The bengals could fix this team this off-season with a little creativity!

[Joelist]

Burrow clearly has some kind of a plan; witness Tee ditching Mulugheta - I suspect Joe had a bit to do with it.

Offseason wise absolute priority one has to be getting rid of Lou and getting a DC with an actual scheme that is fundamentally sound and emphasizes tackling. Then do evaluations and anyone not scheme compatible is gone. Then reload. If it means a Free Agent to help at DE so be it. If it means multiple picks on DL so be it.

Offensively OL depth and IOL starters are the biggest needs. The draft on Guard is a bit thin so this has to come from Free Agency. We need at least one starting level OG out of Free Agency. Assuming Tee resigns (which with no more Mulugheta the odds shot up on) your draft can be mostly defense.

[The D.O.Z.]

I like a lot of these ideas, but what if they send Lou packing and replace him w a guy who runs a 3-4 base? Then what? Two pass rushing OLBs would be a need. You’d think they’d keep Wilson and Pratt as their ILBs. Could Jenkins play DE in a 3-4? Murphy? Could Ossai transition to OLB? Is Hendrickson strictly a 4-3 RDE? If not, do you trade him for picks? A lot to think about there, just within the front 7. I think our CBs will be fine, if we get a pass rush. Safety has some concern for me, but I feel like they’d play much better with a better front 7 in front of them as well.

I’m absolutely on board with obtaining two new guards. At least one quality vet and a top 100 draft pick. Wish we knew more of what we have in Lee, as he could play C, slide Karras over to LG and draft his heir apparent with that top 100 pick, and sign a top RG in free agency. If they opt to keep Karras at C and continue to groom Lee to take over, they’re gonna need to sign two guards even if they draft one high, in my opinion. Hopefully their position coach is upgraded this offseason as well.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(5 hours ago)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Idk about “definitely.” Prime Burfict was a Pro Bowler.

Yeah, Burfict was a stud with his instincts and he played a lot faster than his forty time. Loved how he hit and didn't mind his dirty play 
against the stealers. Got a little out of hand though and he lowered his head when tackling which pretty much ended his career.

Logan has disappointed me the last couple of years, but he was playing really good early this season and then fell off, same with Pratt.

I think it was because of injury though, don't know for sure. Last year it was injury late in the season why he was so slow.

(5 hours ago)XsandOs Wrote: DL is to LBers, as OL is to RBs and QBs.

Everything in Football begins with OL and DL. 

Truth.

(5 hours ago)bfine32 Wrote:

Odell was a damn good rookie, I will give him that, Burfict had a much better career for us though and put fear into the stealers.

Loved The Burfict Storm.

Logan has great hands and when he is healthy can be a ballhawk. We are missing him right now. Pratt and ADG have been bad.

Had a Meta sighting with the fumble recovery against the Titans, but he is still a stack backer.

(5 hours ago)pulses Wrote: Our LB's outside of Wilson has been mediocre at best the last few years. We need more SPEED and someone who can rush the passer from that position.

Agree. Thought ADG could bring some of this but he has been pretty terrible since Logan went down. Bettcher our LB coach didn't 
have him ready. I am a bit surprised by this, Bettcher is supposed to be a good coach.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(5 hours ago)Joelist Wrote: Burrow clearly has some kind of a plan; witness Tee ditching Mulugheta - I suspect Joe had a bit to do with it.

Offseason wise absolute priority one has to be getting rid of Lou and getting a DC with an actual scheme that is fundamentally sound and emphasizes tackling. Then do evaluations and anyone not scheme compatible is gone. Then reload. If it means a Free Agent to help at DE so be it. If it means multiple picks on DL so be it.

Offensively OL depth and IOL starters are the biggest needs. The draft on Guard is a bit thin so this has to come from Free Agency. We need at least one starting level OG out of Free Agency. Assuming Tee resigns (which with no more Mulugheta the odds shot up on) your draft can be mostly defense.

All good points Joelist. There is a reason Tee fired that guy and Burrow has been really adamant about bringing back Tee. A new DC, DL help 
and 2 Guards in FA and the Draft is freed up for the new DC to add his guys. What is nice is we paid Rankins a lot of dough to essentially do 
nothing but suck, so his replacement is pretty much an automatic upgrade and I already like Jenkins and McKinnley.

[puddycat]

(Yesterday, 01:24 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Having to depend on 2 rookie guards to start would be a dicey proposition. I’d rather see them bring in at least one FA and draft another.

PFF grades 
Steelers 2024 rookies: Rd2 Zach Frazier OC 75.1, Rd4 Mason McCormick RG 66.3
Bengals: Ted Karras 61.9, Cappa 51.7

2025 is not a great year for IOL, but still...

I'm also worried about getting more athletic via the FA pool.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(3 hours ago)puddycat Wrote: PFF grades 
Steelers 2024 rookies: Rd2 Zach Frazier OC 75.1, Rd4 Mason McCormick RG 66.3
Bengals: Ted Karras 61.9, Cappa 51.7

2025 is not a great year for IOL, but still...

I'm also worried about getting more athletic via the FA pool.

You must not be familiar with Duke Tobin’s OL drafting history lol. The Steelers can actually draft trenches.

[sandwedge]

(5 hours ago)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Idk about “definitely.” Prime Burfict was a Pro Bowler.

Wilson has been better consistently good throughout his career so far. Burfict was a huge liability in his last couple years. Nobody knew what was going inside his head.