02-25-2023, 10:06 AM
(02-24-2023, 03:54 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Nah, we don't need no stinkiin' future HOFers in our defensive backs room..
^This, 100%. Just the experience and work ethic alone make having him a part of the team worthwhile. CTB and Dax Hill getting tips and led by example by a future HOF CB like the Honeybadger? Yes, please.
Right.
The thing that worries me in the secondary is the likely absence of Bates and what it does to the group as a whole. Jesse sometimes gets disrespect, but he's a rangy player that covers a lot of ground in single high. Maybe Dax can be that guy, but we don't know that yet. Even if he can there will be a leaning curve, no doubt.
Many of us thought the Bengals were dead meat after Awuzie went down and our starting corner spots were manned by a rookie and Apple. They did more than fine and the team won 10 straight. I don't think that will be the case once a player of Bates' caliber departs. They will need more depth and experience at corner, especially if Chido isn't 100 percent.
Semi-related: The defense is likely to deteriorate once the Burrow and Chase get paid. The roster on that side of the ball is loaded with free agents, and most of them are not cheap. It paid off because they won a lot more games for this team than they sometimes receive credit for. Once cap attrition hits, the offense will be the money side of the ball and will need to start putting up a lot of points consistently to protect a less-loaded defense.
