Ah Biabreakable, I hate to disagree with you but I'm going to anyway.
I think looking at running a 4-3 or a 3-4 really hinges on if the team re-signs Justin Smith as well as if Pollack can be healthy for a full season. I don't think they can rely on Pollack being healthy enough to warrant the change. He still has not played a full season for them yet. Geathers has steadily improved but he doesen't fit as a 3-4 DE because he is more of a speed player.
Absolutely correct on Justin Smith. If he's re-signed, the 3-4 is all but dead. Smith has repeatedly said that he doesn't fit in a 3-4 and he's probably right. He won't sign a deal unless he's assured that the 3-4 isn't happening. Good points about Geathers, too. He was nearly useless as a bulked up 280 lb situational defensive tackle and will never be a 3-4 end. He'd be used as a 3-4 OLB. While he wasn't any better at the point of attack in the few situations he found himself at end on rushing downs, he showed the ability to move up and down the line in a standup position on passing downs and looked more comfortable in pursuit and contain than his two prior seasons. Dropping into coverage would be an issue, but he'd be the ROLB and not asked to do that often at all.
Tory James was great as a rookie so that is a good place to start in rebuilding this unit.
My guess is that you meant to type Joseph's name here in which case you're exactly right. Tory James is a mess. If Deltha O'Neal wasn't equally as shaky (and dinged toward season's end), it'd have been James sitting for Johnathan Joseph. James is very unlikely to be re-signed.
Kevin Kaesviharn may not be the solid tackler that is ideal as a safety but that guy somehow puts himself in position to make a lot of plays on the ball. I know people have called this somewhat lucky.. but I dunno he has done it over multiple seasons. The talk of moving MW to cornerback may have somthing to do with keeping KK on the field. O'Niel or Jackson could move to nickle back. To make this work the Bengals would need a real good tackler at SS. Dexter Jackson is more of a FS as well and does not fit that role. So that is part of the problem. 3 of thier best safeties all play thier best at the same position FS.I think Williams would be fine as a corner and he would provide nice run support from there. I think he has enough speed to play man against most recievers if neccessary but such a move would be better served if they play more of a zone scheme. You sacrifice some of his play making ability putting him there instead of safety. If Williams/Kaesviharn = more turnovers than having one of them going to the bench it might be worth it. Although I expect Williams individual numbers would take a hit.
I hate knocking Kaesviharn because he's been provided excellent depth when Kim Herring and Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson have missed extensive time over the past two seasons. And I wouldn't mind seeing him back in a part-time role in 2007. He was used perfectly after Jackson returned in Week 7 and had the bulk of his big play stats during the second half of the year. Bresnahan used him as a hybrid nickel safety and maximized his ability to match up on average slot receivers and brought him frequently on safety blitzes. But he's not a full-time player. He's regarded as an instinctive player, yet somehow as often out of position as he is in position. The Panthers were dumbfounded when Kaesviharn intercepted a pass late in Week 7 because he had no business being where he was and had essentially blown a coverage elsewhere. I'll disagree that Jackson isn't a fit at SS. He's a downhill player and fills hard in run support at 210 pounds. He does have solid coverage skills for a SS, though, and could probably hang at FS if asked. In 2007, most of his contribution came on run blitzes. He was actually more of a liability in coverage than expected, although the Bengals faced a number of big time pass catching TEs (Heap, Winslow, Gates, Gonzalez, Crumpler, Miller). The talk of moving Madieu Williams to corner has more to do with the speculation that neither O'Neal nor James will be back in 2007, leaving Joseph as the only viable corner on the roster. Since the Bengals aren't likely to pay for a starting caliber corner in FA, somebody is going to have to play while they get a drafted rookie (or two) ready.I think the Bengals have the LB depth to play a 3-4 in 2007. Another rush OLB would be nice, but Rashad Jeanty would be fine on the strong side. Maybe Frostee Rucker or Eric Henderson grow into a situational OLB role. Brooks might also be able to provide some pass rush capability on the strong side. Thurman (should he return) and Brooks would make a formidable ILB pair. Landon Johnson could work at RILB. The issue would be across the line. Jonathan Fanene, Bryan Robinson, and John Thornton could fill an average DE rotation. Two of Sam Adams, Shaun Smith, and Domata Peko could rotate at nose, but all three are one-gap type players. Smith and Peko might work better as ends.Either way, you're right. Stop drafting guys that could play both ways but don't play either very well. As I've said for the past two seasons, I'll believe the 3-4 front is coming to Cincinnati when I see it.
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