This years defense

[ChadJohnson-85]

This is what I think the Bengals defense will look like this year.

DE, Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers

DT, Domata Peko, Pat Sims

WSLB, Keith Rivers

MLB, Odell Thurman

SSLB, Ahmad Brooks

CB1, Johnathan Joseph

CB2, Leon Hall

Nickle Back, Deltha O'Neal

FS, Chinedum Ndukwe

SS, Marvin White

If Odell doesen't start at the begining of the season then I think the LB corp will look like this.

WSLB, Rashad Jeanty

MLB, Keith Rivers

SSLB, Ahmad Brooks

[duus]

This is what I think the Bengals defense will look like this year.

DE, Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers

DT, Domata Peko, Pat Sims

WSLB, Keith Rivers

MLB, Odell Thurman

SSLB, Ahmad Brooks

CB1, Johnathan Joseph

CB2, Leon Hall

Nickle Back, Deltha O'Neal

FS, Chinedum Ndukwe

SS, Marvin White

If Odell doesen't start at the begining of the season then I think the LB corp will look like this.

WSLB, Rashad Jeanty

MLB, Keith Rivers

SSLB, Ahmad Brooks

Folks might find holes, concerns, etc ... but I like what I see there. A lot of potential, and a group with incredible youth and upside. Compare this to the two defensive units in our division that get all the glory (and for good reason over the years) and you will see they are much, much older and didn't do all that much to help themselves on that side of the ball this past weekend.

[TecmoFever]

That is an amazingly young defense. We will probably go through a lot of growing pains (especially at LB), but in the end, we may just have ourselsves a solid and attacking D.

That being said, I do expect Dexter Jackson and Dhani Jones to start at the beginning of the season just to have some experience in there. Possibly Jeanty too.

Will Thornton be cut now or do they keep him around for leadership? I've been ready to see him cut for the last three years.

[kingwilly]

All I can say is the key will be LB health and the combo of Odom and Peko. If they can deliver, the other pieces are there.

[BlainThePain]

I don't think Pat Sims will start. I think it will still be JT for at least the first half of the season and Sims and Shirley will be rotational.

[membengal]

It's a good solid step in the right direction...

[duus]

Seriously ... with all the criticisms of this defense, I wonder if someone might be able to put together an AFC North comparison of projected starters, depth, and age of each player. I don't have the numbers, but there is no doubt the Steelers have some serious age happening with their defensive starters. Few are talking about that.

[Ickey44]

The Steelers defense is more about scheme and playcalling rather than personnel. They've had Lebeau running their defense forever and that's why it's been good. Note that players leaving the Steelers have historically not had much success with their new teams. I just wish Lebeau would've stayed here as coordinator.

[Defender]

I agree, while it would be somewhat exciting to see the all the youth start to cut their teeth, there should, and probably will be, some more veterans infused at least to start the season (DJax, Dhani and Jeanty). That being said, didn't Jeanty take SLB and Dhani on WLB? Would the Bengals cange those roles?

[Wraith]

Defense.

Line:

Odom and Geathers at DE with Rucker and Fanene playing a situational role.

5 Man rotation with Peko, Sims, Shirley, Thornton and Fanene playing various roles.

In a 3-4 look they will play Sims/Peko at NT with Odom, Thornton, and Fanene at 3-4 DE

Odom will be on the field ALOT!

Linbackers:

Rivers is going to be the day one starter at MLB he will rotate to SAM when they line up 3-4. Rivers will play MLB because he is best leader on the LBer corp excepting Jones who will be a backup and leadership will be that much more important now that the MLBer will have the headset. Odell and Brooks haven't shown that type of decision making ability.

Thurman provided he makes the team will play on the weak side OLB to maximize his playmaking ability, Brooks will play the SSOLB position. Jeanty at SSOLB, Jones MLB, and Blackstock at WSOLB. Thurman will rotate to WIL in a 3-4 with Jeanty coming in to fill the fourth spot moving Brooks to WSOLB.

They are going to be big and fast the question is can they play disaplined defense and will the scheme maximize their potential. Of Course the ability to stay healthy and out-of-jail would be nice as well. Pass rush will come from Geathers and Odom and the OLBers goodness knows Thurman and Brooks can rush the passer.

