10-22-2021, 10:11 PM
(10-21-2021, 07:49 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I have been hard on Lou because he deserved it.
I also give credit to coaches I don't like when they do a good job. Hell, I even gave turner credit for turning around our run game after the bye week in 2019.
But to be honest Lou has been handed a TON of free agent talent.
Hendrickson....$15 Milion a year
Reader............$13.5
Awuzie.............$7.3
Ogunjobe.........$6.2
Bell..................$6
Hilton...............$6
And, of course, he also inherited Hubbard and Bates.
With all of this talent he damn sure better have a top 10 defense.
That's exactly where I am with it. I'll give Lou and Duke credit for getting the right guys, but as Ben said when the Bengals defense made him look like he should be playing golf, they sunk a ton of cash into that side of the ball.
I actually like the philosophy they've executed in FA/drafting. Spend on developed defensive players, draft high end offensive talent. They won't be able to do this when the contracts for Burrow, Chase, and Jonah come due, but for now it's a great idea.
If Lou is still around 2 years down the road when the cap is less flexible, he'll have to show that he can develop drafted talent at corner and on the DL. There won't be any shopping sprees when your qb is making 40 mil a year and your number 1 wideout is getting 20. Time will tell.
