I want to thank everyone who indulged my sullen mood yesterday. Getting it out was therapeutic. I am finally moving from depression into acceptance. (Note, that’s acknowledging reality, not embracing mediocrity.) It also helped that the Cardinals showed yesterday that things could still be worse than they are.
So here we are, starting over in the rebuilding stage again. We know that the needs on the Bengals are legion. Listing the players worth keeping might be simpler than naming the ones who should go.
Of the many needs, which do the Bengals prioritize highest? Here is how I see it.
1) Defensive End. Dunlap should replace Geathers as starter. I question that Odom will come back to his old form. And despite my high hopes, we’re not seeing much from MJ. They have to, have to, have to start generating pressure.
2) Offensive Guards. The left side has been a nightmare since they let Steinbach walk. It has to get fixed. I can’t say if Big Bobbie is just having a bad year or if his better days are behind him.
3) Right Tackle. They should not have to draft one; they need to fix the one they’ve got. Andre ought to take Anthony Munoz’s offer to tutor him. But he has to want it to make it work. Does he want to be great? Or does he want to feast?
4) Safety. Let’s accept the fact that Roy Williams is not going to stay healthy and get someone who can actually play all 16 games at a higher level than Ndukwe.
5) Linebacker. Dhani’s contract is up… bye. Rivers has seriously underwhelmed. Is Maualuga actually ready to take the MLB spot?
6) Wide Receiver. Chad and T.O. are both free agents at the end of the year. T.O. has been great at times and phoned it in at others. The Carson-to-Chad connection is a shell of what it used to be. Will Chad want to be back next year? At some point he has to get playoff wins to his name to get into the elite class of WRs. But Shipley, Gresham, Simpson, Caldwell and some rookie won’t scare opposing defenses.
I do not put QB on the list. Yes, I am concerned that Carson has lost some of his mojo. But I have always believed that you have to build the lines first. A top lineman is a better long term investment this year than a top QB. Why stick Luck or Mallett behind this same offensive line? Will you feel better having a rookie running for his life instead of Carson?
Same reasoning for not putting RB on the list. By improving the line, they should also improve the RB. Cedric has fumbled away a fair amount of the value he built last year, so he should be affordable to re-sign. But he ought to be in more of a two-backs role, with Scott getting more opportunities.
OK, your turn. Tell me why you think I’m wrong.
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