Zimmer is being aggressive
January 26th, 2010 | Bengals
By John Thornton- Bengals DC Mike Zimmer pretty much echoed my thoughts on what the team needs to do to compete next season defensively. I think with his blitzing style of defense, the Bengals have to look at cornerback first. You can’t have enough good corners, ask the New York Jets. If they had one more good corner, they would be going to the Super Bowl. For the Bengals, if there is a guy that can be the nickel corner from day 1 of mini camp, then take him with your first pick. Or if there is a quick DT that could come in and be in the three man rotation as a rookie, then take him. The DT doesn’t have to be a huge guy because Peko is a noseguard and he will play there. The DT has to be able to play over the offensive guard and be able to run. But for all this to take place, offensive needs will have to be addressed in free agency. That will give the team the freedom to select the best defensive player available. It’s a lot easier to play a rookie on defense than it is for a guy to come in and play heavy minutes on offense. And since the offensive player would be a skill player(no OL needed), you don’t want to risk drafting a guy that needs time to learn the system. Defensive guys attack, “see ball, get ball” as my old buddy Bryan Robinson used to say.
28 Responses to Zimmer is being aggressive
Cory
January 26th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
You dont think a Guard is needed on O-line JT? Do you think Bobbie Williams will be resigned? I think they need a guard even if he is resigned. Who will play RG when he is gone?
Matt
January 26th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
JT- any DT in mind? I don’t know enough about the different types of DTs to know what to look for. I don’t think they need a guard. THe have Luigs and Collins sitting on the bench. When they drafted Collins they said he would be Bobbie’s replacement. That being said I would bring back Bobbie. Also for them to go offense in free agency they will probably have to give up some picks. A third corner though in the first round? Seems like to much of an investment in one position. When was the last time they spent a first or second on the D line??
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I’m waiting until the senior bowl is over to look at them. Saw a few guys today that looked ok, none worth getting excited over. the top two guys will be long gone when the Bengals pick.
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Not a huge need. If Bobbie leaves, I think they will move Andre to OG. Roland played well and Andre is prob better suited to play in there anyway
Cory
January 26th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
I disagree with you about the oline, especially if Bobbie leaves. I get Andre moving to guard with Roland at T but where does that put the depth? They are one O-lineman short in my opinion. I know they played much of this year with Andre out and that it would work with who they got, I just think they need one more on the O line in case of injury. This could be resigning Bobbie or a draft pick. Dont get me wrong I dont think this is a major need just one to be filled. Also what is the future of Jason Shirley JT?
JT
January 26th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
I’m just saying it isn’t a major need. You can get OL late in draft and develop them. How many games did OL miss this year? I would get a guy late or get a vet at vet minimum for fill that role. Can’t waste picks on guys that arent gonna play. Need to hit on most of these guys. Cook, Livings, and Roland weren’t drafted….
Randy
January 27th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Hey JT. I know this isn’t mentioned in this post but what do you think about Mardy Gilyard saying he’ll pull an “Eli Manning” so he can be in orange and black next year. He wants to be on this team bad. I think he’d be a great kick/punt returner but I just don’t think he’ll do well as a receiver in the NFL. He’s too short and not as fast as you’d like to see in a receiver that can stretch the field. I dunno, maybe scouts see something that I don’t know to look for though. Your thoughts?
And to touch on the line situation, I definitely think we need to start looking at some depth late in the draft. It’s a very good idea. But it’s also obvious we need a big WR early in the draft (preferably a proven WR in free agency. ::cough::Brandon Marshall::cough::), a TE whether in the draft or preferably in free agency as well as some depth in the safety/cb area as well.
Jason
January 27th, 2010 at 8:43 am
I am a big fan of Marty as well. Love how he said he would pull the Eli, love his passion for the game, and work ethic. I just think 21 is too high for him, and we need a bigger guy. But if he fell to us in round 2, i say take him!
Mark P
January 27th, 2010 at 9:09 am
JT, you thinking Brian Price from UCLA could be that DT we are looking for? I think he would be a good addition,the guy Im most high on is Earl Thomas the Texas S, not the biggest but very fast and good in coverage,I think he could even move across to nickel if needed?
Ron E
January 27th, 2010 at 9:55 am
If I’m the Bengals, I try to fill all the pressing needs before the draft and just sit back and take the best players. They need depth all over the place so they could draft most positions without it being a wasted pick.
Funny how this got off on the OL tangent, but Bobbie should be resigned and I think they need a backup lined up to replace him eventually. I would like to know how Jason Shirley is progressing, size wise, he would make a great RG in the future. I’m a big Roland fan, but if Andre Smith isn’t the RT, then I think the Bengals need to do something there. I’m not sure if Roland is a long term starter at that spot, but is a great back-up. Anthony Collins seemed to play great at LT in 2008, but wasn’t great at RT. Whit played really well at LT. Mathis and Livings played well at LG. Mathis doesn’t have the size you want, but he did pretty good. One option would be to slide Livings over to RG, but I think Mathis isn’t a long term starter either. Are there any Phil Loadholts in this years draft? I think the OL has too many really good back-ups and maybe not enough starters. Even though depth is important, if the Bengals want to bring in an extra guy, then someone has to go, I would concider trading AC.
Babylonian
January 27th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Im pretty sure Bobby Williams will be back. He wants to retire a Bengal and should.
