(03-03-2020, 11:32 AM)QueenCity Wrote: Why is everyone still so high on Gio? You could sign pretty much sign anyone that could put up his pedestrian numbers.

I'm sure its part gameplan... but anyways we pay him this huge contract to catch 3 yard 4th quarter dump downs

I bet people thought Taylor was going to get more out of him just like Ross.

It fell right in with the "anyone is better than Marvin" feelings that most had including myself going into the season.

That's a ridiculous contract for his poor numbers and I like Gio as a person.

(03-03-2020, 01:37 PM)QueenCity Wrote: Thats a lot of money to pay for a blitz pickup. 

think about how bad it could have been without some of his stellar pickups

(03-03-2020, 03:47 AM)Jhowdy54 Wrote: For the first time since Mike Brown took over the franchise the front office is under the microscope from the national media.  Getting criticized in every way possible.  They have arguably the highest graded QB since Payton Manning entering the draft.  If there was ever a time for Mike and Katie to go 100% all in this would be the time.  I think we will be very aggressive come free agency.  WHODEY!!!!!

LOL.  The isn't the first time and it probably won't be the last.

(03-03-2020, 12:35 AM)jason Wrote: Last year looked like a train wreck... Rebuild had nothing to do with it.

It was a patchwork quilt of sadness 

Every position slipped for the most part.

Such a drastic pull-rug-from-under moment after showing so much promise away against Seattle.

We'll just have to see what's in store for part deux.

(03-03-2020, 12:35 AM)jason Wrote: Last year looked like a train wreck... Rebuild had nothing to do with it.

Well, yeah, but it was all new coaches. They just didn't have a plan anywhere else.

They were trying to rebuild with new coaches, it just fell apart.

(03-03-2020, 02:10 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: think about how bad it could have been without some of his stellar pickups

Perhaps we could have him sit on one of the O-Lineman's shoulders?

(03-03-2020, 02:10 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: think about how bad it could have been without some of his stellar pickups

I'm not sure what point you are trying to make? Insert any random player and they can pick up a blitz. 

Are you telling me Gio is a blitz pick up specialist that can't be replaced by someone making way less?

I like Gio but he's either misused or overpayed to do what he's doing on the field. 

(03-03-2020, 02:20 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Well, yeah, but it was all new coaches. They just didn't have a plan anywhere else.

They were trying to rebuild with new coaches, it just fell apart.

I'm going to wait this one out.

I'm not sold on Taylor but if they make some corrections/improvements going into the season I'll be more optimistic.

It would be a lot easier if he excelled as a play caller despite losing.

We shall see.  

I'm just not as patient as others who want to give him multiple years to be successful.

(03-03-2020, 02:29 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: I'm going to wait this one out.

I'm not sold on Taylor but if they make some corrections/improvements going into the season I'll be more optimistic.

It would be a lot easier if he excelled as a play caller despite losing.

We shall see.  

I'm just not as patient as others who want to give him multiple years to be successful.

Feel the same way, I think if Taylor hands the play calling duties over to Callahan this would be a huge step.

Taylor obviously put too much on his plate in his first season as HC. Just stick to building your team and being HC please...

While I haven't seen much from Brian Callahan as a play caller, he isn't stupid.

This guy coached Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford.

(03-02-2020, 02:10 AM)kevin Wrote: NO, NO and NO.  

They got new coaches in 2018 and in 2019 a new head coach and new coaches. 

They are in the process of getting some new players.  The top pick in every round should help. 

But there is nothing new about Mike Brown, Katey Brown, Paul Brown Jr, Charlie Brown, Buster Brown, Molly Brown, Sweet Georgia Brown, Savoy Brown, Les Brown, Joe E Brown and French Cousins Troy Blackburn and Bill & Duke of Earl Tobin. 

There is NOTHING new about Bengals Front Office, I am sorry to say.   Anybody that claims some stats to the contrary should look up Mark Twain who said, "  There are three kinds of lies.  Lies, damned lies and statistics. 

Is there any rebuild of Bengals from Top to Bottom.   Sadly the answer is NO, NO and NO.   Their reign of no play-off wins and most 0-4 starts since Pops died in 1991 continues.

