Big time players ….

[jj22]

Make big time plays in big games.

Who are those big time players on Offense?? Defense?

Who were they during our 2021-22 run?

[Clark W Griswold]

Offense is pretty much the same as it was then: 9, 1 and 5.

Defense now is Trey but the (no longer on the Bengals) safeties and Wilson/Pratt were playmakers on the SB defense.

[jj22]

Hubbard and Hilton were those players in those runs. And Hilton still flashed with his run blitzes in big games last season.

Chido or Apple should be considered. Apple Id argue was the weak link but he fought hard and stepped up in big games.

Mixon.

Offense what about Brown? Or can these players only be defined in the playoffs?

[jj22]

Go back to past Bengals SB teams. How many big time players did we have on each side of the ball?

[NUGDUKWE]

This is a good question. It interesting to look back at 21-22 as we had play makers at every level on defense. Trey and hubbard at edge, Reader in the middle, Pratt and Wilson both made plays, Hilton stands out the most at corner but Chido was dependable and Apple made some huge plays. Then of course both Bates and Bell at safety played well.

Seems the same on offense our tackles are better and RB room is better now. Defense ill be curious who can step up and make plays. I think our LB room will be a noticeable improvement. I may like our corners a bit better but I really liked Hilton for his leadership and play on the field. Turner and Dax returning from injury are huge questions. We are one injury away from disaster at multiple spots.

[jj22]

I’m curious to see if we have the fire power to be true sb contenders. Or are we going to be one of those teams full of talent who don’t know how to win big games. Stuck trying to get out the divisional round. Hard to imagine with the battle tested Offensive core. But do you need these players on both sides and how many?

And who may those big time players be going forward.

[J24]

I would add Brown and Sticky G to the list of playmakers on offense.

On defense I think McKinnley Jackson and (if used properly) Dax can be playmakers along with Hendrickson.

I'm more concerned with IOL screwing things up on offense than playmakers on offense.

I agree though on defense we do not have enough playmakers on defense. Specially the interior Pass rush.

[NUGDUKWE]

(05-02-2025, 09:23 PM)jj22 Wrote: Hubbard and Hilton were those players in those runs. And Hilton still flashed with his run blitzes in big games last season.

Chido or Apple should be considered. Apple Id argue was the weak link but he fought hard and stepped up in big games.

Mixon.

Offense what about Brown? Or can these players only be defined in the playoffs?

Well one i think Brown is definitely one of our big play guys.

But no I don't think it has to be the playoffs just big moments. Every playoff game is gonna have those moments. Just have to be a steady player and take advantage of the big moment. 

Made me think will the offense be good enough again to give the big moments to the defense this year and will players be able to step up? 

Will the defense be steady enough to have opportunities at the end of games to have big moments?

Will Stewart be a magnifier for big plays good and bad and give others a chance for big moments?

[J24]

(05-02-2025, 09:23 PM)jj22 Wrote: Hubbard and Hilton were those players in those runs. And Hilton still flashed with his run blitzes in big games last season.

Chido or Apple should be considered. Apple Id argue was the weak link but he fought hard and stepped up in big games.

Mixon.

Offense what about Brown? Or can these players only be defined in the playoffs?

Don't forget about Bates especially in 2021 playoffs.

[NUGDUKWE]

(05-02-2025, 09:40 PM)J24 Wrote: I would add Brown and Sticky G to the list of playmakers on offense.

On defense I think McKinnley Jackson and (if used properly) Dax can be playmakers along with Hendrickson.

I'm more concerned with IOL screwing things up on offense than playmakers on offense.

I agree though on defense we do not have enough playmakers on defense. Specially the interior Pass rush.

I'm hopeful that Gesicki just scratched the surface last year. More time with Burrow and hopefully he really shines especially in the red zone.

Guard is where I'm worried as well. The defense was always gonna be a question mark after last season so why not sure up the one question you have on offense? Not trying to be a Volson pusher just clinging on to hope. But he did play RG the most in college so maybe he shows a little more on that side?

[jj22]

Bates was definitely one of those players who shined when the lights came on. Kinda like Mixon masking the not so great or forgettable 1pm moments.

Bates learned how to win tho. He was on some pretty bad teams and never looked like that player until the post season of 2021. Those FA defensive leaders they found and brought in  changed him.

[NUGDUKWE]

(05-02-2025, 09:41 PM)J24 Wrote: Don't forget about Bates especially in 2021 playoffs.

