(10-04-2024, 09:30 AM)jj22 Wrote: Right it makes you wonder what the point of having players on the practice squad is if they can't even step in in the most dire situations. 

Some may say the point is for "practice" but if they aren't even good enough to cover a game when 3 starters have went down (forcing the team to sign a 34 year old off the street and play them 3 days later), then are they even good enough to practice against? They clearly aren't being developed. 

(10-04-2024, 10:14 AM)Tlawsonmariat82 Wrote: exactly and with lou's track record on not playing certain players for no good reason it really infuriates me..We could've used Dominique Davis girth in those 1st 2 weeks he couldn't have done any worst than Carter but lou refuses to do the obvious all the freakin time..

(10-04-2024, 10:14 AM)Tlawsonmariat82 Wrote: exactly and with lou's track record on not playing certain players for no good reason it really infuriates me..We could've used Dominique Davis girth in those 1st 2 weeks he couldn't have done any worst than Carter but lou refuses to do the obvious all the freakin time..

(10-04-2024, 11:18 AM)ochocincos Wrote: The first thought that comes to my mind is Carter was a 3rd round pick whereas Davis was an UDFA.
They probably didn't want to bounce Carter off just yet because they thought he had good potential.
Just like how they kept Carman and D'Ante Smith around for so long.

If you promote Davis, you gotta make room for him.
They could have tried promoting him instead of adding Lawrence Guy, but Guy is a proven NFL vet that they needed badly as a stopgap.
Given the 3rd year is the big year for most young players, I can see Bengals not wanting to give up on him quite yet unless there was a work ethic or off-field problem.

(10-04-2024, 12:36 PM)Whatever Wrote: DT has a long development curve.  Justin Madubuike basically did nothing for two years and became elite in year 4.  You can't just spend high draft picks there and give up after a year or two, rinse, repeat.  Really, that's the case with any trench pick.  Trey only had 6.5 sacks his first three years.  That's how we got him at such a bargain.  Nobody was sure if his 13.5 sack campaign in his contract year was a mirage.

If you're looking for prospects who have quicker impacts, you need to look at RB, WR, TE, LB, and DB.  Not trenches.

(10-04-2024, 10:14 AM)Tlawsonmariat82 Wrote: exactly and with lou's track record on not playing certain players for no good reason it really infuriates me..We could've used Dominique Davis girth in those 1st 2 weeks he couldn't have done any worst than Carter but lou refuses to do the obvious all the freakin time..

(10-04-2024, 01:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: He ain't doin so hot this year.
Only half a sack in 4 games.
Maybe 2023 was the outlier, not the new norm.

But fair, maybe for DL we need to see a little longer before cutting bait.


Bengals can keep Carter on for TC next year but I wouldn't avoid a draft pick for a DT and if Carter has fallen behind the top 4-5 DTs by roster deadine next year, cut bait then.

With that said, once Bengals have Hill, Rankins, and Jackson back, they'll be at 7 DTs.
Hill, Rankins, Jackson, and Jenkins will have spots guaranteed.
You then have to pick one between Tufele, Guy, and Carter.
Who would you keep out of those 3?
Guy is the proven veteran but isn't really going to get any better.
Tufele and Carter are kinda neck and keck, it feels like.
Tufele feels a bit more well-rounded?
Tufele is in final year under contract through whereas Carter would have one more year after this.

(10-04-2024, 02:28 PM)Whatever Wrote: Tufele is easy.  Bad and in a contract year.  Plus, easy to PS.

Honestly, Jenkins has outplayed Rankins(when healthy).  I would seriously consider trying to move Rankins if he's back before the deadline, even if it's just a late Day 3 picks.  That would clear $13 mil next year.

(10-04-2024, 09:28 AM)jj22 Wrote: I don't know how anyone can "thumbs down" this. I can anyone possibly disagree. The organization has heavily invested in the Defense the last 3 years and we all see what it has got us.

Folks on this board are something else unable to swallow a tough pill. 

(10-04-2024, 02:37 PM)ochocincos Wrote: If Bengals are looking out of it this year by the trade deadline, I think that makes sense.
But I can't imagine anyone feeling good to keep Carter over Rankins if the Bengals actually might hope to push for a playoff spot this year.
Rankins at least has proven himself in the past whereas Carter has not.

Carter may have more success as a 3-4 DE.

If you move on from Rankins already though, you're also now having to fill 2 open spots next offseason instead of one.
If Jenkins pans out going into next offseason, you just need one pass rushing 3T who could maybe start immediately and the other a backup.
They may want to keep Rankins to help provide insurance though at 3T to allow for a drafted guy more time to grow without being thrust into a huge amount of snaps as a rookie.
Rankins is very expensive though for the quality of his play (thus far).

(10-04-2024, 04:37 PM)Joelist Wrote: Bye Zach!

https://x.com/Bengals/status/1842283639658172784

(10-04-2024, 04:43 PM)Joelist Wrote: That means they kept Guy. So we now have able to play Hill, Jenkins, Jackson, Guy and Tufele at DT. Big change in just a week.

(10-04-2024, 05:27 PM)ochocincos Wrote: And either Guy or Tufele gone once Rankins is back.

(10-04-2024, 04:51 PM)Whatever Wrote: My thinking is, cutting both Rankins and Hubbard next year saves you $20 mil against the cap.  That's enough for a big ticket DL at either DE or NT, depending on need based on the play of Jackson and Murphy the rest of the year.  You can find rotation/depth guys later in the draft or on the cheap in FA. By trading Rankins now, we save another $2 mil, plus get an extra pick.