Should Robert Geathers' Time In Cincinnati Come To An End?

We've often wrote about Robert Geathers' productivity dating back to the six-year contract that he signed on January 10, 2007. The deal, worth as much as $33.7 million, was awarded to the defensive end after a tremendously impressive 2006 season recording 10.5 quarterback sacks. The problem however, is that the team decided to change Geathers' role from a backup third down pass rusher into a starter; the results show a defensive end that's shifted from being a pass rusher, to a strong supporting against the run.

According to Pro Football Focus' analysis, Geathers ranked as one of the top defensive ends stopping the run in the NFL and the second-best run-stopper on the entire roster last season behind Rey Maualuga. Furthermore, Geathers and Frostee Rucker ranked as the team's best defensive ends stopping the run in 2008. Because of this, it's always been my belief that pointing out his flaw as a unproductive pass rusher was somewhat negated because of his presence as a staunch rush defensive end. Yet, it's hard not to point out that, according to the same PFF analysis, Geathers is the worst pass rusher on this team dating back to 2008. We're talking about everyone; defensive linemen, linebackers, the secondary and the equipment manager Jeff Brickner.

Look at the raw statistics. Since signing his extension before the 2007 season, Geathers has recorded as many quarterback sacks during the 53 games played since then, compared to his career high in 2006. That's right. It took him 53 games since signing his deal to equal his 2006 output with 10.5 quarterback sacks. Granted, we should also be fair. The Bengals tried experimenting with Geathers as an outside linebacker in 2007 when linebacker was in far more trouble with injuries than the secondary is this season.

However, Geathers' production against the run simply isn't there anymore. This season, according to the same PFF analysis, Pat Sims, Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins are graded far more favorably against the run than Geathers on the defensive line, who grades below the league average.

The most head-banging-against-the-desk thing isn't that he's simply playing; he could probably be a decent pass rusher again if he only plays third downs like he did in 2006. It's that he's actually starting. It's that he's played on 582 snaps, which ranks third on the defense.

This squad is 2-9 now. It's time for the youth movement to have their turn and that applies as much at defensive end as it does anywhere.