This Has Been the Best Off-season Since...

[membengal]

For my money, this is the best off-season this team has had since Marvin was hired and the initial flurry of defensive free agents were signed that indicated this was going to be a team that would at least try to win. So, since 2003.

What has worked, from where I sit?

1. Good strategic free agent signings that actually addressed need. Utecht at TE and Odom at DE were must gets. The depth they got at LB is welcome too.

2. Well planned and executed draft. Got the obvious player instead of reaching at #1, and immediately helped themselves in the defensive front 7. Flawless picks at 2 and 3 to get WR blood infused into a position desperately needing fresh faces, and at the same time giving themselves some cover in the Chad Johnson staring contest.

3. The Chad Johnson staring contest. The Bengals won it. Decisively. They let CJ talk himself into a corner, they actually got public opinion on their side, and, in the end, Johnson and Rosenhaus blinked. Big time. A huge development.

4. Read the market right on Stacy Andrews. I know some of you are not his biggest fans, but the Bengals made a smart play in franchising him and keeping him close for this season. My guess is they will commit to him long-term at some point, and he will be Willie's replacement. Glad to have that in place rather than be hoping the fourth rounder pans out (although I do like Collins).

5. Cut Thurman and Henry. This one was also huge. Too long coming, but welcome when it finally arrived. It has been nothing short of crystal clear relief to not have to react at their continued shenanigans this off-season since their becoming former Bengals. If it feels that way to the average fan, it must be doubly a relief in the locker-room and front office. Getting rid of those distractions is going to pay off in ways we cannot begin to fully appreciate.

6. Mike Zimmer. It finally feels like they got the DC hire right. I am really looking forward to seeing the defense evolve now. And they have some pieces in place to boot.

Will any of that add up to a 9-7 or 10-6 season? Dunno. But none of it hurt that particular goal, which seperates this off-season from too many of the previous ones, where the teams chances of success were wounded in one fashion or another by off-season mishaps. Whether this team can get back to the playoffs will depend a lot on luck, keeping free from injuries, getting a favorable bounce or two and call or two, and what not, but it feels to me like we are overdue for some of that as well. I am also pleased that most of the NFL's observers are looking past the Bengals. Good. Let the pressure go to Cleveland and others, flying below the radar can often be a good thing.

As camp approaches, it is hard not to be a little optimistic, for a change. It has been a really good off-season, I am looking forward to seeing what unfolds.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Funny, I haven't been all that stoked about this offseason.

1) I consider those signings a failure in the draft over the last few years. Utecht isn't a bad signing, but I'm thinking they overpaid for Odom.

2) If by "well-planned" you mean "completely outmaneuvered by the super-geniuses at New Orleans", then I completely agree.

3) I think this tactical victory will be a strategic loss unless Chad unexpectedly does more growing up over the next month than I think he has in him. Yep, Mike Brown sure showed Chad who's boss, and I hope Mike can hold on to that when he sees Chad melt down on the sidelines next year. I think they could have had 2 first-rounders for Chad and I'd have taken them.

4) Except they haven't re-signed him. So best case scenario, they got a 1-year rental on Andrews, will almost certainly lose him, and we're back to square 1 next year with an older Willie Andrews.

5) It was definitely time they cleared those old losses from the books, I can't argue there.

6) This is the only move all offseason I had any enthusiasm for, but I like it a lot. I'm hoping Marvin lets Zimmer do his job. I think switching DCs alone could be worth 8 spots in D rankings, possibly more. Chucky was that bad.

[membengal]

---Could not disagree more on my point #2. I just wasn't all that psyched to throw everything the Bengals had to hope that the DT most were lusting over would immedaitely pan out from this draft. Too many d tackles take years to develop. Rather than reaching and gutting their draft to move up, they stayed put, got a difference maker at LB, and addressed the Wides, which desperately needed addressing. Oh, and they DID get their D-tackle after all, in Pat Sims who has every chance to be everything that what's-his-face from USC is supposed to be. AND they still got the LB they needed and wide receivers they needed. Really, you have to stretch to find fault with what the Bengals did on draft day, you really do. If Pittsburgh had done what the Bengals had done, every observer calls them geniuses and we all bitch on here about why Cincy couldn't be that smart. So, in fairness, when Cincy does something right, it is perfectly OK to admit same. It really is.

You and I view the draft ridiculously differently.

