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Home > Blogs > Cincinnati Bengals > Archives > 2009 > October > 20 > Entry
Bengals sign DL, need to make move at TE
The Bengals have made a move to shore up one of two units that are falling apart.
Cincinnati signed defensive tackle Orien Harris Tuesday, Oct. 20, to add depth to its depleted line, but we’re still waiting for the move everyone is clamoring for — activate and start rookie tight end Chase Coffman.
The knock on Coffman is that he can’t block, having played in a wide-open offense in college, but we know he can catch. I think we’ve seen enough dropped balls and fumbles by Dan Coats and J.P. Foschi.
There’s a reason the Bengals made this kid a third-round pick. Here’s your evidence straight from his profile: “Finished his college career at Missouri as the NCAA’s all-time leader in receptions (247) by a TE, winning the John Mackey Award during his senior year as the nation’s top TE.”
Coach Marvin Lewis and his cohorts say it’s not his time yet, citing concerns about not just his blocking, which they admit is vastly improved, but his inability to play special teams.
Enough of the excuses. Time to learn on the job.
In signing the 6-3, 300-pound Harris, the Bengals bring back a familiar name.
He played in 16 games for the Bengals in 2008, with 14 starts, logging 24 tackles. The Bengals traded him to St. Louis on May 7 of this year, with Cincinnati acquiring HB Brian Leonard.
St. Louis traded Harris to Detroit on July 22, and he was with the Lions in preseason. He made the Lions’ opening 53-player roster, was inactive for the season opener, and was waived on Sept. 16, according to a press release from the Bengals.
Harris first entered the NFL in 2006, as a fourth-round draft choice of Pittsburgh. He opened the 2008 preseason with New Orleans and was acquired by the Bengals for 2008 on an Aug. 31 waiver claim.
Harris fills a Bengals roster spot opened yesterday, when DE Antwan Odom was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.
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Comments
By chris
October 20, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this
Keeping daniel coates is like keeping brad st louis except you can now put a portion of the bengals sunday loss to the texans on Coates..You cannot fumble twice in the same game while dropping 2 other catches..GET RID OF COATES…
By Derrick
October 20, 2009 2:17 PM | Link to this
I recall the coaches bragging on Coats’ versatility a couple seasons back. But, when he’s really needed he doesn’t have any game. Lewis is noted for holding back players too long. Talk about adding to the mantra “players nobody wanted”, O. Harris should fill the bill. How could he be any good if absolutely no team wants him?
By m
October 20, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this
Sorry, its hard to get excited. bengals should be 1 and 5. Palmer is so overrated. Id trade him but probably get no takers. Wait until the whining starts and finger pointing from the big baby. Trade henry to pats so he can get some catches.
By Red
October 20, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this
Get a tight end, and a defensive end. Harris couldn’t crack the lineup of St. Louis or Detroit. How good are they? Or how bad is he? Can everybody be wrong. The tight end situation can be solved some creative thought. Look for another tackle/tight end. Bring Coffman in on passing downs. Get another linebacker that can fill back-up and special teams.
By Tony
October 20, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this
M. Johnson is a freak and can step in for Odom IMO. Harris was signed b/c he knows the system already. Foschi needs to be de-activiated in favor of Coffman. Put Coats in for majority of time but Coffman in on obvious passing downs. Run a few times with him in to keep the D guessing.
By Haywoode Jablome
October 20, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this
Bungles are still and will always be the laughing stock of the NFL so long as Paul Brown and his ugly daughter is calling the shots
By Schooled Ya
October 20, 2009 4:48 PM | Link to this
Haywoode: Paul Brown died in 1991 so has not been calling any of the shots since at least then.
By flipper
October 20, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this
The DL and the TE need to confer with the QB, LB, HB & FB but do so on the QT.
By luis
October 20, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this
M. johnson fills in for odom does just as well if not better, activate chase coffman for crucial passing situations and get rid of JP foschi its that simple and the bengals will have a 10-6 season
By Ridnaway
October 20, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this
With Andre Smith coming back to practice and with Dennis Roland and Anthony Collins in the fold, there should be no reason not to use one of the extra O-Tackles as a TE on running pays and let Chase come in on passing plays. Coats, aka ‘hands of stone’ can go somewhere else.
By Shane
October 21, 2009 9:40 AM | Link to this
With the past as a barometer, you had to know the Bengals luck would shift to bad luck soon. NFL.com claims the Bengals should trade OT Collins for DE Kapman of the Packers. Think Mike Brown would ever do such a thing? HA!
By JOHN
October 21, 2009 9:02 PM | Link to this
Coats needs to go now and let Coffman play and get the experience. Could he do any worse? Brian Leonard could be used as a tight end or fullback catching passes on third down. As far as Andre Smith, I don’t think he will be a factor this year or any other year. He is an overpaid FATDADDY IN CINCINNATI>
By dude
October 22, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this
Collins for Kapman. Some one is smoking some funny stuff..Never happen. Green Bay would never let that happen. They drafted a big guy in Johnson. Let him play. Coffman can’t play special teams. Does that mean that Coats does?? Put the kid on the field and let him play.
By Josh
November 2, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this
As long as Mike Brown and his kids have a say in anything to do with our Bengals then we will never have a chance to be great because they are happy with being second rate team. Please Mike go away and take your family with you.
By fortressdayton
November 18, 2009 6:55 PM | Link to this
It’s a shame for the decent players giving it their all, but the team and mgmt are infested with overpaid knuckleheads. Instead of ‘Who Dey?’ how about ‘Who Cares?’ Fans deserve better.