(09-09-2024, 09:43 AM)casear2727 Wrote: They were obviously not prepared and for Zac to blame the game on a couple of fumbles and some missed tackles is so amateur. We could have won the game without those for sure, but, that doesnt change the most obvious issues:

Everyone in the world knew that NE's only chance was to run the ball.  They still rushed for 170.

Burrow was pressured the 3rd least in his career and still only averaged 5 yards per attempt.  This game plan of taking only what the defense gives you is pathetic.  Why wont every team just play us like this? Other than Jamar we have ZERO chance at yards after the catch. 

Our RBs averaged 4.9 yds per touch but rarely got the ball.

We likely need to fix more than just a couple fumbles and some missed tackles. 

(09-09-2024, 10:05 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I miss the typical old cadence for the preseason games with starters:
Game 1 - A couple series
Game 2 - One quarter
Game 3 - One half

I'd like to see that again to help get the Bengals more prepared. If it doesn't work for a couple years then I'm glad to abandon that strategy, but most teams used to do that for a reason.

(09-09-2024, 12:04 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Nah Sunset, sorry man but it was pretty clear he lost control of it when he hit the ground.

(09-09-2024, 12:30 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I've never liked ZT's 12 carries and less game plans. Go back thru the game logs and there's a bunch of such games. Carries by the RB's of course. Don't include QB scrambles and WR end around sweeps.

And perhaps I'm wrong ? But it sure seems the entire team could care less about running the ball and it shows. The opponents know it as well. 

(09-09-2024, 12:55 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: IDK, looks like he's got it just fine to me, until the defender lands on him. I don't consider another human landing on him part of "surviving the ground", but the rules are the rules.





Well, I tried to post a clip of the replay..

(09-09-2024, 09:29 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Let's not play "pin the tail on the donkey". Hudson also made a spectacular one handed catch. Besides, if the ball hadn't jarred loose from Gesicki's grip on the previous play, we're likely having an entirely different discussion today.

No singular player is at fault for that flat performance. The team just wasn't ready to play ball, and that falls on the coaching. Between soft training camps and contract melodrama, this team was anything but focused to play a live game versus an AFCN like opponent.

(09-09-2024, 09:34 AM)casear2727 Wrote: I never blamed the game on Hudson.  Im not a Hudson fan and his lack of awareness simply reveals that he is not a primetime player.  

I blame the performance on Zac, Lou, the defense, and Joe Burrow.  These 4 lost the game.  

(09-09-2024, 01:37 PM)t3r3e3 Wrote: Joe completed 72% of his passes with no turnovers.  Hard to blame Joe for dudes fumbling, dudes not catching passes, the o line’s atrocious blocking, the defense sucking balls, and Zac’s lack of creativity.

(09-09-2024, 01:37 PM)t3r3e3 Wrote: Joe completed 72% of his passes with no turnovers. Hard to blame Joe for dudes fumbling, dudes not catching passes, the o line’s atrocious blocking, the defense sucking balls, and Zac’s lack of creativity.

(09-09-2024, 12:30 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I've never liked ZT's 12 carries and less game plans. Go back thru the game logs and there's a bunch of such games. Carries by the RB's of course. Don't include QB scrambles and WR end around sweeps.

And perhaps I'm wrong ? But it sure seems the entire team could care less about running the ball and it shows. The opponents know it as well. 

(09-09-2024, 01:37 PM)t3r3e3 Wrote: Joe completed 72% of his passes with no turnovers.  Hard to blame Joe for dudes fumbling, dudes not catching passes, the o line’s atrocious blocking, the defense sucking balls, and Zac’s lack of creativity.

(09-09-2024, 02:55 PM)jj22 Wrote: Anyone of us could have completed 72% of those 5 yard throws... 

(09-09-2024, 02:35 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: I don't know if Burrow is checking out of runs, I'm thinking no since he's in shotgun most of the time still, but he's being given multiple plays and checking out of them according to Goodberry. 

(09-09-2024, 10:00 AM)Nepa Wrote: Found this from a year ago before the start of the season. Don't know if it was accurate: "Last year, every team that didn't play starters at all in preseason lost their week 1 game (including SB champion Rams). Do you feel this will effect us?"

Yes, the Rams are one of those teams that don't play their starters, and this is perhaps where Zac Taylor takes his inspiration. They also didn't this year and again lost their first game.

I think the better model for the Bengals is 3-time Super Bowl champion Andy Reid (4 if you count one as a assistant coach). He plays his starters, including Mahomes, in at least two preseason games and often considers doing it in a third game. Mahomes generally plays at least half a game in one of the preseason games, with the other starters, and limited snaps in another. Reid does this despite the fact that his teams are playing all the way to February the season before, unlike the Bengals who had a long off-season this year. Andy Reid defends doing so because he feels it is necessary to get ready for the speed and physicality of an actual game. 

I think we seen enough of the Bengals poor starts. One win in the first two games and 10 losses. Yesterday the Bengals looked not ready against the Patriots who played their starters in all three preseason games.

(09-09-2024, 10:44 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I'm not going to bash Hudson too much, he is normally very sure handed. It sucks, but it happens to everyone who plays.

(09-09-2024, 02:55 PM)jj22 Wrote: Anyone of us could have completed 72% of those 5 yard throws...