(12-28-2020, 12:37 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: MJ should have been benched earlier. He nearly single handedly derailed the line.

The Elise Jesse article on favortism seemed to help his benching.

(12-28-2020, 11:34 AM)WychesWarrior Wrote: This.... look at the conference leaders....all of them can block and rush the passer, TN being the exception on the latter point. The game is still predicated on winning at the point of attack.

(12-28-2020, 11:58 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Weapons are important, too. Ask the Patriots.

(12-28-2020, 12:06 PM)WychesWarrior Wrote: Not playing a washed up running QB helps too....

(12-28-2020, 12:19 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: They couldn’t do shit last year either even with the GOAT. They had to trade for Mo Sanu because it was so bad. Brady had one the worst seasons of his career (2nd lowest # of TD’s with 24, 88.0 rating), but once he got to TB (where they have elite weapons) 36 TD and a 101.0 rating.

You need both. Trenches and skill.

(12-27-2020, 11:30 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: The biggest, most obvious thing to me is that in spite of some speculation, the team has not quit on the coaching staff.  Perhaps a little heat from media and personalities on social media may have inspired some rethinking on the part of the staff, or not.  Whatever the case, weather it be a collective gathering of professional pride on part of the players, or the coaching staff taking an introspective look and making some necessary changes, it seems to be working.

I'm sure that it must be reassuring to Joe Burrow to see the team double down and solidify their resolve while he is rehabbing.  Some may call these latest two wins "meaningless", but I guarantee that they mean a hell of a lot to every man who wears the striped helmet.  How nice will it be to get Joe back, and have a team that believes in itself for Joe to come back to?

What I think I know:

Brandon Allen deserves a secure deal to remain as Joe's backup going forward.

With XSF at LG and Spain at RG, the interior of the OL has seemed to stop the bleeding.  Teams can no longer pass rush up the gut at will, and we seem to be getting better push in the run game.  I hope that they sign Spain to a 3 year deal, and keep him around until the next permanent Guard of the future is drafted and properly developed.  I still think they need a bona fide stud at Tackle, either to pair with Williams, or assume his spot should he never achieve full greatness.  Missing 75% of his games due to injury in his first two years is a bit concerning to me.  That is partly why I have been such a die hard on the Penei Sewell bandwagon.

Our backup RBs are pretty good.  We all knew what Gio Bernard was capable of, when used properly.  Samaje Perine has shown to be worth keeping around, as well.  Not the quickest out of the gate, but dude has a second gear when in open territory.  Given a crease, those massive thighs just keep churning, not bad hands either.

Tee Higgins is for real, he will be a modest to medium star in this league. Boyd is going to continue to be Boyd: steady, dependable, not one for the defense to sleep on.  AJ Green looked like absolute dog shit to start the year.  However, in the past month or so, he's gotten his rhythm back on, and is looking much like his old self.  Part of me would like to see him signed to a modest 3 year deal, and retire as a Bengal.  (He may be looking for one last huge payday)  After that, WR gets a bit murky.  Erickson looked clutch a few times today, but typically he's a non factor.  Would like to see an over the top, role player WR signed in free agency, while a mid round pick is drafted and developed to complete the game day 5.

Drew Sample is NOT a bum, and he indeed CAN find the end zone, as was proven today.     Yes, we need another TE, NO I don't feel like we need to take Kyle Pitts with our top pick.  This team doesn't utilize the TE position nearly enough to justify ignoring fundamental position group NEEDS in favor of a shiny, new weapon.

On defense:

Too much to cram into this post.  We can discuss that one in another thread.

(12-28-2020, 12:32 PM)WychesWarrior Wrote: You do need both....but you can win games with good blocking and good pressure and average skill players. Remember Bort Bortles going to the AFCCG?

Tom's numbers may have dipped, but they still went to the playoffs. Newton is toast. I'd bet you that they are a contender in the east if their QB could throw for more than 90 yds. It looks like Hoodie shoulda pulled the trigger on someone else as a stop gap at QB.

With stellar oline play, you can make some mediocre skill players look good, not great. With stellar skill players and shit oline, you can't win. As proof, I give you the Cincinnati Bengals. The Lions make a case too.

The Bengals are in a good and rare spot where they can have BOTH, and they absolutely should do it. They've got Burrow and Higgins on rookie deals, Boyd isn't absolutely breaking the bank right now. So they should spend on the line right now.

(12-28-2020, 05:34 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Gee, I wonder who he’d pick between those two...

(12-28-2020, 01:00 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I wish his name really was Bort Bortles...LOL

Yes, the Pats went to the playoffs, but they got bounced in the wild card game, at home. Pretty bad for that franchise.

And I disagree that Belichick should have pulled the trigger on a different QB. It wouldn’t have mattered with what they have on offense. Their leading WR is an UDFA (Jakobi Meyers) with like 600 yds. Absolutely no way they’re a contender with that offense. They would never be able to keep up with teams like KC or Buffalo. Idc who the QB was.

It actually made sense to see if Cam could make up for the holes on offense with his legs. Hasn’t worked out, but I get the thinking behind it. At this point they need to go into full rebuild mode, and fix that offense.

But back to the Bengals. I agree OL and DL are our biggest needs. But the 1st round pick doesn’t have to automatically be used there. We can utilize FA (hopefully a OG), pick a DE in the 2nd etc. I just don’t want to get too locked in on any one position and miss out on a special talent (like a Pitts) because of the “shiny toy” mentality. I get that you have to balance need with BPA, but really no position other than QB, RB, and safety should be off the board with any given pick.

(12-28-2020, 12:32 PM)WychesWarrior Wrote: You do need both....but you can win games with good blocking and good pressure and average skill players. Remember Bort Bortles going to the AFCCG?

With stellar oline play, you can make some mediocre skill players look good, not great. With stellar skill players and shit oline, you can't win. As proof, I give you the Cincinnati Bengals. The Lions make a case too.

So they should spend on the line right now.

(12-28-2020, 02:08 PM)DesertBengal Wrote: I learned that, that the staff must really hate J. Ross.

They would rather activate and trot out Trenton Irwin, than give John Ross snaps.  It's clear that Ross has been a bust and struggles with mental errors and drops, but I find it curious that Irwin is being considered a better option.

(12-28-2020, 02:08 PM)DesertBengal Wrote: I learned that, that the staff must really hate J. Ross.

They would rather activate and trot out Trenton Irwin, than give John Ross snaps.  It's clear that Ross has been a bust and struggles with mental errors and drops, but I find it curious that Irwin is being considered a better option.

(12-28-2020, 02:12 PM)Wyche Wrote: It must be contagious, Marvin didn't like him either....lol.

(12-28-2020, 02:06 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: The greatest coaches built their dynasties from the trenches outward: Brown in Cleveland, Lombardi in Green Bay, Noll in Pittsburgh, Landry and Johnson in Dallas, and Belichick in New England. Now we’re starting to see this in New Orleans as well.

(12-28-2020, 02:08 PM)DesertBengal Wrote: I learned that, that the staff must really hate J. Ross.

They would rather activate and trot out Trenton Irwin, than give John Ross snaps.  It's clear that Ross has been a bust and struggles with mental errors and drops, but I find it curious that Irwin is being considered a better option.