Now that I’ve had a couple days to digest the picks and see the direction it appears Golden is taking the defense, either my light bulb came on or I’m still in the dark.

The bengals hired golden on January 23. Pratt requested a trade on February 12. I don’t find this to be a coincidence. Some analysts have assumed it Pratt being unhappy with Lou leaving. That may be part of it, but I don’t think there is much love lost between the two. I, and probably others in here, have heard rumblings about Wilson as well.

Now if golden is moving to more of a 4-3-4 the signing of burks and the drafting of two linebackers makes sense. Now I don’t want this to turn into a bash the draft thread. I have never been fully sold on battle. I think stone disappointed last year. I read somewhere on here earlier someone commenting on how slow he looked. In my unlearned opinion I would think we need at least faster guy back there.

I know a lot of us are hoping for a veteran guard, I’d like to see an upgrade at safety brought in too.

On a side note the colts lost lb ej speed to free agency. I don’t know that signed one. They didn’t draft one. I don’t know if love has any interest in having Pratt on the colts. Too bad they didn’t send us something for him on draft day.

I think Lou wanted men who are extremely fast and athletic for their positions and also versatile. Lou did also as he used guys like Ossai and Hubbard at DT on passing downs. The problem was he did not use Ossai enough in that role until late in the year as Hubbard filled that role and filled it poorly.

I do not have snap counts, but it seemed like we had only 2 LB's on the field at least 80% of the time. I see that changing in 2025.

I think Stewart is going to be used a disruptor. I think he can line up anywhere on our DL. I can see him lining up against the other team;s worst OL or next to Trey at DT so it makes it harder to double our best DE.

I am excited to see hopefully a faster and better tckling football team that creates mismatches each week to get to the QB and stop the run.

I think about how the Chiefs and the Ravens were able to create plays for their young WR's Flowers and Worthy. This plays made these guys more productive early. I am hopeful Lou can do the same thing with our new defensive toy Stewart.

(Yesterday, 10:40 PM)BenZoo2 Wrote: Now that I’ve had a couple days to digest the picks and see the direction it appears Golden is taking the defense, either my light bulb came on or I’m still in the dark.

The bengals hired golden on January 23. Pratt requested a trade on February 12. I don’t find this to be a coincidence. Some analysts have assumed it Pratt being unhappy with Lou leaving. That may be part of it, but I don’t think there is much love lost between the two. I, and probably others in here, have heard rumblings about Wilson as well.

Now if golden is moving to more of a 4-3-4 the signing of burks and the drafting of two linebackers makes sense. Now I don’t want this to turn into a bash the draft thread. I have never been fully sold on battle. I think stone disappointed last year. I read somewhere on here earlier someone commenting on how slow he looked. In my unlearned opinion I would think we need at least faster guy back there.

I know a lot of us are hoping for a veteran guard, I’d like to see an upgrade at safety brought in too.

On a side note the colts lost lb ej speed to free agency. I don’t know that signed one. They didn’t draft one. I don’t know if love has any interest in having Pratt on the colts. Too bad they didn’t send us something for him on draft day.

I have no clue about Wilson and Golden. I agree there must be issues there with Pratt. But Logan Wilson and Zac Taylor are ridiculously close.

In some of Golden's interviews he mentioned valuing smart players who can make on field decisions in the moment. He credited both LBs as being highly intelligent players and also pointed out now he can go more into a 4-3 base defense when needed.

(Yesterday, 10:59 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I have no clue about Wilson and Golden. I agree there must be issues there with Pratt. But Logan Wilson and Zac Taylor are ridiculously close.

I have heard both Golden and LB coach Holden call for a running mate with Wilson. Sometimes the rumors are just not true. I agree, I think ZT likes Wilson and only way he goes anywhere unless if it is due to injury.

I've said a few times I think Al plans to overhaul the D. I think Saquan, Henry, and others have made Ds rethink strategy.

I hope Al and the gang are being proactive as opposed to reactive.

I think we may see a 3-3-5 a LOT more than we saw a 4-2-5 last year.

(Yesterday, 11:05 PM)bfine32 Wrote: I've said a few times I think Al plans to overhaul the D. I think Saquan, Henry, and others have made Ds rethink strategy.

I hope Al and the gang are being proactive as opposed to reactive.

I think we may see a 3-3-5 a LOT more than we saw a 4-2-5 last year.

That’s entirely possible too.

(Yesterday, 11:02 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I have heard both Golden and LB coach Holden call for a running mate with Wilson. Sometimes the rumors are just not true. I agree, I think ZT likes Wilson and only way he goes anywhere unless if it is due to injury.

