Question of the Day: How is the Bengals depth after the starters?
by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 11, 2010 9:13 AM EST
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PrintUsing a time tested formula of a strong defense, complimented with a power rushing offense, the Bengals were close. At one point, Cincinnati was 7-2, had unexpectedly swept both teams that played in the 2009 AFC Championship game and battled for the second seed heading into playoffs. They were close. Tragedy eventually sapped this team, as did injuries to guys like Cedric Benson, Domata Peko, Rey Maualuga and Chris Crocker. After going 7-2, the Bengals stumbled into the playoffs finishing the regular season at 3-4 with back-to-back losses to the New York Jets.
But with each offseason, every NFL team has the change to install pieces towards a championship run, provided you know what to address and you're not acquiring pieces just for the sake of acquisition. Granted, it's nice to sign effective starters through the draft and free agency. However, a more challenging feat is acquiring talent to improve the depths of each position. You wonder, which position on this team is stacked with talent. Take away the starters and what do you have? Is it impressive? Is it stocked? Or are we too fragile of a team because injury sets this team back more than other teams? Isn't that the definition of a winning caliber team; someone that can overcome injuries?
The question of the day is this. Take away the starters. What position(s) on this team is the weakest and what position(s) on this team is the strongest?
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Hmmm let me see.
Wr is just plain weak. After Ocho there is not a Wr I want on this team. TE also doesn’t have a viable starter so that is 1A. Defensive End after Odom and Geathers is weak, Fanene played great last year but he was already in the rotation, Rucker needs to go. QB would be up there b/c after Carson I watch games with my hands over my eyes, but who has 2 QB’s in this league? It seems to me the Bengals have like 7 of the same offensive lineman that can interchange. Collins, Roland, Smith can all play RT and some LT. CB, and LB are pretty stacked.
The last thing any of us want is to go 4-11-1 again if 1 key guy goes down.
I know it wasn’t just that but lets look at where we would be if certain people went down for the year.
QB – I know people question how long Palmer will stick around but I’m certain he is our guy for the next 7 years. So instead of using a high draft pick for a guy to sit on the bench. I would like to see them pick up a solid vet. Don’t laugh but if the Browns cut DA, I wouldn’t mind having him as an insurance policy.
RB – This is a spot where I would like to see 4 guys. If Benson goes down again, we are in trouble. Leonard is a clutch 3rd down RB but is not an every down guy. B. Scott shows promise but isn’t the type of RB that can play every snap in the AFC North without getting killed.
WR – We have nothing behind Chad. If you think Caldwell struggled moving from a #3 to a #2 imagine him being forced into a #1 role. We need WR help bad.
TE – If Kelly comes back and Coffman progresses, we aren’t too bad with them and Foshi, but that’s a big IF. They should probably look for a big blocking TE as Kelly’s replacement.
OL – This is our best group on O. Good group of versitile and young talent. As long as they keep drafting at least 1 per year to challenge, this unit will probably only get better.
DL – This group is deeper than we think but they always end up being the ones injured so it look thin. Peko, Tank, Sims, Odom, Geathers, MJ, Fanene, are 7 very good players that rotate in 4 spots.
LB – Depth is good but not great. Outside of B. Johnson, we could use some new talent to play behind the starters.
DB – I think Trent will get better but we need a good 4th corner. Safety needs help. I like Ndukwe but he would be better as a back up. An upgrade at saftey would definetly put our D at the top.
lmao
This is funny because it’s going to happen in about 10 years…
Good Question, Since I live in Minnesota, I’m going to use Ice analogies.
QB – Thin Ice… but then again the only team that isn’t on thin ice would be the Eagles
WR – I saw in a movie once where a sled dog driver forced his dogs across thin ice and they all died… MB would be the sled dog if he didn’t upgrade WR this year.
TE – Already fell through and now freezing to death in the icy water (too dark?)
OL – Solid enough to skate on, not deep enough to drive your truck on. I think our O line is actually very deep, but not overly talented.
DL – Surprisingly thin? Looks good on the surface but has a caution sign nearby on shore
LB – Bring out the truck, ice fishing house, and Summit (local brewery) cause its Walleye Catchin time! By far in my opinion our deepest position
CB – Better hope the first two layers don’t break…
S – Needs another sheet of ice… but ok for walkin’!
Next week I’ll bring the hot dish.
