Bates, Burrow, Boyd, Huber

[*SHRacerX*]

(11-28-2020, 10:56 AM)WhodeyRay Wrote: This is how I see it as well. You need at least 7 quality guys rotating on the d-line. We also get Tupou back next year as a good run stuffer. But we really need that speed rusher specialist type guy. This would keep double teams off Lawson and allow Hubbard to kick inside on passing downs. Also someone has to pan out at linebacker eventually one would think.

I am not trying to single you out, bud, but your comment made me think of something one of the announcers of the Dallas/Washington game said on Thanksgiving:  He pointed out that Del Rio was sending extra guys usually on early downs and then only rushing four on third and long.  It seemed backwards but it was working.  If you think about it, as often as teams pass the ball right now, it makes sense to have your speed rush (or NASCAR package, whatever you choose to call it) in for plays early in drives as well.  

There are very few run-first teams (some are more tilted this year than in the past, like pitt) like Seattle, Tennessee, and Washington....and the Bengals under Lou did pretty well against those offenses.  I think the Bengals thought the Browns would come out running the ball and instead they aired it out in week 2 and then turned to the run to salt the lead away.  

You can say that Cincy isn't very good against the pass (and that would be true) but I can't help but wonder about what I saw Del Rio doing and Anarumo's failures against the pass.  No pass rush, no sacks, no forced fumbles, and no INTs (at least very few...). 

On a side note, Washington's defense is all of a sudden looking like killers.  With Alex Smith not losing games for them (as some of their previous QBs have done), the WFT might be the favorite in the NFC Least.