The positives I see

[*ochocincos*]

(12-06-2020, 10:07 PM)Bengalfan4life27c Wrote: The D could be 2 or 3 players away from being elite with a healthy Reader and a pass rusher. Bates and Logan Wilson are playing real well. The Offense needing 2 more Olineman we are set with Burrow Mixon Tee and Boyd.  Just get rid of Taylor and get a real head coach we could compete right away.

This is assuming WJ3 and Lawson are kept, right?
Even if so, Reader isn't going to make that much different without more pass rushers. He's not a pass rushing specialist. The most total pressures he's had in a season was 12, which was last year. For comparison, Andrew Billings had 13 in 2018. So Reader is really just a prototypical run-stuffing DT.
Having Waynes healthy would help coverage compared to all the other guys they are putting outside opposite of WJ3, but he's not a stellar guy in coverage either.

Realistically, the Bengals need another edge rusher and interior rusher, probably another LB if they keep WJ3 and Lawson. But even then, they aren't going to be "elite."
Their LB performance is just terrible overall.
They might be in the 10-20 range, which is an improvement over what they have been, and is sufficient if the offense can be Top 10.

What this defense really needs to do is implement a more aggressive scheme that more often sends 5 rushing the passer.