(03-20-2019, 08:23 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Why would they do that?  I mean, it's going to be one heck of a letdown to the Texans' fans the next time Watson goes down, and they roll out AJ McCarron..

They had Tom Savage

(03-21-2019, 09:10 AM)Daddy-O Wrote: Sorry but I just don't see FA as a make or break plan.  Outside of the LA Rams, history doesn't really reflect any significant impact to winning for teams that make big free agent signings.

People need to remember this was a 4-1 team before the injuries derailed the season.  Some may say injuries happen to every team, and that is true.  But the Bengals lost very key cogs in the wheel (Brown in week 1, Glascow in week 3, Eifert in week 4, Kroft in week 5, Lawson went down, Green went down, Dalton down, Vigil missed what seemed like couple months, the list goes on).  Ross, although not very productive, missed time.  All of these starters were critical.  We essentially just played with too many back-ups.  A couple of players out for a couple of weeks no biggie but you just can't overcome the number of quality players that went to the IR.

We should be better at LG.  Hopefully we'll draft a stud LB, pick up a TE and some additional lineman in the draft.

Who knows what kind of coach ZT will be.  I'm sure he'll need to learn the ins and outs and there will probably be some growing pains. Worst case he ought to be able to manage the clock better from day 1 and hold players accountable for their actions.

People also forget the schedule got tougher after September. 4-1 came on the backs of a weaker portion of the schedule. The good teams stomped the Bengals. Last year’s team without the injuries was likely 8-8 at best.

(03-22-2019, 02:02 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Problem is that 5 sixth round picks are not wort anything when trying to trade up.

Plus 6th round picks are like lottery tickets.  You don't buy 6 because you think you will win 6 times.  You keep 5 6th round picks because it increases you chances of winning with one of them.

Yep, this. There is relatively little value in 6th founders, unless they’re being packaged with another higher pick to balance value on a pick trade.

(03-23-2019, 09:34 AM)t3r3e3 Wrote: People also forget the schedule got tougher after September.  4-1 came on the backs of a weaker portion of the schedule.  The good teams stomped the Bengals.  Last year’s team without the injuries was likely 8-8 at best.

Dang, can you give me the winning Powerball numbers for tonight?

For me, I would feel a lot better if the team had done something to address the lack of pass rush on D. I was hoping we would pick up a few rush type guys, and maybe draft a LB who has the capability of doing that (hoping this happens still).

It seems that if Atkins isn't putting pressure on people in the middle, it's solely left to Carl Lawson to give us any sort of rush for this defense. When he went down last year, our defense turned into a passive pile of crap.

This team won't be good again until they can find a way to generate a pass rush. Great QBs picked us apart and will continue to do so until we fix the issue.

(03-23-2019, 09:43 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Dang, can you give me the winning Powerball numbers for tonight?

I don’t see why that’s surprising. Going into the season the line sucked, and the LB corps sucked. Everyone knew this including the opponents. At the end of the season, the conclusion was that the o-line and linebackers indeed sucked. It’s hard to beat quality teams when you can’t block and can’t cover backs and TE’s. Quality teams trashed the Bengals last year.

(03-23-2019, 08:28 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: It is a steady, solid performance all year but hardly worth what he is commanding.  He just seemed to play with more urgency the last quarter of the season.  Remember, he played next to Aaron Donald and got a lot of one on one matchups.  And he wants something like 13 million a year?  

If you want to say he was overpaid for what he was in 2018, that's a different argument. I'd agree there. He's not quite the player he was a few years ago. I was only objecting to calling him (his career) overrated and saying he only shows up at contract time, he's a questionable leader, poor effort, etc. 

I don't think any of that is true, but yes he has fallen off some. I think that's why he's still on the market. He wants to play on the west coast - which limits his options - and probably wants the money he's accustomed to.

I think he's going to have to adjust his expectations, because he's not the guy he was when he was a Lion. Even as he is now, he's still one of the top DT's. I just doubt anyone pays $15 million for a 31 year old who is declining and has his reputation (similar to Burfict's).

(03-23-2019, 04:43 PM)t3r3e3 Wrote: I don’t see why that’s surprising.  Going into the season the line sucked, and the LB corps sucked.  Everyone knew this including the opponents.  At the end of the season, the conclusion was that the o-line and linebackers indeed sucked.  It’s hard to beat quality teams when you can’t block and can’t cover backs and TE’s.  Quality teams trashed the Bengals last year.