DBs:

Safeties are going to be tough to predict. Ndukwe and Lynch are locks to make the team, White as well probably. I like the look of Hebert as well which leaves Daze-Jones and Busing on the outside looking in. DJax is history. Young and fast as well as deep and these guys (unlike the LBers) are also great character guys.

CBs are going to be J Joe and Leon Hall with Castille/Blue Adams playing the nickle. Deltha won't make this team after the problems he gave the coaches last year he will be part of the change in additude that Marvin was talking about last year.

We are going to be VERY young on defense but if we can stay reasonably healthy and Odell can keep his head on straight we will also be VERY athletic maybe the most athletic defense in the NFL and hopefully our new D-Coordinator can keep it simple and just allow his players to make plays

[Adam-Whodey]

is Mike Myers still with the team? and am i wrong or does Geathers translate to a OLB in a 3-4 scheme?

[Wraith]

I Think Geathers is sitting on the bench when we play a 3-4, as for Myers, yeah he is still on the team but I forgot him in my analysis. My Bad.

[bengals7833]

EVENTHOUGH their is some promise on the d. that safety combo will be the worst in the nfl

[Kazkal]

That is an amazingly young defense.

I think thats a good thing though with our new DC he'll have young minds to work with to build a defense that will last hopefully.

FS, Chinedum Ndukwe

SS, Marvin White

I'd say switch these around Marvin was the backup to Madieu where Ndukwe was backup of dexter.I wonder if we keep dexter for another year or stick to the youth movement.

[Clackwoods]

That is an amazingly young defense.

I think thats a good thing though with our new DC he'll have young minds to work with to build a defense that will last hopefully.

FS, Chinedum Ndukwe

SS, Marvin White

I'd say switch these around Marvin was the backup to Madieu where Ndukwe was backup of dexter.I wonder if we keep dexter for another year or stick to the youth movement.

Dexter might be old but he was on some very good defenses in Tampa. We will keep him and Delthea to continue to teach our young secondary but this I believe is the last year for both of them!

[JoePong]

Defense.

Line:

Odom and Geathers at DE with Rucker and Fanene playing a situational role.

5 Man rotation with Peko, Sims, Shirley, Thornton and Fanene playing various roles.

In a 3-4 look they will play Sims/Peko at NT with Odom, Thornton, and Fanene at 3-4 DE

Odom will be on the field ALOT!

Linbackers:

Rivers is going to be the day one starter at MLB he will rotate to SAM when they line up 3-4. Rivers will play MLB because he is best leader on the LBer corp excepting Jones who will be a backup and leadership will be that much more important now that the MLBer will have the headset. Odell and Brooks haven't shown that type of decision making ability.

Thurman provided he makes the team will play on the weak side OLB to maximize his playmaking ability, Brooks will play the SSOLB position. Jeanty at SSOLB, Jones MLB, and Blackstock at WSOLB. Thurman will rotate to WIL in a 3-4 with Jeanty coming in to fill the fourth spot moving Brooks to WSOLB.

They are going to be big and fast the question is can they play disaplined defense and will the scheme maximize their potential. Of Course the ability to stay healthy and out-of-jail would be nice as well. Pass rush will come from Geathers and Odom and the OLBers goodness knows Thurman and Brooks can rush the passer.

DBs:

Safeties are going to be tough to predict. Ndukwe and Lynch are locks to make the team, White as well probably. I like the look of Hebert as well which leaves Daze-Jones and Busing on the outside looking in. DJax is history. Young and fast as well as deep and these guys (unlike the LBers) are also great character guys.

CBs are going to be J Joe and Leon Hall with Castille/Blue Adams playing the nickle. Deltha won't make this team after the problems he gave the coaches last year he will be part of the change in additude that Marvin was talking about last year.

We are going to be VERY young on defense but if we can stay reasonably healthy and Odell can keep his head on straight we will also be VERY athletic maybe the most athletic defense in the NFL and hopefully our new D-Coordinator can keep it simple and just allow his players to make plays

I think Ndukwe and White both have a shot to start despite their youth. White will definitely start because we don't really have another FS to challenge as a starter. Ndukwe, DJax, Lynch, H Jones, Busing...all these guys are strong safeties. Ndukwe would have to beat out DJax, but that is very possible. But you forgot about Kilmer when mentioning the safeties. Not sure where exactly he fits in position, but I think he makes the team and maybe backs up White at FS.

