Bengals.com photo of LB Rey Maualuga
By John Thornton- The Bengals have some work to do on the defensive side of the ball this off season. Bringing coordinator Mike Zimmer back was their first big move. Zimm means a lot to this team. Under his leadership, the Bengals defense has been a competitive group that keeps the team in most games. This season the defense took the next step and became a top five unit. The Bengals offense helped the Bengals defense get that high ranking by running the ball and eating up the clock, keeping the Bengals defense off of the field. That’s a good combo. But down the stretch, the Bengals defense started to bend and eventually broke against the New York Jets. Injuries mounted and back up players wore down because they weren’t used to putting in that many snaps at a high level. Imagine if this team would have had the services of DE Antwan Odom, SS Roy Williams, FS Chris Crocker, and DT Domata Peko for a full 16(17) games. With that being said, the fate of the Bengals defense next year will rest on the health of those players. Antwan Odom is returning from an achilles injury and that is tough to do. Can he do it? Yes. But the Bengals will have to let him work his way back into playing shape once he gets 100%. Do they go out and draft another DE just in case? That is a possibility. The Bengals have to decide if DT Pat Sims is going to be the starter or not at DT. Tank Williams didn’t give them much this season, but he was a good addition. The DL needs a guy who can get constant pressure. The LB core is pretty good. I would like to see Keith Rivers make a few more big plays. He is a solid player, and makes plays, just not the “splash” plays that you would expect a top 10 pick to make. This will be his third year coming up, and I think it’s his year to shine. Dhani Jones has played well enough to come into the season as the starter. I don’t think anyone else on the roster is ready mentally to take of the MLB position. The secondary is where I can see a few additions. The safety position needs an impact player. Roy Williams is a guy that I think is worth bringing back, but adding another player to the mix is a must. I’m also thinking that this is a good time to add another “good” cornerback. I know that the Bengals have two young stars playing the position, but having a solid young third corner is something that good teams need. You need a guy that is ready to start if needed. Plus Leon Hall and Jonathan Joeseph will demand new contracts soon, and there is NO way that the Bengals can keep them both long term. Having another corner ready will lessen the need to sign them both and will give the Bengals leverage in negotiations when the time comes. So the needs in my opinion are……CB, S, DT, DE. If the Bengals attack their weaknesses on offense during free agency and or trades, they can go heavy defense with their remaining draft picks. It is much easier to have rookies play on defense than it is on offense. So with the Bengals being a team that’s close to contending, being aggressive this off season is a must. Bringing in projects or guys that need groomed will bring this team back to the pack.
17 Responses to Bengals need to….(Defensive Outlook)
Ron E
January 26th, 2010 at 7:21 am
I agree, Dhani Jones is a keeper at MLB, he doesn’t get much credit but is very important to the team. Even though the Bengals picked him up off the scrap heap, he still has a few years left. I think it was Jeff Fitzgerald that said that they are very deep at LB and he wasn’t just talking about Brandon Johnson and Rashad Jeanty. It would be nice to groom a guy for the future at MLB, do they already have that guy or do they still need to get him? If Dhani were to get injured and go on IR or something, who would fill his spot?
At DE, you’re thinking they add a guy that can play Odom’s role as insurance. Is Michael Johnson the 3rd down rusher at DE, or should they add another guy for that? If he adds some weight could he fill Odom’s role?
At DT, you mentioned Cody is a NT and that is Peko’s spot, but I still think if he’s there for the Bengals in the first round, you take him. It took the Bengals a long time to find that kind of a guy, and without Peko we saw what happened.
Jonathan
January 26th, 2010 at 10:44 am
I only 1/2 agree with Jones at MLB. Overall, he was solid, but he showed a lot of weakness covering any type of TE into the flat. He’s simply not quick enough for that anymore.
I agree with DE, CB,and S spots all need more players, playmakers and better depth. The drop-off from Crocker to whoever that white dude was out there was significant, and the same can be said for Hall/Joseph combo, though Trent did show some nice flashes.
It would be nice to add a big DT next to Peko in a rotation with Simms. If the DT’s can push the pocket better, the DE’s will be more free to rush.
Josh
January 26th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Don’t want Cody here. Guy showed up at 370 lbs yesterday to Sr. Bowl and looked worse than Andre Smith w/o his shirt off. Got pushed around by a 295 lb guard. No thank you.
