(12-24-2024, 04:37 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: He has improved nicely from rookie to year two, and it shows in both the quality of catches made and the toughness from hard contact and holding onto the ball. However, he's still used as a 3rd or 4th option on plays. I'm hoping that he can step up and become a go-to WR2, but can he handle the pressure and will he hold up to the pounding?

He is a big boy! Love to see him step into the "possession receiver" role for the Bengals, if he can keep developing his hands.

Burton, still holding out hope for him, but he is more flash than the dirty work receiver the Bengals need Plus he is in the dog house, so trust may be an issue?

If the Bengals make a serious investment in the interior o-line, I have no issue with them moving on from Tee and making Yoshi the #2.

(12-24-2024, 04:37 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: He has improved nicely from rookie to year two, and it shows in both the quality of catches made and the toughness from hard contact and holding onto the ball. However, he's still used as a 3rd or 4th option on plays. I'm hoping that he can step up and become a go-to WR2, but can he handle the pressure and will he hold up to the pounding?

Those are the questions, his hands have always been the biggest question. The best WR's make those catches deep down the sideline which until 
he made that one I didn't know if he had it in him. We have seen him get hit like in the stealers game and hold onto the ball, something he was not
doing as a rookie. These are the growing moments for Iosivas, he was always a project, not polished like Ja'Marr or Tee.

(12-24-2024, 12:26 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: lets see how they fare against the broncos

This^. We have to win this game Saturday. Like Burrow said, we will see who steps up.

(12-24-2024, 04:37 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: He has improved nicely from rookie to year two, and it shows in both the quality of catches made and the toughness from hard contact and holding onto the ball. However, he's still used as a 3rd or 4th option on plays. I'm hoping that he can step up and become a go-to WR2, but can he handle the pressure and will he hold up to the pounding?

That I would not be comfortable with. He’s a perfect 4th option in this offense though after Chase, Tee, and Brown. If Tee leaves they absolutely need a new number #2.

(12-24-2024, 06:25 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: That I would not be comfortable with. He’s a perfect 4th option in this offense though after Chase, Tee, and Brown. If Tee leaves they absolutely need a new number #2.

I agree. Yoshi hasn't proven he could be a competent #2 at all honestly and he has had both Ja'Marr and Tee taking coverage away from him.

(12-24-2024, 07:57 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I agree. Yoshi hasn't proven he could be a competent #2 at all honestly and he has had both Ja'Marr and Tee taking coverage away from him.

You are correct. There were a few times when Tee was out I thought Yoshi would have great games. He didn't. Gesicki did, not Yoshi. In fact, if I remember correctly, he performed quite poorly. 

(12-24-2024, 08:52 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: You are correct. There were a few times when Tee was out I thought Yoshi would have great games. He didn't. Gesicki did, not Yoshi. In fact, if I remember correctly, he performed quite poorly. 

Yes sir Dog. I want us to bring back Gesicki regardless if Tee leaves or not, but we damn sure better if he does leave and add a more polished WR 
that is more likely to be a Tee replacement. I love the talent of both Yoshi and especially Burton, but talent can only get you so far. You have to be 
dependable and have good hands. Yoshi has had problems getting open and poor hands in the past and Burton has mental issues.

(12-24-2024, 09:07 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Yes sir Dog. I want us to bring back Gesicki regardless if Tee leaves or not, but we damn sure better if he does leave and add a more polished WR 
that is more likely to be a Tee replacement. I love the talent of both Yoshi and especially Burton, but talent can only get you so far. You have to be 
dependable and have good hands. Yoshi has had problems getting open and poor hands in the past and Burton has mental issues.

I think I would trust Yoshi to develop more than I would Burton. At least Yoshi bust's his ass to get better. Burton comes across as lazy and stupid. And you've heard the saying, "You can't fix stupid!"

(12-24-2024, 12:56 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I sure hope they are turning a corner. But I'm not getting all geeked up over our defense "improving" while playing two of the worst teams in the league.

Here's to hoping they're going to develop into good players next season 

Would you rather they play like shit against a bad team

(12-24-2024, 09:41 PM)sandwedge Wrote: Would you rather they play like shit against a bad team

Perhaps you need to actually read my post and drop the snark

(12-24-2024, 03:38 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: While it's not time to anoint them as future stars just yet, these are the type of games that build their confidence and the development takes another step forward.

