We were dead last in Sacks and TFLs last season. Not only that but during the last 11 games of the season the Defense only had 8 sacks.
Everyone is talking about the offensive line and receiving core but forgetting that our pass rush was absolutely pathetic last season. On top of that we just lost our best pass rusher in Lawson in free agency and got rid of Two franchise Greats in Dunlap+ Atkins.
Everyone Talks about the WR core and offensive line but this team isn't winning shit with the pass rush the way it is.
Duke and Company need to add multiple pass rushers in this draft for it to be an success.

(04-14-2021, 10:55 AM)J24 Wrote: We were dead last in Sacks and TFLs last season. Not only that but during the last 11 games of the season the Defense only had 8 sacks.
Everyone is talking about the offensive line and receiving core but forgetting that our pass rush was absolutely pathetic last season.  On top of that we just lost our best pass rusher in Lawson in free agency and got rid of Two franchise Greats in Dunlap+ Atkins.
Everyone Talks about the WR core and offensive line but this team isn't winning shit with the pass rush the way it is.
Duke and Company need to add multiple pass rushers in this draft for it to be an success.

I am expecting an edge rusher in the 3rd round or later. Probably a pass rush specialist who only plays on passing downs. Even a limited player like that could be an improvement.

(04-14-2021, 10:55 AM)J24 Wrote: We were dead last in Sacks and TFLs last season. Not only that but during the last 11 games of the season the Defense only had 8 sacks.
Everyone is talking about the offensive line and receiving core but forgetting that our pass rush was absolutely pathetic last season.  On top of that we just lost our best pass rusher in Lawson in free agency and got rid of Two franchise Greats in Dunlap+ Atkins.
Everyone Talks about the WR core and offensive line but this team isn't winning shit with the pass rush the way it is.
Duke and Company need to add multiple pass rushers in this draft for it to be an success.

I agree we need to be able to pressure QB's and also stop the run to be a really good team. On paper the defense was looking better heading into the season last year, but then Atkins got hurt, Dunlap got pissed, Tuopu sat out, Reader got hurt, Hubbard got hurt, Lawson did his usual thing with only showing flashes but not being able to finish (story of his career), and they weren't helped by injuries in the secondary, forcing us to start players like Sims who got picked on repeatedly. I'm hoping we can stay more healthy this season because we have added some nice talent on the D. We do need another pass rusher though. I like Hendrickson and dont think his 13.5 sacks were some kind of fluke. I like Hubbard too, but behind those two guys we dont have much. We need a DE and a DT in the draft, imo. Keeping my fingers crossed that our rookie LB's show a lot of improvement this season. 

Tupou back should help the run game. He was a good run stuffer in 2019.
Having Reader back will help too, and Ogunjobi should help the pass rush.
I expect 1-2 DL drafted, at least one being an edge rusher.
As Fred said, the edge will probably be a pass rushing specialist who rotates in, given the Bengals have Hubbard and Hendrickson already.

I dont understand why the Bengals arent looking at Justin Houston
Hes not what he was 4 years ago but his pass rushing skills
Could really give this defense a boost

I’d love to see us draft Sewell, then have a good pass rusher or DT fall to us in the second round. These are our biggest weaknesses in my opinion (oline and dline).

Of course I’d be happy with chase/pitts and then a guard in the second. But I think my first scenario would improve us the most. Then we could grab a wideout in the 3rd or later.

(04-14-2021, 11:32 AM)Bengalstripes9 Wrote: I’d love to see us draft Sewell, then have a good pass rusher or DT fall to us in the second round. These are our biggest weaknesses in my opinion (oline and dline).

Of course I’d be happy with chase/pitts and then a guard in the second. But I think my first scenario would improve us the most. Then we could grab a wideout in the 3rd or later.

You aren't alone.  Cincy's crown jewel FA is their highest paid player with an out after 1 year.  There is potential across the line but even having Reader healthy we need help.  

The scenario I find with the simulators and class depth is that a 1st rd grade DE usually drops to Cincy's 2nd.  Regardless of need at WR, the right prospect is hard to pass up. 

It's funny, I tend to get the same scenario playing out in the 2nd as it does in the 1st.  Take a BPA target that Burrow has chemistry with (Chase in 1st or Marshall in 2nd) or address the line since so much help is needed.  If a slight trade down is available, they should still end up with a solid DL or Marshall.  

Did Kerrigan ever re-sign with the Redskins, or is he still floating around out there?

(04-14-2021, 10:55 AM)J24 Wrote: We were dead last in Sacks and TFLs last season. Not only that but during the last 11 games of the season the Defense only had 8 sacks.
Everyone is talking about the offensive line and receiving core but forgetting that our pass rush was absolutely pathetic last season.  On top of that we just lost our best pass rusher in Lawson in free agency and got rid of Two franchise Greats in Dunlap+ Atkins.
Everyone Talks about the WR core and offensive line but this team isn't winning shit with the pass rush the way it is.
Duke and Company need to add multiple pass rushers in this draft for it to be an success.

You know it J24. The pass rush needs to be addressed same as the O-line, if not more. Get Milton Williams 3-tech DT and Patrick 
Jones DE and I will be happy. Also love Boogie Basham and Dayo Odeybingo. Nixon and Stills are a couple other 3-tech DT's that
can rush the passer. Need to get pressure up the middle again, there was none of this last season.

(04-14-2021, 01:09 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Did Kerrigan ever re-sign with the Redskins, or is he still floating around out there?

Last I heard he is still unsigned. He wants to be a starter and Cincy had no plans making him one so I think he's off the table coming here.

