Pat Sims relishes role of run-stuffer for Bengals

The Bengals' run defense was often nonexistent in 2015, but Pat Sims' return to Cincinnati could help fix that.

Sims returns to serve as a run-stopping rotational tackle for a line that allowed 116.3 rushing yards per game in 2014. That was 20th in the league after ranking 5th in 2013 and 12th in 2012, Sims final year in stripes.

"I’m always going to go in there and do my job. I’m just a guy that goes in there and stops the run and anything else you ask me to do I’ll put my efforts in there, too," Sims said via Bengals.com. "My main focus is stopping the run."

After the 6'2", 310-pounder left to sign a one-year deal with the Raiders, the Bengals did good in 2013 with a healthy Vontaze Burfict often making up for the line's shortcomings in stopping the run.

But last year was a different story, as Burfict's absence really exposed how weak the line was, especially at defensive tackle. That's led to the Bengals resigning Michael Johnson and Sims in hopes of reclaiming that pre-2014 form.

"When they signed Mike back, I looked at the situation like they're trying to put the whole team back together," Sims said. "I'm just glad to have a chance to play back with Mike and Geno and those guys again."

With a rotation of Domata Peko, Geno Atkins, Brandon Thompson, Sims and Still, this will be one of the key positions to watch in training camp to see how the rotation shakes out. Whatever happens though, Sims is bound to make an impact so long as he's healthy.