05-25-2021, 07:44 PM
(05-25-2021, 08:43 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: After a mini overhaul last offseason, the 2020 Bengals defense suffered an abysmal season, riddled with injuries and some player discontent.
Move forward to now, the Bengals completed another mini overhaul to the defensive roster, and for at least this Bengal fan, the spirits and expectations are high. (I mean, the defense has nowhere to go but up from last year, right?)
With players like Reader and Waynes set to return from injury, the addition of Trey Hendrickson and Larry Ogunjobi should bolster what was a weak and feeble DL last year. The drafting of players like Sample, Shelvin and Ossai should provide good depth to work into the rotation. The addition of an assassin like Mike Hilton at Slot Corner, paired with Bates and Bell at Safety, I feel like TEs and RBs are finally going to struggle catching the ball in the middle of the field and in the flats. The Boundary CBs will be a bit of a question, until they get settled in. I feel like if he's back to full health, Waynes will make people forget about Jackson. Phillips is continuing to develop into a quality corner, Chidobe and Apple should provide quality depth, as they are adept in the zone coverage that Anarumo likes to run.
The D could definitely surprise if they are healthy. Sure, I don't like Lou and think he should of been fired after last season but
this isn't up to me and maybe he just needed players that fit what he wants to run. I definitely like the players we added so I
am just hoping he can improve in his scheme and playcalling.
I believe the D-line should be way improved over last season and we will be able to play Zone much better. The additions of
Hendrickson, Ogunjobi, Ossai, Cam, Shelvin should really improve the D-line while Awuzie, Hilton and even Apple should help
(as a depth piece of course). With Reader, Waynes and Phillips healthy and our Safeties in Bates, Bell and Ricardo Allen we
could be pretty tough.
Could definitely be a top Secondary with the moves they made to the D-line and I like our young Linebackers.
Need to add one more experienced vet to the LB core though IMO.