---Sure, Chad can still throw another tantrum at any minute. It is that way with any toddler. That doesn't change the fact that the Bengals dealt with the previous tantrum correctly and let the toddler scream and cry until he was out of breath. If the toddler begins to throw another tantrum, thanks to Simpson and Caldwell, they can simply let himself cry himself out again. That said, IF the toddler will show up and play ball, two first rounders for him was not enough compensation. This team expects him to honor his contract. God forbid he should. I am with them on how they handled this.

---They can still re-sign Andrews They can always re-franchise him. At the least, they have one year to see how Collins develops and protect themselves a bit. Given that money wasn't tight this off-season, I am unpersuaded by the panty-bunching that has occurred with the Bengals trying to protect themselves at the o-line. Given who CP is to this team, I will NEVER criticize them for spending extra money on the line.

ETA: I don't care if they overpaid for Odom or not, he was a major need, and they got him. That's how free agency works, sometimes you have to overpay. Even I was tired of defending Justin Smith on this board, and look what he was paid in free agency. You really have to stretch to criticize that particular signing...

[TippCityRick]

1) I agree that these were good signings. Odom may be a bit overpaid, but we won't know until the season starts. The point is they went out and got him.

2) I still say they got the man they wanted. I don't believe they wanted Ellis . . . too small. Same with Laws from Notre Dame in the second. They stayed put and took the best player available. Sims looks good to me.

3) They won this one and will Collins in Chad's ear he'll be fine this year as long as we're winning. If we're not then Chad will not be the only Bengal upset on the sidelines. Screw the draft choices . . . you don't get rid of one of the 3 best receivers in the league and possibly one of the best 20 players in the league.

4) I'm on record as not approving the franchising of Andrews. Hasn't shown me enough in the run blocking game to show that he's a top 10 talent.

5) No doubt!

6) Double no doubt!! Again we won't know how this pans out until the season starts, but a much needed move.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Much of this amounts to re-hashing, but I'd love to see any competent NFL talent evaluator who thinks that Sims grades out about the same as Ellis. Really. I would. Many teams had Ellis as the best DT on the board, and by all accounts the dropoff in talent was after that batch, and before Rivers. Rivers was mid-round talent. I'm not sorry to have him, but he ain't as good as Ellis, regardless of the amount of kool-aid consumed. Problem with this draft is too much reaching.

As for the FA signings, I consider the current state of the D-line to be a failure of the draft recently. Lines in football is like pitching in baseball - if you try to buy it as opposed to developing it, you'll pay out the ass. Odom is expensive, and in my opinion, not that great. Like I said, I'm not that enthused.

Regarding Chad, there's too many "if"s in that statement. Which would you rather have, the satisfaction of having "beaten" Chad, or win games? I'll take the wins, myself.

As for Andrews, it doesn't look like they're working a deal, which he's not worth anyway, and I believe under the CBA it's more expensive to franchise a guy twice (though I could be wrong). I agree in general on spending for OL, but the fact that they're relegated to spending it on Andrews is, again, a failure.

[membengal]

How close does Sims have to be to Ellis before you are satisfied? My undestanding is that Sims, while not grading out as good as Ellis, is in the same ballpark. Soooooo, you get a guy that is close to Ellis, and you still get Rivers? How is that not a good deal for the Bengals? Their needs were many. They addressed several of them with that draft. My problem with your view on Ellis is that it is too centered on one player being a fix for this team. What if Ellis is not all he is supposed to be? What if he is too small and gets pushed around at the point of attack? What then, if the Bengals had given up true value to move up and get him? There were no guarantees with that guy. None. So, instead, they ended up with the best LB in the draft, and the third best DT, instead of getting the second best DT. I am having a hard time seeing where they screwed up in that. I only buy your viewpoint if Ellis is the second coming of Warren Sapp. I happen to not think that he is. If he turns out to be, that's one for you. But I bet the Bengals made the right move on this one, and I feel good about that bet.

As for Chad, I want the Bengals to win games. But, and this is simple, their easiest path to winning games is with CJ on this team and trying his best. At this point, with regard to the staring contest, it appears the Bengals have the upper hand on making that happen.

ETA: Regarding the d-line, did you want them to keep Justin Smith? If not, then how did you want to replace him? Was Odom not a guy who replaces Smith? And for cheaper than Smith got? For as much production?

