(06-27-2022, 09:45 AM)fredtoast Wrote: He wasn't buried behind Bachie this year.  With ADG out Bailey played more snaps than Bachie against the Raiders and Steelers before getting injured himself against the Chargers.

Bachie did play well off the bench, but then he also missed the end of the season with an injury of his own.

I'd say it is a toss up between them.  I like the Bailey pick because of how well he played in college before getting injured.  But Bachi has a very similar story.  In his sophomore and junior seasons at Michigan State he had 202 tackles, 16.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks and 4 ints.  He was playing even better as a senior before getting suspended for PEDs the middle of his senior year.

I don't care which one wins out.  I guess I like Bailey better because we drafted him, but I got nothing against Bachie.

(06-27-2022, 01:26 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: For sure

I'm just hoping Bailey develops into what I think he can be and we have some decent depth at LBer for a change. A bunch of the last several seasons we've been bad at LBer and had little to no depth.

Hoping that's in the past 

(06-27-2022, 07:41 PM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: Outside of Burfict, the Bengals have been a boatload of meh at LB for a long, long time. Easily their weakest "All-Time Best" of all of their position groups. Committing 4 draft picks in two years to only two starting positions pretty much locked it up for awhile.

Remember . . . just a few short years ago, almost every third down and medium or less was just a TE on a crossing route, a slant or a dump off to a RB. The growth of Pratt and ADG helped slowly turn that weakness into a strength before ADG's injury indirectly led to Tre Flowers earning TE Killer status.

(06-27-2022, 06:34 PM)Dr.Z Wrote: Pretty much my thoughts exactly.   If I had to label one of the two as having a slightly higher ceiling it might be Bailey.   As fans, hopefully they both make it a nice problem to have in trying to decide who’s better.

(06-27-2022, 10:31 AM)grampahol Wrote: I don't remember a time the Bengals had 5 solid LBers much less 3.. I wonder what the odds all 5 make it through the 17 game season all healthy.. I think the odds are better that my coffee cup will learn the fly on it's own power, but I could be wrong..
I like em all..  I hope one or more rookies come through as well.. Hicks, Wells? Any ideas? both are CFA's..

(06-28-2022, 02:37 PM)Cat-Man Wrote: Going all the way back to 2001, the Bengals had Brian Simmons, Takeo Spikes, Adrian Ross, Steve Foley and Canute Curtis.  Was that the last decent 5 man rotation?

(06-28-2022, 09:45 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I'm not trying to predict Bailey is gonna be Zach Thomas 2.0. I'm simply saying if he or some of the others can turn it up a notch we might finally have a decent LBer corps with our starters and some decent depth.

(06-28-2022, 08:15 PM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: I was only comparing them on being undersized and reading the game well. If I said he reminded me of a Falcons mid-level LB you most likely wouldn't know the reference. 

And trust me. I'm THRILLED that our LB room is now up to average/below average and I am fully accepting of Bailey being a backup on an at best mediocre group. Any growth of the room after that is a plus after having one of the weakest LB corps in the NFL for awhile.

(06-28-2022, 10:38 PM)mhbsavant Wrote: For the first time, in a long time, I love the Bengals Linebacker situation:

Wilson: What can I say, he BALLED out!
Pratt: Stepped up, was disruptive, and you can count on him to be around the ball
Gaither: Speed backer, and if it wasn't for the injury, I think he would have continued to play well
Bailey: Also made some plays - formed DB, expecting him to step up a little more too.