(04-12-2017, 01:19 PM)depthchart Wrote: Simply getting healthier and improving may not be enough for the Bengals in 2017.
Competition for Wildcards in the AFC should get tougher with what I see as at least 10 teams seriously competing with the Bengals for 6 total AFC Playoff spots.

The Patriots, Steelers, Texans, Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, Ravens and Colts make 10.
The Bengals make 11 competing for 6 spots.

The Steelers will get Cameron Heyward & Martavis Bryant back plus some injured secondary help should return. They made the AFC Championship game last season and are the Favorite to win the AFC North in 2017. The Bengals need to find a way to Elevate their play to an Elite level to win this division. If not, they will be Bunched up into a large group of Wildcard contenders many of whom are Ascending teams. A 2017 AFC Wildcard will likely be harder to get than in recent years. The Bengals need to use this Draft to bring an Elite quality to at least one unit or area of the team. Do something to distinguish themselves from the Wildcard contending pack. Seattle was known for an Elite secondary. We have some Elite players scattered on both sides of the ball but need Top notch Units to Gel to actually start earning what the Great teams earn. Otherwise, we are just another team in the crowd.

(04-13-2017, 04:03 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: The Steelers haven't done anything to improve, and 2 of the 3 BBB's are always at risk of missing games. Ben is now 35 and I don't see him lasting much longer with the punishment his style of play has produced.
Texans need a QB and missed out on Romo. 9-7 is probably their ceiling without one.
The Raiders have to deal with half empty stadiums and protests for the next 1-2 years. The Browns fell completely apart in 1995 under the same circumstances.
The Chiefs are a rock solid team under Andy Reid.
The Broncos are a question mark. They could rebound or this could be the beginning of some mediocrity. I'm guessing the latter.
Dolphins were a fluke
Titans are promising but we'll see
Ravens are 31-33 in 4 seasons since their SB win and have no scary players on their roster. Harbaugh has done an amazing job just making them mediocre, but they aren't a threat anymore.
The Colts are coming off 2 straight 8-8 seasons and Luck is the only reason anyone thinks they'll do anything. 

_____________________

Btw, the Titans, Texans and Colts are obviously all in the same division. Same with the Raiders, Chiefs and Broncos.

It's unlikely that all will be playoff threats at the same time. 

I'm not optimistic about this season with Ogbuehi and Fisher as bookend tackles, but I still like our chances better than some of these teams, including the Ravens. 

(04-13-2017, 07:08 PM)pally Wrote: Steeler's owner Dan Rooney died today....added incentive for their season

(04-13-2017, 07:35 PM)The Real Deal Wrote: And the NFL is no doubt already salivating at the opportunity to call games even more so in pittsburghs favor this season.

Steelers win the super bowl this year. Remember I said this and mark it down.

(04-13-2017, 08:36 PM)Nately120 Wrote: Predicting a team that made the AFC Championship game and has a HOF QB and top-tier offense will win the Super Bowl?  How did you get so bold!

I can tell you the fix is on.  The NFL will do anything in their power to make sure the Steelers, Patriots, Packers,  Seahawks, or Cowboys are in the mix for the title.  Mark that down, because if I'm wrong my career as a non-professional football analyst is toast.  Hell, I even bet the Browns won't be good again next year.  Book it.

(04-13-2017, 07:35 PM)The Real Deal Wrote: And the NFL is no doubt already salivating at the opportunity to call games even more so in pittsburghs favor this season.

Steelers win the super bowl this year. Remember I said this and mark it down.

(04-14-2017, 10:08 AM)samhain Wrote: Yep.  Not the first thought that crossed my mind after hearing of his death, but definitely one of them.  

(04-12-2017, 01:19 PM)depthchart Wrote: Simply getting healthier and improving may not be enough for the Bengals in 2017.
Competition for Wildcards in the AFC should get tougher with what I see as at least 10 teams seriously competing with the Bengals for 6 total AFC Playoff spots.

The Patriots, Steelers, Texans, Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, Ravens and Colts make 10.
The Bengals make 11 competing for 6 spots.

The Steelers will get Cameron Heyward & Martavis Bryant back plus some injured secondary help should return. They made the AFC Championship game last season and are the Favorite to win the AFC North in 2017. The Bengals need to find a way to Elevate their play to an Elite level to win this division. If not, they will be Bunched up into a large group of Wildcard contenders many of whom are Ascending teams. A 2017 AFC Wildcard will likely be harder to get than in recent years. The Bengals need to use this Draft to bring an Elite quality to at least one unit or area of the team. Do something to distinguish themselves from the Wildcard contending pack. Seattle was known for an Elite secondary. We have some Elite players scattered on both sides of the ball but need Top notch Units to Gel to actually start earning what the Great teams earn. Otherwise, we are just another team in the crowd.