As for Andrews, where's the failure? They are into him for one year, at this point, and can still buy back into him. In the meantime, they have cover should Willie falter, or Levi for that matter. Given, again, who CP is, why is that a problem?

[Wraith]

The problem most evaluators had with Sims was not his physical ability, but was his intensity, and passion for the game. IF the Bengals did their homework and decided that that that was not as big an issue as most evaluators perceived then they got a GREAT steal with Sims. IF they DIDN'T do their homework and simply took Sims because he was the only DT left on the draft board then I completely agree with DC.

Here the crux in evaluating the Bengals draft, clearly Ellis is better than Rivers straight up, but you didn't have the ability to draft Ellis at 9 so the question is is Ellis better than Rivers and Sims and it all revolves around Sims' ability to play hard everydown and become a football junkie like Chad, Housh, Pollack and just about every other Pro Bowl player. I HOPE the Bengals knew what they were doing when they draft Sims. There is no doubt in my mind that he has the physical tools to be that impact DT we need, there is no doubt that Rivers was the best LBer in this draft (Anyone who is suggesting that Mayo is a better player than Rivers or that New England wouldn't have taken Rivers over Mayo in about a milisecond is looking back at the draft with Patriots colored glasses). The issue is we NEEDED to come out of this draft with an impact DT, we cannot get where we need to without push up the middle. Marvin's defensive scheme has always worked with the D-Line tieing up the blockers and letting the playmaking LBers free to make plays, it doesn't work witout that push upfront (Think Lewis would have been the player he was without Adams, Siragusa, Gregg, Ngata think back to the draft where they selected Ngata and remember that Lewis spent the entire off-season whining about getting an impact DT and how it was impacting his ability to make plays!). If the Coaches are comfortable with Sims then this was a great draft where we let to the draft come to us rather than overspend for a guy in desperation. If however, they weren't creative in getting the guy they needed and have to make do with getting a guy who will be another unmotivated lard-ass who takes plays off then they misplayed this draft badly and it will probably cost Lewis his job.

I am not ready to call this draft one way or another, I like Simpson in this offense and I think he could be what Henry SHOULD have been. I like Caldwell as an insurance policy against Housh leaving. I love Corey Lynch and I think he could be great with some seasoning (I think he'll make an imediate impact on special teams). I Like Craig and Urrutia. Like everyone else I am dumbfounded by the Shirley pick and watching him in OTAs he looks like a big guy who can't move which means he gets cut given the other baggage he brings to the team, but I don't believe that one bad 5th round pick makes or breaks this draft. It all comes down to Sims. Rivers will be what he is which is a Very good probably not great LBer for this team for 10 years. I think he is an upgrade immediately over Landon Johnson so they helped their team.

This offseason was about filling holes and I think they did a good job. They lost Williams but had already planned for that and have guys who will more than adequately take that position. They lost Smith but got a guy that better fits their defense in Odom and is younger so I think they got better there. They lost Landon Johnson but they replaced him with Rivers who has more upside and even short term will be a better player so they got better there. They picked up some much needed LBer depth with Brandon Johnson and Darryl Blackstock so I think they are better there. They picked up some help across the middle who can get separation against LBers and Strong Safeties in Utecht so I think they improved the offense. But it is all for naught if they didn't get the guy they needed to fill the gaping hole in the middle of the Defensive Line, if teams can still push us off the ball then we are still an 8-8 team!

[TippCityRick]

Again you are both assuming Lewis wanted Ellis. I don't think he did. I read many times that Ellis didn't show the "push" that everyone seems to want for a Lewis defense. He's not Sirigusa, Adams, Gregg or Ngata . . . he's Sapp. A decent run stopper but a killer pass rusher from the inside. Sims is more in the mold of the four mentioned above. We'll see as both Ellis and Sims work against NFL centers and guards, but until then just assuming that Ellis was the target is presumtueous. I think Sims works better in the defense and he comes with the same "ifs" you get with every draft pick. Will he continue to work and improve? That's the question with ALL draft picks.

[membengal]

I agree they didn't seem to want Ellis like many folks thought they did (or should have). I wasn't sold on Ellis myself. I would have been glad for the Bengals to pick him if he had fallen to their spot, but did NOT want them to move up to get him, especially considering that there were size and push questions accompanying him.

