(06-09-2019, 03:42 PM)BengalChris Wrote: It's easy to emote with your heart about your team and have hope.

It's harder when your head gets into it.

Browns make big changes and improve.

Bengals make only minor changes, some of which have questionable improvement value, so you have to kind of wonder if your hope should be tempered some.

Losing to the Browns twice last year was a dagger.

(06-09-2019, 05:06 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: How do you know the changes were minor? You have a new coaching staff who watched film and recognized some weaknesses and decided we can fix what we have here. Coaching is underrated by so many. They make a huge difference. Browns made big changes and only improved on paper. I have an inking that their whole locker room will become a problem. I know our minor changes are questionable, but we just don't know yet. As for losing to the Browns twice last year, even though we were injured (not using that as an excuse) I felt it was the coaches and lack of discipline. I wasnt pissed when we lost the 2nd time because I felt that had to be the nail in the ML coffin. So losing to the Browns finally had a coaching change which was long overdue.

I understand what your saying and I just don't agree brother. But let's be honest. When you consider the ML record against the Steelers, this change should have taken place long ago. Way before the Browns sweep. Yet, Mike is a loyal guy and it took a team who was 1-31 in the two previous years to sweep us that finally made him move. Not to discount the fans disapproval and lack of attendance and season ticket drops. He felt that one in the nads!

I think we had the perfect storm. Team embarrassment, fan embarrassment and an owner who feared he was close to losing the support of not only a city, but support of the fans nationwide (there are few outside Ohio, northern KY and SE Indiana). I feel this is why we've finally started seeing the Bengals act like an NFL team. The draft was more than many expected. I have good feelings about this year. We are going to be something special. We are still one of the youngest teams in the league and if they gel quickly under this new regime, man, oh man, we got some good stuff heading our way.

So, as you say, "Losing to the Browns twice last year was a dagger." Yes it was, but I beleive we will remove that dagger from our skin, and slay the entire NFL.

(06-09-2019, 11:35 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Really I could make a case for ANY TEAM in THE AFCN winning the division.

At this point. our biggest questionmark is the coaching. They're inexperienced and all taking huge leaps up in level. IF that works out, we could win 10 games.

That said, we won what 6, 7, 6 games the last 3 years so of course people aren't going to pick us to go 12-4 this year.

(06-09-2019, 06:40 PM)Socal Bengals fan Wrote: Some of you sound kind of silly saying the NFL has the book on Mayfield n he’s going to struggle this year. That’s a lot of wishful thinking.   He had a rookie TE last year , only one good WR n rookie RB, this year he has an entire offseason to get in sync with all his weapons n added a top 5 WR n Kareem Hunt too.   I’m not a fan of the Browns at all but they will be much improved from last year n Mayfield is the real deal.  Jackson on the other no one knows about him as he’s learning a whole new playbook n he loves to run

(06-09-2019, 05:50 PM)McC Wrote: How many NFL HC games are there on Freddie "I spend way too much time in" Kitchens' resume?

(06-09-2019, 06:40 PM)Socal Bengals fan Wrote: Some of you sound kind of silly saying the NFL has the book on Mayfield n he’s going to struggle this year. That’s a lot of wishful thinking.   He had a rookie TE last year , only one good WR n rookie RB, this year he has an entire offseason to get in sync with all his weapons n added a top 5 WR n Kareem Hunt too.   I’m not a fan of the Browns at all but they will be much improved from last year n Mayfield is the real deal.  Jackson on the other no one knows about him as he’s learning a whole new playbook n he loves to run

(06-09-2019, 08:02 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: You love Mayfield based on your past posts. Maybe your love is blind, maybe not.

But, Mayfield had a healthy Landry a year ago all year and a healthy OL. I think je will be as good as the health of his OL and his receivers. Hunt we knw is missing 8 games minimum. 

I think Mayfield will turn out to be somewhere in the middle between good and great, not just in 219, but in his career. You are thinking great so im time we will see who is correct.

(06-09-2019, 08:41 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: I would agree with that. The Browns has the #2 line last year according to PFF.

Man their offense looks loaded though. I doubt Mayfield is a great QB too. I think above average to good.

But, on offense.

#2 line (yeah they lost Zeitler but had a replacement.)
Chubb looked really good (5.2 ypc) as a rookie. They added Hunt who was leading the NFL in rushing.
Beckham and Landry at WR with Calloway as #3.
TE - Njoku who is young, athletic, and probably above average.

Plus, Kitchens seemed to know how to really create an offense last year.

Where is their weakness on offense? I don't see it.

(06-09-2019, 11:29 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That is true about new offenses/playbooks/etc.  but what cannot be so easily changed are the physical habits that are now fully captured on game film.  Every QB has physical "cues" that defensive players and coaches can all clearly see and read.  I feel like these cues are more telling and easier to diagnose in mobile QBs, as opposed to pocket passers who master the pump fake and the "look off" to create windows of separation for their receivers.  With mobile QBs, it's usually something more physically demonstrative, like a stutter or hitch in their step, or maybe the Safety catches him taking a long look at the middle of the field before he tucks and runs, etc.

