Robert Geathers signs contract extension with Bengals (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

Bengals.com

At first glance, this looks like the end of Justin Smith but beat writer Geoff Hobson, who's usually pretty well plugged in, thinks the Bengals are still looking to make a run at Smith with the rest of their 07 free agent budget. If that's the case, you can almost certainly close the book on any significant amount of future 3-4 front looks.

It’s believed that Geathers’ hit under the ’07 salary cap is about $5 million, which probably leaves the Bengals enough for another major signing and all indications are they’ll make a run to give it to Justin Smith, Geathers’ tag-team partner on the edge on passing downs with 7.5 sacks this season scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency with 41.5 career sacks in six seasons.

 

[lord_helmet]

But you have to think Geathers will be a starter next season, or does anyone disagree ? Would he be getting a deal like that to continue as a situational player, no matter if Justin Smith is there or not ?

 

[Jene Bramel]

But you have to think Geathers will be a starter next season, or does anyone disagree ? Would he be getting a deal like that to continue as a situational player, no matter if Justin Smith is there or not ?

I don't disagree. The Bengals wouldn't be sinking this much cap space into a purely situational player.Bryan Robinson wasn't anything special against the run this season, so the Bengals may as well see how Geathers holds up as a three down end at 265-270. Hopefully he'll still be able to provide the same pass rush if they use him as a near full-time player. And he was beginning to show signs of "getting it" against the run at times this year.

 

[pretender]

But you have to think Geathers will be a starter next season, or does anyone disagree ? Would he be getting a deal like that to continue as a situational player, no matter if Justin Smith is there or not ?

I don't disagree. The Bengals wouldn't be sinking this much cap space into a purely situational player.Bryan Robinson wasn't anything special against the run this season, so the Bengals may as well see how Geathers holds up as a three down end at 265-270. Hopefully he'll still be able to provide the same pass rush if they use him as a near full-time player. And he was beginning to show signs of "getting it" against the run at times this year.

So slight hijack - if Cincy stays in a 4-3 does this bump the value of Ahmad Brooks (Thurman if he stays) and other Cincy linebackers - assuming that if they did go to a 3-4 the value of the linebackers would drop accordingly?

 

[lord_helmet]

Another aspect of Geathers is that he's only 23 years old and already has 3 years of NFL experience, I think he's one of the best prospects for future stud in dynasty leagues.

 

[Jene Bramel]

But you have to think Geathers will be a starter next season, or does anyone disagree ? Would he be getting a deal like that to continue as a situational player, no matter if Justin Smith is there or not ?

I don't disagree. The Bengals wouldn't be sinking this much cap space into a purely situational player.Bryan Robinson wasn't anything special against the run this season, so the Bengals may as well see how Geathers holds up as a three down end at 265-270. Hopefully he'll still be able to provide the same pass rush if they use him as a near full-time player. And he was beginning to show signs of "getting it" against the run at times this year.

So slight hijack - if Cincy stays in a 4-3 does this bump the value of Ahmad Brooks (Thurman if he stays) and other Cincy linebackers - assuming that if they did go to a 3-4 the value of the linebackers would drop accordingly?

There's no way to know what will happen with the Bengal front yet, especially the LBs.Things to watch over the next six months:1/ Will the Bengals re-sign Justin Smith?If they don't, it doesn't mean that the 3-4 is imminent. But if Smith returns, given the contract it'll take to get him back, there will be little to no 3-4. Smith has said he doesn't fit well in one and the backers are the money grabbers in that scheme.2/ Can David Pollack return?Pollack likely figured highly in whatever 3-4 plans the Bengals had. Sounds like his surgery wasn't as significant in career-ending terms as was originally suspected. Still, it would be a miracle of epic proportions if Pollack lined up at OLB on opening weekend in 2007. Without Pollack, unless there's a surprising free agent signing or high profile draft pick, the Bengals really have a bunch of big pass rushing question marks at OLB. None among Geathers, Jeanty, Brooks, etc have proven they can get to the quarterback consistently from an standup LB role. Frostee Rucker ain't the answer.3/ What will Marvin do with Odell Thurman?All indications are that he's done, which theoretically leaves Brooks as the future MLB/ILB. Having Thurman around supplements some already solid LB depth and maybe makes a transition to a 3-4 easier.4/ What will the Bengals do with Brian Simmons, Caleb Miller, and Landon Johnson? Simmons is signed but slipping and has a chronic neck problem. Miller and Johnson are RFAs. Miller was the best MLB this season but is way too small too fit as an ILB in a 3-4 look and Lewis has repeatedly dismissed any notions of moving him to safety.5/ Will there be any surprises in the draft or free agency?Do the Bengals go against their nature and give a huge contact to an outside FA on the wrong side of 30 like Adalius Thomas? Will they take a tweener guy in the draft despite needs elsewhere on the defense? From a 3-4 standpoint, the Bengals remain about where they've been for the past two seasons. A NT, two healthy pass rushing OLBs, and better DE rotation are needed to make this work.My opinion?Until you see the Bengals direct their efforts to signing an accomplished (or highly touted youngster) who can rush the passer from an outside LB position you can leave the 3-4 talk on the backburner. You can get by with a one-gap type player at NT or moving natural DTs to DE in this scheme if you've got some solid ILBs. But you can't play 3-4 in today's NFL without a solid pass rush. Putting Geathers and Rucker at OLB in rotation with Brooks, Jeanty, and maybe Pollack might work, but it's asking for trouble when your window to win is closing behind an aging OL.For now, if you're trying to project future value, I default to my "get the talent and hope it lands in a good position" mantra. To me, that means hold Brooks, Johnson, and Geathers and consider Thurman, Pollack, Rucker, and Simmons risky at best with Thurman being the best junk bond prop.