room for Thompson, the Bengals could move Cory Hall to strong safety and insert Thompson at free safety.

“We knew this was one of the areas we needed to address on this football team,” Bengals safeties coach Darren Perry said. “We needed a guy with ball skills who could make some plays for us.”

The road to the NFL hasn't always been smooth for Thompson.

He was granted a medical redshirt in 2000 after injuring his neck in 1999. He said the injury is fully healed.

Asked if Thompson's injury was an issue at any point last season, Cougars defensive coordinator Bill Doba said, “He certainly didn't show it.”

Ball said in 878 snaps last season, Thompson missed only five tackles, and he led the team with a career-high 93 stops.

Ball said the only weakness he has heard about Thompson was that he's not a hard-hitting safety.

“But he's a solid tackler, nonetheless,” Ball said.

“I'd love to have him back.”

[ShaggySkins]

I really don't think we need another safety. That position is jumbled enough as is we don't need to add another average player to the mix. Plus if he couldn't cut it with the Bengals how good can he be???

[PennSkinsFan]

I think Ohalete will grow into a fine safety. H eneed to be counted on and in the lineup everyday to grow. Lets stay the coruse. No new signings.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

I wouldn't mind the signing, but then we have to cut yet another player somewhere else....

[RichardBradley]

Why not? He has to be better than Frantz

[NCskinsfanatic]

Originally posted by RichardBradley
Why not? He has to be better than Frantz He's probably better than Frantz or Terrell.

[hail2skins]

I'm sure the Skins are monitoring the waiver wire for players that can help us. At this point, I don't see them bringing anyone in right now.