(06-20-2018, 10:57 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2018/06/19/marvin-lewis-praises-sam-hubbard-way-ahead-curve/

“He has been way ahead of the curve. We’re just excited about that. He’s going to really complement and add to our football team right away. I’m just excited because he’s probably out here a little mature beyond his years right now.”

I don't buy to heavily into these preseason articles but I find it interesting that Marvin says he'll add to the football team right away !

Perhaps we've found a real gem in Hubbard ?

Awesome! Finally we draft a 3 down DE. It's been awhile since our DE picks have given us such a player.

Sadly though this means the front office will feel justified in low balling Dunlap.

This excites me every time I think about it still.

The Larry Johnson effect.

(06-21-2018, 03:30 AM)Go Cards Wrote: This excites me every time I think about it still.

All this good news is like football Viagra.    


Sorry, couldn't resist.

(06-21-2018, 07:42 AM)Tiger Teeth Wrote: All this good news is like football Viagra.    


Sorry, couldn't resist.

So your getting a chub for Hub? If this lasts more than 4hrs. Your gonna need a shot.

(06-21-2018, 07:53 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: So your getting a chub for Hub? If this lasts more than 4hrs. Your gonna need a shot.

Hope it lasts all season!  

(06-20-2018, 10:57 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2018/06/19/marvin-lewis-praises-sam-hubbard-way-ahead-curve/

“He has been way ahead of the curve. We’re just excited about that. He’s going to really complement and add to our football team right away. I’m just excited because he’s probably out here a little mature beyond his years right now.”

I don't buy to heavily into these preseason articles but I find it interesting that Marvin says he'll add to the football team right away !

Perhaps we've found a real gem in Hubbard ?

I know he didn't have the same stats or combine freakishness of Bosa (who does?) but look at what Bosa did his first season with no camps, no OTAs, and an extended hold out!

I am very excited that we have Hubbard to go with Dunlap, Willis, and Lawson.  

(06-20-2018, 07:12 PM)Circleville Guy Wrote: Those 2 need to be kept, hopefully the loss of Whit taught management a lesson. Keeping those 2 is a secondary reason as to why I didn’t like the Eifert signing.

Eifert's salary is for this year, whereas an extension is future money, thus its redundant in the extension scheme of things.

I feel like what Marvin really is saying is:

“We’ve finally realized MJ and some of the others guys are getting older. We will probabaly be forced to have Hubbard playing some real game snaps this year so we promise he is reaaaaallll goooood”

I like Hubbard and think he will be good, but to me Marvin is just setting up the narrative for releasing MJ. He needs it to be warranted. Having Hubbard ‘ahead of the curve’ makes his decision that much easier.

I've got a good feeling about Hubbard. He really is a scrappy high-motor guy with good fundamentals. 

(06-21-2018, 10:35 AM)GreenCornBengal Wrote: I feel like what Marvin really is saying is:

“We’ve finally realized MJ and some of the others guys are getting older. We will probabaly be forced to have Hubbard playing some real game snaps this year so we promise he is reaaaaallll goooood”

I like Hubbard and think he will be good, but to me Marvin is just setting up the narrative for releasing MJ. He needs it to be warranted. Having Hubbard ‘ahead of the curve’ makes his decision that much easier.

I really do not see them cutting MJ any time soon. Having all these young guys is great, but when someone inevitably gats hurt, you have to have solid guys to replace them. While Johnson's game on end has diminished, he is still playing at a high level inside....

(06-21-2018, 02:02 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I really do not see them cutting MJ any time soon. Having all these young guys is great, but when someone inevitably gats hurt, you have to have solid guys to replace them. While Johnson's game on end has diminished, he is still playing at a high level inside....

I don't know about that Sled ?

Take are hard look at the guys that way more than likely make the team at DE: Dunlap, Willis, Lawson, and Hubbard.

Then look at DT: Atkins, Baker, and Billings. And you don't have a lot of spots left.

You've got at DT Andrew Brown R, Ryan Glasgow 2, and Josh Tupou 2. Then at DE there's Javon Rolland Jones R, Gaelin Elmore R.

I'd say there's a fair chance at least one of these 5 make the team as they're not putting more than a couple D-linemen on the PS.

Michael Johnson is 31 years old and his game at DE has declined rapidly the last two seasons ! He's decent against the run and has some use as an inside pass rusher. Do you really pay his salary to a guy who gets 10 snaps a game ? And you're taking playing time away from these rookie and 2nd year players.

I won't be shocked at all if MJ has played his last game in stripes.

(06-21-2018, 04:54 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I don't know about that Sled ?