Literally the whole defense. Apple made monster plays. I believe he was involved in both game sealing ints against the Raiders and Titans. Also tackling Tyreek at the 1 yd line before halftime. 

[jj22]

And not to shade the Palmer and Dalton eras but we had hall of fame talent but without those big time players ….

[NUGDUKWE]

(05-02-2025, 09:48 PM)jj22 Wrote: Bates was definitely one of those players who shined when the lights came on. Kinda like Mixon masking the not so great or forgettable 1pm moments.

Bates learned how to win tho. He was on some pretty bad teams and never looked like that player until the post season of 2021. Those FA defensive leaders changed him.

I've never really been on the "bring in guys from winning teams" guy. But Hilton I always felt was a great leader and really brought good energy with him. Remembering back to that 21 training camp with all the noise about Chase not catching. I just remember hearing little tid bits about the secondary really creating some comradery with a side games of who would or wouldn't make plays in practice. 

I mean forget about who will be the playmakers. Who's gonna be the vet leaders of the defense. Get the energy going or settle and right the ship of things get out of hand.

[*jason*]

(05-02-2025, 09:48 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: Literally the whole defense. Apple made monster plays. I believe he was involved in both game sealing ints against the Raiders and Titans. Also tackling Tyreek at the 1 yd line before halftime. 

People don't like him, but we got really solid production from Apple for very little money. That was a really good FA signing.

[NATI BENGALS]

I think it was CTBs first interception of the season. I thought he was going to be all pro after laying out and making that amazing pick and the way I thought he was playing early. I was wrong. But I think the talent and want to is there.

Even Stone grabbed some INTs late in the year 3 in the last 5 weeks. Giving our O the ball back is a big f'in deal.

It would be nice if we had healthy happy and motivated Pratt and Wilson.

Being able to keep BJ Hill fresh if we can actually stay healthy and get a rotation going could pay big dividends. And I wouldn't be shocked to see Jenkins and/or Jackson start making more big time plays.

[NUGDUKWE]

(05-03-2025, 03:54 AM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: I think it was CTBs first interception of the season. I thought he was going to be all pro after laying out and making that amazing pick and the way I thought he was playing early. I was wrong. But I think the talent and want to is there.

Even Stone grabbed some INTs late in the year 3 in the last 5 weeks. Giving our O the ball back is a big f'in deal.

It would be nice if we had healthy happy and motivated Pratt and Wilson.

Being able to keep BJ Hill fresh if we can actually stay healthy and get a rotation going could pay big dividends. And I wouldn't be shocked to see Jenkins and/or Jackson start making more big time plays.

I am hopeful Golden gets a better rotation going. Are Dline starters have played alot of snaps. The problem seems to go back more than Lou though and I know injuries play a factor at times. Big year for McKinnley and Jenkins and expecting improvement from both.

[*bengalfan74*]

(05-02-2025, 08:04 PM)jj22 Wrote: Make big time plays in big games.

Who are those big time  players on Offense?? Defense?

Who were they during our 2021-22 run?

I'm fairly confident the offense will be fine with the usual suspects being the playmakers on offense. If the IOL is improved any at all 

It's the defense where we have a crap ton of ????? outside of Trey (if he stays). Can Murphy step up and become a 1st round talent playmaker? Who knows? What will Stewart do? Will he stay a close but no cigar kinda guy? Will Jackson and Jenkins retain their late season form from last year? Or will they revert to being ho hum?

Can the injured DB's come back and become playmakers? What will the new LBing crew and Wilson become? And how quickly can they do it?  I don't have many names to give you on defense outside of Trey. Just hoping Golden can put something together to get us up in middle of pack defense range and we should be GTG.

[BoomerFan]

(05-02-2025, 09:23 PM)jj22 Wrote: Hubbard and Hilton were those players in those runs. And Hilton still flashed with his run blitzes in big games last season.

Chido or Apple should be considered. Apple Id argue was the weak link but he fought hard and stepped up in big games.

I'd add Bates (who was known for disappearing in the regular season but showed up in big moments like the time we beat the Chiefs to go to the SB) and DJ Reader. Though I guess you might not see Reader as flashy, when you rush three and still get pressure, that's a big play. Or when you allow the LBs to be really good because your DTs are doing their job well, that's big too. 

[The D.O.Z.]

On O its The Big 3 and Chase Brown.

On D it’s Trey. I want to say Wilson but he’s often hurt now and had a down year in 2024. I also want to say CTB, but he also had a down year. I will say this though, if Al’s defense is legit, I would expect a LB or two to become stand out players / stars by the end of this season.