(4 hours ago)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: Much like several posters, I am hyped about the defense this season.
I am expecting more from Jenkins and Jackson this season, with my only fear being their time developing behind Slaton and Hill may be excessive when they need more playing time. If they draft Grant at 17, it kills Jackson's development, same with Nolen and Jenkins.
I love the idea of Warren or Emmanwori, as Warren as the traditional TE and Gesicki in the slot would be crazy for Joe, along with Emmanwori in the first and Harold Perkins in the second would reshape the defense.
The draft is more wide open than people think, IMO.
When I think of the Viper role, I am looking for explosive linebackers who can cover and big safeties who excel at blitzing, which again gives a wider field of potential prospects in the draft or free agency (Simmons?).
I am hyped as well, this Defense was pretty stale the last couple of years under Lou. That is the thing, they drafted Kris Jenkins in the 2nd
round and McKinnley Jackson in the 3rd, these guys need to pan out and I expect them to. Both had good flashes as rookies, Slaton allows
McKinnley to develop and McKinnley already brings more pass rush so he might have the head start of the two yah never know.
BJ Hill is solid as it gets so he will be a little harder for Kris Jenkins to unseat, plus we just paid BJ a bag of money.
Also would love to add a TE that can do it all in Tyler Warren, I think he could single handedly bring another dimension to the Offense, but
I think he will be gone by 17. Emmanwori could be that stud Safety to really help the Defense for sure, we all see what stud Safeties have
done for the Ravens over the years.
(4 hours ago)007BengalsFan Wrote: Defensive line has to be the pick in the 1st. Outside of Hendrickson we generated very little pass rush. How many times did we watch the opposing offense have all day to throw the ball? That makes it very hard on your secondary and I'm sure it played a part in some of their struggles last year. We absolutely need to improve the pass rush and so far in free agency we haven't done that. Slaton isn't going to help that area of need so what you would counting on is Jenkins/Jackson making a big leap or Ossai/Murphy. I don't know if you can hang you hopes on that happening. If those guys dont significantly improve, you are looking at another potential subpar year from the defense. An elite safety or even CB could help but if you can improve the pass rush, that helps everyone on defense. I think the pick is DL but it wouldn't surprise me if it were safety.
The question is what End in the 1st are we willing to gamble on? Mike Green is undersized and has character concerns, James Pearce is the
same, Shemar Stewart looks like Tarzan plays like Jane and has less production than Murphy had in college etc.
Honestly Emmanwori makes the most sense to me. We have DT's even if some are down on Slaton because he cannot rush the passer and
if this is truly the case Kenneth Grant makes sense because he CAN rush the passer and be a Nose and is more polished than McKinnley.
(4 hours ago)007BengalsFan Wrote: I dont know about linebacker with the 1st pick. You want to be able to generate pressure with your front 4. If you have to bring a linebacker, I think that limits the defense. Sure, you can have the linebacker at the line like Parsons is often used but I still feel that would be more limiting than having a DT or DE that can pass rush.
All good points. Like I said, we didn't meet with Jalon Walker or Jihad Campbell anyways and they are the only 2 I would think about in the 1st.
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