At corner, Deltha is a lock to make the team and be the third CB. David Jones will b a factor as well - ahead of Blue Adams. Adams is nothing more than a special teams guy and will not get snaps with the defense. Just recently, Marvin specifically mentioned Jones as a guy they had in their plans and said he would be a factor for them. He's a talented guy that the saints (I think) drafted last year in the 5th round. Saints fans were disappointed they let him go. They had hoped to sneak him onto the practice squad. But he supposedly has a lot of ability. I was wondering how he has been progressing, so it was good to hear Marvin mention him by name. I think Hall, Joseph, and Jones will be a good group for quite a while.

[JoePong]

Defense.

Line:

Odom and Geathers at DE with Rucker and Fanene playing a situational role.

5 Man rotation with Peko, Sims, Shirley, Thornton and Fanene playing various roles.

In a 3-4 look they will play Sims/Peko at NT with Odom, Thornton, and Fanene at 3-4 DE

Odom will be on the field ALOT!

Linbackers:

Rivers is going to be the day one starter at MLB he will rotate to SAM when they line up 3-4. Rivers will play MLB because he is best leader on the LBer corp excepting Jones who will be a backup and leadership will be that much more important now that the MLBer will have the headset. Odell and Brooks haven't shown that type of decision making ability.

Thurman provided he makes the team will play on the weak side OLB to maximize his playmaking ability, Brooks will play the SSOLB position. Jeanty at SSOLB, Jones MLB, and Blackstock at WSOLB. Thurman will rotate to WIL in a 3-4 with Jeanty coming in to fill the fourth spot moving Brooks to WSOLB.

They are going to be big and fast the question is can they play disaplined defense and will the scheme maximize their potential. Of Course the ability to stay healthy and out-of-jail would be nice as well. Pass rush will come from Geathers and Odom and the OLBers goodness knows Thurman and Brooks can rush the passer.

DBs:

Safeties are going to be tough to predict. Ndukwe and Lynch are locks to make the team, White as well probably. I like the look of Hebert as well which leaves Daze-Jones and Busing on the outside looking in. DJax is history. Young and fast as well as deep and these guys (unlike the LBers) are also great character guys.

CBs are going to be J Joe and Leon Hall with Castille/Blue Adams playing the nickle. Deltha won't make this team after the problems he gave the coaches last year he will be part of the change in additude that Marvin was talking about last year.

We are going to be VERY young on defense but if we can stay reasonably healthy and Odell can keep his head on straight we will also be VERY athletic maybe the most athletic defense in the NFL and hopefully our new D-Coordinator can keep it simple and just allow his players to make plays

I think Ndukwe and White both have a shot to start despite their youth. White will definitely start because we don't really have another FS to challenge as a starter. Ndukwe, DJax, Lynch, H Jones, Busing...all these guys are strong safeties. Ndukwe would have to beat out DJax, but that is very possible. But you forgot about Kilmer when mentioning the safeties. Not sure where exactly he fits in position, but I think he makes the team and maybe backs up White at FS.

At corner, Deltha is a lock to make the team and be the third CB. David Jones will b a factor as well - ahead of Blue Adams. Adams is nothing more than a special teams guy and will not get snaps with the defense. Just recently, Marvin specifically mentioned Jones as a guy they had in their plans and said he would be a factor for them. He's a talented guy that the saints (I think) drafted last year in the 5th round. Saints fans were disappointed they let him go. They had hoped to sneak him onto the practice squad. But he supposedly has a lot of ability. I was wondering how he has been progressing, so it was good to hear Marvin mention him by name. I think Hall, Joseph, and Jones will be a good group for quite a while.

[alleycat]

No one seems to be mentioning Kilmer. I do seem to remember before his last injury-marred season him taking a pick to the house in a very big game. I actually thought he was going to be one of our safeties of the future...

Although I do remember the team liking him at corner as well.

[Thurmanation]

Rivers, Thurman, Brooks FTW

[cincyhokie]

As much as I am glad we made changes to the defense, I think we will miss Madieu's cover skills in the secondary. Our safeties are very young. Keeping Dexter Jackson will help with experience but he's a cover liability. I hope Marvin White can step up and Kilmer can come back 100%.

