Bengals sign Antwan Odom to five-year deal

by Josh Kirkendall on Mar 4, 2008 12:51 AM EST in Contracts

On Monday, the Bengals signed Antwan Odom to a five-year deal worth $29.5 million with $11.5 in guaranteed money. The signing is a continued push towards Marvin Lewis' goal of rushing the quarterback with Odom's eight-sack career year. If Odom records similar numbers and Robert Geathers plays to his 2006 form, there's the potential for 17-20 sacks. The Bengals are up to four defensive ends signed for 2008 with Odom, Geathers, Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker with a good chance of drafting yet another in April.

Scouts Inc.

Odom is a four-year veteran out of Alabama that was drafted by the Titans in the second round of the 2004 draft. He has good size, strength and explosiveness for the position and was expecting to have a breakout season before suffering a knee injury that eventually put him on IR for most of the season. He originally hurt his knee in preseason and missed the first three games before playing in the next four (starting the last two). After the Houston game on October 29 he was placed on IR for the rest of the year. He can be explosive off the ball and shock the pass blocker as he turns a speed rush into power or he can come off the edge with a burst to use his speed to get around the corner. He was starting to learn how to use counter moves once the pass blocker anticipates his first upfield move but is still learning. At times it looks like he is thinking too much and not just cutting it loose and playing. He is not great at reading blocking schemes and can be surprised at times but has enough strength, flexibility and balance to recover and get back into the play. He tends to lose containment versus reverses and the like. He is still on the come and needs to stay healthy to gain the needed experience and learn his techniques.

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Hallelujia!

So basically between Odom and Fanene we've got a nice DE rotation for about what we were paying Smith. And hopefully we will get more sacks.

We'll probably pick up another DE in the draft and that will add more options.

I like it.

I still would feel more comfortable with Landon Johnson back in the fold and DT, but I am not sure who is still out there to be had.

by goffchile on Mar 4, 2008 7:39 AM EST reply actions

Our Defense as a whole

While I like the Antwan Odom signing, I am still very concerned about the state of our defense. So far, our defense is the same as last year MINUS Madieu Williams, Justin Smith and likely Landon Johnson PLUS Antwan Odom. I fail to see how this is any sort of an improvement from last year's defense. Yes, I know...everyone wants to point out how Ahmad Brooks and Odell Thurman are coming back. But the problem is that we were counting on them coming back last year and where did that get us...it got us a bottom ranked defense. Assuming they do come back, they are not very well experienced at all.

Moreover, if Antwan Odom has the same play next to him in the D-tackle position, he is going to face the same challenges in the way of being double-teamed that Justin Smith faced. Until we get a significant upgrade on D-tackle, I don't think you can say at all that our D-line is improved. The way to significantly improve this D-line is to get an upgrade before the draft (maybe through Robertson if it works out) or, if not, use some of our 11-12 draft picks to trade up and get Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis. At this point, I would say that our D-line and overall defense would be improved.

Also...what's the status with Landon? If we can't get a D-tackle, we might consider signing him at this point and then trading up in the draft to address the needs at D-tackle.

by mp45242 on Mar 5, 2008 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Defense

I agree with mp.
We must improve at DT in order for the defense to get any better. This means that we either have to draft Ellis, trading up if necessary, or sign Robertson, once the Jets cut him. I prefer the former, but if we sign Robertson, then we can draft Rivers to replace Landon. If we want to draft Ellis then we should sign Landon so we can use D. Jones as the first LB off the bench once our inevitable injuries start to occur.

by Smigelskas on Mar 5, 2008 9:31 PM EST up reply actions