Thoughts from Lap on LB, O-line, free agency

[Nicomo Cosca]

(01-01-2020, 03:04 AM)samhain Wrote: We need linebackers badly. Vigil and Pratt looked better. Pratt is likely to have a higher ceiling based on age alone. Vigil is another story. Decent may be his ceiling. Either way, two isn't enough.

We know all too well how bad this defense has been this year. We also know that there were bright spots like the tackles, Phillips, IMO Dennard when healthy, Dunlap, and, yes, Pratt.

The fact the organization has to consider when building the roster is that the division has changed. The balance of power has shifted from Pittsburgh, with Ben being a future HOF quarterback, to Baltimore. As long as he's heathy, Lamar Jackson is going to be one of is not the best player in the league. Ben's time is short and his team has questions when it comes to weapons. He's due to hit the same wall that Brady is now. Jackson is still a baby.

The Bengals will have to deal with him for a long time. The defense will need to be built with that in mind. Defensive linemen aren't going to run him down most of the time. Plodding linebackers like the Preston Browns of the world will get eaten alive. This needs to be the offseason that they fully embrace the concept of drafting/acquiring linebackers that can run, cover, and effectively deal with misdirection.

You mean Hardy Nickerson JR isn’t going to be our secret weapon against Lamar??