(05-19-2017, 01:51 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Hard not to be excited about this D-line man. Good stuff on Billings, he is a smart young man to go along with his super strength. That is the thing, if they don't double Billings it will be a mistake and if they don't double Geno it will be a mistake. Pick your poison, either way it ends badly.
Clarke played decent too in limited snaps last year. Hell of a rotation and i actually think MJ might be a very good backup, he just shouldn't be starting on passing downs unless it is only for batting down balls.
MJ is just not a good pass rusher, but Dunlap, Willis, Lawson, Geno are all very good pass rushers.
Losing Peko and Hunt and adding these guys was great for this team. Also like the backups in Glasgow, Tapou, Hardison, DeShawn for the final spots. Stacked.
(05-19-2017, 02:30 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: Would love to see the OL surprise everyone as you guys suggest. Getting super stoked.
I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but you guys (not just you two) are doing what Bengals fans do every year. The closer the season gets, the more distant the memories of the previous year get.
Still got Marv. Still got Mike. I would only advise you to temper your enthusiasm a bit so the fall isn't so hard.
Just saying...
"The measure of a man's intelligence can be seen in the length of his argument."
(05-20-2017, 12:33 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but you guys (not just you two) are doing what Bengals fans do every year. The closer the season gets, the more distant the memories of the previous year get.
Still got Marv. Still got Mike. I would only advise you to temper your enthusiasm a bit so the fall isn't so hard.
Just saying...
Nah man, we hit the History Eraser button. We're good..
Volson is meh, but I like him, and he has far exceeded my expectations
(05-20-2017, 12:33 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but you guys (not just you two) are doing what Bengals fans do every year. The closer the season gets, the more distant the memories of the previous year get.
Still got Marv. Still got Mike. I would only advise you to temper your enthusiasm a bit so the fall isn't so hard.
Just saying...
Oh I hear you and believe you me I still have serious doubts that this team especially the O-line and if they're gonna stink or be a good one. Burfict and the defense I'm not to worried about, at worst I believe they'll be average.
The O-line ??? Zampese being able to coach/playcall around it ???
I'm not gonna get very excited until I see that O-line in a regular season game getting it done.
(05-20-2017, 12:33 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but you guys (not just you two) are doing what Bengals fans do every year. The closer the season gets, the more distant the memories of the previous year get.
Still got Marv. Still got Mike. I would only advise you to temper your enthusiasm a bit so the fall isn't so hard.
Just saying...
Yeah, but i was really down before we let Peko, Maualuga go, got Minter and the draft...
I was on the edge. This team might be able to actually carry Marv's shittiness, yah never know...
(05-20-2017, 01:16 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Nah man, we hit the History Eraser button. We're good..
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
(05-19-2017, 10:45 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: Good Lord son.ive been searching this guys name for 5 minutes and couldn't find it. It's Tupou. Lol (at least I think).
From NFL.com:
Overview
Tupou came from a football family where three cousins have played or are playing college football and his uncle, Viliami Mauau played at CU and with the Denver Broncos in the 1990s. He almost lost his right to complete his football career, however, after being charged with assault at a campus party in Boulder. That action cost him the entire 2015 season. Scouts were excited to see him that year after he garnered honorable mention All-Pac12 honors in 2014 (29 tackles, four for loss, three sacks). He had dropped 25 pounds before the 2013 season, and he started 12 games that year (34 tackles, three TFL), just one season after playing through a sprained ankle with the extra weight as a true freshman in 2012 (16 tackles, 4.5 TFL). Tupou finished his career on a high note, earning honorable mention all-conference accolades again in 2016 by making a career-high 45 tackles, four for loss, and two sacks.
Analysis
Strengths
Wide as a house. Squatty frame with big, strong legs. Can drop a heavy anchor and man his area of the turf. Centers struggle to get any kind of movement against him without help. Space-eater who can post and eat up the gaps. Good upper body strength to fend off shoulder or hip-torque moves to tilt him off balance.
Weaknesses
Might be playing a little too heavy. Stiff and slow. Has extremely limited area of effectiveness. Can be slow to unhinge from his block and pursue the play. Lacks functional lateral movement to stay on the play-side of the run. Slow out of stance and gets hooked by guards. No pass-rush value. Lacks ability to impact a game outside of his small area.
