(08-19-2023, 05:49 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Just looking at this I agree with pretty much all your thoughts and wish we would keep Hudson over Asiasi but you are 
probably right and we keep Asiasi who has been pretty Assiassi...

Hudson impressed me in the first PS game before he went down, Asiasi has never impressed me here at all...

(08-20-2023, 12:16 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Yeah, there are a number of spots that are open/still in doubt. 

1) QB2 
2) OL: backup slots and 9 or 10?
3) RB: 3 or 4?
4) WR: 6 or 7? 
5) TE3 
6) CB, 6 or 7? 
7) DE: 5 or 6? 
8) NT/DT: 5 or 6?  

I think we have more playable depth on defense. A lot of the offensive battles are ST/PS level guys in my book. 

Johnson III making it was probably a stretch. But I do think we go with 9 OL instead of 10. Who loses that battle of musical chairs and where that extra spot goes to (WR, CB, DL) is the other big question for me. I hlguess we couod carry 3 RBs instead of 4. 

(08-20-2023, 11:56 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: The preseason has made an impact on my thinking. I’m worried w/ Burrow’s injury and watching the Ravens & Steelers they look improved. It’s going to be tougher than I thought. Let’s hope we don’t look too rusty the first few games. I’m slightly concerned.

(08-20-2023, 03:51 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: From various comments across different forums, I do feel Bengals fans are way underestimating our division... All signs point to an improved team for Ravens, Steelers and Browns.  Some also forget that last year Ravens were in the drivers seat for the division before Lamar got hurt and a Lamar less Ravens team was on the verge of taking the lead in 4th quarter before Hubbards run back and still has a chance at end of game to tie it and this was without Lamar... 

Steelers look to have hit on 1st and 2nd round picks of Pickett and Pickens plus if Harris has a bounce back year their offense will be good enough with that solid defense they have.  Cleveland is the enigma team but lets just think about of Watson's last full season as a starter with a subpar Texans team in 2020 he threw for almost 5,000 yards with 33 tds and 7 ints and the Browns have some talent so i can;t see Watson performing like he did last year. 

We are still top dog but there are not 3 puppies behind us... get ready for a dog fight this year. 

(08-20-2023, 06:57 PM)Whacked Wrote: Nailed it.

I feel the exact same.

(08-20-2023, 03:51 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: From various comments across different forums, I do feel Bengals fans are way underestimating our division... All signs point to an improved team for Ravens, Steelers and Browns.  Some also forget that last year Ravens were in the drivers seat for the division before Lamar got hurt and a Lamar less Ravens team was on the verge of taking the lead in 4th quarter before Hubbards run back and still has a chance at end of game to tie it and this was without Lamar... 

Steelers look to have hit on 1st and 2nd round picks of Pickett and Pickens plus if Harris has a bounce back year their offense will be good enough with that solid defense they have.  Cleveland is the enigma team but lets just think about of Watson's last full season as a starter with a subpar Texans team in 2020 he threw for almost 5,000 yards with 33 tds and 7 ints and the Browns have some talent so i can;t see Watson performing like he did last year. 

We are still top dog but there are not 3 puppies behind us... get ready for a dog fight this year. 

(08-20-2023, 09:20 PM)TheFan Wrote: Wasn't there threads earlier this off season in addition to various articles by the national media talking about the AFC North being the hardest division in the NFL? I don't think many people are looking over these teams. We went 3-3 against the division last year (not including playoffs) and should expect the same or better this year. 

People thinking a walk to 6-0 are dumb but 4-2 is just as likely as 2-4. I would hardly call Kenny Pickett a "hit" based on what we've seen from him so far.

(08-21-2023, 09:15 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Pickett is looking good in the preseason. He looked good the last part of the season. He’s surprised me. Still not sold. Todd Monken the Raven’s OC is going to help the Ravens and Lamar. Watson will get some mojo back. If our secondary mostly safeties plays well and the OL comes thru we are fine. But I believe an already tough division is tougher. We don’t need our notoriously slow starts.

