MOBILE, Ala. - West Virginia's David Long answers questions about playing linebacker in his pre-snap stance. He not only plays linebacker, he talks it and walks it. The big word the scouts like there is "instincts."

So he's as good as any place to start talking about the Bengals' draft needs. As a Winton Woods High School product he's Cincinnati through and through and if the Bengals need to draft anything it's an instinctive versatile linebacker that can run, right?

Meet the 5-11, 230-pound Long and he was only 230 at the weigh-in because he didn't want to be "super light. So I ate a big breakfast." He played at 224-225 pounds and he said he was "content," after getting off the scales.

"I think so. Especially the way I play," said Long, when asked if that's big enough. "I could probably go out there at 221 and play the same way. But I feel like it shouldn't be a problem. That's why I'm here, that's what I'm here to show this whole week."

His whole week is showing the scouts he can bang and dig out tackles. They know he can run. They think he can cover. He's a bit like current Bengals linebacker Jordan Evans coming out in 2017 and has to prove he can be NFL physical after starring in the tear-away jersey Big 12.

But despite being 6-2, 230 pounds, Evans didn't get invited to showcases like the Senior Bowl and the combine and after two seasons he's fought injuries and the transition in the search to marry his formidable physical skills with the instincts.

It's been a battle recently for the Bengals finding those backers that can run and react. In free agency, A.J. Hawk, Karlos Dansby and Kevin Minter were savvy guys but they were at the end athletically. Evans and 2018 third-round pick Malik Jefferson are draft picks that are physical marvels still learning the game.

Along with trying to figure out WILL backer Vontaze Burfict's status, they're looking to find more guys like 2016 third-round pick Nick Vigil. Vigil can run, call the signals and no one will ever doubt his toughness after this past season when he came back in a bad year with a bad knee and gave the defense a shot. A badly needed shot. Exhibit A is the 17 tackles in Pittsburgh in the season finale.

Long is here, in no small part, because of those instincts and he's going to the combine in an effort to wedge his way into Friday night's second and third rounds.

But, really, isn't it ridiculous to keep asking these guys if they're big enough?