Goodbye Mike?

[Sled21]

Read an article this morning on MSN (don't see it now or I would link it) that the plan this year is to put Dax Hill in the slot. Does that mean Hilton is not going to be re-signed? I sure would hate to see him go, I know he's not that great in some situations but he is a brilliant blitzer and tackler.

[*pally*]

I think Hilton will be resigned for a year at the right price. Right now he is too expensive for the role he plays and would play going further. No one is better on those db blitzes but he is a liability in coverage

[jj22]

With Lou in Indy the likelihood we lose some of these key players to Indy is actually pretty high. I wouldn't be surprised if players like Hill and Hilton are Colts next year..

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(02-28-2025, 03:22 PM)pally Wrote: I think Hilton will be resigned for a year at the right price.  Right now he is too expensive for the role he plays and would play going further.  No one is better on those db blitzes but he is a liability in coverage

Hope you are right. Would hate to see Mike Hilton go, love the guy. One of my favorite Bengals of all time.

To Sled, I could see Dax being put in specifically to cover TE's where he has a much bigger wingspan than Mike and then putting Mike in 
to blitz and do what he does best.

[Sled21]

(02-28-2025, 03:26 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Hope you are right. Would hate to see Mike Hilton go, love the guy. One of my favorite Bengals of all time.

To Sled, I could see Dax being put in specifically to cover TE's where he has a much bigger wingspan than Mike and then putting Mike in 
to blitz and do what he does best.

I believe he played mostly slot in college as well.

[wanga]

Hopefully he’s around for next year as well. Also one of my fave Bengals.

[samhain]

I think that the slot was always Dax's natural position.  It would be surprising to me to see Hilton back in stripes, particularly with Duke talking about keeping guys around too long.

[R3stangs]

(02-28-2025, 05:43 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I believe he played mostly slot in college as well.

This is what the article confirmed as well.

[Luvnit2]

(02-28-2025, 03:12 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Read an article this morning on MSN (don't see it now or I would link it) that the plan this year is to put Dax Hill in the slot. Does that mean Hilton is not going to be re-signed? I sure would hate to see him go, I know he's not that great in some situations but he is a brilliant blitzer and tackler.

The Bengals like other team draft players to replace vets. Sometimes it works and some times is does not. i like Hilton, but due to his limitations like heim for 3 to 3.5 million on a one year deal. If he wants more, Bengals CB room when all are healthy is ready to move on from him if he wants too much.

We could also draft a CB early in the draft, but I think our issue is more poor pressure from our DL with a 4 man rush than it is our CB's are really bad. CB's are put onan island against some of the best athletes in the world, yes they will lose battles. But it sure helps a CB if a QB due to pressure has to release the ball quicker than the times we gave QB's 4+ seconds the past few years. Teams can take team out with double teams because we don't have inside or consistent pressure from our LDE.

[J24]

Yes and Dax will play like he was an all pro at that position.

[Forever Spinning Vinyl]

I like Hilton, but his coverage is getting worse as the years slip by.

I said last year that he should move to safety.

[BoomerFan]

I already was thinking we would re-sign Mike Hilton. He's impressed me but the Bengals tend to be shy about paying older players.

Dax can shine where ever he plays. Putting him in the slot could mean you'd have CTB, Dax, and DJ Turner all on the field at the same time which might be your best coverage scenario (assuming we don't trade one of those outside guys and draft or bring in someone new). If everyone is healthy you have DJ Ivey, Jalen Davis, and Fig Newton to round out your six. Not terrible, especially if players actually progress. I wouldn't be opposed to bringing in another corner or drafting one even if we didn't trade CTB or DJ Turner. There is room for improvement and worst case scenario Ivey or someone else ends up on the PS (or maybe we keep 7 corners, an idea I have long been a fan of).

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(02-28-2025, 03:22 PM)pally Wrote: I think Hilton will be resigned for a year at the right price.  Right now he is too expensive for the role he plays and would play going further.  No one is better on those db blitzes but he is a liability in coverage

Hilton still grades out as above average in coverage. Though below Hill & Turner. But is the #1 run defending CB in the league. 

I think the solution is to keep him on a reasonable but try & get him off the field some on 3rd. Or play him as more of a S/LB in dime. 

[Bilbo Saggins]

I like Mike Hilton quite a bit. I don't think he's going to fit the D if Golden wants to play a lot of man coverage. He looks like a zone only guy at this point. It wouldn't shock me if another team hands him a bag without realizing that. 

[Destro]

Couldn't put a last name in the title, huh?

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(03-01-2025, 10:15 PM)Destro Wrote: Couldn't put a last name in the title, huh?

I also was thinking Gesicki before I clicked.

[*jason*]

(03-02-2025, 04:46 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I also was thinking Gesicki before I clicked.

Am I the only one that went straight to Brown?

[BoomerFan]

So we're not going to be using a Mike linebacker? Who will QB the defense?

[*jason*]

(03-02-2025, 09:25 AM)BoomerFan Wrote: So we're not going to be using a Mike linebacker? Who will QB the defense?

Joe Burrow

[reuben.ahmed]

(03-02-2025, 04:46 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I also was thinking Gesicki before I clicked.

I was thinking Brown.