Wilson absolutely worships Zac. They are close.

Golden has said before he plans to use 3 LB more than Lou did so the LB room had to be expanded - and was. If he goes more 4-3 and simplifies the calls and alignments the defense is going to take people by surprise. Remember after Lou finally simplified things the defense played better.

(Yesterday, 10:57 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I think Lou wanted men who are extremely fast and athletic for their positions and also versatile. Lou did also as he used guys like Ossai and Hubbard at DT on passing downs. The problem was he did not use Ossai enough in that role until late in the year as Hubbard filled that role and filled it poorly.

I do not have snap counts, but it seemed like we had only 2 LB's on the field at least 80% of the time. I see that changing in 2025.

I think Stewart is going to be used a disruptor. I think he can line up anywhere on our DL. I can see him lining up against the other team;s worst OL or next to Trey at DT so it makes it harder to double our best DE.

I am excited to see hopefully a faster and better tckling football team that creates mismatches each week to get to the QB and stop the run.

I think about how the Chiefs and the Ravens were able to create plays for their young WR's Flowers and Worthy. This plays made these guys more productive early. I am hopeful Lou can do the same thing with our new defensive toy Stewart.

You talking about Golden or Lou? Lou doesn't have Stewart..

(Today, 12:16 AM)Joelist Wrote: Golden has said before he plans to use 3 LB more than Lou did so the LB room had to be expanded - and was. If he goes more 4-3 and simplifies the calls and alignments  the defense is going to take people by surprise. Remember after Lou finally simplified things the defense played better.

I agree with this.  I am not sure if Lou really simplified things (he may have actually said he did, I don't remember, or because it seemed things got better and we assumed he did) but I can remember several times throughout the season where guys were totally out of position for the play, and a guy would be wide open, with everyone on the Bengals standing around looking at each other like "that was your guy', no "that was supposed to be your guy".  Are the players really that bad, or were they not really getting what Lou was trying to call for them to do?  Besides CTB who would have one great play, then get burned on the next, maybe it was the scheme?  We will see I suppose.  I am interested to see what Indy's D does this year, compared to ours.  That will probably tell us a lot.  

I don't know where people are getting the Logan Wilson stuff. He is by far our best linebacker and is not going anywhere.

It'll be interesting to watch Al's plans unfold. I may not have appreciated the picks in real time, but after gaining an understanding how Golden uses his front 7 personnel in multiple fronts/looks, it's all starting to make more sense. I agree that the writing appears to be on the wall for Germaine Pratt, I think that he'll likely be released.

Pratt requested a trade because he saw the writing on the wall that he was going to be cut and replaced. It really is as simple as that. Him and his agent wanted to get out ahead of it in order to save face.

(Today, 08:03 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I don't know where people are getting the Logan Wilson stuff. He is by far our best linebacker and is not going anywhere.

I got it from Jim Miller of Sirius talk-radio; unsure where others are getting it.

Who knows perhaps Golden is a fan of the #1 ability. 

But yeah, he's going no place this year he carries a bigger dead cap number than he does a cap number. Now next year....

Why wouldn't Wilson be Golden's Viper? He's versatile and athletic and can drop into coverage as well as rush the passer. 

(Yesterday, 11:05 PM)bfine32 Wrote: I've said a few times I think Al plans to overhaul the D. I think Saquan, Henry, and others have made Ds rethink strategy.

I hope Al and the gang are being proactive as opposed to reactive.

I think we may see a 3-3-5 a LOT more than we saw a 4-2-5 last year.

In a 335 Trey Hendrickson would be asked to play straight up over the OT alot more instead of rushing the passer.

(7 hours ago)rfaulk34 Wrote: Why wouldn't Wilson be Golden's Viper? He's versatile and athletic and can drop into coverage as well as rush the passer. 

The VYPER is just another name for a LEO. It's your stand up rush defensive end. That's mostly going to be Trey Hendrickson and whoever is starting at the other end spot.

(6 hours ago)Synric Wrote: The VYPER is just another name for a LEO. It's your stand up rush defensive end. That's mostly going to be Trey Hendrickson and whoever is starting at the other end spot.

Hmm. I was under the belief that it was a versatile player that could rush, drop and perform the usual duties of a LB. 

If you ask me, it's kinda stupid to give a cool name to a guy that's basically an ED that drops into coverage every now and then...

It's also funny that went you look it up, it gives you 2 different explanations depending on how you spell it. 

Might as well throw this in since i asked...

Al Golden's vision and the state of the Bengals' defense


https://charlieschalkboard.substack.com/p/al-goldens-vision-and-the-state-of?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web