Jason
January 26th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Not sure about Cody, his weight doesnt worry me that much yet. But it is an interesting point. If we got him, could we move to a 3-4? JT your thoughts, our strongest and deepest position is at LB, id love to see Dhani and Rey Rey in the middle with a mix of Rivers, Jeanty and Johnson on the outside. Throw Cody/Peko in the middle, and rotate Odom, Fanene, Johnson, Geathers at DE. I think i could get used to that.
Is this too far of a stretch JT?
Ron E
January 26th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
It remains to be seen how well Cody handles himself preparing for the Draft. Honestly though, there is a big difference in taking a guy #6 vs #21. Andre Smith did almost everything wrong, and the Bengals still took him. However, had Smith done everything right, he was probably the #1 rated player, Cody is not that. There may be other good DT options to consider at 21 as well.
Matt
January 26th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
No sense in switching defensive philosophies when you are the number 4 defense. Terrance Cody has ate himself out of the first round. I have no interest in him as a prospect. Look at Odrick, Price, and even Williams those are all better candidates.
Jason
January 26th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
perhaps Carlos Dunlap at 21, we need a DE more than a DT truly. Geathers hasn’t done anything recently, overpaid and underproduction, i realize he’s been hurt, but the dude can never stay on the field. we need a pass rusher to compliment odom.
Babylonian
January 26th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Dhani Jones is a great leader and a great teammate, but he is far from a great player. He is solid though. I just get worried when I see him trying to show blitz then make it back to cover the middle in Cover 2. I wish they could somehow convert Rivers to the mike LB spot. He has the quicks to cover a ton of ground. Just not the knowledge yet I guess….
BG
January 26th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
John, what about Michael Johnson as a starting DE?
He seemed to make a lot of plays when given the chance and athletically he seems incredibly gifted. I would think this guy has to have a starting spot eventually, potentially unseating Odom / Fanene.
Do you consider him a “tweener” (OLB / DE)? Does he have the bulk to be an every down DE? Is it realistic to draft a prospect who is better than him?
Any thoughts on Michael Johnson are appreciated – I for one have a lot of hope for his development into a star.
Cory
January 26th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
I have a lot of hope for Michael Johnson as well. He was a rookie last year and showed signs of being a good player. I think another offseason of bulking up and he will be a better pass rusher. I do not see them using the 21st pick on a D lineman, but that could change depending on pickups in FA. I think at 21 they go WR unless they get Marshall, Boldin, or another proven reciever. I would like to see them get Marshall, and pick up a Guard, and maybe a TE. This would leave the draft to add to Defense as JT says. I see them waiting another year to draft a DE early and go after a DT to add with Peko and Simms. Safety is also a early round selection that could be filled.
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I thought he would have a bigger rookie year. He made a few plays but should be making more. He could be an option as a starter. Fanane is better as a backup. That way he doesn’t wear out
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Dhani is good enough to play the Mike for another year. He is just as important to the defense as Mike Zimmer. Believe me, he holds it together.
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Dunlap will be gone
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Cody won’t be a good fit with a early pick because he plays the same position as Peko, NG. Peko can’t slide over and play the 3 technique so you would have two guys in their that don’t really get up the field.
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
You don’t need a space eater inside, you need a disrupting DT. If Pat gets in shape, he can be that. He’s big and quick. The Bengals shouldn’t be looking for DT’s at this point. They missed on Jason Shirley and Pat should be a starter at this point in his career. But, they need help inside.
jj
January 26th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I think in the 2nd round we need to look at adding a defensive player. 1st round go after a TE or WR that can make an immediate impact and then in the 2nd round find a good rotational defensive player.
Brandon Graham the DE out of Michigan is at the top of my list. I think he could replace Rucker and rotate with Geathers on the left side. From what I’m hearing he’s a better prospect at this point than LaMarr Woodley was when he came out of Michigan. So we might even have to trade up to get him (Which I don’t know if this team knows how to do).
People might not think DE is a big need with Odom, Fanene, Michael Johnson and Geathers but I do. We need to get more consistent pressure out of the front 4. Towards the end of the season the only way we got pressure was by blitzing…
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Graham is good, but they would have to treat him like they did Pollack. He is really short. Would have to play him really wide and the Bengals dont do that