03-07-2017, 11:17 AM
(03-07-2017, 05:33 AM)McC Wrote: The safeties stopped being liabilities as the season went on, after it was too late, that is, but they didn't make plays, they didn't change games. Great Safeties elevate entire defenses. That's why the best ones go in the top ten. They matter. I see ours as average, at best. Look at great defenses over the years. See what the Safeties look like.
Maybe the position isn't at the top of the needs list, but if you can get the best one in the draft, you have to take him. But that's the same for any position.
As far as I'm concerned, the Bengals will be a long shot to make the playoffs, depending on what FA's we lose, so you're not saving the season with the draft. That is just hoping for a miracle.
So, get great players in this rebuild. Not really fair to the core players to have to go through this but this is where we are. I'm looking at you, PA.
There's only one way to blow the number 9, and that is by not getting a great player. I don't care what position he plays. He just has to have a profound impact. Safety is a position that can do that. The Bengals won't take one first. They have too much invested in the incumbents. Finance will always win out around here. But I can't see being married to those two. All they'll ever be is okay.
A bit harsh considering they were transitioning away from Nelson and Vance Joseph, but I respect your opinion. I just disagree on the potential of Iloka and Williams. Just 2 years ago, people on here were slobbering all over Iloka...saying he was better than Kam Chancellor for pete's sake. Now he's a bum. Fickle crowd I guess.
As far as playmaking, I know Reggie had a career year in 2015 with 8 INTs. That's fresh in people's minds. But he's averaged only 3.1 INTs per year for his career...3.8 for the Bengals. Both Iloka and Williams had 3 last year. So they made a fair amount of plays. Iloka had 73 tackles and Williams had 81 tackles. They helped prevent big plays. For their first season with Coyle and without Reggie...and with the team pretty well falling apart...I think they did pretty well, and I expect even better in their 2nd year together with Coyle.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
