The positives I see

[CJD]

(12-06-2020, 10:07 PM)Bengalfan4life27c Wrote: The D could be 2 or 3 players away from being elite with a healthy Reader and a pass rusher. Bates and Logan Wilson are playing real well. The Offense needing 2 more Olineman we are set with Burrow Mixon Tee and Boyd.  Just get rid of Taylor and get a real head coach we could compete right away.

I appreciate the optimism.

I think our defense is closer than it appears. If we could get an actual pass rush here and there, WJIII, Bates and Bell would be a great secondary core to build out from. We still don't really know what Waynes is so maybe he will add to that secondary as well. Alexander and Phillips are also decent players, especially in the slot, and could make spot starts as required. Our Linebackers are also not...horrible. I think Wilson has the most potential among the group, but ADG had a few good plays yesterday and could grow more as time goes on. Pratt is a mixed bag if I've ever seen one, but he's got the athleticism to be great.

I don't know if we're 2 or 3 players away from being elite, but I think we're a decent pass rush away from being respectable.

As far as offense goes, it's all about the offensive line. I really hope they take it seriously this off season because, as you said, Burrow, Higgins, Boyd and Mixon is a fantastic core to build around. If we draft Sewell and then land a Thuney or Scherff at guard, then we may be on our way to being a top 10 offense. We were averaging somewhere around 23 points per game with Burrow at QB, and 5 30 point games in 9 starts, which is impressive for a rookie led offense. With further development, I think averaging 25 to 30 points per game would not be an unreasonable result with Burrow at the helm, which would put us right up there in the top half of the league.

If we get rid of the coaches and get some legitimate talent there, who knows, we may be 2021's versions of the 2020 Miami Dolphins.