06-11-2015, 09:08 AM
(06-10-2015, 12:05 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Adolphus Washington spent his first two seasons at Ohio St at DE in a 4-3. In this two seasons, he produced 5.0 sacks.
As a junior, Washington was moved next to Michael Bennett. Bennett moved to UT and Washington to NT. Washington had has best statistical season, getting 4.5 sacks, 10.5 TFLs, 1 FF, and 48 total tackles. Washington also took on a lot of double teams to help free up Bennett, who had a great second-half of the season in 2014.
However, with Bennett now gone via the NFL draft, the plan is to move Washington arguably to his best-fitting position, which is UT. The expectation is that he will follow Bennett in terms of production and be a pass rushing force from the interior while one of Tommy Schutt, Michael Hill, or Joel Hale will take over at the NT position.
He has experience playing all over the DL, but with his current size of 6'4" and 290 lbs, he would need to bulk up to be a starting NT in the NFL. He would be a great candidate for a UT in a 4-3, but the Bengals already have Atkins and Thompson plus they just drafted Hardison to likely play UT too.
The Bengals would be wise to draft a NT next year given that both Sims and Peko are entering their final seasons of their contracts.
If Washington were to pack on 20-30 lbs, I think he'd be an ideal starting 4-3 NT, but I feel that he's striving to be a UT. This makes sense, as a 4-3 pass-rushing UT is often drafted higher than a 4-3 NT. He is currently ranked as the #2 DT according to nfldraftscout.com, putting him very likely in the first round.
With all of this information, what are your thoughts on Washington's fit on the Bengals?
Personally I think he is a great fit and had him mocked to the Bengals in the 3rd. I know he is a 1st or 2nd round talent but I think his production takes a bit of a plummet this year without Bennett. Put on a few lbs, and then you have a starting 4 up front of Dunlap-Atkins-Washington-Johnson.... I could live with that
