Fix the trenches

[Sydla]

It would be great if we could get more flashy guys like an Earl Thomas or some stud LB in FA. But IMO, the smartest move would be solidify the trenches now and then that frees up the draft for "skill" guys and developmental players.

If Jerry put me in charge, I'd sign:

- Suh. Sure, a risk. But he's still good and he makes the entire front seven better.

- Slauson. He's 32 but still productive and likely won't be pricey. You can then draft a mid round OG for developmental purposes.

- Andre Smith. Again, might not be pricey and is immediately our swing OT (unless he thinks he can get a starting gig somewhere else). He might also be able to play OG, which maybe then you don't need Slauson.

 

[Stash]

It would be great if we could get more flashy guys like an Earl Thomas or some stud LB in FA. But IMO, the smartest move would be solidify the trenches now and then that frees up the draft for "skill" guys and developmental players.

If Jerry put me in charge, I'd sign:

- Suh. Sure, a risk. But he's still good and he makes the entire front seven better.

- Slauson. He's 32 but still productive and likely won't be pricey. You can then draft a mid round OG for developmental purposes.

- Andre Smith. Again, might not be pricey and is immediately our swing OT (unless he thinks he can get a starting gig somewhere else). He might also be able to play OG, which maybe then you don't need Slauson.

I think Andre Smith would be another Byron Bell if ever called upon to play left tackle. He's a guard at this point in his career.

 

[John813]

How many restructured contracts do you execute to gain all that cap space?

 

[Sydla]

I think Andre Smith would be another Byron Bell if ever called upon to play left tackle. He's a guard at this point in his career.

Smith was actually pretty good filling in for Fisher last year at RT.

 

[visionary]

It would be great if we could get more flashy guys like an Earl Thomas or some stud LB in FA. But IMO, the smartest move would be solidify the trenches now and then that frees up the draft for "skill" guys and developmental players.

If Jerry put me in charge, I'd sign:

- Suh. Sure, a risk. But he's still good and he makes the entire front seven better.

- Slauson. He's 32 but still productive and likely won't be pricey. You can then draft a mid round OG for developmental purposes.

- Andre Smith. Again, might not be pricey and is immediately our swing OT (unless he thinks he can get a starting gig somewhere else). He might also be able to play OG, which maybe then you don't need Slauson.

I wholeheartedly agree that fixing the trenches is the way to go but the eagles and Seahawks etc all have great safety play as well

If we can get ET for our 4th I'm doing it

 

[slick325]

I agree with the entire premise of this post. Fix the trenches.

 

[Stash]

Smith was actually pretty good filling in for Fisher last year at RT.

My point is that he can't play left tackle. And that's a requirement of a swing tackle. Even in Cincinnati, their intention was to line him up at guard. He played what little tackle he did because their two young guys struggled so badly.

 

[Sydla]

My point is that he can't play left tackle. And that's a requirement of a swing tackle. Even in Cincinnati, their intention was to line him up at guard. He played what little tackle he did because their two young guys struggled so badly.

There are very few "swing tackles" out there that can play a very good LT. If they could, they'd probably be starters somewhere.

And you aren't accurate about his time in Cincy. He played RT for half the year after Fisher had an issue with his heart after 8 games and was put on IR. And before they traded for Glenn, it was reported they wanted Smith back at OT.

 

[Stash]

There are very few "swing tackles" out there that can play a very good LT. If they could, they'd probably be starters somewhere.

And that's why I còntinue to dissect anyone mentioning "signing one in free agency"

And you aren't accurate about his time in Cincy. He played RT for half the year after Fisher had an issue with his heart after 8 games and was put on IR. And before they traded for Glenn, it was reported they wanted Smith back at OT.

And you prove my point. Smith played tackle out of necessity not design. He played because Fisher didn't.

Regardless, I don't have an issue with anyone calling him a guard or right tackle option. But swing tackle? No.

 

[Sydla]

And you prove my point. Smith played tackle out of necessity not design. He played because Fisher didn't.

Regardless, I don't have an issue with anyone calling him a guard or right tackle option. But swing tackle? No.

No one said it was by design. He was the backup swing OT in Cincy. He was called upon to fill in at RT. He did it pretty well.

I am not the one saying things like how they wanted him to be an OG. That wasn't true. Or that he couldn't play OT anymore. Again, his play last year would indicate he's not washed up.

Where do you want to get your swing OT? The draft? So you feel more confident in some 3rd or 4th round OT being able to backup Smith?

 

[Alexander]

I think Andre Smith would be another Byron Bell if ever called upon to play left tackle. He's a guard at this point in his career.

Absolutely. With the dearth of quality tackles in this league, the fact that he is available after washing out with Minnesota and then going back to Cincinnati says quite a bit.

 

[G2]

I'd grab Kelemete.

 

[Ccijcladac]

Hernandez or Wynn on the offensive side of the ball & Suh with a combination of either Vea/Payne 1st round, Harrison Phillips/Settle 2nd round or/ Nnadi or Senat 3rd round & so on& so forth. Along with a LB worthy of starting in the middle. Our trenches would be fortified & solidified...& U& I would be so happy or@ least I definitely would be

 

[Sydla]

Absolutely. With the dearth of quality tackles in this league, the fact that he is available after washing out with Minnesota and then going back to Cincinnati says quite a bit.

Except he actually played pretty well last year filling in for Jake Fisher, who had a hole in his heart or something.

What do people actually think you are going to get as a backup OT? Where is this guy coming from?

 

[Sydla]

Hernandez or Wynn on the offensive side of the ball & Suh with a combination of either Vea/Payne 1st round, Harrison Phillips/Settle 2nd round or/ Nnadi or Senat 3rd round & so on& so forth. Along with a LB worthy of starting in the middle. Our trenches would be fortified & solidified...& U& I would be so happy or@ least I definitely would be

I will break something if we use a first round pick on an OG.

 

[Stash]

No one said it was by design. He was the backup swing OT in Cincy. He was called upon to fill in at RT. He did it pretty well.

I am not the one saying things like how they wanted him to be an OG. That wasn't true. Or that he couldn't play OT anymore. Again, his play last year would indicate he's not washed up.

Tell the Bengals it "wasn't true".

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2017/6/25/15861962/andre-smith-discusses-switch-right-guard.

And nowhere have I said he's "washed up". Please don't try to put words in my mouth that were never said.

Where do you want to get your swing OT? The draft? So you feel more confident in some 3rd or 4th round OT being able to backup Smith?

Confident? I wouldn't say that. But I have no interest in going with another Byron Bell in the role.

 

[coult44]

I think Andre Smith would be another Byron Bell if ever called upon to play left tackle. He's a guard at this point in his career.

We need a guard don't we?

 

[Stash]

Absolutely. With the dearth of quality tackles in this league, the fact that he is available after washing out with Minnesota and then going back to Cincinnati says quite a bit.

Hey, he'd be a fine backup/ role player and I wouldn't hate the thoughts of signing him. But any talk of him being some "swing tackle" is setting yourself up for the same failures you had in 2017.

 

[Stash]

We need a guard don't we?

Yeah, we do. And he could be an option there. But he's not a swing tackle option and that's my point.

 

[Sydla]

Tell the Bengals it "wasn't true".

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2017/6/25/15861962/andre-smith-discusses-switch-right-guard.

And nowhere have I said he's "washed up". Please don't try to put words in my mouth that were never said.



Confident? I wouldn't say that. But I have no interest in going with another Byron Bell in the role.

Ooooof.

I totally missed that and he only went back to backup OT after he lost the starting RG position battle.