Thread: Free-agent DT Okoye to meet with Bengals

Originally Posted by MPBears68

Who, Soul, who???

Another DT in round 2?

Not to panic, but losing Okoye is a big blow IMO.

I don't think they'd take a DE in one and a DT in two unless they found two guys they just couldn't pass up. It's more likely they'd find a guy in the middle rounds or even watch for guys cut by other teams just like Okoye was. Still, it will be tough to lose him if that's what happens.

Spending a bit more is worth keeping Okoye. He would have more impact even as a backup than a first round DE. Is it possible to dump Spaeth and perhaps retain Okoye?

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Spending a bit more is worth keeping Okoye. He would have more impact even as a backup than a first round DE. Is it possible to dump Spaeth and perhaps retain Okoye?

Yeah like sox says he's another one of those concessions to the Mike Martz offense we no longer need but I don't think he's what's keeping them from re-signing Okoye. There's money enough to do it if they want. It just comes down to how much Okoye is getting offers for vs what we're willing to pay.

We can't overpay him and then have to deal with Melton wanting even more and create a situation like the Saints did when they gave Evans his contract and then ended up with Nicks leaving because they couldn't keep them both.

We're not talking the same kind of money but we've also got Urlacher and Cutler due for extensions and if you asked Lovie which one he'd rather keep between Melton and Okoye I'm sure he'd opt for Melton. Okoye is good but I think Melton could be on the verge of becoming a real beast if they can keep his motor running in high gear all the time. I'm drooling over the thought of what he and Paea can do pass rushing next to one another with the burst those two have but it should would be nice to have Okoye in that rotation to keep everyone fresh.

I'm guessing Emery gave Okoye and his guy a number we'd be willing to offer and Okoye is out to see what his market value is. If someone wants to take him from us it's gonna happen because my guess is Emery doesn't have much wiggle room to use on him. JMHO.

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

It's certainly possible, but I think Tice loves Spaeth. From what I saw of him in college and last PS, I think Smith can come in and replace him immediately at every single level, but who knows?

Yeah, always the tug o war over where the $$$ gets spent. It would be nice to liberate ourselves from Spaeth and bring Smith in to do the job and maybe that happens if he can beat him out in camp but it doesn't look like they're ready to do that yet.

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

If I remember correctly; there were many a day after the game...and sometimes during that we were complaining about the lack of a passrush, and penetration; yet this guy is someone we NEED?

Sorry but again, this is a position that needed upgrading, not keeping the status quo. These guys get off easy b/c of all the attention Peppers get, and they still cannot consistantly get pressure. Definately don't need to over pay for this guy. Let someone else figure out that he looked good b/c of what was around him more then him being good.

I think we got much better pressure from the DT's than we've had in some time. At one point Okoye was out performing Melton until Lovie challenged him to get off his duff and bring some pressure and it was only then that Melton shot by him.

Melton had 7 sacks and Okoye had 4. We haven't had 11 sacks out of two DT's since Harris was in his prime. Paea added 2 and he played very little compared to the other two. Thirteen sacks from the DT's isn't too shabby. I'd bet few teams matched that. Where we were lagging was at DE. Pep had 11 but Izzy only had 5 and I think we got just 1 from everyone else we tried in the DE rotation. Jared Allen had 22 all by himself and Babin had 18.

We need more sacks and more pressure and it's hard to see how we add to that by subtracting Okoye and just adding a rookie DE unless the guy turns out to be a phenom his first year. He's hasn't signed anywhere yet but it sure doesn't look good.