03-28-2022, 01:58 PM
(03-27-2022, 11:56 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Great stuff. I would add depth at DT. Even though they signed Tupuo, they need another penetrating 3T that can take advantage of the double teams on Reader. One thing I hope for more of this year is rotation at DE (Get Ossai and Kareem in there...they won't need Hendrickson to play 95% of snaps, ditto Hubbard) and DT (Hopefully Tupou pushes Shelvin and gives Reader some snaps off and they need a player to help provide pressure from 3T when Hill is taking a breather). I am not sure a player like that exists in the draft where the Bengals will be selecting.
They will also need a FA CB for depth behind Apple. I am almost 100% certain they will be drafting CB at 31, unless the top 5 are gone.
A FA CB before then would really open things up. I am not sure what kind of character guy Haden is, nor do I think he would accept a backup role. I kind of like Apple's phoenix, but I want better quality depth. It is paper thin after those guys.
I think D'Ante Smith's work ethic and love from the coaches will get everything out of Carman or he will find himself on the bench all season. I know he (Carman) was injured at the end of the year, but still...he needs to prove it or Smith will take that job and never look back. Smith is not as strong, but he is more athletic and longer...could be a better pulling guard.
There is also the outside chance that Linderbaum falls to the Bengals and Karras moves to LG. I actually think that would be our best case scenario...then guys like Carman and Smith are competing to be the first backup off the bench. To be clear, for that to be my best case, I want another NFL CB with starting experience for depth. I am pretty sure the Bengals want that as well.
Thanks for the comment.
Just one note, when I was typing that post about biggest worries, it was in regard to the starters only. That is why it is under the heading, Starters. The depth discussion comes later, where, indeed, DT#2 behind Hill has to be at the top of the list, along with CB#4. I was intending to do all the posts at once, but kind of ran out of gas/time after the post on the starters, which kind of left everything hanging. Apologies if that made it unclear.
With the pause in the signings, I am hoping a Bates extension is in the works. Otherwise, I could see us basically sitting it out until after the draft.
