(06-15-2020, 09:40 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: One thing excites me and that is winning. If Joe can't do what AD did in year one after being locked out and a 2nd round pick, it is just another lost year.

I am happy the FO was more active in FA, but excited = winning, Everything else is just a smoke screen and I will be upset if we don't win more games than we lose.

(06-14-2020, 11:17 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Perhaps they are not the best in the NFL but to suggest someone stating the following could be the best in the NFL deserves a "child Please?" is silly:

WJ!!!
Trae Waynes
McKensie Alexander
Darrius Phillips
Jesse Bates
ShawnWilliams 
Vonn Bell
Brandon Wilson

(06-14-2020, 11:17 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Perhaps they are not the best in the NFL but to suggest someone stating the following could be the best in the NFL deserves a "child Please?" is silly:

WJ!!! - Not as good last year as he was.... needs to step it up this year
Trae Waynes- Unknown in Lou's system
McKensie Alexander- Unknown in Lou's system
Darrius Phillips- shows promise
Jesse Bates- We need rookie Jessie Bates making interceptions
ShawnWilliams - will probably be playing linebacker
Vonn Bell- unknown in Lou's system
Brandon Wilson- shows promise

(06-15-2020, 01:24 AM)BengalsBong Wrote: During the lockout year the team and players did not have any contact. This year they are on video calls in video classrooms interacting with coaches asking questions they all have the playbook. With the change in the culture ZT is bringing to the team the rookies being coaches sons or team captains from their college teams they should all be up to par in their heads. They will make rookie mistakes and need to get their muscle memory down once they hit the field but they should be well ahead of the lockout year guys. Which went to the playoffs.

(06-15-2020, 10:40 AM)Sled21 Wrote: All teams are following the same protocol, but the advantage goes to the teams that already have cohesive lines that have played together for seasons, and quarterbacks and recievers who have played together and have the timing down. We have none of that. I still think we get 9-10 wins.

(06-15-2020, 10:39 AM)fredtoast Wrote: I am feeling very optimistic also.  We made a lot of great moves this off season.  But things are not as rosey as some people claim.

First let me state the positivies so the guys wearing blinders won't accuse me of just being contrary.  

-We got the best college QB prospect to come out in a long time.  He is not as perfect as some here think, but QB is the most important position on the team and we were damn lucky to get Burrow.

-We have a couple of players that could be very good who missed all of last season with injury (Green, Williams).  Every team has players coming back from injury, but few who could be that good who missed the entire 2019 season.

-We made some very good signings in free agency (Reader, Bell).

-The first 8 games of last season our defense and rush offense were not just bad.  They were on pace to be among the worst in mordern NFL history.  The coaches made some key adjustments and over the las 8 games we had a top ten rush offense and a defense that was close to average.  So while we still just won 2 games I feel we are not as bad as some of the full season numbers seem to indicate because we were not as bad as we looked over the first 8 games.



Now on to some moves that I have some concerns about.

-Su'a-Filo was cut by the Titans in 2018 and has been a back up ever since.  The starter we released (Miller) got paid more in free agency than we gave Xavier. He is supposed to be a better "scheme fit", so he may be an upgrade, but I have to see it first.

-Josh Bynes is a career back up who could not even make an NFL roster out of training camp last year.  Only two times in his career has he ever got more than a one year contract, and he has been cut both times in the second year.  People claim he will be a good "veteran presence", but I hope it is from the bench.  Others drool over his PFF ratings, but the fact that Vigil got paid 40% more than Bynes in free agency gives you a good idea of what the NFL thinks of PFF ratings.

-We grossly over paid for Trae Waynes.  Right now Bengal fans are so thriulled that we spent a lot of money on free agency that they won't complain about anyone we signed.  But the fact is that a lot of big free agent signings don't work out.  I don't think Waynes is an upgrade over Kirkpatyrick in coverage.  He will still improve the defense if he can stay healthy and tackle better, but we should not pay $14 million a year for a CB with tackling skills.