So, again, it comes down to this. They got the best LB prospect in the draft, one of the top three DT prospects, and addressed needs all over the rest of the team including, happily, WR, with the picks.

That was the start of what made this such a good off-season. Add in the rest of it, and it is one of the better ones we have seen from this club in recent memory.

[HoosierCat]

I'm happy with the offseason. I could quibble, but anything I'd change has its trade-offs. Would I rather they didn't bobble the Rogers trade, for example? Sure -- but if they don't, Odom's money probably goes to a new deal for Rogers and we have a hole at DE. Ellis instead of Rivers? Sure, but then we have a hole at LB. And so on.

Most of all, tho, the team seems to have gotten through the offseason free of surprise injuries. The only ding was to DeDe. Willie is as healthy as could be expected. Levi's knees are OK. Joseph's foot isn't hurt. So is Rudi's hammy and Bluto's thumb and Jeanty's leg and Perry's ankle. Brooks is still rehabbing, hopefully he's ready in September, but that is the only real question mark.

If they remain fortunate on the injury front through camp and preseason, they'll do fine.

[Wraith]

Marvin said on draft day that they had three guys rated approx. the same and they were comfortable with whichever one fell to them. It is assumed that those three guys were Ellis, Rivers, McKelvin and they took the guys that was still there and represented the biggest need. I do think that that is post-draft rationalization just as Johnathon Joseph was "the guy we targeted" three drafts ago when in reality they were really after Manny Lawson. Ellis would have been a complete beast for us, The Pac 10 was largely a passing conference so his numbers reflected better against the pass than the run but watching his game tapes he took good angles to the runner, had a nose for the ball behind the line of scrimmage and when he was called on to plug the middle to stop the run he could do it exceptionally well. Remember he was the strongest player in the draft regardless of weight. I don't think he was a Sapp-type because he wasn't a me-guy but a team guy every interview said that as did his play on the field. Oh, and, if you were to guarantee a guy coming out of college would have Sapp's impact every team in america would take that guy no. 1. Sapp basicly won the Tampa Bucs a Super Bowl and that should not be discounted.

[Adam-Whodey]

I think we knew there were questions marks surrounding Odell and possibly knew there was a good chance we would be cutting him. In that case the draft did not have great linebacker depth (especially NFL ready to start right away i.e. Rivers). On the other hand this was a deep DT draft (everyone wanted Frank Okam who was the 11th rated DT in the draft) so instead of giving up picks we get a starting linebacker right off the bat and fill other needs at WR while still getting a talented DT. I dont see the problem with the pick at all and obviously Zimmer got a say in what he wanted with the pick so let him start his defense out with the player he wants to build his scheme around.

[TippCityRick]

I heard the same thing said about "three guys and we took who was there" stuff also. All I'm saying is that we don't know what prompted Lewis into taking Rivers because he's not going to come out and say anything. He, like many of his fellow drafters don't want others to know what's going on in his head or in his draft room in an attempt to maintain the secrecy of his draft process. My comments about Ellis were only things I read on various draft sights. I didn't work him out nor would I have any idea of what I was doing if I did! The comparison to Sapp was only to say that various draft sights likened Ellis to Sapp in that he would project to be stronger rushing the passer than against the run. Many people here seem to think that we need a run stopper (I would share that opinion). I didn't mean to compare his attitude to Sapp because I know nothing about his character. If he turns out to be Sapp II then Lewis missed. However so did other teams (especially the Patriots!). We won't know until the fur starts flying in September.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

How close does Sims have to be to Ellis before you are satisfied? My undestanding is that Sims, while not grading out as good as Ellis, is in the same ballpark. Soooooo, you get a guy that is close to Ellis, and you still get Rivers? How is that not a good deal for the Bengals?

Because your premise isn't close. To quote a wise man, he isn't in the same ballpark, he ain't even playing the same f**king sport. I'd have rather had a good DT and a passable LB there than the other way around. God knows we haven't had a real DT since Timmy K. was messing up running backs instead of draft picks.

[membengal]

And you are basing that on...what, exactly? What you have read? Well, I have read other stuff that puts Sims just that close. So...we'll see, then. Certainly you never worked them out, and I never worked them out, that leaves, we'll see. But no f**kin' way is the disparity between Ellis/Sims so cavernous that getting Rivers too doesn't more than cancel it out. That's just silly.

