(01-06-2025, 02:46 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: And you know this how..please share

(01-06-2025, 02:44 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Hubbard still doesn't help the pass rush much, as he's never had 7+ sacks in a season since 2021.
On top of that, he turns 30 this Summer.

He might end up being a 2-down base DE for another season or two, but no one should be thinking he should be a full-time starting DE for a team who needs pass rush help.

Teams like the Browns and Steelers were so good rushing the passer because they had guys who could contribute outside of Garrett/Watt.
Bengals need an actual pass rush threat opposite Hendrickson and/or inside.
This defense could really be boosted if they could get some actual other pass rushers.

For sure Sam would have to come back as a backup and a run stopper, not a starter again...

Or a pass rusher on passing downs. But I agree with JFK that he probably is not washed already.

(01-06-2025, 02:44 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: If we underschieve next year, Duke and ZT are gone, too. 

(01-06-2025, 02:46 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: And you know this how..please share

Bro what?  You're asking him to provide facts (or something) on speculation?  You can't be serious.  

You must hate season prediction threads.

(01-06-2025, 02:35 PM)WhoDeyK Wrote: The logic is simple. A team that wants to win never turns down an opportunity to improve. Maybe I should have said the offense can reach another level under Ben Johnson instead of cook. Still the offense did well this year more because of Joe, Jamar and company not Zac Taylor. Zac’s offensive scheme puts the most pressure possible on Joe and the offensive line and his play calling is predictable and often head scratching. Ben Johnson is innovative and helps his offense by play design. He elevates his talent. I can only imagine what he could do with Joe as his QB. But it’s a moot point now as Zac is staying, so I’m just hoping he can make adjustments and evolve.

Just stop with this scheme stuff..players on both sides of the ball need to execute and it is no more than that..if we were in the playoffs you would be praising joe..jamarr ..company and zac taylor..johnsons offense works because he has good players and they execute...have you seen the players on detroits offensive line..my god man...if johnson had our current OL he would self admit himself to the NFL crazy inpatient hospital

(01-06-2025, 11:06 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Na. 

He rolled out one of the worst defensive players in the league week after week (Hubbard) while keeping guys like Murphy, Ossai, etc. on the bench. We were basically playing 11 vs 12 on defense. 

It's unforgivable. 

Yeah I'm with you here.  

No doubt that the defense lost major contributors.  They also added pieces in FA and the draft to mitigate the losses.  Same as they did when they built the foundation with Reader, Hendrickson, Bell, etc in the beginning.  

The FAs panned out badly, and the draft picks have been below average at best.  The FO owns some of that, but Lou owns a whole lot of it.  Probably the great majority of the blame.

I know nothing of what really went down, but Lou comes off as a guy that has no time for teaching.  He has a system and you either fit in or you don't.  He expects guys to be at a level of capabilitywhen they reach the NFL level.  He had a really hard time finding fits for young guys and he played older vets way too much.  That approach with backfire in time.  Father Time is undefeated.  If you can't get something from the youth on the roster, you won't last as a coordinator.

(01-06-2025, 01:25 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Pratt is absolutely fine in his old role: LB2, 75-80% snaps a game.

When Logan went down

Wasn't due to Logan going down, it was because he viewed himself as a 3-down LB (making 3-down LB money) and made it a public matter before he would re-sign.

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/26/bengals-germaine-pratt-comments-3rd-down-usage-free-agency/

It's been the last two years that he's played the greater workload and progressively become more and more exposed. All because the Bengals/Lou couldn't tell him "sorry Germaine, but you're a 250lb 2-down LB, we can't play you more" and caved to his demands. 

He played 89% of the snaps last year on that bad defense before jumping up to 95% this year. In 2022 when we had a good defense he was at 76% of the snaps in the games he played.

(01-06-2025, 02:46 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: And you know this how..please share

"Know" it? No. But I'd be willing to bet on it in ZT's case.

But the fall guys have all fallen. Cannot blame Lou & Pollack next year. ZT for sure. Duke must have dirt on Brown or something. 

(01-06-2025, 02:51 PM)basballguy Wrote: Bro what?  You're asking him to provide facts (or something) on speculation?  You can't be serious.  

You must hate season prediction threads.

Love preseason prediction threads...yet when people make definitive statements that is a different story altogether..I am not your bro by the way..have a great snow day

(01-06-2025, 02:57 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Wasn't due to Logan going down, it was because he viewed himself as a 3-down LB (making 3-down LB money) and made it a public matter before he would re-sign.

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/26/bengals-germaine-pratt-comments-3rd-down-usage-free-agency/

It's been the last two years that he's played the greater workload and progressively become more and more exposed. All because the Bengals/Lou couldn't tell him "sorry Germaine, but you're a 250lb 2-down LB, we can't play you more" and caved to his demands. 

He played 89% of the snaps last year on that bad defense before jumping up to 95% this year. In 2022 when we had a good defense he was at 76% of the snaps in the games he played.

Yep, Pratt needs to go back to that 75% and be a 2 down backer again or we can move on. Logan needs to get healthy and the new LB 
coach can build around him. Speaking of Linebackers, Shaka Heyward looked pretty damn great to me against the stealers.

(01-06-2025, 02:15 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Is Marvin Lewis available?  

On a serious note, they fired the coaches responsible for us not making the playoffs the last 2 years. Our tacking was atrocious (coaching) and our OL forced JB to have to get rid of the ball quickly, but as important, our running game has sucked for a long time.

Those who throw in Zac are silly. How many games in 2024 did Zac and the offense put us in position to win to have the defense give us the lead or kicker missed a field goal.

Zac's offense puts up over 30 points and we lose how any games.

Zac is a good young head football coach and like Shannahan teams would love to have as their HC.

Those who spent the day whining and saying Bengals would do nothing sure look stupid today.

