(12-20-2022, 02:30 PM)Sled21 Wrote: While I still have hopes of this team making it back to the Super Bowl, I think people need to temper their expectations or else there are going to be major meltdowns. Remember, we are now going into games with Eli Apple as the #1 corner, two rookies and a practice squad guy making up the others. While CTB has the most experience next to Apple, he is now hurt as well, and while he, Hill and George are talented defenders, they are going to be facing some of the best QB's in the league, all without the pass rush of Hendrickson and Hubbard. While we can all hope for the best, the reality is we are very short on defenders and Lou can only gameplan so much.

(12-20-2022, 03:11 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Yes. I have been tough on Volson and was worried about him struggling early in the season because the 2nd half of the season was going to be (much) harder.
I thought we needed someone who could hit the ground running at LG rather than give someone time to develop and grow directly as the starter when we're in the contender window.
Volson showed early on that he struggled at times, but luckily the Bengals only lost maybe 1-2 games in the first half of the season that I felt they should have won, and they've done really well this second half to compensate for those early-season losses. I honestly thought they'd have had two losses out of the last six games.

(12-20-2022, 03:35 PM)Daddy-O Wrote: Don't count out the Raider, historically they've given the Chiefs fits.

(12-20-2022, 07:35 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: All understandable. I have been really impressed with Volson for a rookie though. He has played against elite Defenders and held his own.

That isn't something to sneeze at.


That is true, both the Squawks and Raiders could beat the Chiefs, yah never know...

(12-20-2022, 07:49 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I've never "sneezed" at it, by any means.
I'm fully aware he's a rookie, and a 4th rounder coming from a FCS school.

He was clearly going to struggle early on, and he did. That's to be expected for someone in that situation.
My biggest gripe has always been that this is the contender window for the Bengals with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins being on rookie contracts and the team is potentially risking that window by starting a mid-round rookie from a FCS school instead of going with someone more proven.
He most definitely did not hold his own the first 1-2 months of the season, and it could have been (very) costly from a win-loss perspective or potential injury to Burrow.
Luckily, that didn't happen to a great extent, he has improved, and the Bengals are likely making the playoffs, could still win the division, and even push for the 1st or 2nd seed in the AFC.

(12-20-2022, 12:01 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Never.

I don't know why everyone hates on the guy so much: he isn't the best backup in the league by a longshot, but he's far from the worst either. He's middle of the pack, knows the offense intrinsically and athletically, can do everything Burrow does.

He just doesn't have the brain that Burrow does, which is his detriment... but it's not enough of a detriment to hurt the team.

And I fully acknowledge it was one game, but I don't see any backup in the league putting up these numbers in a game, especially with Drew Sample as your TE1:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202012270htx.htm

If he does get released, I wouldn't lose sleep at all, but to act like he's this black hole surrounding the team is, of course, hyperbolic.

(12-20-2022, 09:07 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: I sure don't like the injuries piling up, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but I think a lot of our nerves on games like this is just the PTSD from the teams of Bengals past.  I'm not going to get in to a Marv/Zac debate, but this team just seems different and I think the graphic shown during the game said something to the effect of "Joe Burrow is 9-1 in the last two Dec/Jan time periods".  The only loss being the Super Bowl.  Heck, he might have been 10-0 since the Super Bowl might have been in Feb? 

Regardless, this is his time of the year, and he has the best line he has had in front of him as a pro.  I have full faith that he and the team will keep the run alive.  That #1 seed will likely need some help, but wow...that would be HUGE.  

(12-20-2022, 03:40 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Paul Allen is a hoot. You should youtube him sometime if you want some pure entertainment. 

(12-20-2022, 08:46 PM)Awful Llama Wrote: Yeah, the SB was in February, but that number still didn't seem right.  We lost to Cleveland in January, but Joe didn't start that game, so it doesn't count.  But he did start both the LAC and 49ers games in December, and we lost both of those.  Guess we'll just have to settle for him being perfect this December and January 


I would have given anything to hear "Viking Lady" as that first half unfolded Saturday  

(12-19-2022, 12:36 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: The Bengals completed another come from behind (that's what she said) victory against the desperate Buccaneers yesterday.  That makes them 10-2 since the 0-2 start of the season.  

The next three games:

Sat 12/24 @ NE

Mon 1/2 vs. Bills @ HOME

Sun 1/8 vs. Ratbirds @ HOME

You all probably know where I stand (win out, and win Super Bowl, based on the poop bag toss and Mom's help) but I am wondering where everyone thinks they will end up.  For comparison, here is the rest of the schedule for the Rats, Chiefs, and Bills:

Ratbirds:

Sat 12/24 vs. Atlanta @ HOME

Sun 1/1 vs. pissburgh @ HOME

Sun 1/8 @ Cincinnati

Chiefs:   If this were college, they wouldn't get in based on a pathetic strength of schedule

Sat 12/24 vs. Seattle @ HOME

Sun 1/1 vs. Denver @ HOME

Sun 1/8 @ Las Vegas Raiders

Buffalo:

Sat 12/24 @ Chicago

Mon 1/2 @ Cincinnati

Sun 1/8 vs. NE Patriots @ HOME

I could actually see Buffalo losing on the road to Chicago.  They are getting really good play from Fields, although their defense is suspect.  It is REALLY hard to imagine the Chefs (that was on purpose) losing to anyone except MAYBE the Raiders, who have to travel to pissburgh and play SF at home before the final week and are likely to be eliminated.  Which sucks, because the folks battling injuries will likely just shut it down for the season.  

