I would love to resign Smith...but economically, I just dont see it happening. Our defense is a mess, and he really is one of our best defensive players, but the salary he is going to command will probably price him out of a return.
I wish we didn't have so many idiots on this team, its really killing us.
We need help at every single defensive position....minus M. Williams. I thought Ahmad Brooks was showing some promise at MLB earlier this year, then he fell off the face of the Earth. Simmons is always a decent player, but isnt enough of a playmaker and isnt suited for the middle. I really wish Odell wouldnt have been such a moron, I would love to have his talent back.
I don't think Smith will get re-signed....He's a nice player, but he's gonna get overpaid in FA....He's stout against the run, but his "bull rush" is about as advanced as his pass rush moves get and often loses containment....
Steinbach is also gone....I'm saying 95% because he is gonna get even crazier money than Smith due to his versatility of playing three OL positions...Whit is gonna be fine at LG next year, I'm liking that pick of him last year more and more....
Stacey Andrews, Landon Johnson, Caleb Miller, Shaun Smith, and Reggie Kelley all need to be re-signed....And I believe Greg Brooks, Kevin Kaesviharn, and Tony Stewart should....I'd cut bait with "Toast" Tory James unless he settles on a base salary....Re-sign one of the backup QBs or go after one in FA...The rest are mainly special teamers....Oh, and Larson should be re-signed...He had a much improved '06 over his past seasons...
I'd also throw money at CB Nate Clements or CB Asante Samuel and hope we get lucky....Possibly LB Adailus Thomas or TE Daniel Graham if we miss out on the CBs....
THE DRAFT
Biggest Needs:
1. LB - With the '05 draft down the tubes (Pollack and Thurman), there is a major need for LB quality and quantity....
2. CB - Tory James is gone, but with Deltha slipping and JJ screwing up, another cover man is needed...
3. DT - I don't think this is as big of a need as others, because I like Peko's potential, and Shaun Smith's production when he gets the oppurtunity to play...Big Sam will be back and Bryan Robinson and Jonny Fanene can go inside on passing downs....
4. DE - With Smith likely leaving, DE could be a bigger need than it currently is....I like Geathers as a full-time RE next year, and Robinson can hold down the fort as a run stopping LE along with Fanene....We also have a couple talented youngsters in Frostee Rucker and Eric Henderson who haven't gotten the oppurtunity to play....
5. C - Richie's absence was painfully obvious all year even though Ghiaciuc played better as the season went on....Is he the long term answer? I don't know...
Other draft points: -Defense should be 4 out of our 6 picks and I would prefer it be 5....The first 2 picks must be defense...
-TE is not a need if Kelly comes back....We have the best WR trio in football when Henry isn't breaking the law....
-S depth is a concern if we are bitten with injuries....But I like Madieu and Dex as starters with KK being a situational guy...
I'm going to wait until after the Senior Bowl and Combine before I settle on the prospects I definitely like....But I have a general idea about who that will be right now...
By Chris Bracke, Associate Editor Bengals Offseason Needs We continue our team-by-team look at offseason needs with the Bengals, a team that wasn't able to duplicate their success of the previous season and dealt with even more distractions off the field. With defensive-minded coach Marvin Lewis at the helm, the focus will be on improving their defense (and public image) this offseason.
Areas of Need: In an ideal world, the Bengals would come out of the offseason having filled their need for a designated driver, maximum security training facility, and a pass rush. The lack of a rush has put more pressure on a secondary that has ranked eighth or higher in interceptions three of the last four seasons, though due as much to opportunity as talent.
The needs on defense aren't just on the line this offseason, as the team will lose defensive back Tory James, who has had at least four interceptions in eight of the last nine seasons and is likely to leave via free agency. Defensive end Justin Smith is also a free agent, but he may get the franchise tag, as the team attempts to retain what little strength they have on a weak defensive line. Keeping Smith on the same line as developing end Robert Geathers is viewed as a priority considering they combined for 18 of the team's 35 sacks last season, with Geathers wrapping up 10.5 of them.
As highly touted as the offensive line was heading into the 2006 season, they're not getting any younger and when injuries piled up last season, the effect it had on Carson Palmer and the offense was obvious. They allowed the 14th most sacks in the league just one year after they went one sack shy of leading the league in fewest allowed.
The Bengals obviously have one of the best receiving corps in football, but if they decide not to tolerate No. 3 wideout Chris Henry or if he gets a four game suspension like some reports claim he might, the need for another viable receiver could come into play.
Help is on the Way? After seeing a whopping nine of his players get arrested in the past 13 months, Bengals president Mike Brown made it clear that the team will drastically change its approach on draft day. "There may be some gifted athletes we won't pick that we might have picked a year ago," Brown told The Cincinnati Enquirer.
When it comes to the draft, the Bengals clearly won't spend an early pick on a receiver. Even if Henry does face a suspension, the players they would be passing up to select a wideout would be tough to overlook. The Bengals will look for the best defensive player available, particularly linemen, early in the draft. They'd love to see one of defensive tackle DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler, or one of two defensive ends, Quentin Moses or Jamaal Anderson slide to them, but that seems unlikely. If they don't see a tackle or end that jumps out at them when they pick at 18 in the first round, don't be surprised if they put that off another round or two and address their offensive line. Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown would seem to be a likely candidate and it would give them a pair of Levi's (the other being offensive tackle Levi Jones) on their line.
One gifted athlete they selected a couple seasons ago, linebacker Odell Thurman, was suspended for much of last season for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy and he would seemingly be a helpful addition, assuming he returns to the team. Coach Lewis has made it clear that he doesn't even want Thurman back this season, which is saying a lot about the team's tolerance for miscreants regardless of their talent. One factor that could make it easier for the team to kick Thurman to the curb is second-year linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who the team expects to take a significant leap forward in his development this coming season.
The Bengals will likely let James walk, which could result in free safety Madieu Williams sliding over to play cornerback. Cincy likes having some flexibility heading into the draft, knowing they can move Madieu to one side of the field and sign or draft a player who can cut their teeth at safety.
You might have thought we were joking about the designated driver, but the Bengals now have a 24-hour phone line that their players can call for a ride. It remains to be seen if they can find as simple of a solution to bolster their defense.
RUMOR: Bengals to Franchise Justin Smith for about $8.1M.
Wow, I really don't like this (assuming they follow through with it). I can't exactly see where this team is headed right now, but hopefully they know what they're doing.
ha, I was listening to a local radio station about this, I think what they should do is hire one, but have them be like a specialist in psychology or something, and mainly work with players about off-field issues and still leave most things up to Marvin.
aaawall91 wrote:ha, I was listening to a local radio station about this, I think what they should do is hire one, but have them be like a specialist in psychology or something, and mainly work with players about off-field issues and still leave most things up to Marvin.
Yeah, that's where I got that question from. Richard Skinner I believe.
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by Flux » Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:43 am 