Draft Projection
Rounds 5-6
Bottom Line
Does one thing and one thing only -- eat up space. Doesn't have enough reactive quickness or even functional movement to find himself in many plays that aren't right at him, but his size and anchor gives him a shot with a team who values pure girth for early downs.
-Lance Zierlein
Great stuff Harley, thanks for that spot on analysis from Zierlein.
I don't know if i want him to make the team honestly, i like my D-lineman to both stop the run and rush the passer.
Tupou cannot rush the passer, unlike Atkins, Billings, DeShawn Williams and even Glasgow.
Peko was a space eater, eh. Raji was a space eater. They are good for taking up space.
(05-20-2017, 06:45 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Hardison is kind of a forgotten man. Really liked him coming out of college and looked good early last year, but just couldn't stay healthy. He is, essentially, in his contract year as well. A former fourth rounder, he will surely get his shot this season.
And I completely agree about MJ. The drafting of Lawson and Willis proves what most of us on here already knew, MJ offers little to no pass rush. A solid run defender, but that is about it.
Cue the "MJ was in the top 80% of DEs that farted near the opponent's QB" arguments.
Hardison has talent he just cannot get on the field and until he does he will be forgotten.
Fred just proves over and over that stats don't tell the whole story. Watch the damn game.
(05-20-2017, 04:42 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Great stuff Harley, thanks for that spot on analysis from Zierlein.
I don't know if i want him to make the team honestly, i like my D-lineman to both stop the run and rush the passer.
Tupou cannot rush the passer, unlike Atkins, Billings, DeShawn Williams and even Glasgow.
Peko was a space eater, eh. Raji was a space eater. They are good for taking up space.
Hardison has talent he just cannot get on the field and until he does he will be forgotten.
Fred just proves over and over that stats don't tell the whole story. Watch the damn game.
Haha....you nailed it. I am just afraid of the banhammer so I didn't name names. Of course, you knew who I meant when it comes to defending MJ.
MJ is a really, really good guy and was a solid part of our defense for some time, but he just seems to have lost a step or two and doesn't have much of an inside counter move. He just (seemingly every time) takes a wide arc and gets ridden 10 yards upfield. Just because the QB sometimes scrambles in to him after he was taken out of the play was luck not skill.
I have always said: show me what you are made of when it matters most. Geno hasn't always been one to blow up a guard and kill a QB at critical moments. I love the guy, but if you look when his sacks come it isn't always at critical times. One guy that always seemed to make really big plays at big moments was Reggie Nelson, but a lot of that was the result of pressures and he was able to make teams pay. Dre Kirk has actually had some big moments. MJ simply isn't impactful at the key moments. Solid run defender, but that is about it. I can't wait to see what this new crop of young, tough DEs/LBs can do on the outside.
(05-20-2017, 12:55 AM)The Caped Crusader Wrote: Burfict was the best linebacker in the NFL the last 9 weeks of the season...and that was him out of shape...look out NFL
This.
He is the unquestioned leader of the defense, and when he is motivated and not being a toolbag he is also the best player on the field. The defense will go as Burfict goes. The fact that they have surrounded him with better talent only makes the potential of this year's squad that much better.
EDIT: I wanted to add that it was Marv and Mike that brought in Kevin Minter to push Burfict. The message seems to have been understood. That move may largely go unnoticed but we got a 26 year old speedster that can cover TEs and the Cards got an old Carlos Dansby. Which team got better? Will the Bengals get credit for such a move? No, and who cares? But I am glad they did it.
(05-20-2017, 12:33 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but you guys (not just you two) are doing what Bengals fans do every year. The closer the season gets, the more distant the memories of the previous year get.
Still got Marv. Still got Mike. I would only advise you to temper your enthusiasm a bit so the fall isn't so hard.
Just saying...
Last time I checked, the Bengals were rolling at 8-0 and Dalton had a QB rating over 100 with Marv as coach and Mike as the owner. What happened? Injuries and a lack of depth at key positions. Team is healthy, and better prepared for injuries with outstanding depth at key positions.
