(03-12-2024, 08:05 PM)M.W. Wrote: Agreed, this is what we need and missed last year.  If we can protect Joe teams will have to pass early and often, a ball-hawk safety is perfect. DL and LB should be making most of the tackles on RB. If I have to choose between an elite run stopping safety and a very good pass coverage safety I will take the pass coverage skills.  Running the football is so 1999 unless you are the Ravens.  An intelligent  safety with excellent instincts and hands sounds wonderful. 

(03-12-2024, 08:11 PM)J24 Wrote: That was under Marvin!

(03-12-2024, 10:03 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote:

(03-12-2024, 08:36 AM)Nepa Wrote: I'm not getting the hype for Geno Stone. Nor the certainty he is not a one-year wonder. College career where only 6 interceptions in 3 years and ended up drafted in 7th round. Waived multiple times to either end up on the practice squad or picked up by Houston, who didn't extend him, so back to the Ravens. One good year, last year. But even then he missed over 12% of the tackles that he was in position to make and graded out around 40 PFF for run defense. (I've seen grades of 33 and 42 listed).

The word "ascending player" doesn't excite me because I've heard it used before without coming to fruition. Nor trust Lou, because we said that with the safety last year.

Now, I am hearing a lot of posters make the point that he is great in communication. I would love to see this from a reputable source. I do know the Bengals staff lamented the poor communication last year, so that would be important and would raise my confidence in the signing.

But it was a deep free agent safety class. Why not one of the sure-fire safeties, such as Justin Simmons, a four-time all-pro? Geno Stone didn't even make the probowl, despite the 7 interceptions. I hope he's not a one-year wonder.

(03-11-2024, 11:02 PM)CottonHill Wrote: Geez that last paragraph scares me. Congrats to the kid, parlayed a once in a lifetime opportunity into a solid contract. A completed regression to PS player isn’t out of the question though. He shined in a defense where he had a defined role and everybody else excelled at their position around him. Not sure he has the physical tools to do more or make up for blown assignments which riddled this defense last year.

(10-10-2024, 12:11 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Apparently I graded this a B back when he was signed.
And I don't see any comment from myself back then for reasoning, but from what I think I remember, I was cautiously optimistic because he did have a career year last year. However, the lack of athleticism and (lack of) production prior to 2023 are what worried me.
Pay for a budget player, sometimes you get what you pay for.

(10-10-2024, 12:13 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Frivolous consumers might get duped into thinking that CZ is actually a diamond, but not actual jewelers.. 

(10-10-2024, 12:11 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Apparently I graded this a B back when he was signed.
And I don't see any comment from myself back then for reasoning, but from what I think I remember, I was cautiously optimistic because he did have a career year last year. However, the lack of athleticism and (lack of) production prior to 2023 are what worried me.
Pay for a budget player, sometimes you get what you pay for.

(10-10-2024, 12:19 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I think it's obvious the FS is a key piece in Anarumo's defense.
This might be a spot they need to invest more into to get a good enough player.

There are some notable safeties hitting FA next year if the Bengals wanted to make a splash for a big name.
Or if they are picking early in the draft, maybe look for a safety in the 2nd round. Many good safeties seem to come out of the 2nd round, including Bates.
Maybe get a DL in Rd 1, SAF in Rd 2. But they'll also likely have need for a 2nd DL, at least one IOL, and maybe another WR and/or RB based on how the current crop of dudes grow by the end of the year.

And while I like the LBs the Bengals have, how much difference are they really able to make if the DL and/or DBs are struggling like they are.
I feel like Bengals might be better off investing more at DL/DB in FA and go cheaper at LB instead if they have to pick and choose.

(10-10-2024, 12:28 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: It's easier to defend the edges than the middle of the field. Money is best spent on defense by being strong up the middle; DT, ILB, Safety. 

(10-10-2024, 12:58 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Bengals haven't traditionally invested TOO much $$ toward safety, but they probably should invest more.
DT we've seen them spend $$ but I don't think they spent $$ on the right guy(s) - mainly Rankins.
I still like Hill as a solid DT who is most effective when he has someone to rotate with more often than he's doing now.
I don't see a slam dunk run stuffing NT though, but Bengals just drafted Jenkins and Jackson for that spot, so they may be ok long-term there.
Personally, I'd look to pivot Rankins to 3T next season (or cut Rankins and use that saved $$ to sign Hill to another 1-year deal) and be the incumbent starter there with an early draft pick to rotate with him.
I'd REALLY like to land Mason Graham if trying to upgrade DT.
Graham and Jenkins I feel could really hold down that DT group for years, especially as they have experience playing on same team at Michigan.

(10-10-2024, 11:47 AM)CottonHill Wrote: Looks like I was spot on about this one. Instead of pissing on me for being "negative" you guys should listen every now and then. 

(10-10-2024, 12:11 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Apparently I graded this a B back when he was signed.
And I don't see any comment from myself back then for reasoning, but from what I think I remember, I was cautiously optimistic because he did have a career year last year. However, the lack of athleticism and (lack of) production prior to 2023 are what worried me.
Pay for a budget player, sometimes you get what you pay for.

(10-10-2024, 12:19 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I think it's obvious the FS is a key piece in Anarumo's defense.
This might be a spot they need to invest more into to get a good enough player.

There are some notable safeties hitting FA next year if the Bengals wanted to make a splash for a big name.
Or if they are picking early in the draft, maybe look for a safety in the 2nd round. Many good safeties seem to come out of the 2nd round, including Bates.
Maybe get a DL in Rd 1, SAF in Rd 2. But they'll also likely have need for a 2nd DL, at least one IOL, and maybe another WR and/or RB based on how the current crop of dudes grow by the end of the year.

And while I like the LBs the Bengals have, how much difference are they really able to make if the DL and/or DBs are struggling like they are.
I feel like Bengals might be better off investing more at DL/DB in FA and go cheaper at LB instead if they have to pick and choose.

(10-10-2024, 11:47 AM)CottonHill Wrote: Looks like I was spot on about this one. Instead of pissing on me for being "negative" you guys should listen every now and then.