(04-15-2017, 07:39 PM)bengalhoel Wrote: I applaud the Steelers because they win playoff games and we cant even accomplish that but they were way overrated last year. The AFC was the weakest it had ever been because of injuries. Carr was hurt, Pitt got to play Miami with a scrub at QB. Then they went to Arrowhead and played a sorry ass KC offense and  they still almost lost. 

Like I said, they win the games they are supposed to, which sometimes we struggle with, but they are not that much better than us. 

(04-16-2017, 08:31 AM)Nately120 Wrote: They swept us, made it further than we have in 28 years, and won 11 games to our 6. But other than that what did they do to show they are any better than us?!

(04-12-2017, 01:19 PM)depthchart Wrote: Simply getting healthier and improving may not be enough for the Bengals in 2017.
Competition for Wildcards in the AFC should get tougher with what I see as at least 10 teams seriously competing with the Bengals for 6 total AFC Playoff spots.

The Patriots, Steelers, Texans, Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, Ravens and Colts make 10.
The Bengals make 11 competing for 6 spots.

The Steelers will get Cameron Heyward & Martavis Bryant back plus some injured secondary help should return. They made the AFC Championship game last season and are the Favorite to win the AFC North in 2017. The Bengals need to find a way to Elevate their play to an Elite level to win this division. If not, they will be Bunched up into a large group of Wildcard contenders many of whom are Ascending teams. A 2017 AFC Wildcard will likely be harder to get than in recent years. The Bengals need to use this Draft to bring an Elite quality to at least one unit or area of the team. Do something to distinguish themselves from the Wildcard contending pack. Seattle was known for an Elite secondary. We have some Elite players scattered on both sides of the ball but need Top notch Units to Gel to actually start earning what the Great teams earn. Otherwise, we are just another team in the crowd.

(04-19-2017, 02:33 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: True enough, but i think the Defense as a whole can be elite if we add another pass rusher or two to the fold.

I keep saying letting Peko and Maualuga go and giving those jobs to Billings and Minter is exactly what i would of done.

This season will hinge on if the O-line improves, can protect Dalton and open up holes in the running game.

I still have no faith in Marv getting us ready to sweep the Steelers, we have done that like what? Once. We will have to
split with them and sweep the rest of the Division which could happen if the things i speak of happen. Possible, problem
is still Marvin Lewis. He cannot outcoach good coaches in the Playoffs.

(04-19-2017, 04:02 PM)depthchart Wrote: The Safety play improved as last season progressed as Shawn Williams got experience. So that should be better in 2017.
If William Jackson III with 4.37 speed is Legit and with the addition of Keivarie Russell the Corners should be better.
The Linebacker group should at least hold serve and as you say may be better with Minter. Nick Vigil also has more experience now.

Geno and Dunlap are excellent.
Upgrading the Michael Johnson position with at least a better rotational option would boost the D-line.
While Peko was not elite, he was pretty Durable which Billings is yet to prove.
I'd like to see another mid round DT taken this Draft to compete with Billings say round 4 or 5.
DT's can drop like flies with injuries during a season and Peko's durability may end up being missed even though he wasn't a Star.
Brandon Thompson who is only 27 years old and a 3rd round pick may be in the mix also for Peko's old job.

The Defense is close and as you say the Offense is the Bigger question. The Offense may get more early pick attention.

(04-19-2017, 02:11 PM)bengalhoel Wrote: They sweep us almost every year, even when we are better than them. I said they were better than us last year, just not by much. A decent offensive line and healthy players and we would have been better just like the year before.

You can suck the Steeler's nuts if you want to, but if you watched the AFC championship game they did not belong on the same field. It was a weak AFC last year and that is why they made the AFC championship game.  

I said they are better than us but if you watched the playoffs the Steelers looked terrible and Ben is getting older. LeVeon Bell is their version of Tyler Eifert and can't stay on the field.

(04-20-2017, 12:20 AM)Nately120 Wrote: Good point.  Other than sweeping us, winning 5 more games than us, and playing a meaningful game 2 months after our season was dead in the water what did the Steelers actually do to show they were much (if at all) better than us?  

Then again, we swept the Browns and won 5 more games than they did.  Hmm....nah you're right, total nut-hugging on the Steelers by me on this one.