Even if Cincy wins out, there is a really good chance that KC gets the one seed.  Their schedule is just such a joke.  Even if the Bengals win out, assuming the Chefs do as well, they will still have to play in Round 1, most likely against the Miami Dolphins (just took their schedule and gave them a win final week against the Jets).  Miami will be a tough out.  There is also a chance if the Rats keep falling that they could be the seven seed and come to Cincinnati, which I would like much more than Miami.

Here is the NFL Playoff machine, if you care to plug in different scenarios.  It is pretty fun.  

http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

(12-20-2022, 07:35 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: All understandable. I have been really impressed with Volson for a rookie though. He has played against elite Defenders and held his own.

That isn't something to sneeze at.


That is true, both the Squawks and Raiders could beat the Chiefs, yah never know...

(12-20-2022, 09:28 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: They didn't say he was undefeated, they said he had won 8 in a row.

(12-20-2022, 03:55 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: Few teams are fully healthy at end of year, SB teams overcome injuries .As for Apple he rated well last year and continues to do well, solid replacement. 

(12-20-2022, 10:32 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Oh, I agree, just pointing out it gets harder with each and every starter we lose. 

(12-20-2022, 09:30 PM)Speedy Thomas Wrote: I almost spit out my bourbon egg nog when I read that.  

As far as how I see the remaining three weeks:

Bengals -- We win against NE.  Joe Burrow is not going to lose to Mac Jones.  Buffalo is a toss-up; home field ad gives us the win.  Anything can happen in division games, but Rat Turds are coming to the Jungle so I give it to us.  3-0.

Rat Turds -- If Lamar doesn't play, they could easily lose to Atlanta.  Last 2 are division games (see above), but I will give them Pissburgh at home and they will lose to us.  1-2.

Chefs -- They have been careless with the football and I don't see the consistency nor the intensity from them that they have had.  Someone is going to get them, most likely the Raiders.  2-1.

Bills -- Beat Chicago and Pats, lose to us.  2-1.

Bottom line:  AFC #1 seed.  I love home playoff games.

(12-20-2022, 02:30 PM)Sled21 Wrote: While I still have hopes of this team making it back to the Super Bowl, I think people need to temper their expectations or else there are going to be major meltdowns. Remember, we are now going into games with Eli Apple as the #1 corner, two rookies and a practice squad guy making up the others. While CTB has the most experience next to Apple, he is now hurt as well, and while he, Hill and George are talented defenders, they are going to be facing some of the best QB's in the league, all without the pass rush of Hendrickson and Hubbard. While we can all hope for the best, the reality is we are very short on defenders and Lou can only gameplan so much.

(12-20-2022, 02:26 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: The Squawks can run it all over teams at times, seems like the exact way to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs as their Defense isn't
great at stopping the run and it keeps Mahomes off the field and shortens the game. Geno Smith is also playing well, I could see
them going into KC and snagging a win, won't be easy but it is possible with the way the Chiefs are letting bad teams hang around.

The Squawks aren't a bad team unlike the Broncos and Texans who are 2 of the worst in the league.

(12-20-2022, 08:01 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Didn't mean to insinuate you did. 

Agree, it was a big gamble by the staff but you sometimes have to do that and start a guy you Drafted.

I was wrong about Carman, thought he would at least be decent depth, but the dude must be a bust if a 4th round pick just 
took his spot and ran away with it. Still think Volson also has a very high upside with his nasty way about him, loves to hit like
we saw in Casaer's thread. Just decleated #9.

(12-21-2022, 12:39 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Winning the next 3 is going to be brutal. NE likely a win. But we need to get healthy. It’s adding up. The last 2 are tossups. The Ravens are going to make sure Lamar is healthy. For them the goal should be his health. They may need the last game to make the playoffs.

The Bills are not as tough as the world thinks. They can’t run the ball w/o using Allen. Their pass rush isn’t as good minus Von Miller. Their secondary fairly good (LMAO). But despite our streak and winning 10-12 we are banged up.

I’ll be happy going 2-1

(12-21-2022, 10:54 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I think Carman's attitude/approach must have been so bad that they didn't even want to try starting him again this year.
I thought for sure he'd at least see some time maybe the first 2-3 games of the season while Volson continued to develop.
It's quite difficult your first game in the NFL going against Cameron Heyward.
I thought Carman would have been a bit better equipped to handle starting reps early on than Volson.

I can't see how Carman can be kept at this point, which is sad because I had hopes for him at LG.

(12-21-2022, 10:58 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: Regarding Carman, I also speculate it has to be an overall poor attitude or lack of professionalism to improve as a player that didn't set well with the coaches. Surely, his talent isn't that lacking for pro ball?

I'd imagine he's one and done with his contract as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.