ZT with new OL and DC coaches gives us the best chance to get back to the Super Bowl quickly.

I believe if you hire a DC and make him also the assistant head coach you can poach a DC from another team. If so, my choice would be Glenn from the Lions.

The Cincinnati Bengals have put up 27.8 points per game this season.
How did you get over 30 points?

The good news is it’s pretty obvious these decisions were made several weeks ago. So he’s obviously been going over where he wants to go with it. Zac’s universe in the NFL in finding good coaches is much larger than when most of these guys hired. He’s got a head start on it. Zac’s reputation of going toe to toe with the likes of Kyle Shanahan & Andy Reid as well as playing in the Super Bowl and 2 AFC Championships helps his rep. He’s well liked. Here’s to some good choices.

(01-06-2025, 02:57 PM)samhain Wrote: Yeah I'm with you here.  

No doubt that the defense lost major contributors.  They also added pieces in FA and the draft to mitigate the losses.  Same as they did when they built the foundation with Reader, Hendrickson, Bell, etc in the beginning.  

The FAs panned out badly, and the draft picks have been below average at best.  The FO owns some of that, but Lou owns a whole lot of it.  Probably the great majority of the blame.

I know nothing of what really went down, but Lou comes off as a guy that has no time for teaching.  He has a system and you either fit in or you don't.  He expects guys to be at a level of capabilitywhen they reach the NFL level.  He had a really hard time finding fits for young guys and he played older vets way too much.  That approach with backfire in time.  Father Time is undefeated.  If you can't get something from the youth on the roster, you won't last as a coordinator.

All true in my eyes. Honestly when we came out after the bye and let the stealers checkdown Offense torch us for 44 points THAT was 
when I knew we had to move on. THAT was the time Lou had to show that he had a future here and his D couldn't tackle for shit against 
the easiest Offense to Defend against, a check down one. 

All you have to do is see the inevitable check down, take your angle and wrap up. Heck that Offense was so predictable if you had any 
instincts (or were allowed to use them) you could jump the check downs and get interceptions. Inexcusable to give up 44 to that Offense.

(01-06-2025, 03:02 PM)BengalYankee Wrote: The Cincinnati Bengals have put up 27.8 points per game this season.
How did you get over 30 points?

27.8 and it’s by far the highest under Zac 

Leadership often means having to make hard decisions for the best interest of the organization. Letting go of someone is never an easy choice so I respect Zac for making the changes. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for him and hope he's able to make hires that improve how the Bengals perform on Sundays.

(01-06-2025, 03:02 PM)BengalYankee Wrote: The Cincinnati Bengals have put up 27.8 points per game this season.
How did you get over 30 points?

Perhaps Luvnit meant games lost when scoring over 30 points and not points per game?

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/12/3/24310596/bengals-nfl-record-most-games-scoring-33-points-loss

(01-05-2025, 11:10 PM)t3r3e3 Wrote: I’d argue Lou can only work with what he’s given.  The front office gave him a couple fat, steaming turds, and expected him to make a sandwich with them.  The biggest culprit in this season is the front office/GM.  They’ve choked on consecutive drafts and free agency periods.  McPherson turning into Fat Randy didn’t help either.

Lou has been here when many high round draft picks have been picked and we give our coaches say in who gets drafted.

The fault on who gets picked falls on Lou as much as anyone else.

Lou's scheme is way too complicated, and players are thinking rather than reading and reacting.

Lou refuses to dumb it down as well and he sucks at rotating D-linemen.

(01-06-2025, 02:57 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: "Know" it? No. But I'd be willing to bet on it in ZT's case.

But the fall guys have all fallen. Cannot blame Lou & Pollack next year. ZT for sure. Duke must have dirt on Brown or something. 

Our OL is just bad..Our defense is just bad...and inconsistent..our linebackers looked like 7th graders trying to tackle most of the season........we ..as fans..dont know what was going on behind closed doors and what was said...but what is impressive...the deficiencies were recognized and it would appear that the team is quickly...and profoundly making changes ro address the aforementioned deficiencies..anything else..is pure speculation

(01-06-2025, 03:07 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: The good news is it’s pretty obvious these decisions were made several weeks ago. So he’s obviously been going over where he wants to go with it. Zac’s universe in the NFL in finding good coaches is much larger than when most of these guys hired. He’s got a head start on it. Zac’s reputation of going toe to toe with the likes of Kyle Shanahan & Andy Reid as well as playing in the Super Bowl and 2 AFC Championships helps his rep. He’s well liked. Here’s to some good choices.

Good point Sooner. Will have some time to make the right decisions this time around. Zac coming here late and after a Super Bowl gave him 
hardly any time to have quality coaches to pick from. Now as you say, Zac has a good reputation against some of the best HC's.

We have a good shot at getting some real quality this time around.

(01-06-2025, 03:11 PM)George Cantstandya Wrote: Perhaps Luvnit meant games lost when scoring over 30 points and not points per game?

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/12/3/24310596/bengals-nfl-record-most-games-scoring-33-points-loss

That is what I thought he meant.

(01-06-2025, 03:15 PM)BengalsBong Wrote: Lou has been here when many high round draft picks have been picked and we give our coaches say in who gets drafted.

The fault on who gets picked falls on Lou as much as anyone else.

Lou's scheme is way too complicated, and players are thinking rather than reading and reacting.

Lou refuses to dumb it down as well and he sucks at rotating D-linemen.

Spent tons of money on the Defensive side of the ball while Lou was here, I don't understand the argument that he wasn't given talent
to work with.

(01-06-2025, 03:02 PM)BengalYankee Wrote: The Cincinnati Bengals have put up 27.8 points per game this season.
How did you get over 30 points?

I said put up 30 points. I did not say put up 30 points per game.