(10-16-2019, 08:02 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: I dunno.  Maybe they need to improve their practices at signing Free Agents.

Just because they don't do it well doesn't mean Free Agency doesn't work or help an NFL team.

Free agents have improved and helped other teams numerous times.

Sure.  We all want draft picks to step in and be contributors but as you can see that doesn't always happen.

You just can't write off Free Agency because of Glenn, Brown, or others.

They absolutely need it.  

(10-16-2019, 12:36 PM)hotweales Wrote: Realistically Mike Brown is not going to step down, or fire any family!
Duke Tobin is not going anywhere!
Zac can not be measured as a Coach by what I see on the field!

How does it get fixed considering what we know about how the Bengals operate?

I love AJ Green, but will he add enough for us to win games? Can we win playoff games before he is done with football?
Can we get enough for him to be traded? Will we resign him?
Same questions really about Atkins and Dunlap?

Is Andy Dalton good enough at QB? I doubt the Bengals should pay him another contract.

Linebackers - really where should the team go with this? Pratt did not look good Sunday and we know how the rest of the group is.

Cornerback play, can they hold up with better QB pressure?

Really where do we go from here?

Will Zac play Finley at some point this season? Can he be an NFL starter? Moving money from QB to other positions may help?

It appears that the team has needs in so many areas that it is unlikely to be fixed by next season.

What positions do you feel they will try to address in the draft? Who will they target? Is Tua really the best QB coming out? He plays for a team that has so much talent, does it make him look better than what he is?

Why did they extend Gio?

I would be surprised if Mike Brown trades any players for draft picks. I think it would be wise, but not usually how they operate.

If a first rounder is offered for AJ - I pull the trigger!
Some rumors that there is interest in Eifert - Make the trade!
One more year on Dalton's contract and he is UFA - get something for him! I don't feel Andy is the problem, but he contributes. He makes enough mistakes that can cost games and he will not elevate the team. Is he worth 17.5 Million next year with all the other holes - NO
Cut Dunlap - need the money


Some pretty good OT in this draft
CB pretty good in this draft
QB pretty good in this draft
DE/Dt also pretty good

I feel like the following will happen!
If offered a first round pick for AJ, they will make this trade. Even the Brown's can't screw that up.
Eifert will not go as no team will offer much, but a 4th or 5th would force them to pull the trigger
Finley plays at some point this season. Maybe 2 or 3 games. He does not play well enough for them to cut Andy. They will draft a QB in first round and he will sit behind Andy next year. Andy will leave the following year as a UFA.
They will once again sign some cast offs or older guys to fill holes
We will win 5 or 6 games next year!

What say you Board. How does this get fixed?
Just looking for some opinions

What I would do - even though most of you don't care -  

Trade AJ - get what you can - First rounder would be nice, but 2nd and 3rd, or 2nd and 4th would be a go.
Trade Eifert - Take whatever picks you can get - you should not resign him
Try to use Dunlap, Atkins, Kirkpatrick, Dalton or any asset you can get something for in draft day trades.
Draft the trenches - O-line and D-line is what makes us not competitive. Hell Jacoby is winning in Indy with a good line.
I would again not go after free agents yet. Need another year to improve - but the following season you need to add a couple impact guys.
We look Old and Slow on the field - have to get younger - Give Zac Taylor a 2 year window after this season. If he is not the answer gone after his 3rd year.

What say you board? How does this get fixed? What is the answer?





LB a little weak in draft

(10-16-2019, 12:55 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Find new starters at the following positions (in priority order):

Offense:
- LT/LG (Reserve Williams for the other)
- RT
- QB
- Future WR1
- RG (after LT, LG, and RT get resolved)
- TE

Defense:
- 2 LBs
- 1 DL
- 2 CBs (one outside, one slot)
- S

ST:
- K

That's 13 positions. You can't realistically expect anyone drafted after 4th round to become a good position player, so that's potentially 3 drafts worth if you only focus on draft. You're looking at 2022 being the earliest the team would become a true contender if the Bengals hit on every draft pick through the first 4 rounds over the next few years.

If the Bengals want to become a true contender before 2022, they need to participate in FA more than getting B-to-C-level veterans.

It's either that or actually get coaches in that can develop late-round talent well on a consistent basis.

(10-16-2019, 01:27 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Bengals Management's Plan to Fix the Team:

1 ) Draft
2 ) Another year of coaching from ZT's staff
3 ) Health
4 ) 2 or 3 bargain bin free agents

(10-17-2019, 03:27 PM)MEBengalsFan Wrote: Please tell me which team in today's Free Agency era of football has won a super bowl bringing in multiple free agents? 

The teams that have won the SB that used the Draft are PATS, Steelers, Ravens, Seahawks, Giants, Saints, RAMS, Colts, etc...  

Teams are not built from FA; teams are built using the draft. 

(10-17-2019, 03:52 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: The sad/annoying/frustrating thing about the truth of the matter is; they're not going to do it anything like a fan would. 