(06-09-2019, 11:29 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That is true about new offenses/playbooks/etc.  but what cannot be so easily changed are the physical habits that are now fully captured on game film.  Every QB has physical "cues" that defensive players and coaches can all clearly see and read.  I feel like these cues are more telling and easier to diagnose in mobile QBs, as opposed to pocket passers who master the pump fake and the "look off" to create windows of separation for their receivers.  With mobile QBs, it's usually something more physically demonstrative, like a stutter or hitch in their step, or maybe the Safety catches him taking a long look at the middle of the field before he tucks and runs, etc.

(06-09-2019, 10:39 PM)Joelist Wrote: Yep! 

And people keep forgetting that Mayfield had a pretty good cast last season but aside from beating up on us and Atlanta he looked pretty ordinary at best with a real turnover problem. In fact there were only two teams he played twice - our all time bad defense and the Rats. Our defense was a total sieve and unable to stop either run or pass. The Rats made him look bad. 

Jackson I maintain is essentially Terrell Pryor II. He should be moved to WR as he has zero touch, one speed on his throws and no real pocket play skills. I suspect after this season the Rats will take a real QB early and do exactly that. 

(06-09-2019, 08:02 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: You love Mayfield based on your past posts. Maybe your love is blind, maybe not.

But, Mayfield had a healthy Landry a year ago all year and a healthy OL. I think je will be as good as the health of his OL and his receivers. Hunt we knw is missing 8 games minimum. 

I think Mayfield will turn out to be somewhere in the middle between good and great, not just in 219, but in his career. You are thinking great so im time we will see who is correct.

(06-09-2019, 08:41 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: I would agree with that. The Browns has the #2 line last year according to PFF.

Man their offense looks loaded though. I doubt Mayfield is a great QB too. I think above average to good.

But, on offense.

#2 line (yeah they lost Zeitler but had a replacement.)
Chubb looked really good (5.2 ypc) as a rookie. They added Hunt who was leading the NFL in rushing.
Beckham and Landry at WR with Calloway as #3.
TE - Njoku who is young, athletic, and probably above average.

Plus, Kitchens seemed to know how to really create an offense last year.

Where is their weakness on offense? I don't see it.

(06-10-2019, 07:50 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: If you strictly analyze by rosters, the Browns are loaded with young talent on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.  Do I think they have a better roster than Cincy?   My simple answer is no.

The Bengals were rolling on offense last year before Eifert's injury and were still headed to the playoffs before losing Dalton and Green.  The offensive line has been fortified in two key spots and I believe Billy Price will be a huge upgrade over his rookie season.  The depth at RB, TE, and WR is there.  The offense, with a more aggressive, less-predictable scheme, should be better than last year's unit.  It might also help the defense by having better ball control and time of possession with the emphasis on improving the rushing attack.  And what have I always said about Dalton?  When giving adequate time (and I don't mean the ridiculous time afforded Piggy and Brady due to their lines being able to hold all day without drawing a flag), he is an absolute surgeon.  He carves teams up.  I think the added measure of misdirection, motion, and moving Dalton's pocket will be HUGE for him.  He has done extremely well despite being a sitting duck in the last few years.  

The real question is on the defense:  We are all concerned about the LB corps....but what else?  The defensive line will have Dunlap, Hubbard, Lawson, Willis, and Wynn all rotating at the end positions and coming in fresh and hungry.  We have competition for Billings and Glasgow with Wren and Geno should only improve with better, fresher talent around him.  

The secondary is the absolute strength of our team.  They have depth and roster flexibility should anyone be injured.  Bates has Pro Bowl potential.  More pass rush is going to yield more turnover opportunities for these guys.  

The LB corps has a lot of question marks, yes, but they were significantly better last year once Austin was gone and they returned to more man coverage on the back end.  I think we will start with Vigil and Pratt as the nickel package.  Brown may stay regulated to the base LB package.  

If this is the biggest question mark on the entire roster, I will take it.  I view our LB corps as I would an offensive line that has a QB that holds the ball too long and ends up getting sacked.  There has to be a realistic pass rush and coverage to allow them to do their job as well.  From what I am hearing about Lou's different fronts and schemes, they are going to be more aggressive on defense as well.  This is what ZT wants and has said as much.  

I don't think anyone can possibly realize how much this may do to get more out of the players.  Cleveland was playing with less talent, but a ton more PASSION than the Bengals and other teams a year ago.  Hell, they might have lost, but they gave pitt some awesome games.  It is all about getting the most out of your guys and our guys looked so defeated at times...as though they knew they had no shot with the ridiculous conservative crap they were rolling out there.  I think ZT will have his guys flying around and playing with energy.  I don't care if you have a roster of the 85 Bears on defense, and the Greatest Show on Turf Rams on offense...if you aren't getting the most out of your players you will not be competitive.  

The Bengals are certainly capable of winning the division, and I am more excited than I have been in a long time to watch them.