The thing about Mardy Gilliard is his size. He weighed in at the Senior bowl at 179! Thats smaller than any NFL wideout Ive ever heard of. Maybe a Antonio Chapman type player and we saw how that worked out.
JT any thoughts on Fenene (I like to call him Sha-nay-nay) switching to DT. I think he was listed as a DT on the roster last year, but went to the outside spot when Odom went down. I think a line with Odom, Peko, Sha-nay-nay, and Geathers looks pretty good to me. With Simms and Rucker (and whoever else they pick up) rotating.
I think Simms could be like Haynesworth given the time. He is a pimp.
Derek
January 27th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Why not Mardy Gilliard? Can you say, DeSean Jackson – 5′10″; 175 pounds. Solid NFL teams draft players who have, in their determination, the best probability to play at the highest level. If the Bengals don’t see that in Gilliard, then skip him. I’m sure that they can find another ultra-talented “Jerome Simpson” in the draft where they can waste a pick. I think that I’d rather draft someone with solid physical talent, great work ethic and very smart rather than the top 2 physical talent, sloppy work ethic and questionable intelligence.
jj
January 27th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
I don’t think you can ever have enough good CB’s or pass rushers. Another CB like Donovan Warren or Devin McCourty (My personal favorite) would be nice but I’d rather get another pass rusher.
I’m hoping we go after Brandon Graham or George Selvie. One is short and the other undersized but if you put them in pass rushing situations they will get to the QB.
You if have great pass rushers, you can have basically garbage CB’s on your team and still have one of the best defenses in the NFL as the Steelers & Ravens have proven…
Alex
January 27th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
John, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!! go talk with Mike Brown, maybe you can convince him of some things!!!!
JT
January 28th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I wish I could
JT
January 28th, 2010 at 9:54 am
I think Gilyard will be a great return man. I question his WR skills a little at this point, but I would spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick on him
JT
January 28th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Bobbie wants to get paid! He’s been underpaid for years, and this is his last shot to get some $$$. Loyalty goes out the window.
JT
January 28th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Charles likes that Earl Thomas kid a lot. I’m a Taylor Mays fan. Big and fast. He will be better in the NFL than in college.
JT
January 28th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Good thinking. A lot of these type guys will be around in round two and three
JT
January 28th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Marty will have to answer to character questions. Some people won’t vouch for him. Good player tho. I see him as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. People think thats bad, but its a good spot.
Babylonian
January 28th, 2010 at 10:13 am
With Mardy Gilliard, I think you will have a great return man. And maybe a decent slot guy, but the Bengals already have that guy in Quann Cosby. I liked what I saw from him in limited playing time. Drafting Gilliard would not fit their needs very well. Plus, Im telling you he is too small to get hit all the time. Deshaun Jackson may be the same weight, but they are built very differently.
Ron E
January 29th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Last year, we said the Bengals needed another CB, and there were a lot of good ones ranked by the “experts”, but several CBs dropped. No one really stands out in my mind, looking back on those guys, did any of them play well? Granted it may take another year, for those guys to come around, but I think the Bengals got more out of Morgan Trent than most teams got out of the other top CBs drafted.
jj
January 29th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
A move I would love to see the Bengals make is trading for Glenn Dorsey. He doesn’t fit the 3-4 system in KC, so the Chiefs from what I hear are looking to move him. I bet a 2nd or 3rd rounder would be all it takes to get him. He would make for a nice complimentary player next to Peko.
I have a feeling when he does get traded a lot of people are going to be wondering why their team didn’t make that move…
JT
January 29th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Glenn Dorsey isn’t the answer. Not very good. Drafting DT’s in the top 10 rarely turns out to be good. I wouldnt trade for him. Pat Sims is better.
JT
January 29th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Morgan Trent played ok, made most of his plays while blitzing, also had a few knnock downs. But do you trust him starting? Well thats whats gonna happen when one of the corners leave in FA. Get a guy thats your next starter and out him in as your nickel
Smoov
February 1st, 2010 at 11:18 am
JT…I know you watched the Senior Bowl..in regards to your article what do think about drafting Brandon Graham as the best defensive player available at #21 and take Geno Atkins in the 3rd round for the quick, pass rushing DT?
Also what nickelbacks do think the Bengals could sign in FA, because any rookie is probably going to have a learning curve similar to Trent? Do you think Keiwan can fill the nickel back role?
If our first day picks were Graham, Gilyard, and Atkins..I would be happy with that, what do you think?
I’ll hang up and listen..LOL!
JT
February 1st, 2010 at 4:24 pm
I think that would be a good senario if it played out that way. But I don’t see Atkins lasting until the 3rd round. He is pretty active and has skills. I say he will go in the second. There will be a big run on DL in the second round. Lots of good players, none really special tho. As far as Graham, I like him. Just not sure that the Bengals system will fit him. I see Bradon succeeding in a Titans or Indy defense where they let the ends line up wide and disrupt things. The Bengals play their DE’s pretty tight and rely on strength. Thats why Odom had to gain 20 lbs last year. In Tennessee, Odom played a lot lighter because he didn’t have to take on as many blockers. If the Bengals took a DL in the first, I would go with the Penn State kid. Very impressive skills
John
February 22nd, 2010 at 11:14 pm
I think Shipley or McCluster would be ideal 2nd round picks. McCluster is small but strong for his size and will make sure catches and YAC. He can also plat RB as a backup. Shipley is a Welker clone. There are a lot of similarities between Brady and Carson and Welker works well in the Pats O.