You like to make a lot of assumptions, I get that.  However, at the onset of the season, Preston Brown looked great, and nobody had a clue that Burfict would come out looking like the Cowardly Lion..   What Terryl Austin was trying to do with the secondary playing Zone just wasn't working, but the DL looked very effective until Lawson was lost. 

It's also funny how that line that sucked, looked perfectly adequate, when all of the offense was healthy.  They were 4-1, and damn close to beating the Steelers and being 5-1.

I'm not making any excuses, just giving a more accurate accounting that a simple "they sucked" and "they also sucked".  Without all of the injuries, I see last year's Bengals as a 10 win team.  Evidently Coach Taylor sees the same thing, as he gushes about the offensive talent the Bengals have.

Get Suh and run a 46. Then you don't need the LB, lol.

(03-23-2019, 05:04 PM)SladeX Wrote: Get Suh and run a 46. Then you don't need the LB, lol.

Are you sure that you know what you're talking about?  The 46 defense wasn't even named after the alignment of the LBs and DBs, it was named after Bears Safety Doug Plank, who wore number 46.  Plank was such a hard hitter that they moved him up with the LBs, just 5 yds. off the ball.  The Bears ran that defense with 4-3 personnel in the game.

I'm actually happy about this offseason. Yeah, it wasnt perfect but that's stupid to expect perfection. I will be pretty hyped if we draft White or Taylor. I cant wait for the draft. This team has a lot of potential, but can easily crumble. It's pretty exciting to me.

(03-23-2019, 09:34 AM)t3r3e3 Wrote: People also forget the schedule got tougher after September.  4-1 came on the backs of a weaker portion of the schedule.  The good teams stomped the Bengals.  Last year’s team without the injuries was likely 8-8 at best. 

We beat the Colts and Ravens who both went to the playoffs last year. Also I would say the Falcons are better than what there record shows and we beat them at their place.

(03-23-2019, 06:22 PM)Brownshoe Wrote: I'm actually happy about this offseason. Yeah, it wasnt perfect but that's stupid to expect perfection. I will be pretty hyped if we draft White or Taylor. I cant wait for the draft. This team has a lot of potential, but can easily crumble. It's pretty exciting to me.

What exactly made you 'pretty happy'?

We you like man I hope the Bengals struggle to find a DC and then end up with Lou A! The Giants were amazing!

Or were you like: 'Man I hope we don't lose Bobby Hart! He needs a healthy contract.'

Or were you like: 'Man we need to sign a Guard who was in and out of the starting lineup for poor play for 3 years, who looked decent last year...but his pass protection was worse than Redmonds!'

Or were you like: 'Wow! We need to sign Kerry Wynn!'

Or were you like: 'Man, we need Dennard and his 3 ints over 5 years! We could have a secondary with 3 CB's who average a low amount of interceptions a year!'

Or were you like: 'Man I hope we keep Preston Brown and don't address LB otherwise!'

(03-23-2019, 04:55 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: You like to make a lot of assumptions, I get that.  However, at the onset of the season, Preston Brown looked great, and nobody had a clue that Burfict would come out looking like the Cowardly Lion..   What Terryl Austin was trying to do with the secondary playing Zone just wasn't working, but the DL looked very effective until Lawson was lost. 

It's also funny how that line that sucked, looked perfectly adequate, when all of the offense was healthy.  They were 4-1, and damn close to beating the Steelers and being 5-1.

I'm not making any excuses, just giving a more accurate accounting that a simple "they sucked" and "they also sucked".  Without all of the injuries, I see last year's Bengals as a 10 win team.  Evidently Coach Taylor sees the same thing, as he gushes about the offensive talent the Bengals have.

Going into the season the Bengals had arguably the worst coverage linebackers in the entire NFL. Brown and Burfict, the two best linebackers on the roster, are/were liabilities in coverage. The rest of the LB corps was populated by plodders and middling athletes, save for Jefferson and Evans.

The NFL is a passing league. The Bengals LB unit hasn’t been able to cover anyone for the past 7-8 seasons. The LB corps was a glaring weakness going into 2018, and odds were, just like the line, they were going to be bad. None of these “assumptions” should surprise anyone who watches the team.

It’s hard to be a ten win team when you can’t hold up at the point of attack and get gashed by RB’s/TE’s and slot WR’s over the middle. Given the team’s 3rd place schedule, 7-9 to 8-8 is a pretty accurate representation of the team’s chances in 2018. Unless the line and LB corps is fixed in 2019, 7-9 to 8-8 will again be the most probable outcome. I hope they win ‘em all, but I don’t see a legitimate Playoff team unless the C/right side of line and LB corps are significantly improved. So far they haven’t done much to move the needle on either.

