(03-09-2025, 01:37 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: And again... it's a whole lot easier to turn it around if you already have a few talented players as a basis of your turnaround to go with those 7 new starters.

The Eagles already had an All-Pro CB and Pro Bowl DE/OLB from 2023 that carried over to their 2024 bounce-back. 

Right, it's much easier to rebuild a platoon when you have a cornerstone player or two to build around.

(03-09-2025, 03:12 PM)Bengalbug Wrote: So no one here thinks that the DC has any reflection on improvement on defense?  

Chargers… the list goes on.

Can we improve the defense? Sure, but they need to improve the roster substantially for that to be the case as well. 

Lou was pretty good coordinator himself but yet we Sucked on defense last season.

(03-09-2025, 02:52 PM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I'd be one nervous dude if I'm Golden with the lack of talent on the defense and Trey possibly on the way out.

Doubt Trey is out and we haven't even hit FA or the Draft. I would be excited myself.

(03-09-2025, 04:50 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Doubt Trey is out and we haven't even hit FA or the Draft. I would be excited myself.

I doubt Trey is going to command a ton of money in FA and I'll be super excited if we draft Nolen in the first round or find and find a few other quality players.

(03-09-2025, 05:58 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I doubt Trey is going to command a ton of money in FA and I'll be super excited if we draft Nolen in the first round or find and find a few other quality players.

Hmm, don't be so sure of that statement. I'm sure that plenty of teams would be willing to pay Hendrickson $35M/per, but would they also be willing to satisfy what the Bengals are asking in order to get that opportunity?

(03-09-2025, 06:01 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Hmm, don't be so sure of that statement. I'm sure that plenty of teams would be willing to pay Hendrickson $35M/per, but would they also be willing to satisfy what the Bengals are asking in order to get that opportunity?

Like I keep saying, seven and a half of his sacks were against horrible lines and backups with the Steelers and Raiders, and other teams will also see that.

Couple that with ends usually starting to decline after age 30, and I don't think any team will be willing to make that kind of investment.

(03-09-2025, 06:06 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Like I keep saying, seven and a half of his sacks were against horrible lines and backups with the Steelers and Raiders, and other teams will also see that.

Couple that with ends usually starting to decline after age 30, and I don't think any team will be willing to make that kind of investment.

Myles Garrett is 29 and will be 30 before the end of this season and just got the largest contract for a non-qb. 6 of his 14 sacks last season were against the Steelers and the Raiders. So Trey getting a decent paycheck offer isn't that unreasonable. 

(03-09-2025, 06:06 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Like I keep saying, seven and a half of his sacks were against horrible lines and backups with the Steelers and Raiders, and other teams will also see that.

Couple that with ends usually starting to decline after age 30, and I don't think any team will be willing to make that kind of investment.

And the Bengals won both of those games. Do you not see the correlation? As to your second statement, I didn't see any signs of Trey slowing down last season. He seemed to play even stronger at the end of the season.

We gonna have to give this man the 1st 5 picks just to have a team

(03-09-2025, 05:58 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I doubt Trey is going to command a ton of money in FA and I'll be super excited if we draft Nolen in the first round or find and find a few other quality players.

He commands a ton of money and that is why he will most likely remain a Bengal. A team would have to give us a first round pick and a 
player before we said okay and traded him. Then the team that gave us the first round pick and player would have to pay him 35+ million.

Not likely in my eyes.

Walter Nolen is a great talent, just hope if we draft him he keeps his nose clean with the character issues.

(03-10-2025, 12:20 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: He commands a ton of money and that is why he will most likely remain a Bengal. A team would have to give us a first round pick and a 
player before we said okay and traded him. Then the team that gave us the first round pick and player would have to pay him 35+ million.

Not likely in my eyes.

Walter Nolen is a great talent, just hope if we draft him he keeps his nose clean with the character issues.

I think you're right about that in that no team will want to pay him that much, plus the draft pick (I don't think a team would pay the money or the draft pick, let alone both).

I try to convince myself that Nolen's character won't be an issue, but that does worry me. I keep thinking that we finally have leaders on this team that won't let him get out of line, but do we want that risk?

I want it, but is it worth the risk?

(03-10-2025, 04:40 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I think you're right about that in that no team will want to pay him that much, plus the draft pick (I don't think a team would pay the money or the draft pick, let alone both).

I try to convince myself that Nolen's character won't be an issue, but that does worry me. I keep thinking that we finally have leaders on this team that won't let him get out of line, but do we want that risk?

I want it, but is it worth the risk?

We met with Walter, so we will know if we think so come Draft day. 

Really like Nolen's game, has great hands to fight off blocks and a quick get off to go along with good strength.

Could be our next Geno if we do draft him yah never know...

(03-10-2025, 04:44 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: We met with Walter, so we will know if we think so come Draft day. 

Really like Nolen's game, has great hands to fight off blocks and a quick get off to go along with good strength.

Could be our next Geno if we do draft him yah never know...

I've thrown out the Geno comparison a few times but didn't want to seem like I was being unrealistic. 

I'm hoping (wishing) he will be and that being that big of a star will help keep his head on straight.

(03-10-2025, 04:47 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I've thrown out the Geno comparison a few times but didn't want to seem like I was being unrealistic. 

I'm hoping (wishing) he will be and that being that big of a star will help keep his head on straight.

Geno is a hard one to compare to, just using him as our last great 3-tech. Geno did things no other 3-tech ever did, not even Aaron Donald.

Nolen has a ton of talent though, other wise he would not be going in the 1st round.

Let's hope the Bengals stop hoping on hope. 

Anyone know where the connection from Golden to Slaton comes from? I'm guessing he knows him somehow or another.

(03-10-2025, 06:14 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: Anyone know where the connection from Golden to Slayton comes from? I'm guessing he knows him somehow or another.

Our D-line coach

(03-10-2025, 06:20 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Our D-line coach

Thanks! Yeah, I was just reading about it. 

(03-10-2025, 06:14 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: Anyone know where the connection from Golden to Slaton comes from? I'm guessing he knows him somehow or another.

(03-10-2025, 06:25 PM)coachmcneil71 Wrote: Thanks! Yeah, I was just reading about it. 

Montgomery coached him in Green Bay like Bfine said. The guys that initially didn't like the Slaton pick I think are going to look pretty stupid 
once they see what his job is in Golden's Defense. It is to take up blocks and let the Linebackers feast in the run game and on the pass rush.

Going to be much different than Lou's Defense.

(03-10-2025, 06:37 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Montgomery coached him in Green Bay like Bfine said. The guys that initially didn't like the Slaton pick I think are going to look pretty stupid 
once they see what his job is in Golden's Defense. It is to take up blocks and let the Linebackers feast in the run game and on the pass rush.

Going to be much different than Lou's Defense.

Correct.

The Bengals do not need great defensive tackles, just big boys that soak blocks and can stop the run, freeing linebackers to make tackles and cheat a little. It will not rely on one DE beating his block to get pressure, but bring pressure from different sources, if I am to believe what I have been reading.

Love to have Dax pick up Hilton's nose for blitzing, and see what form Golden's "viper" role takes in our defense!