The team needs a defensive rebuild badly.  They don't have to be stars.  They just need to be contributors.  I think the experience they are getting now is really valuable.

I wouldn't let anything that the current defense shows preclude any plans to draft or sign a difference-making defender at ANY position.  There's not a single position group that can't be upgraded.  They still need a defensive leader as well, and that leader needs to be an actual factor on the field.  No Sam Hubbard/Vonn Bell over-the-hill veteran wise man.  Those two are basically in-house Dhani Jones right now.  Not starting caliber anywhere, but viewed as essential in Cincinnati.  Dhani stabilized a rudderless defense when he came to Cincinnati, but his best days were well behind him.  Sam for Sam and Vonn.  They are not the future.

Even when this team drafted DL with success, it took the group time to develop.  Geno, Carlos and MJ all took at least a season.  If Jenkins and Jackson look competent, then perhaps the focus needs to be on an edge rusher.  IMO they've needed one for years.  

The beauty of the tragic state of this defense is that they stand to benefit greatly from adding talent at any level.  BPA on defense in the draft should be the strategy.  A stud safety like Starks would be welcome as would a true high-end boundary corner.  

(12-24-2024, 09:18 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: I think I would trust Yoshi to develop more than I would Burton. At least Yoshi bust's his ass to get better. Burton comes across as lazy and stupid. And you've heard the saying, "You can't fix stupid!"

Yeah, Yoshi does work hard that is for sure. Way smarter than Burton as well.

(12-24-2024, 04:21 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: This is what we needed to see from Iosivas. That is a hands catch that shows he is coming around to being a decent WR.

If he starts catching the ball consistently, he will be a weapon for years to come. He looks good at everything else love how he runs routes full speed.

(12-24-2024, 09:18 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: I think I would trust Yoshi to develop more than I would Burton. At least Yoshi bust's his ass to get better. Burton comes across as lazy and stupid. And you've heard the saying, "You can't fix stupid!"

I think both aren't starters. At least Yoshi has a role as a red zone guy inside the 10 that he seems to do well, but otherwise? He's played 78% of the offensive snaps this year and he's likely not going to reach 500 yards (with only 57.4% catch% and 1.5 YAC/reception) despite having Joe Burrow leading the league in passing yards as his QB.

I have always been and am still on team letting Tee walk rather than have two highly paid WRs, but they do need to sign a cheaper but decent vet so it's not a starting WR group of Chase/Yoshi/Burton next year.

(12-26-2024, 07:43 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I have always been and am still on team letting Tee walk rather than have two highly paid WRs, but they do need to sign a cheaper but decent vet so it's not a starting WR group of Chase/Yoshi/Burton next year.

I can get on board with that.

Yoshi's main problem area was he would catch balls with his body not his hands. Then last offseason he went to wide receiver coaching on that exact topic and this season you can see the improvement. He's a future NFL starter caliber receiver to be sure. And I hope that they keep Tee and Chase because we've already shown a Chase-Tee-Yoshi trio is quite effective.

I’m not banking on yoshi becoming anything more than a wr4/redzone threat but he can improve in theory

(12-24-2024, 12:26 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: lets see how they fare against the broncos

That's fair. But passable rotation level play from these three, whith a play being made here and there, is a step up. And least they made plays against an NFL team. Teller is a Pro-Bowler. And they are all young. 1st year or 2md. Improvement from here is probable. 

I am firmly in the camp of paying Higgins. With a Burrow restructure and a few obvious cuts, we have over $100 mil in cap space. And no one who needs a big payday this offseason.

Don't repeat the Reader/Rankins debacle. Keep the elite level player. We can go bargain bin/development/RD3-7 pick at WR3.

(12-26-2024, 06:45 PM)BengalsBong Wrote: If he starts catching the ball consistently, he will be a weapon for years to come. He looks good at everything else love how he runs routes full speed.

Yeah, he is a good blocker, is good at blocking out Corners using his size and as we see is a good Red Zone weapon. He had elite RAS scores etc.

Catching with his body was always his problem and he seems to have turned the corner in this aspect in a good way this year.