(03-23-2019, 08:06 PM)t3r3e3 Wrote: Going into the season the Bengals had arguably the worst coverage linebackers in the entire NFL.  Brown and Burfict, the two best linebackers on the roster, are/were liabilities in coverage. The rest of the LB corps was populated by plodders and middling athletes, save for Jefferson and Evans.  

The NFL is a passing league.  The Bengals LB unit hasn’t been able to cover anyone for the past 7-8 seasons.  The LB corps was a glaring weakness going into 2018, and odds were, just like the line, they were going to be bad.  None of these “assumptions” should surprise anyone who watches the team.

It’s hard to be a ten win team when you can’t hold up at the point of attack and get gashed by RB’s/TE’s and slot WR’s over the middle.  Given the team’s 3rd place schedule, 7-9 to 8-8 is a pretty accurate representation of the team’s chances in 2018.  Unless the line and LB corps is fixed in 2019, 7-9 to 8-8 will again be the most probable outcome.  I hope they win ‘em all, but I don’t see a legitimate Playoff team unless the C/right side of line and LB corps are significantly improved.  So far they haven’t done much to move the needle on either.

Oh they moved the needle...they picked it up and set it down at exactly the same spot by keeping Brown. Releasing Burfict was a step in the right direction. But, they have to replace him.

(03-23-2019, 07:01 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: What exactly made you 'pretty happy'?

We you like man I hope the Bengals struggle to find a DC and then end up with Lou A! The Giants were amazing!

Or were you like: 'Man I hope we don't lose Bobby Hart! He needs a healthy contract.'

Or were you like: 'Man we need to sign a Guard who was in and out of the starting lineup for poor play for 3 years, who looked decent last year...but his pass protection was worse than Redmonds!'

Or were you like: 'Wow! We need to sign Kerry Wynn!'

Or were you like: 'Man, we need Dennard and his 3 ints over 5 years! We could have a secondary with 3 CB's who average a low amount of interceptions a year!'

Or were you like: 'Man I hope we keep Preston Brown and don't address LB otherwise!'

No, I was like "I know the Bengals and they rarely make splash plays in FA. I'm happy that Marvin Lewis is out of here and now we have a bunch of new faces. I'm happy that we are adding in depth in key positions because our depth is horrible. I'm happy because this team can get new life and a big part of the team wasnt bad last year we just had a few glaring issues that can be addressed in the draft and better playcalling"

(03-23-2019, 05:32 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Are you sure that you know what you're talking about?  The 46 defense wasn't even named after the alignment of the LBs and DBs, it was named after Bears Safety Doug Plank, who wore number 46.  Plank was such a hard hitter that they moved him up with the LBs, just 5 yds. off the ball.  The Bears ran that defense with 4-3 personnel in the game.

You sure you know what you're talking about?

It's Gary here, and I'm Mr Clean
They call me Hit Man
Don't know what they mean
They throw it long, and watch me run
I'm on my man, one on one
Buddy's guys cover it down to the bone
That's why they call us the 46 zone

-Gary Fencik
Super Bowl Shuffle

To be honest I never read all the posts on this thread as going by the opinions and negative comments of most other fans on other threads, my answer to your original question of "What can Bengals do now to make fans happy about 2019 offseason" would be.
NOTHING, absolutely Nothing, people would still complain. No matter what they did!!!!

(03-22-2019, 08:00 PM)HuDey Wrote: We need this on both sides of the ball. Part of the reason I want to blow this roster up is because I don’t see much of it. Will a new coaching staff be the cure? I have my doubts but we will find out soon enough.

Exactly, and I was more than ready to go with the hope of an unknown over the blah that we had...

(03-24-2019, 01:15 AM)Brownshoe Wrote: No, I was like "I know the Bengals and they rarely make splash plays in FA. I'm happy that Marvin Lewis is out of here and now we have a bunch of new faces. I'm happy that we are adding in depth in key positions because our depth is horrible. I'm happy because this team can get new life and a big part of the team wasnt bad last year we just had a few glaring issues that can be addressed in the draft and better playcalling"

We basically do the minimum that most other teams in the league do...and many go well beyond us.

It's funny the importance we as fans put on the draft...when in reality EVERY TEAM drafts and we have a smaller scouting staff than the other teams. The odds that we'll consistently hit HR's on the draft every year or even 2-3 years in a row are fairly small.