04-27-2018, 10:18 PM
SI gave us a B- on Bates
Backup safety/slot corner Josh Shaw is a free agent next year, and Shawn Williams is better as a sturdy veteran backup than every-down player. So the Bengals needed to find a running mate for George Iloka. Marvin Lewis rarely plays rookie defensive backs, so don’t be surprised if Bates is given a year or two to develop. It’s a DB-friendly scheme, with a lot of two-deep zone coverage concepts.
Scouting Report: A rangy safety, Bates can cover a lot of ground in centerfield, but does he have the change-of-direction skills to match up with NFL athletes in man coverage? He’s active as a run defender, but he's inconsistent as a tackler and too often takes poor angles to the ball.
Backup safety/slot corner Josh Shaw is a free agent next year, and Shawn Williams is better as a sturdy veteran backup than every-down player. So the Bengals needed to find a running mate for George Iloka. Marvin Lewis rarely plays rookie defensive backs, so don’t be surprised if Bates is given a year or two to develop. It’s a DB-friendly scheme, with a lot of two-deep zone coverage concepts.
Scouting Report: A rangy safety, Bates can cover a lot of ground in centerfield, but does he have the change-of-direction skills to match up with NFL athletes in man coverage? He’s active as a run defender, but he's inconsistent as a tackler and too often takes poor angles to the ball.
