Mike Hodges LB Coach

[*pally*]

38 year old Hodges comes to the Bengals from the Saints where he was their LB coach for the last 5 years. He was first a defensive assistant with them then assistant LB coach.

The Bengals have hired 38-year-old Mike Hodges as linebackers coach. Spent the past 8 seasons on the Saints staff.

Was a player at Texas A&M when Zac Taylor was on staff in College Station.

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) January 27, 2025

[M.W.]

Although I can't really say the new coaches will be better but it is incredibly unlikely they will be worse.
Our defense was really, really, bad. A NFL LB should be able to tackle, it seems ours only try to run along side the receiver trying to strip the ball.

[HarleyDog]

(01-27-2025, 01:50 PM)M.W. Wrote: Although I can't really say the new coaches will be better but it is incredibly unlikely they will be worse.
Our defense was really, really, bad.  A NFL LB should be able to tackle, it seems ours only try to run along side the receiver trying to strip the ball.

Or dive aimlessly at a runner missing contact by 50ft.

[Speedy Thomas]

Aha, front office with a shrewd move to sign a coach who can also play!  Zac coached him at A&M.  Only 38, maybe he still has something left in the tank.

[Bengalholic]

The very first response on the Saints board in the thread about Hodges joining the Bengals:

"Now THIS is a devastating loss. Hodges has been nothing short of brilliant here."

[SunsetBengal]

(01-27-2025, 02:25 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: The very first response on the Saints board in the thread about Hodges joining the Bengals:

"Now THIS is a devastating loss. Hodges has been nothing short of brilliant here."

That is encouraging to learn. It will be interesting to see if the team keeps Pratt on the hopes that Hodges can get him to clean up the tackling issues that plagued him, or if they go a different route and bring in some new blood?

[jj22]

(01-27-2025, 02:25 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: The very first response on the Saints board in the thread about Hodges joining the Bengals:

"Now THIS is a devastating loss. Hodges has been nothing short of brilliant here."

I know people think you can't trust message board fans, but we are the most fanatic of them all for being on here all day. We do know our team....

I always try to find what is said on a teams message board. 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(01-27-2025, 02:37 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That is encouraging to learn. It will be interesting to see if the team keeps Pratt on the hopes that Hodges can get him to clean up the tackling issues that plagued him, or if they go a different route and bring in some new blood?

We have so many holes: WR2, DE2, at least 2 DT spits, both G spots, a 3rd receiving threat, slot corner plus possible upgrades at TE, both S spots, one LB spot,  and a CB1. Not to mention OL & RB depth. 

Too much for one offseason, likely. I doubt we cut Pratt & Stone for that reason. We'll hope for a bounce back. Pratt was still top 10 in the league in tackles. 

But if a guy like Starks, Walker, or Campbell falls into our lap in the draft, I think you have to take them.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-27-2025, 02:25 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: The very first response on the Saints board in the thread about Hodges joining the Bengals:

"Now THIS is a devastating loss. Hodges has been nothing short of brilliant here."

Nice, that is what I like to hear. That one Linebacker of the Saints has been great for a while now. I have some cautious optimism for this 
Defense now with Golden, Montgomery and now Hodges. Let's tackle people.

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(01-27-2025, 02:47 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: We have so many holes: WR2, DE2, at least 2 DT spits, both G spots, a 3rd receiving threat, slot corner plus possible upgrades at TE, both S spots, one LB spot,  and a CB1. Not to mention OL & RB depth. 

Too much for one offseason, likely. I doubt we cut Pratt & Stone for that reason. We'll hope for a bounce back. Pratt was still top 10 in the league in tackles. 

But if a guy like Starks, Walker, or Campbell falls into our lap in the draft, I think you have to take them.

We don't have, "so many holes," we have some positions that can be upgraded, but aren't liabilities or there is no one there playing.

Gs are where I'd consider there to be a hole and a UT/Pass rushing DT would be another. That's it. Other spots can absolutely be improved.

But going back to Hodges, that LB corps in NO has been excellent for a long time and not all of it is due to stud players.

[Luvnit2]

(01-27-2025, 01:50 PM)M.W. Wrote: Although I can't really say the new coaches will be better but it is incredibly unlikely they will be worse.
Our defense was really, really, bad.  A NFL LB should be able to tackle, it seems ours only try to run along side the receiver trying to strip the ball.