By the way, we have a real DT right now. Sims simply is adding onto a developing base. And will add on extremely well in this rotation.

[derekshank]

The issue with DT that most people don't know is that DT is the 2nd riskiest position in the NFL to draft (2nd only to QB). More 1st round busts exist for DT than any other Defensive position. The position with the least amount of busts... LB. Rivers, while not the preferred pick by many fans was the far safer pick.

Now, when comparing Ellis to Sims or even Shirley... Ellis is clearly the better choice. He was a top 10 pick for a reason. However... Peko was a 4th rounder, and most of us are pretty happy with him. I think I'd rather have a 1st round LB and then take a couple boom or bust chances in later rounds. How many 1st round DT's are out there that have lived up to their billing? As Bengal fans, we should be especially sensitive to this given the Big Daddy pick (You know... back to the whole bust argument). It's just risky to take a DT with the #9 pick - and I for one am not that disappointed that he didn't fall to the Bengals.

All that said - I'm neither thrilled nor disappointed with the off-season. The Bengals were more than a couple key pieces from a Super Bowl run... so I'm not upset that they didn't storm the free agent market waving a check book around. However... there are still some very key problems with this team that I don't feel were adequately addressed - so I can't say I feel terribly optimistic. I think the Bengals should be a better team... I just don't have a feeling they are a playoff team. This offseason was another positive step in the right direction... I just don't feel like it was enough.

[ArmyBengal]

Go ahead and poke fun, but I REALLY want to see Shirley come into camp with the intent of making people stand up and say, "How the hell did this kid fall so far ?"... Yes, I know he has issues, but if he learns the defense quickly, he just might be the DT we have always longed for. 6'5, 340 that disrupts the line with speed to boot ?? Color me excited. He may just be the second coming of Askew, but until that time arrives, I'll be happy that anything on the defense makes me excited...

WHODEY !!!

[icehole3]

The problem most evaluators had with Sims was not his physical ability, but was his intensity, and passion for the game. IF the Bengals did their homework and decided that that that was not as big an issue as most evaluators perceived then they got a GREAT steal with Sims. IF they DIDN'T do their homework and simply took Sims because he was the only DT left on the draft board then I completely agree with DC.

Here the crux in evaluating the Bengals draft, clearly Ellis is better than Rivers straight up, but you didn't have the ability to draft Ellis at 9 so the question is is Ellis better than Rivers and Sims and it all revolves around Sims' ability to play hard everydown and become a football junkie like Chad, Housh, Pollack and just about every other Pro Bowl player. I HOPE the Bengals knew what they were doing when they draft Sims. There is no doubt in my mind that he has the physical tools to be that impact DT we need, there is no doubt that Rivers was the best LBer in this draft (Anyone who is suggesting that Mayo is a better player than Rivers or that New England wouldn't have taken Rivers over Mayo in about a milisecond is looking back at the draft with Patriots colored glasses). The issue is we NEEDED to come out of this draft with an impact DT, we cannot get where we need to without push up the middle. Marvin's defensive scheme has always worked with the D-Line tieing up the blockers and letting the playmaking LBers free to make plays, it doesn't work witout that push upfront (Think Lewis would have been the player he was without Adams, Siragusa, Gregg, Ngata think back to the draft where they selected Ngata and remember that Lewis spent the entire off-season whining about getting an impact DT and how it was impacting his ability to make plays!). If the Coaches are comfortable with Sims then this was a great draft where we let to the draft come to us rather than overspend for a guy in desperation. If however, they weren't creative in getting the guy they needed and have to make do with getting a guy who will be another unmotivated lard-ass who takes plays off then they misplayed this draft badly and it will probably cost Lewis his job.

I am not ready to call this draft one way or another, I like Simpson in this offense and I think he could be what Henry SHOULD have been. I like Caldwell as an insurance policy against Housh leaving. I love Corey Lynch and I think he could be great with some seasoning (I think he'll make an imediate impact on special teams). I Like Craig and Urrutia. Like everyone else I am dumbfounded by the Shirley pick and watching him in OTAs he looks like a big guy who can't move which means he gets cut given the other baggage he brings to the team, but I don't believe that one bad 5th round pick makes or breaks this draft. It all comes down to Sims. Rivers will be what he is which is a Very good probably not great LBer for this team for 10 years. I think he is an upgrade immediately over Landon Johnson so they helped their team.