(04-14-2021, 11:32 AM)Bengalstripes9 Wrote: I’d love to see us draft Sewell, then have a good pass rusher or DT fall to us in the second round. These are our biggest weaknesses in my opinion (oline and dline).

Of course I’d be happy with chase/pitts and then a guard in the second. But I think my first scenario would improve us the most. Then we could grab a wideout in the 3rd or later.

While going OL-DL in the first two rounds is a sound strategy, just know that the pass catching group could be lackluster this year because of it.
You'd be really banking on Higgins and Boyd to stay healthy, Auden Tate to contribute more like he did in 2019 vs 2020, and that Uzomah gets back to his form at the start of last year before injury.
I say this because any WR/TE you're going to take in Rd 3 or later is likely not going to be as big of a contributor as a rookie compared to one taken in Rd 1 or Rd 2. Most mid-round and late-round receivers usually take a season (or two) to become a significant contributor in the offense, if at all.

For some examples:
Mohamed Sanu (3rd rd 2012) - 25 targets, 16 rec, 154 yards as a rookie
Marvin Jones (5th rd 2012) - 32 targets, 18 rec, 201 yards as a rookie
Antonio Brown (6th rd 2010) - 19 targets, 16 rec, 167 yards as a rookie

There are obviously exceptions (e.g. Terry McLaurin 2019, Stefon Diggs 2015), but it isn't common.

(04-14-2021, 01:29 PM)ochocincos Wrote: While going OL-DL in the first two rounds is a sound strategy, just know that the pass catching group could be lackluster this year because of it.
You'd be really banking on Higgins and Boyd to stay healthy, Auden Tate to contribute more like he did in 2019 vs 2020, and that Uzomah gets back to his form at the start of last year before injury.
I say this because any WR/TE you're going to take in Rd 3 or later is likely not going to be as big of a contributor as a rookie compared to one taken in Rd 1 or Rd 2. Most mid-round and late-round receivers usually take a season (or two) to become a significant contributor in the offense, if at all.

For some examples:
Mohamed Sanu (3rd rd 2012) - 25 targets, 16 rec, 154 yards as a rookie
Marvin Jones (5th rd 2012) - 32 targets, 18 rec, 201 yards as a rookie
Antonio Brown (6th rd 2010) - 19 targets, 16 rec, 167 yards as a rookie

There are obviously exceptions (e.g. Terry McLaurin 2019, Stefon Diggs 2015), but it isn't common.

I have way more confidence in Tate and Thomas then the backup D-Line.

Getting Reader and Waynes back healthy should help a lot.Add in another really good edge rusher,and things start to look pretty good.I really like our secondary.

(04-14-2021, 01:19 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: You know it J24. The pass rush needs to be addressed same as the O-line, if not more. Get Milton Williams 3-tech DT and Patrick 
Jones DE and I will be happy. Also love Boogie Basham and Dayo Odeybingo. Nixon and Stills are a couple other 3-tech DT's that
can rush the passer. Need to get pressure up the middle again, there was none of this last season.

The Defensive Line is deep in this draft. Maybe there isn't a top 5 guy( Although I would Argue a medically cleared  Jaelean Phillips would fit the bill). 

I would add 4 guys to your list Payton Turner from Houston at end, Chris Rumph from Duke at Edge, Osa Odighiuzwa at 3T UCLA, and Jaylen Twyman 3T from Pittsburgh.

(04-14-2021, 01:24 PM)GodFather Wrote: Last I heard he is still unsigned. He wants to be a starter and Cincy had no plans making him one so I think he's off the table coming here.

I still think there is a good chance he signs here. He's not going to start in Washington either, and I haven't seen where anyone else is interested in him. Cincy may have played this one smart and get him cheap.

A competent DC is more important than more talent on the DL.

You can give him Aaron Donald, and Lou would find a way to make him pedestrian. Case and point, Dunlap's half season with Seattle was Pro Bowl pace. What changed? Being away from Anarumo.

Protect Burrow.

(04-14-2021, 02:15 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: A competent DC is more important than more talent on the DL.

You can give him Aaron Donald, and Lou would find a way to make him pedestrian. Case and point, Dunlap's half season with Seattle was Pro Bowl pace. What changed? Being away from Anarumo.

Protect Burrow.

 I'm not a big Lou guy but the unit did play well to end the 2019 season and the first 5 weeks of last season wasn't that bad except for the Browns game. 
His Xs and Os are not the problem but he definitely alienates players. The Dunlap situation was just bizar all around.

(04-14-2021, 01:58 PM)J24 Wrote: The Defensive Line is deep in this draft. Maybe there isn't a top 5 guy( Although I would Argue a medically cleared  Jaelean Phillips would fit the bill). 

I would add 4 guys to your list Payton Turner from Houston at end, Chris Rumph from Duke at Edge, Osa Odighiuzwa at 3T UCLA, and Jaylen Twyman 3T from Pittsburgh.

Good ones, yes lots to be had. Was going to say Turner and Osa as well, just have trouble spelling Osa's last name lol

(04-14-2021, 01:50 PM)J24 Wrote: I have way more confidence in Tate and Thomas then the backup D-Line.

More confidence in the depth WRs than the depth DEs yes, depth DTs no.

I have more confidence in Daniels and Tupou than I do Tate and Thomas, but I don't have confidence in Kareem and Bledsoe.

(04-14-2021, 02:15 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I still think there is a good chance he signs here. He's not going to start in Washington either, and I haven't seen where anyone else is interested in him. Cincy may have played this one smart and get him cheap.

That would be a great pickup for us if it happens!