Take are hard look at the guys that way more than likely make the team at DE: Dunlap, Willis, Lawson, and Hubbard.

Then look at DT: Atkins, Baker, and Billings. And you don't have a lot of spots left.

You've got at DT Andrew Brown R, Ryan Glasgow 2, and Josh Tupou 2. Then at DE there's Javon Rolland Jones R, Gaelin Elmore R.

I'd say there's a fair chance at least one of these 5 make the team as they're not putting more than a couple D-linemen on the PS.

Michael Johnson is 31 years old and his game at DE has declined rapidly the last two seasons ! He's decent against the run and has some use as an inside pass rusher. Do you really pay his salary to a guy who gets 10 snaps a game ? And you're taking playing time away from these rookie and 2nd year players.

I won't be shocked at all if MJ has played his last game in stripes.

I would have to agree, I think it's just time to move on.

(06-21-2018, 04:54 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Michael Johnson is 31 years old and his game at DE has declined rapidly the last two seasons ! He's decent against the run and has some use as an inside pass rusher. Do you really pay his salary to a guy who gets 10 snaps a game ? And you're taking playing time away from these rookie and 2nd year players.

I won't be shocked at all if MJ has played his last game in stripes.

I wouldn't be very surprised, either.  Truth of the matter is, MJ hasn't been the guy he once was, since the last season of his first tenure here.  Folks keep pointing to the fact that he's decent versus the run, and can shift to DT in obvious passing situations.  That's all well and good, but the primary skill that is looked for in a 4-3 RDE, is being able to put heat on the passer.  He no longer does that.

I don't know if the year in Tampa did something to his psyche, or zapped his mojo, or what.  But, the truth is that he hasn't looked like himself since coming back.  It's saddening to acknowledge that, as I used to have a high regard for his value to the team.

(06-21-2018, 04:54 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I don't know about that Sled ?

Take are hard look at the guys that way more than likely make the team at DE: Dunlap, Willis, Lawson, and Hubbard.

Then look at DT: Atkins, Baker, and Billings. And you don't have a lot of spots left.

You've got at DT Andrew Brown R, Ryan Glasgow 2, and Josh Tupou 2. Then at DE there's Javon Rolland Jones R, Gaelin Elmore R.

I'd say there's a fair chance at least one of these 5 make the team as they're not putting more than a couple D-linemen on the PS.

Michael Johnson is 31 years old and his game at DE has declined rapidly the last two seasons ! He's decent against the run and has some use as an inside pass rusher. Do you really pay his salary to a guy who gets 10 snaps a game ? And you're taking playing time away from these rookie and 2nd year players.

I won't be shocked at all if MJ has played his last game in stripes.

I keep hoping and waiting for Billings to show me something, but so far I've really not seen him do much. Not saying it won't happen, but I will be surprised if it does....

(06-21-2018, 06:24 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I keep hoping and waiting for Billings to show me something, but so far I've really not seen him do much. Not saying it won't happen, but I will be surprised if it does....

Billings started to play well at the end of the year last year. I think it was due to him finally getting back to 100%. I know that it took a little while for even someone as good as Geno to get back to 100% from his injury (not saying Billings is as good as Geno, just that injuries take a toll on bigger guys for a while)

(06-21-2018, 06:24 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I keep hoping and waiting for Billings to show me something, but so far I've really not seen him do much. Not saying it won't happen, but I will be surprised if it does....

Hang in there, brother.  In Billings' case, youth is most definitely on his side.  This will be his 3rd season, and he's still in what I'd consider his early 20's.  If anyone was a good bet on the long game, I'd go with Billings. 

Besides, with Willis, Lawson, and now Hubbard adding extra heat from the edges, Billings' opportunities to make a splash in the middle just expanded.

(06-21-2018, 01:28 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I've got a good feeling about Hubbard. He really is a scrappy high-motor guy with good fundamentals. 

All of the euphemisms used to describe "white guy"...

(06-21-2018, 07:53 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: So your getting a chub for Hub? If this lasts more than 4hrs. Your gonna need a shot.

Light a match and put it out on your wrist.

(06-21-2018, 07:17 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Hang in there, brother.  In Billings' case, youth is most definitely on his side.  This will be his 3rd season, and he's still in what I'd consider his early 20's.  If anyone was a good bet on the long game, I'd go with Billings. 

Besides, with Willis, Lawson, and now Hubbard adding extra heat from the edges, Billings' opportunities to make a splash in the middle just expanded.

Just re read what I wrote. What I meant was I don't think MJ will be cut, but I'll be surprised if it does.... not that I'll be surprised if Billings brings it. I've been waiting for that since we drafted him.