03-15-2024, 07:22 PM
(03-15-2024, 07:15 PM)Joelist Wrote: Can't agree here.Cody Ford CANT hold down the RT if you think so you're very delusional.
This Free Agency has been the opposite of disorganized and reactive. The signings all (except Bell who was gravy) fit into a plan and address big problem areas from last season. They are also all very good system fits. I've listed it out before but what the heck...
1) Rankins = Larry Ogunjobi restored. We were in major need of interior pass rush and Rankins and Hill team up to put us back in that hunt.
2) Stone = smart, savvy, leader who is an EXCELLENT cover safety especially in zone. Remember the issue on defense was not us being physically blown off the ball or over matched it was stupid communication lapses, poor angles, misalignment and general broken plays resulting in explosives. The secondary room was just too green last year and Stone and Bell give it a giant infusion of leadership and IQ (and playmaking).
3) Moss = Mixon had a good run here but the last couple of seasons his pass protection foibles and also his very low Yards after Contact / make the first guy miss / too easy to tackle really caught up. Moss is a different type of back - power runner who gives away some breakaway speed but in exchange is MUCH harder to tackle (upper tier skillset), great vision and balance, gets many more yards after contact and is a good pass protector. He is a perfect scheme fit for how we run (and Mixon fits the Texans run scheme better than ours so it's good for both).
4) Gesicki fits in perfectly to the scheme also - he is a mismatch problem for defenses when in slot and I expect that is where he will live.
5) I will miss DJ and hope he does recover fully. But Tart is no slouch, is a NT and fits a plan they seem to be going for on the IDL of having the whole room be at least competent instead of 1-2 above average and the rest dolts. I still expect either the first or second round pick here also.
6) Becton is probably more depth as if we had to Cody Ford can hold the RT fort down but I REALLY think their plan here is going OT in the first.
Restructuring right now was not going to mean much because when the cap shot up like it did so close to Free Agency the effect was a bunch of Tier 1s never hit Free Agency because their formerly cap strapped teams suddenly had space. It is what it is - this has been a Free Agency pool without lots of really elite players and I think the Bengals have played it well, getting players with upside who are also good scheme fits.