[BengalszoneBilly]

As much as I am glad we made changes to the defense, I think we will miss Madieu's cover skills in the secondary. Our safeties are very young. Keeping Dexter Jackson will help with experience but he's a cover liability. I hope Marvin White can step up and Kilmer can come back 100%.

All the players added on defense, be it through the draft, free agency, or regained from suspensions, do not matter as much as how Zimmer puts them to use. To say the least he has great tools at his disposal. How he utilizes them remains the question.

We all saw how poorly Chuck Bresnahan did this. One game would be good, the next he fell on his face. If we can get some consistency out of the defense, I feel we'll get a winning record and make the playoffs.

[cincyhokie]

As much as I am glad we made changes to the defense, I think we will miss Madieu's cover skills in the secondary. Our safeties are very young. Keeping Dexter Jackson will help with experience but he's a cover liability. I hope Marvin White can step up and Kilmer can come back 100%.

All the players added on defense, be it through the draft, free agency, or regained from suspensions, do not matter as much as how Zimmer puts them to use. To say the least he has great tools at his disposal. How he utilizes them remains the question.

We all saw how poorly Chuck Bresnahan did this. One game would be good, the next he fell on his face. If we can get some consistency out of the defense, I feel we'll get a winning record and make the playoffs.

I just got a look at the Cory Lynch highlights. Whoa, this dude has some CLOSING speed. He looks extremely instinctive against the pass and was flying all over the middle of the field. This guys playing speed makes his timed 40 irrelevant. Looks good.

I agree, let's see what Zimmer can do this year with the young talent we have now. Win or lose if we see the kind of 2003 effort we're going to have an exciting team. We added players with character, smarts, and leadership. Definately a step in the right direction.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Win or lose if we see the kind of 2003 effort we're going to have an exciting team. We added players with character, smarts, and leadership. Definately a step in the right direction.

Great point. Cincinnati needs to return to that time in space. Marvin had it going on then. It was his first year as head coach. They just drafted the Heisman winner in Carson Palmer. Hope abounded, but the momentum was lost.

What happened? Poor draft choices? Questionable coaching changes? As Mike Brown likes to say poor luck?

I can't say for sure. If I could I would have said it by now. What I can say is I believe Marvin has learned a lot from his early years as head coach. Experience is a mighty thing, and Marvin Lewis now has some under his belt.

Hell, how long did it take Bill Cowher to finally obtain his goal? I say this year Marvin hits his stride, and the Bengals surprise a lot of people, including us.

Obviously I'm optimistic. Well IMHO I have good reason. It was a good draft. We addressed the teams needs. The Bengals didn't let the Chad fiasco phase them. They went out and did what needed to be done without selling out to a malcontent.

I for one cannot wait for preseason. Our team has a ton of good young players who hold promise, and a new DC who holds my hopes in his play calling.

To steal Army's sign off line...WHO DEY!! :player:

[walzav29]

I think Jackson will be released. It's hard to count on Odell because of his past, and Brooks has never proved anything. The potential is great. I remember in 2005 they did not have shut down corners and I feel the defense has a lot more talent than before. Zimmer said he will be more of an attacking defense which is great. If Sims or Shirley (hate this pick) can get in there with Peko it might just be good enough.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I think that the Bengals have accomplished their goals for the D this offseason. They aquired another pass rusher and 2 stout lineman that give them the chance to show some multiple looks on D (3-4 and 4-3). Despite that, the key will be whether the players and learn and apply Coach Zimmer's scheme, which I think will be more similar to the early scheme in Dallas, as opposed to last year's with the Falcons. Another overshadowed signing was LB Coach Jeff FitzGerald. He has done an outstanding job in developing the Ravens LB's over the last few years and I think that was part of the problem with Hunley; You never really saw the linebackers that we would draft or sign imrove under his coaching, although he has been known as an excellent talent evaluator and oversaw some of the combine drills for LB's over the last few seasons. With Brooks, Thurman, Jeanty, Blackstock and now Rivers, he has some players (with upside) to work with and I think you'll see them improve, the same as he helped in the development of Terrell Suggs, Adalius Thomas and Bart Scott. If the DB's perform as well going forward as they did at the end of last year, I think you'll see a top 15 unit this year and top 7-10 defense in '09.