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Cincinnati Bengals: 5 offseason needs in 2020

By Russell S. Baxter

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 22: Head Coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 22: Head Coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 6: Nick Vigil #59 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackles David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on October 6, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 6: Nick Vigil #59 of the Cincinnati Bengals tackles David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on October 6, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

2. Bolster the linebacker corps

A look at the Cincinnati Bengals’ top tacklers this past season is very revealing. Linebacker Nick Vigil finished the season with 111 total stops, to go along with five passes defensed and three of the club’s 16 takeaways. But it was actually safety Shawn Williams who led the team with 112 tackles. And fellow safety Jessie Bates managed 100 stops, to go along with a club-high nine passes defensed.

The point is that two of Cincinnati’s top three tacklers come from the final level of the defense. One year earlier, Bates and Williams finished 1-2 on the club in stops, respectively, and both topped the century mark once again in terms of tackles. Is it any coincidence that the Bengals allowed the most total yards and passing yards in the league in 2018 and were 29th in total defense this past season, including dead last against the run?

As previously mentioned, the team has added cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander. But it’s also worth noting that Vigil is currently an unrestricted free agent. Back in 2018, the club added tackling machine Preston Brown but in two seasons with the club he played a total of 19 games and was cut loose by the club last November. Last season, rookie Germaine Pratt finished with a respectable 72 tackles. But this is a position group overdue for an overhaul.

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