(03-07-2025, 02:20 PM)Stewy Wrote: So I see a lot of people saying we need this or need that from a defensive perspective, and I have made the comment a couple times in other threads that an Al Golden defense may look very different than what we are used to, and what we NEED might be very different than where we have been the last several years with Lou.  These comments were driven by a Joe Goodberry breakdown of Al Golden's ND defense, that he produced prior to Al Golden being hired.  Here is the video and move ahead to 14:39 for the start of the ND defense breakdown in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmDVpFvr_ts&t=168s&ab_channel=FirstStarMediaGroup

Some things to consider....
Signings, drafting, releasing, trading and extensions for players could be driven by how the new DEF staff feels about player buyin to the new scheme.  Pratt and Trey might be pieces that are only poor to avg. fits.  

Personally, I am very excited to see the direction the DEF takes.

(03-07-2025, 03:12 PM)ochocincos Wrote: We saw similar back when Taylor and Anarumo came in 2019, having problems with the likes of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins fitting well into that defensive scheme, so yea it's a thing.
With that said, when I see truly great offensive or defensive schemes, I see coordinators who morph around the great players they have.

I am concerned with too much turnover on the defensive side with a new DC coming in, especially given he had been with the Bengals just a few years ago.
I worry he didn't mesh well with a lot of the defensive players.

If we don't see much improvement on the defensive side of the ball and especially if it gets worse, the team will hear it from the fans.
Bengals can't afford to have a 3rd consecutive down year while Burrow is in his prime.

(03-07-2025, 03:22 PM)samhain Wrote: I kind of agree.  Seems counterintuitive to dump the only high-end player on the defense.  However, if you lookout it from the perspective of Al rebuilding it from the ground up with handpicked players, it stings a bit less.

Trey will potentially give them another 16 million of cap and a likely day 2 pick to work with.  They need a lot of linemen.  They need multiple linebackers.  Is the defense currently close to being good as is?  I really doubt it.  Lou took a minute to let established veterans fall off of the branch.  Maybe letting Trey go is more proactive than reactive.  

Only problem is, I have difficulty associating the word "plan" with this front office.  All 3 big name guys that want deals seem to be experiencing super-reactive responses from the FO.  A plan would have been paying these players before the cap went up and the positional market exploded.  They failed that test miserably.  They are waiting til the last minute on a guy like Chase that is a no-doubt keeper.  

So, basically, there could be a really well thought out plan for the defense.  It could solidify a good, young defensive core for the next stretch of the Burrow era.  

Or they could be doing what we've always seen them do.  Reacting, not giving a shit about league wide trends, and being generally unable to meet big moments as an organization.  

I hope like hell it's the first option.

(03-07-2025, 03:46 PM)Gdale_Bengal Wrote: Jonathan Allen was released by Washington. Kinda need guys on the line and he would be a pretty good one

(03-07-2025, 09:31 PM)puddycat Wrote: Anyone who thinks that the league leader in sacks over the last two years doesn't fit in their defense..  I've got a problem. Pratt is more mid.. and I get it.

(03-07-2025, 09:43 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Absolutely, Trey is a compliment to any team that runs a 4-3 alignment. He may not fit as well in a true 3-4, as his skill set doesn't fit for the typical OLB in a 3-4 who also must maintain coverage responsibilities and stone the run.

(03-07-2025, 09:59 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Yep. He's not being traded because of fit. He's being traded because he wants top dollar for a DE.

(03-07-2025, 10:03 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: And he's earned it.

(03-07-2025, 10:05 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: No doubt. I just hope this doesn't turn like how they replaced Whitworth, Bates, Reader, etc. At some point, you gotta keep your best players.

(03-07-2025, 10:07 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: They basically need an entire starting defensive line now.

(03-07-2025, 10:46 PM)samhain Wrote: And 2 linebackers.  And a free safety.  Should be good then, assuming the young corners all play the best ball of their careers.

Woof.

(03-07-2025, 09:31 PM)puddycat Wrote: Anyone who thinks that the league leader in sacks over the last two years doesn't fit in their defense..  I've got a problem. Pratt is more mid.. and I get it.

(03-07-2025, 09:43 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Absolutely, Trey is a compliment to any team that runs a 4-3 alignment. He may not fit as well in a true 3-4, as his skill set doesn't fit for the typical OLB in a 3-4 who also must maintain coverage responsibilities and stone the run.

(03-07-2025, 11:11 PM)Stewy Wrote: That REALLY wasn't what i was trying to convey.

Al's scheme requires communication and everyone being on the same page.  He also needs his DL to do certain things, and those things are not foremost of Trey's strengths.  He heeds his DTs to penetrate and DE's to contain and squeeze the pocket, to stop the run or MOVE the QB from his spot and force him into mistakes.  Trey goes AROUND opponents, not through them.  For Trey to do things his way would cause a disruption in the scheme and leave gaps where Al doesn't want them.

For Trey to fit into Al's scheme would require him to move permanently to a LB type position, where he could use his strengths....but do we want to pay 30m USD per year for an experiment.