Is it me or did our LB's morph into at opportune times tackling the ball trying to create. fumble to more than 50% of time going after the turnover.

I like Pratt, but he seems to be the main culprit.

[higgy100]

(01-27-2025, 03:22 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Is it me or did our LB's morph into at opportune times tackling the ball trying to create. fumble to more than 50% of time going after the turnover.

I like Pratt, but he seems to be the main culprit.

The DL was terrible for the most part against the run which didn't help. That didn't make availability for much downhill pursuit by the LB's. Instead waaay too many OL were at the 2nd level and on these LB's with a full head of steam. Ain't easy to make every tackle in the NFL like that.

[Essex Johnson]

(01-27-2025, 02:44 PM)jj22 Wrote: I know people think you can't trust message board fans, but we are the most fanatic of them all for being on here all day. We do know our team....

I always try to find what is said on a teams message board. 

yes but being a fanatic fan that has passion and also lead to blurred vison...lol

[Essex Johnson]

(01-27-2025, 03:22 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Is it me or did our LB's morph into at opportune times tackling the ball trying to create. fumble to more than 50% of time going after the turnover.

I like Pratt, but he seems to be the main culprit.

Im just not sure how we can see Pratt as main culprit, he was top 15 in NFL in combo and assist tackles, top 20 in solos, yes he has to improve tackling but before you tackle you have to be in position to tacklet so is around the ball for sure...  i would resign him

[Nicomo Cosca]

(01-27-2025, 03:57 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: Im just not sure how we can see Pratt as main culprit, he was top 15 in NFL in combo and assist tackles, top 20 in solos, yes he has to improve tackling but before you tackle you have to be in position to tacklet so is around the ball for sure... i would resign him

As in extend him? He’s already under contract for another year.

[Soonerpeace]

I know it’s hard to recognize but this team could have played with half the playoff teams at the end of the season.. The roster holes are mostly the secondary. Rankins was a bust. The front office should have signed Chase for a lot cheaper and maybe Tee as well. They need to hit on first rounders. Look at the Ravens first rounders…. Zay Flowers, Kyle Hamilton , Tyler Linderbaum, Rashod Bateman, Patrick McQueen, Nate Wiggins. They’ve also missed recently in FA. Geno Stone Irv Smith Sheldon Rankin Nick Scott.

The new coaches outside Peters don’t excite me but yet I’m cautiously optimistic. I would rather had Eberflus as DC. Really this team needs better players more than coaches. They need to do better in the draft and free agency.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(01-27-2025, 04:35 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I know it’s hard to recognize but this team could have played with half the playoff teams at the end of the season.. The roster holes are mostly the secondary. Rankins was a bust. The front office should have signed Chase for a lot cheaper and maybe Tee as well. They need to hit on first rounders. Look at the Ravens first rounders…. Zay Flowers, Kyle Hamilton , Tyler Linderbaum, Rashod Bateman, Patrick McQueen, Nate Wiggins. They’ve also missed recently in FA. Geno Stone Irv Smith Sheldon Rankin Nick Scott.

The new coaches outside Peters don’t excite me but yet I’m cautiously optimistic. I would rather had Eberflus as DC. Really this team better players more than coaches. They need to do better in the draft and free agency.

Agreed. But I think trenches is much more a problem than DBs. Both starting OG's are bad, so is DE2 (Hubbard), DE3 (Ossai) is a FA, and we only have 2 DTs on the roster, both of whom were rookies. That's 6 spots to the trenches without mentioning OL depth and the 5th guy at DT. 

[Soonerpeace]

(01-27-2025, 04:55 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Agreed. But I think trenches is much more a problem than DBs. Both starting OG's are bad, so is DE2 (Hubbard), DE3 (Ossai) is a FA, and we only have 2 DTs on the roster, both of whom were rookies. That's 6 spots to the trenches without mentioning OL depth and the 5th guy at DT. 

What you are saying is that we have a lot of holes. 

[Essex Johnson]

(01-27-2025, 04:07 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: As in extend him? He’s already under contract for another year.

Oh good we have a year to evaluate

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Demario Davis is the stud Linebacker I was thinking of on the Saints...