Askew & Smith

[WretchedOne]

Everyone keeps saying how we need an impact player at DT. How we need Bunkley or Watson and all that crap.

Let me try and prove those people wrong.

Shaun Smith.

As soon as he started opposite JT, in place for the injured BR, our run defense improved DRAMATICALLY. We went from 134 ypg to 107-111 ypg (when the season still mattered anyways).

Shuan Smith is a talent less hack who can't start?

With that kind of improvement in overall run D, I'd say he had a positive affect. He is the 320+ guy everyone is already crying about. He showed that can be a starter and started the last 6-7 games of the regular seasond and started in the Playoff game.

Shaun Smith and Bryan Robinson would be fine as starting DTs. We'd have a damn good run D with those 2 in the middle.

Mathias Askew.

The case for Mathias is actually a lot easier than you think.

He probably only saw a total of 15 minutes of action during the entire season.

15 minutes.

And in those 15 minutes of playing against Kansas City's 1st team offense, Mathias amassed:

4 tackles and 1 FF....

.....in 15 minutes of total playing time, against a good offense.

Shaun Smith and JT both, once, registed 5 tackles in a game...thats in a WHOLE game.

They got 5 tackels in 60 minutes.

While Mathias had 4 and a FF in a quarter of that time.

Askew and Smith are probably the starters in 2006 but if Askew still can't get 'it" we'll still be fine and dandy with SS and BR.

Why do we need to waste a 1st/2nd round pick and all that money on a DT?

[Stripes]

I have no qualms with giving Shaun Smith plenty of playing time... He proved that he is deserving of such. Askew's argument isn't quite the same however... As you said, the man played for 15 minutes last year... Given that small of a window, no statistics he compiled during such can be taken seriously. We need to see more of him to make our judgement.

[cover2]

Askew...if he plays 15 minutes in 2006 he will have a total of 30 minutes in two years.

The problem is he needs to play and he doesn't. Potential only goes so far.

His last chance is here now!

[thepudgester]

Askew is not durable and still far from a polished DT. Bryan Robinson is over 30 and has trouble getting penetration. It'd be nice to get a new body in the trenches, keep everyone fresh. Bunkley would be a picture perfect fit opposite Smith.

[BengalPappaw]

I agree with the original premise -- the Bengals do NOT need to waste a 1st round draft choice on a DT.

IMO we need a good, fast safety more than we do a fat tackle.

I believe that we can improve the team more with a good safety than we can with another DT.

I believe there will be enough "fat" DT later in the draft.

[schweinhart]

Shaun Smith was really impressive this year. One question with him is how much is he going to wolf down in the offseason and just how fat he'll be. But he'll have time to work it off even if he comes in over 350.

It's hard to believe that Askew figures into the DT plans as a real contributor given his lack of PT, but he's done a nice job being inactive.

All in all I agree the Bengals shouldn't burn a 1st or 2nd on a DT. But there is one who looks like he's got that possessed state of mind it takes to keep coming relentlessly over and over again with speed and power and that is Claude Wroten. I don't think Wroten would play the left side because he lacks heft but he should easily produce at a level with Thornton at RDT and make Big John's $2.75 mill salary look a little high.

[HoosierCat]

I think Shaun Smith did well last season. He certainly looked more effective than Bryan Robinson to me. But schweinhart's observation during the season that he tended to run down as games progressed is dead on. He fits best as part of a deep rotation.

Askew has all the tools but continues to get dinged for a lack of dedication; Bresh just brought it up again in an interview with Hobs on bengals.com today. So who knows what to make of him.

I'm all for a DT in the first two rounds someplace. Pick someone who doesn't need years to learn to keep his pads low and can step into the rotation quickly. Team him up with Askew (may as well see what he can do), Smith and Thornton. Kick Clemons to the curb and move Robinson back to his natural DE position in a tag-team with Jumpy Jr.

[BengalsOwn]

did you really just argue that Askew should be starting?

:rofl:

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Shaun Smith has potential. I agree he should get more time. However, every other guy we have is at BEST a backup on any other team in the league. We need a starter at DT in the draft. Broderick would be a great pick, and we need a DT early.

[ArmyBengal]

But there is one who looks like he's got that possessed state of mind it takes to keep coming relentlessly over and over again with speed and power and that is Claude Wroten.

There's a reason for that possessed look he has...

I have no issues with Wroten honestly and would not be bothered by him in the 2nd...

WHODEY !!!

[TJJackson]

Well, one good bit of news is that the crop of better-than-average FA DT's is pretty deep this year. We should be able to land one at a less than horrific price.

I have long been an Askew hater myself, but (like Fanene) he did produce in his very limited window to perform....3 tackles and a forced fumble. I like a FF better than the flashier sack, myself. Much as I hate to admit it, he did earn a chance to redeem himself next year. It really comes down to the maturity issues that Breshnahan spoke of in today's interview on Bengals.com, and Marvin has been talking about all along. We'll see if he gets his head together by the end of the 2006 training camp.

[turningpoint]

Problme i have with askew is he looks like a TE, not a DT.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Problme i have with askew is he looks like a TE, not a DT.

Don't even say that. Someone around here will suggest we start him at TE!

[HairOnFire]

I've really cooled on the idea of drafting a DT in the 1st round. Gimme a CB.

As for Askew's stats, I'm reminded of Robert Geathers dramatic fall in production when given a starters job. Askew would do well just to work his way into the rotation.

[TJJackson]

True enough, Hair, this was indeed the case for Geathers, but I'm not sure that automatically means Askew and Fanene will become less productive if given more snaps.

It's offseason - we all can hope a little, can't we ? :-)

I know that I was eager to have Geathers get his chance, and I am equally eager for Fanene (particularly with Clemons happy to leave and Justin Smith close to the end of his contract) to get his chance as well. Askew? Not as much, but hey, why not at least get him a few more snaps than in the KC game (which still ain't much) and evaluate as you go?