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

[*SHRacerX*]

(01-01-2020, 01:32 PM)TheBengalsMind Wrote: Not going to lie, I'm a little nervous on how this offseason is going to go.

I'm a little nervous about how this franchise seems content to go ahead as they currently sit. They currently sit as the 26th ranked offense and 29th ranked defense in total yards. That should be all that anybody needs to know, but it's also way too early to call anything.

It's not going to be easy to legitimately fix both of those, I'd say that our focus is going to be mainly on offense during the draft. So, I'd agree that we need two FA LB's.

Obviously, if you trade Dalton for a 2nd and it'll help the team rebuild with not only money saved, but the extra pick.

You could potentially do the same with Green, tag him and trade him if no deal, that is right for both sides, can be reached.

With Joe Burrow being your number 1, I would of liked to have brought in Joe Brady just to make his transition to the NFL even easier.

However, there are reports that LSU will offer him 1.5 million dollars to be a "passing game" assistant, that would make him the highest paid assistant that is neither a offensive or defensive coordinator, and the 8th highest paid assistant period in college.

I remind people that his experience, as in actually having hands on coaching experience, is this year! He was a LB's coach for two years at William & Mary, a Graduate Assistant coach at Penn State and a offensive assistant for 2 years with the Saints which meant his job was probably getting film ready for the other coaches and things like that.

So his only hands on coaching experience on offense IS THIS YEAR!

At 1.5 million the Bengals would have to make him OC, it'd be a big and huge risk, but it may be one worth looking at.

I felt like Zac Taylor improved as a coach throughout the year, he did keep the players involved throughout the year other than Glenn, who is more than likely on his way out.

So I don't have a problem with letting Zac have another year, but an improvement I want to see this offseason from Zac is to not "blow smoke."

What do I mean by that? I think Zac was a little "star eyed" his rookie season. He thought he could just walk in and just get more out of players then they were capable of doing.

That's why we outbid ourselves for Drew Sample and Hart.

Which is why I disagree with Dave on overpaying for a guy, just for the sake of it.

We could have got Hart cheaper and got Drew Sample later, which is why I don't want Zac to build up a player that far in his own head.

Try to be more level headed on the moves you make.

Obviously, it's okay to overpay a guy a little if you know the impact he can have on the team, but just doing it for the sake of it will have the exact opposite effect of "throwing the fans a bone."

You do that and the fans just might take that bone and use it to beat you over the head with it, so to speak. Lol

Lots of good stuff on here, but I don't think Lap was saying to overpay just for the sake of it...I think that is the corner the Begnals have painted themselves in to and might have to pay extra to lure a top FA.  And I don't think it should be a 15 million per year player, but offering a 5 million a year guy something like 6 million or just laying more incentives in the contract, would not only be wise, but possibly necessary.

A solid LB and Safety is where I would start.  I think they will be drafting another OT and G, but those defensive spots, I want sure-thing veterans.