Our depth is better than the bottom half of the league, so if a key guy goes down, we wont fall to the basement
but if any teams QB goes down, the team will struggle
www.fantasydaddy.com
Weakest is DT by slim margin over TE
since the question says not to include the starters, its DT… we signed not just 1 but 2 former bengals that didn’t do anything while here… If a starter goes down and your signing Harris and Shaun Smith, you’ve got depth problems
QB-need a good back up someone to challenge Palmer
RB-not bad depth but could use a draft pick to challenge Scott, Leonard
WR-Only Chad, in FA get Marshall, Floyd, draft a reciever just not in the first rd
TE-If Jermaine Gresham is available in the the 1st rd and his injuries check out ok get this kid
OL-best depth on team, a mid level draft pick could help
DE-Odom is good, MJ will get bette,r Fanene a nice back up, Geathers sucks and needs to be upgraded
DT-these guys are pretty good but a 3rd rd draft pick could help compiment this group
LB-not bad, sign thurman and possibly pick up FA or draft pick just to add depth
CB/S-Outside of Hall and Joseph this group is weak, needs to be addressed earlier than later in draft, Safety needs to be upgraded use 2nd or 3rd pick to address this
by The Natti Daddi on Feb 11, 2010 11:44 AM EST reply actions
We all need to understand
It’s more the offensive & defensive systems that dictate success. Look at our D, 08 & 09, in 08 it was clearly Zimmers system that made a bunch of 3rd stringers jump to the top half of the NFL and 09 we lost our top sacker, best rookie LB both starting safties and finished 4th in the league. This is the same reason our offense blows every year, we ahve an elite QB one of the best backs in the league a solid O-line a top reciever, an excellent fullback, and who knows about the rest. The offensive sysytem is so average that it hinders development of rookies and does not expose any value of any role players. Hence a below average offense every year. Sad to say but look for more of the same in 2010, dominating D and sh#@ty offense.
Agreed. Depth is magnified by coaching.
Physically, players in the NFL are very similar by position. You hear rookies talk about how they’re bigger and faster than veterans, but the old guys simply know how to beat them. New England has plugged in backups and won Super Bowls a few times thanks to skill over athleticism. The best teams survive injuries because they coach their backups the same as their starters and the players respond.
Zimmer will continue to teach randoms the finer points of defense and success will carry on with whoever is out there. Brat will continue to squander talent thanks to his narrow vision of what an offense can and can’t do.
To directly answer the question though:
I think we’re thinnest at linebacker, safety and tight end. When the likes of Dan Skuta, Tom Nelson and Dan Coates are forced into action, everyone becomes justifiably nervous. Dhani is good in small spaces but is terrifyingly slow. Rivers is the next Brian Simmons (soft), and Jeanty is best left to special teams. Rey is getting better and B. Johnson is great in coverage, but the team needs more there. I’d like to see Dhani replaced next year (expect a blog entry on this soon).
Safety is ok, but are a little too veteran to withstand a whole season. I like Roy, but his arm hurts and will continue to hurt. Crocker is solid but not great. Ndukwe is our best safety and he has coverage problems of his own (but the guy sure can hit). Tom Nelson is a feel-good story when he doesn’t have to start; otherwise he’s an annoyance. A free-safety acquisition could go a long way on the defense.
Tight end…what can we say? Coats=awful, Foschi=average, Kelly=old and hurting, and Coffman=unknown. For a team determined to go old school and play grind-house football, a reliable tight end is absolutely necessary.
That rant went longer than expected but you get the point.
B. Clifton Burke
The key IMO is in 3 positions
Draft Iupati at guard and with another year to gel and get Iupati’s technique fixed on pass protection Carson should have that extra second to step into his throws. There are only about 5-6 QBs in the NFL who could challenge Palmer and they are already starting on very good teams. Someone to challenge for the backup role – yea I could go for that.
We need to sign a FA WR who can take some of the downfield heat from Chad. No risks on high round WRs. We have had enough of that. With 2 WRs that demand double teams the middle will open up for Foshi who I don’t think is a bad player. In the draft I would look for Jordan Shipley out of Texas or Dexter McCluster out of Ole Miss. Check them out. You will be impressed. They would have imediate impact in the slot and one of them, hopefully Shipley who is a Wes Welker type should be available in the 2nd round. Dump Coles and a couple of other WRs who can’t seem to get on the field and make a dfference. OK I am talking about Simpson. If he doesn’t have a stellar camp – cut him and cut out losses.
Draft a solid safety prospect that has potential both in coverage and against the run then let Zimmer coach him up.
Look at BPA in the final 6-7 rounds where Oline or WR diamonds in the rough can be found. I would especially be on the lookout for a big FB who can block. This will probably be Johnson’s last year at FB.
I would add an O-coordinator but that horse is dead. BTW Leonard needs no one to push him. He pushed himself. This guys is a real football player who has just begun to contribute.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
What is with all of the 49er fan post here. Who cares?
These types of posts should be limited to division teams. Come on Kirk strip these posts. They have nothing to offer a Bengals fan.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
IMO on Depth
QB-Not many teams have Depth at QB,Eagles are one of the few
FB-Is fine
RB-Could use a Young Pounder to be Cedrics future replacement a RB in rnd 4-7 area
WR-Need Better weapons for carson simple as that
TE-Need a True Starter,I haven’t given up on Coffman but should target someone in Free Agenecy
Oline-I like our Depth Besides Starting Right Guard IMO we need draft someone high
DE-We need some Speed to go with MJ
DT-Simply need a 4th/5th guy for rotation(alot of our DE’s play DT on passing downs)
LB-Depth is Superb though need a young guy develop at SLB
CB-Depth is good Trent is underrated the guy played well all season yes he got burnt a few times hes a rookie it happens
FS-Need a Capable Starter behind Crocker
SS-Resign Roy or Draft Someone top 3 rnds.
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