Dear John Clayton. Sometimes You Just Can't Get Them All

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 1, 2010 1:46 PM EDT in Analysis

ESPN's John Clayton was asked if recent additions through free agency and the NFL draft has upped the Bengals defense to one of the league's elite.

A: Elite, no. Good, yes. What is lacking is a dominating defensive line. Antwan Odom did a nice job in the first half of last season rushing the passer, but he’s coming off an injury. Except for Tank Johnson, the Bengals lack size at defensive tackle. The exciting part of the defense is the play of their cornerbacks and the speed and tackling ability of their linebackers. To repeat, though, the Bengals must play better. The schedule will be tougher, and the Bengals can’t count on going 6-0 in divisional games like they did last season.

- John Clayton. May 30, 2010

I wonder if he predicted the Bengals would go 6-0 in the division this time last year.

For all the Bengals fans who complained in my mailbag about my not including the team in last week's top 10 offseasons, take heart. The Bengals will rise this year because of the return of Carson Palmer. The schedule should work for a four-game improvement. Going from a .553 strength of schedule to a .465 projected SOS helps. The Bengals face the AFC West and NFC North. A Palmer-led offense usually averages between 23.0 and 26.0 points a game. Last season, Palmer was sidelined most of the season and the Bengals averaged 12.8 points per game. Put me in for at least a four-game improvement based on my formulas. That could put the Bengals, 4-11-1 last season, near .500 in 2009. Their problem is the AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are better teams at the moment.

- John Clayton. May 13, 2009

Exactly.

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Nice research, Clayton

Both Peko and Sims are bigger than Tank (318 and 325, respectively, according to Bengals.com)

Hack.

This is year #3 for Sims. It’ll be a breakout year. Mark it.

by Heywood on Jun 1, 2010 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

Peko is one of the better run stuffing DT in the hole league. Sims is bigger than Peko and may be a bit more athlectic…..Once again it’s the Bengal players getting no love what so ever. How no one on this defense last year did not make the Pro Bowl is beyond me. Hall and Joseph each had 6picks each. John Clayton would have an argument if he talked about our DE….they have to be able to get pressure on the opp Qb this year……I do not care about sacks…..they are overrated….This team must get pressure without Blitzing this year….good defenses are able to do that…….

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Jun 1, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

did you see the documentary on the hole league?

Great movie..

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Jun 1, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

No respect for Bengals

One of the issues the Bengals will face from the media is that they only know the names of Palmer, Andre Smith, Bryant, Chad, Benson, Gresham, Tank, Odom, Hall, Joseph, Rey, and Roy Williams. They equate Benson with under achieving Chad with show boating, Andre with man-boobs, Bryant with underachieving, Roy with can’t cover, and Tank with guns. That leaves only 3 quality players in Carson and the CBs and 2 unknowns in Rey and Gresham. Until we win multiple play-off games, they won’t bother to look further on the roster to make their predictions and analysis, they will just do as Hobson says and say the Bengals suck, move on.

by jim0ijk on Jun 1, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Rodney Dangerfield

got more resect than the 2010 Bengals.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jun 1, 2010 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

LOL

by UpStateMike on Jun 2, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

*respect

by Anthony Cosenza on Jun 1, 2010 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

that's ok

Bengal’s D will play with something to prove. That’s the way Zim likes it.

by featherman on Jun 1, 2010 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh.

I can understand it when the media doesn’t give us respect—it’s been quite a while since we’ve won a playoff game, let alone had consecutive winning seasons.

Likewise, I can understand it when writers and talking heads forget about on-the-bubble players—they’ve got 32 teams to cover, I won’t be shocked or offended if they forget to mention Abdul Hodge in an article about AFC linebacker corps.

But forgetting about a good defensive team’s starting DT and top backup? Really? Ugh.

by Big Sky Bengal on Jun 1, 2010 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

Don't get all worked up about this article

We know the team we have. That’s the important part and they will all be kissing our ass, just like they eventually turned around and had to do once we went from 4-11-1.

So, let him think he’s right. Let Clayton and his readers think it’s true that we just have a “Good” D. When the stats and victories prove without a doubt we are the best, then we can tell everyone to go suck it.

by UpStateMike on Jun 1, 2010 2:53 PM EDT reply actions