Is there even a new Attitude.  A FOCUS ON WINNING.   Until the Brown Family proves different,  it is as the Talking Heads,  SAME AS IT EVER WAS, SAME AS IT EVER WAS.

It's enough to change my mood from Hopeful to Bleak, but I always hope that perhaps some coaches and players can WIN in spite of the worst front office in the NFL.

Savoy Brown rep!!!!!

(03-03-2020, 02:29 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: I'm going to wait this one out.

I'm not sold on Taylor but if they make some corrections/improvements going into the season I'll be more optimistic.

It would be a lot easier if he excelled as a play caller despite losing.

We shall see.  

I'm just not as patient as others who want to give him multiple years to be successful.

I'm with ya, but I think it's fair to note that this season should show some better prep than last season. At this time last year, we hadn't had a D coordinator for more than a week or two, and I'm not certain if that entire staff was filled yet. 

So, we saw a lot of guys that were familiar with Anarumo as FA pickups. Wynn, Webb, etc. This year, they should have some FAs and draft picks targeted going in. More preparation this go around for personnel decisions vs scrambling to assemble a staff. That's the hope anyway.....

(03-03-2020, 02:29 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: I'm going to wait this one out.

I'm not sold on Taylor but if they make some corrections/improvements going into the season I'll be more optimistic.

It would be a lot easier if he excelled as a play caller despite losing.

We shall see.  

I'm just not as patient as others who want to give him multiple years to be successful.

It would be interesting to hear why everyone is saying, Taylor's play calling was less than desirable? Btw, I am not disagreeing with you.

(03-03-2020, 02:58 PM)Wyche Wrote: I'm with ya, but I think it's fair to note that this season should show some better prep than last season. At this time last year, we hadn't had a D coordinator for more than a week or two, and I'm not certain if that entire staff was filled yet. 

So, we saw a lot of guys that were familiar with Anarumo as FA pickups. Wynn, Webb, etc. This year, they should have some FAs and draft picks targeted going in. More preparation this go around for personnel decisions vs scrambling to assemble a staff. That's the hope anyway.....

This is a big deal man, preparation is one of the most important aspects of football.

The problem often had in discussions or debates about rebuilding in the NFL is that many people have different ideas about what constitutes a rebuild.

IMHO, too many people equate rebuilding in the NFL to the same as other sports.

In college sports, both basketball and football, a rebuild requires tearing down an old system and shedding players. You then have to catch up in recruiting, and then wait a few years for commits and then development. This all takes time and patience.

In the NBA or MLB, rebuilding usually means dumping tons of salary to spend down the road. Often it can mean tanking as a result. The NBA tanks for draft picks. While MLB waits for prospects to develop in the minors before building around them.

The NFL is an entirely different. You can be in the midst of a rebuild and immediately be improved. You can change the core of your team and the entire dynamic over a year or two.

Do I think we're in "rebuild mode". I'm not sure what that means. Does it mean like Miami? If so, then no I do not.

But I do think we are rebuilding. The identity of the team has and will drastically changed.

What was Marvin, Andy, AJ, Vontaze, Pacman... is now Zach, Joe B, Mixon, Boyd, Hubbard.

Those are the guys that are the future and who will build around. The two biggest faces of a team in this league are the HC and QB. Ours have obviously changed.

All this simply put... we're building something different. Hence the term rebuild. That doesn't mean we're destined for 3-13 or are tanking. It just means we're a work in progress. While we may not be a SB contender that doesnt mean we're trying to lose.

This team needs to try win ASAP, while also examining the future and worth of aging players. It's a balancing act. But in no way do they need to dump every big salary at the expense of the season.

That's how I look at it. We are rebuilding but just not in the way some people think. If that makes sense.

Just saw an interview on twitter with Ian Rappaport. He said the buzz around Indianapolis this weekend was that the Bengals will be very active in free agency this year. Prefaced it by saying they won't be active in the 'upper tier', but will be very active in the 'upper middle' & 'middle' tiers.

*Not getting my hopes up* *Not getting my hopes up* *Not getting my hopes up*