(06-15-2020, 11:36 AM)impactplaya Wrote: Nick Chubby of the Browns is one of the best RBs in the NFL.
but hes not even a in the top 7 of highest paid RBs.

(06-15-2020, 11:36 AM)impactplaya Wrote: The truth is Josh Bynes had more intrest on the FA market 
Than Nick Vigil did.

(06-15-2020, 01:55 PM)fredtoast Wrote: The truth is you are just making stuff up.

They signed the same day and Vigil got a lot more money.

(06-15-2020, 03:07 PM)impactplaya Wrote: Oh my memory is clear on this trust me 
Bynes had Intrest in at least 2 other teams it was reported 
Nick Vigil it saId had the Raiders kicking the tires on him 
But there was no visit or anything 
Bynes was the more desired LB between the 2.

(06-15-2020, 03:07 PM)impactplaya Wrote: Oh my memory is clear on this trust me 
Bynes had Intrest in at least 2 other teams it was reported 
Nick Vigil it saId had the Raiders kicking the tires on him 
But there was no visit or anything 
Bynes was the more desired LB between the 2.

(06-15-2020, 04:37 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Don't have a horse in this race, but Vigil met with the Chargers and the Raiders FOR SURE, plus there may have been another team or two.

Bynes had interest from two teams and only one visit (us).

(06-14-2020, 07:24 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Needless to say, like most of you, I'm really pumped for the 2020 season.  I was trying to think of the last time I was this excited for a season.  I think the honest answer to that question is that's been well over a decade.

Without going into too much detail, and completely rehashing old beaten down topics, I started losing a lot of excitement probably around '09.  I know we had some decent teams since that time, but I never had much faith in Marvin beyond then.  Brat was a hanger-on at that time, and the staff was littered with guys that managed to stay on well beyond. (Alexander, Zampese, Hayes Bros, etc.)

I really think what most bothered me is not enough ever seemed to change.  It was basically the same regime and the same approach.  And as much as I came to respect Andy, I never considered him someone worthy of having a "fund" for years in advance.  The team and thier appraoch to me became stale and boring.

A lot of people said that myself and others wanted change simply for the sake of change. I never really thought that was at all fair.  I simply wanted to try something different because what we we're doing never resulted in getting over the hump.  I often said I'd rather try drastic change and fail then try the same old, same old and get blasted in the Wild Card round.

Well, now we're here.  We've got an overhauled coaching staff, and one that is much younger.  We've got a brand new QB, who might very well be the best prospect to come out in the last decade.  And, to top it off, we've got the biggest Free Agent class in franchise history.  We actually spent the 3rd most in the league in free agency, to the tune of well over 100 mil dollars.

Call me crazy, I don't see how anyone couldn't be excited with all of that.  I actually think the not knowing exactly what we have yet is exciting in and of itself.  I really just can't wait to see what this team looks like.  I can't wait to see the approach with the new QB.  I can't wait to see what the new QB looks like. I can't wait to see how a guy likes Higgins looks.  I can't wait to see what difference the additions on defense makes.

Will this team be better than some of those Marvin teams?  I don't know, and frankly right now I really don't care.  For me, I knew exactly what we had in those teams. Average to good, but never great.  The beauty with this team is I have no idea what we have just yet, and that's exciting.  For the first time in forever I'm starting to look down the line and envision this roster and their potential to be a contender.  With the FA haul, I'm starting to allow myself to imagine all sorts of possibilities moving forward.

I LOVE the new aggressive approach, and I LOVE all the new faces.  September can't come soon enough!!!

(06-14-2020, 11:13 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I wouldn’t say we have the best WR group either. Although they’re definitely up there. TB’s is pretty damn good for one, and now they have Brady throwing them the ball...

Now if John Ross finally puts it all together and stays healthy, and AJ returns to his pre-injuries form, and Higgins has a big rookie season, then yes, we could arguably be the very best. That’s a lot of if’s though.