I'm certain they don't think Dalton is done. I'm certain they believe that injuries have been the main cause of his performance this year. I'm certain they fully believe that with AJ and a line closer to what they envisioned this training camp--they can slant the draft towards the defense this coming year and they will be back to contenders again next year. They're not going to move Dalton one single day before his contract expires and if in any way he's able to play at a higher level, they will try again to get him at a team friendly deal (which they believe would be fair to him as well) and they're not going to deal AJ; in both cases because of the type of people they are and the fact they've helped contribute to the teams from '11-'16. 

I'm certain that's what they think and i'm certain that's where they're wrong. 

(10-17-2019, 03:56 PM)Catmandude123 Wrote: You just listed eight teams who won the SB by using free agents. You build a team with draft and supplement it with free agents from other teams. Mike Browns method of resigning aging vets to spend the needed cap money is a recipe for disaster. 

(10-17-2019, 03:56 PM)Catmandude123 Wrote: You just listed eight teams who won the SB by using free agents. You build a team with draft and supplement it with free agents from other teams. Mike Browns method of resigning aging vets to spend the needed cap money is a recipe for disaster. 

(10-17-2019, 04:34 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: By supplementing by free agency...I'd say more adequately filling holes. But, yes. You need to draft good in the NFL.

AND...we have the smallest scouting staff in the league! So...uh yeah...Is the draft our thing? Are our scouts 2 to 3x better than the Patriots scouts?

(10-17-2019, 04:33 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Precisely. Jokes on all of us.

They had virtually the same issues with the roster last year that they didn't address. Now due to an inept coaching staff, there are more issues this year.

Honestly, too many issues to address in 1 offseason even by a good GM.

(10-17-2019, 06:55 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: Yes both.

It's so obvious but everyone thinks we're gonna be the damn Redskins with signing crazy Free Agents.

It's that over-the-top logic of dismissing Free Agency that pisses me off.

I don't think I could even discuss football with someone who thinks it's an albatross for a team.

(10-17-2019, 10:04 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I don't think they have too many issues if they did it the right way. With their way, yes, too many issues. 

(10-17-2019, 11:23 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: IF IF IF they hired several more capable scouts and put a decision making structure in place where a qualified GM made the calls...they could fix this thing in maybe 2 years. They could probably be 8-8 next year IF they had a great draft and signed 2-3 free agent upgrades.

Then, have another great draft and add a couple more free agents and playoffs.

They of course won't do this.

(10-18-2019, 01:18 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: True, they won't do it but the NFL structure--FA, high draft picks every round for teams with the worst record the year before--allows teams to turn it around quicker. 

(Here they come...) IF Jonah is healthy and at least average, IF they sign a guy like Conklin they could shore up the other T spot, IF they trade, and/or deal on draft day, they could get 2 1st round picks--say, QB and the OG from GA--or, if they play Finley and he proves to be capable, IF they sign a guy like Littleton and draft another LB high in rd2, IF they trim the fat (bad contracts) and sign the right FA currently on the team, IF they hit on the draft with those high picks in each round, IF they're healthy next year...

Etc, etc. 

There is a way to imrove the team substantially, next year. But it's a way the Bengals don't/haven't ascribed to in the past. Then there still remains the issue of the Oline coach, D coordinator and lack of O coordinator (Callahan, Gruden and a breathing stack of DNA that is an experienced D coordinator will/should be out there)...holey sheet, that's a lot of "IFs". 

There is a way to do it, for an organization that has employees with half a brain, a willingness and a want to actually be a playoff quality team. 

(10-17-2019, 11:21 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Some people justify whatever the Bengals do...just like the Sample pick.

IF we signed a ton of free agents, they'd talk about how that's the best way to go.

It's a hard pill to swallow admitting that the team you follow is inept with little hope to improve.

(10-18-2019, 09:18 AM)BengalsRocker Wrote: I just want to know who in the world thought signing Hart to his contract was smart?

Yet Blackburn made an ass out of himself justifying it.

That speaks volumes to me about this franchise.

(10-18-2019, 01:18 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: True, they won't do it but the NFL structure--FA, high draft picks every round for teams with the worst record the year before--allows teams to turn it around quicker. 

(Here they come...) IF Jonah is healthy and at least average, IF they sign a guy like Conklin they could shore up the other T spot, IF they trade, and/or deal on draft day, they could get 2 1st round picks--say, QB and the OG from GA--or, if they play Finley and he proves to be capable, IF they sign a guy like Littleton and draft another LB high in rd2, IF they trim the fat (bad contracts) and sign the right FA currently on the team, IF they hit on the draft with those high picks in each round, IF they're healthy next year...

Etc, etc. 

There is a way to imrove the team substantially, next year. But it's a way the Bengals don't/haven't ascribed to in the past. Then there still remains the issue of the Oline coach, D coordinator and lack of O coordinator (Callahan, Gruden and a breathing stack of DNA that is an experienced D coordinator will/should be out there)...holey sheet, that's a lot of "IFs". 

There is a way to do it, for an organization that has employees with half a brain, a willingness and a want to actually be a playoff quality team. 

(10-16-2019, 01:27 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Bengals Management's Plan to Fix the Team:

1 ) Draft
2 ) Another year of coaching from ZT's staff
3 ) Health
4 ) 2 or 3 bargain bin free agents