This offseason was about filling holes and I think they did a good job. They lost Williams but had already planned for that and have guys who will more than adequately take that position. They lost Smith but got a guy that better fits their defense in Odom and is younger so I think they got better there. They lost Landon Johnson but they replaced him with Rivers who has more upside and even short term will be a better player so they got better there. They picked up some much needed LBer depth with Brandon Johnson and Darryl Blackstock so I think they are better there. They picked up some help across the middle who can get separation against LBers and Strong Safeties in Utecht so I think they improved the offense. But it is all for naught if they didn't get the guy they needed to fill the gaping hole in the middle of the Defensive Line, if teams can still push us off the ball then we are still an 8-8 team!

I thought the intensity question was squelched because he lost his sister.

[kevinc1129]

Label me as cautiously optimistic, just like I am every season. Yes, I really like some of the moves the team made on paper, but once camp starts, you can throw that paper out the window. What matters is what these guys do on the field and that has yet to be seen.

[membengal]

I am not so sure that I intended this thread as one of optimism or pessimism about the upcoming season, but a look back at what the Bengals got done and didn't get done this off-season as compared to recent off-seasons. For my money, this has been as positive an off-season for squelching off-field stuff, health, acquisitions that address needs, and hires as we have seen since Marvin's inauguration.

[Orange and black fanatic]

They handled Chad as well as they could, we'll see if he pulls a TO or a Kobe. I am now leaning towards the Kobe route. We'll see.

Odom > Smith and the price for 5+ sack DE is very high, see how much Justin got from SF.

I would have liked to get Ellis, I think Rivers + Sims is > Ellis. The rest of the draft was fine except how I feel about picking Shirley over Okum, we'll see. We'll see if Simpson is better than Sweed twice a year for at least 4 years.

Zimmer has promise, but so did Bresh. We'll see but love his approach so far.

I like the Peko signing.

The only thing is don't like is tagging Andrews. They have no plan to handle this situation. If he sits they look like idiots. If Willie is healthy and he sits they look like idiots. I thought they should have turned him into a DT from the start but now he has learned on their dime and will reap the benefits without really giving the Bengals much at all. Badly handled from start to finish with Andrews.

I am excited to see what happens at camp and am really looking forward (as always) to the season.

[TippCityRick]

Turn Andrews into a DT? Are you nuts!! He hasn't shown the requisit ferocity to run block. Imagine how that lack of willingness to hit would play inside!! He'd get pushed into the secondary with great regularity!!

[Wraith]

"I thought the intensity question was squelched because he lost his sister."

The question is; Is he ready to committ himself to football now? If the Bengals know the answer to that question without any reservations then Sims is a great pick and letting Ellis go in favor of Rivers and keeping the third round selection they would have lost in a bidding war with New Orleans was a good move and the Bengals did a good job of reading the draft. If he shows up and he is not willing to put the work in to make himself a Pro Bowl player (because Ellis will) and he takes downs off (ala Big Duddy) and can't keep himself in shape, then it was a bad pick and the Bengals missed a golden opportunity to be aggressive and get a difference making DT.

I guess the only answer right now is, In Marvin I Trust.

[PhunkE1]

The debate between Rivers + Sims against Ellis cracks me up. First, we were not guaranteed to get Sims. Allot of observers thought he would be long gone by the 3rd round. The fact that he was still there should raise a red flag. Everyone and their mother knew the Saints were going to leap frog us and get Ellis. It's just frustrating seeing a stud DT, which we've been lacking for over a decade, staring us in the face only to have someone take him from our grasp. Only time will tell if Rivers + Sims is > than Ellis.

As far as the offseason is concerned it seems like more of the same for this small market family owned team. In order for this team to ever make noise in the playoffs it's going to take a miracle season much like 05, but without the knee injury.

[kingwilly]

Go ahead and poke fun, but I REALLY want to see Shirley come into camp with the intent of making people stand up and say, "How the hell did this kid fall so far ?"... Yes, I know he has issues, but if he learns the defense quickly, he just might be the DT we have always longed for. 6'5, 340 that disrupts the line with speed to boot ?? Color me excited. He may just be the second coming of Askew, but until that time arrives, I'll be happy that anything on the defense makes me excited...

WHODEY !!!

that's what I'm talkin' bout!!!

My fingers are crossed for this D-line. the upside is very high.