01-10-2021, 11:19 AM
(01-09-2021, 10:44 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Sorry Sled, but I just can't agree with you on this one. He never does say that the Bengals should draft Defense in the first 3 rounds. He does say "defense, defense, defense" twice, but I view that more as a "rally cry" than any actual prediction or premonition.
I think you're correct here.
If we had even an average OL, then drafting defense with the first 2 or 3 picks would be a terrific idea. They haven't invested a number 1 pick on that side of the ball since Jackson. I think Bates was the only second rounder. He's the only defender they've selected in the first 2 rounds in the last 4 drafts. You have to allocate draft capital there at some point.
The sad reality is that development and drafting on the OL had been below average to bad with the exception of Jonah, and Jonah just can't seem to stay on the field long enough to make you feel great about him. Jordan is as bad as starters get in the league, Spain, XSF and Hart are average to below average castoffs, and Hopkins was just alright. Now Hopkins is hurt, too.
Here's the key in this situation: this front office can not afford to screw up Joe Burrow's career any further than they already have. The national media is watching and waiting for them to screw it up and claim they were right about everything they wrote and said leading up to the draft. Burrow says and does everything you want the face of your franchise to say and do. He can't get Bengalized.
This situation puts the line ahead of the defense for now. Their payroll has little invested in OL right now. The defense got major investments in Waynes and Reader last year. Hopkins makes a hair over 6 mil per and Jonah/Bobby are in the 5 mil range. Good OL make 2-3x what these guys make. They need to re-structure the budget while Burrow is on a rookie deal and invest in some actual proven FA OL as they did with the D last year. Do the developing with non-starters and hope they can step in when you have to pay Joe and can no longer afford the high-dollar guys. Putting Burrow behind a group of journeyman and nobodies is like buying a Ferrari and parking it on the street in front of your house. Bad shit will happen and you will lose. Just okay is not good enough, and waiting to develop is not the answer.
Pollack is a start and Turner being gone could be huge. That's step 1, so give them credit for that. Now you follow through and get some serious players up front instead of hoping that you're nags magically turn into thoroughbreds in the offseason.
