Quote:Like the Eagles, Cincinnati is trying to adjust to its new economic reality on the fly. In the process, it has had to let veterans leave. Eli Apple, Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell and Tre Flowers all left in free agency this offseason. That's more than 3,100 combined defensive snaps from last season scattering around the NFL.

There are players here to try to replace those lost veterans. Nick Scott, who emerged during Los Angeles' run to the Super Bowl in 2021, signed a low-cost deal to take over one starting safety spot. Dax Hill, a first-round pick in 2022 who played 131 snaps as a rookie, will be the other starter. Mike Hilton returns in the slot, and Taylor-Britt got better as his rookie season went along. Rookie second-rounder DJ Turner could see time in his debut season and profiles as the likely long-term replacement for Hilton.

The biggest difference-maker might not be any of those guys. Chidobe Awuzie was playing at an All-Pro level last season before tearing the ACL in his right knee in November. The former Cowboys corner had been a revelation since joining the Bengals in free agency, raising his game in 2021 and then again even higher in 2022. If the Awuzie who comes back is the guy who was allowing a 53.4 passer rating in coverage before his injury, the Bengals should be fine. If he's battling to stay on the field as he recovers from the torn ligament in his knee, there will be real questions about whether this secondary can hold up to the passing attacks it'll face in the playoffs.

(08-16-2023, 10:46 AM)ochocincos Wrote: If Williams really is going to be average or even above average at RT, this is definitely the best OL in the Taylor era.
Now, the depth is still not good IMO.
Carman is showing LT might be his only decent spot.
Scharping may only be ok at LG.
Smith still an unknown, but showed some promise last preseason game.
Adeniji is...Adeniji.
Ford didn't look good.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with any of the backups coming in and playing C, RG, or RT right now if there were an injury to one of the planned starters.

(08-15-2023, 10:21 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I know that ESPN's not the end-all be-all, but they listed the biggest weaknesses for 14 playoff contenders, and ours is NOT our offensive line, but rather our secondary:


First of all, our secondary might not be that proven of a unit, especially not together, but that makes it sound like it's more of a question mark rather than a weakness, especially if we can get a pass rush with Hubbard, Hendrickson, Ossai, and Murphy on the ends, and then even Hill and Reader from defensive tackle.

If our offensive line isn't our biggest weakness, I think we can win every game because Burrow's has proven he can lead us deep in the playoffs with basically no offensive line.

I didn't use my usual exclamation marks, but I'm pumped up about this and it's giving me even more hope going into this season!

(08-16-2023, 01:15 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Depth on the OL certainly looked like our biggest weakness the last PS game along with the backup QB's.

I like our Secondary with its speed, youth and talent. I could see how an outsider espn person would look at losing all those guys and it 
maybe becoming a weakness. If you know the team though, until the OL shows it is a strength it is the question.

(08-16-2023, 01:27 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I agree that our secondary seems like a question mark but, before I saw that article, I was actually optimistic and excited to see our secondary. 

It might just be because I played DB and I love the potential I'm seeing and just overall like DBs more, but our line is the only thing that kept us from winning a ship the past two years and if they could have only been shitty instead of God-awful, I think we win both years.

(08-16-2023, 04:40 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I am optimistic about the secondary. This espn stuff doesn't change anything for me. I think they are wrong and the weakness is 
still the OL until we see otherwise. The starters might be much better this year, but the depth is still a concern.

(08-15-2023, 10:21 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I know that ESPN's not the end-all be-all, but they listed the biggest weaknesses for 14 playoff contenders, and ours is NOT our offensive line, but rather our secondary:


First of all, our secondary might not be that proven of a unit, especially not together, but that makes it sound like it's more of a question mark rather than a weakness, especially if we can get a pass rush with Hubbard, Hendrickson, Ossai, and Murphy on the ends, and then even Hill and Reader from defensive tackle.

If our offensive line isn't our biggest weakness, I think we can win every game because Burrow's has proven he can lead us deep in the playoffs with basically no offensive line.

I didn't use my usual exclamation marks, but I'm pumped up about this and it's giving me even more hope going into this season!

(08-15-2023, 10:21 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I know that ESPN's not the end-all be-all, but they listed the biggest weaknesses for 14 playoff contenders, and ours is NOT our offensive line, but rather our secondary:


First of all, our secondary might not be that proven of a unit, especially not together, but that makes it sound like it's more of a question mark rather than a weakness, especially if we can get a pass rush with Hubbard, Hendrickson, Ossai, and Murphy on the ends, and then even Hill and Reader from defensive tackle.

If our offensive line isn't our biggest weakness, I think we can win every game because Burrow's has proven he can lead us deep in the playoffs with basically no offensive line.

I didn't use my usual exclamation marks, but I'm pumped up about this and it's giving me even more hope going into this season!