Is Will Clarke ready to step up?

[BengalChris]

(07-08-2015, 05:03 PM)Joelist Wrote: Per Bengals.com he showed up a lot bigger and stronger than last season:

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Larger-Clarke-Hopes-To-Play-Bigger-Role/2fbf2a2e-5124-477c-a021-61f6ab50e0f8

So will the increased strength and size translate into on field success? Did he lose any speed in the process? If Clarke is indeed able to fully contribute that provides a big boost to us getting our DL rotation back. If he does show he's ready the DL group could be:

DE: Johnson, Dunlap, Gilberry, Clarke

DT: Atkins, Peko, Sims, Hardison

On the edge: Thompson, Still

I could be wrong as to the position groups, and indeed we may decide to keep 9 or 10 DL this time out and go light elsewhere. What do you think?

Since we signed Johnson and Sims, then drafted Hardison I've been figuring the Bengals were going to keep 9 for the DL, with Still and Hunt needing impressive enough camps to knock one of the others out. Neither did much last year and both being 2nd picks that didn't pan out it's time to just cut the cord. I don't remember the team ever keeping 10  Dlinemen on the 53 going into a season.