Bengals vs. Eagles predictions

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(10-22-2024, 10:49 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: No matter who is running the show or which faces occupy the positions, the Bengals have struggled to successfully cover TEs for as long as I can remember.

Pretty sure it's a FO philosophy issue. 

Bengals generally haven't historically preferred smaller faster LBs. Even Logan Wilson who was our "coverage" LB was 241 and ran a 4.63 as a rookie. He's now listed at 245  (so quite possibly even higher as those numbers are self-reported, remember Roethelisberger from the combine to his age 39 season was listed at 1 pound ligher, lol) and you don't get faster as you get older. He's in his age 28 season now and at least according to PFR every year he's allowed a higher QB Rating than the previous year.

Pratt was 240 at the combine and is now listed at 250 and in his age 28 season.
Burfict was 248 at the combine, later listed at 255 (almost certainly an underestimate) and visibly got bigger and slower through the years. 
Maualuga was 249 at the combine and drinking doesn't keep you slim and he got real big at the end there listed at 258 but certainly more. (Congrats to him on multiple years of sobriety now, though.)

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You look at the non-pass-rushing LBs on the All-Pro teams the last 3 years...

Quincy Williams: 225lb Pro Day/230lb listed now
Roquan Smith: 236lb Combine/230lb listed now
Fred Warner: 236lb Combine/230lb listed now
Matt Milano: 223lb Combine & listed now
Shaq Leonard: 234lb Combine/230lb listed now
De'Vondre Campbell: 232 Combine & listed now

232 is the highest weight listed now and 236 was the highest at the combine. We like our big boy LBs, and they get bigger and slower as the years go on, rather than losing weight to not lose a step.