Can we just take a step back and look at the roster?

[*SHRacerX*]

(03-15-2019, 02:07 PM)Bengals731 Wrote: b]Defense
DL: Still IMO the strongest position group on the team - you've got Atkins* and Dunlap*, and then young guys who have shown potential like Hubbard*, Willis*, and Lawson*. Andrew Billings* was graded as the most improved player on the team last year.

If this is the strongest group , they didn’t show it last year. I don’t disagree with you but they didn’t play great last year. Lawson getting hurt was unfortunate but he was struggling before the injury. Dunlap didn’t get enough pressure on the QB and Atkins struggled in the second half of the season. Hard for some CBs to cover that long every play, We need pass rushers. A good pass rush makes everyone look better , a bad one makes them look worse. We need to take a pass rusher at 11..

Or, we need another player free to blitz by playing more man coverage, which is what suits this secondary.  We were one of the least frequent blitzing teams in the NFL.  I am sure someone will give an example of a team that doesn't blitz a  ton that made the playoffs (Colts?) but I think if we want more out of our defense, get them playing up on their toes and not on their heels.  Not just LBs, but safeties and even corners.  Get after the opposing QB.  If the Bengals are able to get one of the top DT in Rd 1, opposing QBs will have a tough time stepping up in the pocket and the outside rushers will eat.