(08-21-2023, 09:15 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Pickett is looking good in the preseason. He looked good the last part of the season. He’s surprised me. Still not sold. Todd Monken the Raven’s OC is going to help the Ravens and Lamar. Watson will get some mojo back. If our secondary mostly safeties plays well and the OL comes thru we are fine. But I believe an already tough division is tougher. We don’t need our notoriously slow starts.

(08-21-2023, 09:38 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: The point the talking heads never bring up about Pick6etts strong finish last year. Beat 4-12-1 Colts, 7-10 Falcons, 7-10 Panthers, 6-11 Raiders. The Ravens with Huntley at QB, and the 7-10 Browns. The competition wasn't that great.

And I'm not impressed by a starting NFL QB looking good vs. guys just trying to stick on practice squad. 

(08-21-2023, 10:23 AM)TheFan Wrote: I don't think he's trash and I'm sure he's going to improve now having another year under his belt. But I'm not going to claim he's a "hit" yet when he still has more Ints than TDs. 

The most points a team scored in his last 7 games was 17 points. In 4 of his 7 wins Pitt scored less than 20 points. They won inspite of Kenny Picket not beca of. We scored less than 20 points only 3 times all season, for reference. 

(08-21-2023, 10:38 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I’m not sold either but he’s looks a lot better than he did the first part of the season. Of course you’d think so.

(08-19-2023, 10:59 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Agree in the main, but do disagree on a couple. 

I thought Carman was better than last week but hardly good. Had a hooding penalty negate a Jones catch (and ZT clearly disagreed). Did play RT later. I think he is in a battle with Smith & Adeniji to make the roster. 2 of them will whilest Collins is on PUP. Ford has olayed almost exclusively at guard. 

I though Jones played pretty well. 4 for 46. Had a another catch wipen out due to holding. 

I think Shelvin Jackson makes Morgan expendable. 

Sample, Johnson III, Gunter, & Davis all played pretty well in spots. Ossai as well. DL depth is gonna make some roster decisions difficult. 

(08-21-2023, 09:38 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: The point the talking heads never bring up about Pick6etts strong finish last year. Beat 4-12-1 Colts, 7-10 Falcons, 7-10 Panthers, 6-11 Raiders. The Ravens with Huntley at QB, and the 7-10 Browns. The competition wasn't that great.

And I'm not impressed by a starting NFL QB looking good vs. guys just trying to stick on practice squad. 

(08-19-2023, 05:23 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: Yeah that's why I wanted to keep Apple another year. We know he could be our 1 if needed. Hopefully Turner ends up being good and he has definitely had his moments so far I just assume he'll be inconsistent at the very least as a 2nd round rookie. I watched the drive again and I think Scott looked fine. He may have missed a tackle and he came in on the pass to Bijan and was blocked by a guard which looked borderline to in the back. Most plays he seemed to be playing deep and wasn't involved. It also looked like he would've made the pick on the Hilton tip if Ossai wasn't there.

(08-21-2023, 09:15 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Pickett is looking good in the preseason. He looked good the last part of the season. He’s surprised me. Still not sold. Todd Monken the Raven’s OC is going to help the Ravens and Lamar. Watson will get some mojo back. If our secondary mostly safeties plays well and the OL comes thru we are fine. But I believe an already tough division is tougher. We don’t need our notoriously slow starts.

(08-20-2023, 09:20 PM)TheFan Wrote: Wasn't there threads earlier this off season in addition to various articles by the national media talking about the AFC North being the hardest division in the NFL? I don't think many people are looking over these teams. We went 3-3 against the division last year (not including playoffs) and should expect the same or better this year. 

People thinking a walk to 6-0 are dumb but 4-2 is just as likely as 2-4. I would hardly call Kenny Pickett a "hit" based on what we've seen from him so far.