{The Ultimate Bengals Offseason Extravaganza Thread}

[Whatever]

(03-19-2025, 02:46 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Exactly. Since Burrow has been here:

Logan Wilson - 3rd round
Ossai - 3rd round
Dax - 1st round
CTB - 2nd round
Zach Carter - 3rd round
Murphy - 1st round
Turner - 2nd round
Battle - 3rd round
Jenkins - 2nd round
Jackson - 3rd round

That’s a lot of premium picks. So I’m not sure where this boo hoo the poor defense narrative is coming from.

For better or worse, Lou ran a complex defense that wasn't friendly to young players.  When we had the back to back AFC title game runs, it worked because the defense was largely compromised of vet FA's and a couple of holdovers from the Marvin era.  As we lost veterans and had to replace them with draft picks because we needed to pay the stars on offense, it sputtered.  Late last year, when he finally simplified things and there was more of a youth movement in terms of snaps, they played better.  Honestly, if he had made the switch at the bye instead of waiting, there's a good chance we could have gotten that one more W to put us in the playoffs.