I think the schemes are a big issue

[Joelist]

(10-29-2024, 06:32 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: You can't really do this. There's no team in the NFL that is going to "scrap zone" and run a large majority man. You run into a host of issues, one of which being conditioning. You're also going to be stressing the DB room with the pass rush that Cincinnati has - no one is going to get home. There's nothing you can really do here. If your pass rushers can't pass rush and your corners can't cover, what do you do? There's no scheme that fixes that. Now, I think our DB room is largely fine but the defensive line play has just been atrocious. They DBs are being left on an island. If they want to run more man and blitz more often I am not going to be opposed per se, but I haven't seen anything to suggest that they are going to win more often versus getting beat more often.





They already do this. The defensive line just isn't winning. There's no defense in the NFL that doesn't utilize stunts.




The Bengals already run a 4-3. Lou prefers four linemen but will show multiple fronts. The Bengals will show 4-3 under looks against heavy personnel along with 5-2/3-4 looks. Given that NFL defenses are in nickel personnel 60%+ of the time, we're focusing on the wrong thing here. 

There's nothing that is going to fix this team this year in any major way. They have talent deficits that you can't really scheme around, namely on the defensive line. You can try to play with the run game like you mentioned, Cincinnati's offensive line doesn't have good athletes on it so wide zone may not be a great fit. At the end of the day, though, this just isn't a very good team.  

I don't like largely scrapping zone either, but if your players are incapable of executing it correctly what is the alternative? Keep doing it and keep getting embarrassed? Or change to something easier to execute where they have a better chance to win (how much better is open to debate). 

Also, our 4-3 is more of a 5-2 hybrid. I'm just advocating keeping a third LB out there more often. Or a safety in more of an LB role. Overall the line is "simplify the defense". with the large amount of time our players are out of position they clearly can't process it. Player fixes have too happen in offseason but for now use a simpler defense they can at least execute correctly.