Justin Smith?

[DuffMan]

The Justin Smith situation has me wondering whether or not we should bring him back.

On the one hand:

-He's been a consistent (but not dominant) performer throughout his career

-Actually shows up against the run

-CAN get to the QB (as opposed to B-Rob)

-Could fit at DE in a 4-3 or 3-4, which is a rare thing to find (i guess B-Rob can do that too )

-Has a motor and rarely gives up on a play

On the other:

-Never put up double digit sacks as expected from a #4 overall pick (probably never will)

-Has only really performed well at RE, where on paper and on the field looks like LE would be a better fit

-Over-pursues frequently and can get neutralized easily by decent OTs when rushing the passer

-Will require major $$$ considering the new cap and weak FA, we could end up paying him like he's performed like a top-5 pick

-Geathers (and maybe Steinbach) looks to be a higher priority for the club

Of course my answer is the vanilla one: bring him back if the money is right. But regardless I'd still go for a pass rusher early in the draft, should be some good workable talent where we'll be picking (Woodley, Moses, Abiamiri, Spencer).

Thoughts?

[HoosierCat]

Well, you'll find no shortage of fans who want to run Justin out of town on a rail (not me) but in my mind the bottom line is, what's the alternative to re-signing him?

1. Sign some better FA DE instead. Only problem there is that Justin looks to be the best FA DE likely to be available. And even if he isn't the cost will almost certainly be more than the Bengals would be willing to pay, especially in what looks to be a free-for-all year.

2. OK, then keep B-flop for the last year of his contract, plug Geathers back into a starting role, hope the untested Non-Dairy Dessert Rucker can actually play, hope Pollack can make it back and do some spot duty, and of course there's always Carl Plowed Jr., Jonathan Fanene. Frankly, that sounds about like Bengals business as usual, and also like a disaster waiting to happen. Too much wishin'-hopin'-prayin' for my blood.

3. Draft a DE with the 18th pick. Ouentin Moses maybe? OK fine...but then you've just created a hole to solve a hole, and needs at DT, CB, SS, OLB, and TE go wanting. And we've only got one more day 1 pick.

"Overpaying" Justin sounds like the best of a bunch of bad choices to me right now.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I'm neutral on Smith - as HC said I'm not sure what the alternative is, due to all the other needs on this team.

I think the major probems are at DB and the LB groups. Also the d-coordinator (or Marvin not sure) are putrid.

4 years now and the defense seems to have gotten worse as well as more hokey and inconsistent over time.

[Kazkal]

1.)FA's no one looks to be a upgrade over justin...

2.)Drafting a DE rnd 1....Gaines Adams might be a upgrade(good vs pass avg /below avg vs run) But he'll be gone when we are picking....Moses and Woodley would probbley be better off moving to SLB to replace pollack...

3.)Hope Rucker is a star in the making...(laughs)

I'd just rather just Resign Justin and Geathers and upgrade other postions...If we really want to improve our pass rush I say we get a better defensive coordinator and take a OLB who can put his hand down on passing plays.

My dream draft

Rnd 1

Quentin Moses or Lamarr Woodley OLB

Rnd 2

Fred Bennett

Rnd 3(Tag Steinbach then trade him)

Desmond Bishop, Dan Mozes or Manuel Ramirez

Rnd 4

Paul Soliai or Stanley Doughty

Rnd 5

Lorenzo Booker, Garrett Wolfe, Rory Johnson or Chris Henry

Rnd 6

Anyone who was mentioned in rnd 5 and special teamers

rnd 7

Special teamers