The loss of DE Antwan Odom to a ruptured Achilles tendon could be a tremendous blow to the Bengals' ability to muster a consistent pass rush. The 6-5, 280-pound Odom, who had half of Cincinnati's 16 sacks in the first six games of the season. was adept at getting pressure rushing off the right edge, and he was also capable of providing a push up the middle when lined up at defensive tackle. The Bengals will primarily use two players to replace him: veteran Jonathan Fanene, who's been a more effective pass rusher this season than in years past but is still best-known for being stout at the point of attack, and athletic rookie Michael Johnson, who will back up Fanene. Relying upon DLE Robert Geathers to solely replace Odom's production could be unrealistic, considering he's had only one season with more than 3½ sacks. Also, as head coach Marvin Lewis recently noted, Geathers has the disadvantage of rushing from a position where a right-handed quarterback can see him.
PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.