Your wet blanket can't douse my fire. And don't apologize, as I completely get the tentative nature of so many fans. It has been earned over years of Lucy pulling the ball away and we go flying through the air yelling AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! I get it. It just isn't my nature. When I am in...I am all in. I don't know how to do something half-assed.
(05-21-2017, 09:33 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Your wet blanket can't douse my fire. And don't apologize, as I completely get the tentative nature of so many fans. It has been earned over years of Lucy pulling the ball away and we go flying through the air yelling AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! I get it. It just isn't my nature. When I am in...I am all in. I don't know how to do something half-assed.
(05-21-2017, 09:33 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Last time I checked, the Bengals were rolling at 8-0 and Dalton had a QB rating over 100 with Marv as coach and Mike as the owner. What happened? Injuries and a lack of depth at key positions. Team is healthy, and better prepared for injuries with outstanding depth at key positions.
Your wet blanket can't douse my fire. And don't apologize, as I completely get the tentative nature of so many fans. It has been earned over years of Lucy pulling the ball away and we go flying through the air yelling AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! I get it. It just isn't my nature. When I am in...I am all in. I don't know how to do something half-assed.
The last time you checked was a season and a half ago?
"The measure of a man's intelligence can be seen in the length of his argument."
(05-21-2017, 12:16 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: The last time you checked was a season and a half ago?
Ok, last year the team had Marv and Mike and they lost their starting TE and #1 WR for an extended number of games. They had injuries to ALL FOUR TE/HBs. They lost their best RB, who was also their best receiving threat out of the backfield. They lost two key players from their draft before the season even started. They had a new OC. They had a kicker lose three games (two Nugent, one Bullock) because they missed chip shot FGs and extra points.
6-9-1 isn't a record to be proud of, but if you look at Dalton throwing 4,250 yards and just 7 INTs with that squad, I am beyond excited to see what he can do this next year.
I know that "injuries happen", but if our kicking game doesn't totally implode, they very well might have made the playoffs which is increidble considering everything else that happened.
(05-20-2017, 01:16 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Nah man, we hit the History Eraser button. We're good..
Zac Taylor 2019-2020: 6 total wins
Zac Taylor 2021-2022: Double-digit wins each season, plus 5 postseason wins
Zac Taylor 2023: 9 wins despite losing Burrow half the season
Zac Taylor 2024: Started 1-4. If he can turn this into a playoff appearance, it will be impressive.
(05-20-2017, 05:49 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Haha....you nailed it. I am just afraid of the banhammer so I didn't name names. Of course, you knew who I meant when it comes to defending MJ.
MJ is a really, really good guy and was a solid part of our defense for some time, but he just seems to have lost a step or two and doesn't have much of an inside counter move. He just (seemingly every time) takes a wide arc and gets ridden 10 yards upfield. Just because the QB sometimes scrambles in to him after he was taken out of the play was luck not skill.
I have always said: show me what you are made of when it matters most. Geno hasn't always been one to blow up a guard and kill a QB at critical moments. I love the guy, but if you look when his sacks come it isn't always at critical times. One guy that always seemed to make really big plays at big moments was Reggie Nelson, but a lot of that was the result of pressures and he was able to make teams pay. Dre Kirk has actually had some big moments. MJ simply isn't impactful at the key moments. Solid run defender, but that is about it. I can't wait to see what this new crop of young, tough DEs/LBs can do on the outside.
MJ should be good in a rotation and he is a good run stopper. He just has no bend in him, he is a great one for batting down balls and stopping the run. With Willis and Lawson, these guys are pass rushers. Cannot wait to see these guys getting after the Pig on 3rd and long.
True on Geno not making those plays at critical times, this is something he needs to work on but i think with Billings beside him instead of Peko O-lineman will not just be able to ride Geno past the QB anymore. Geno should really benefit from Billings.
(05-22-2017, 08:41 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Ok, last year the team had Marv and Mike and they lost their starting TE and #1 WR for an extended number of games. They had injuries to ALL FOUR TE/HBs. They lost their best RB, who was also their best receiving threat out of the backfield. They lost two key players from their draft before the season even started. They had a new OC. They had a kicker lose three games (two Nugent, one Bullock) because they missed chip shot FGs and extra points.
6-9-1 isn't a record to be proud of, but if you look at Dalton throwing 4,250 yards and just 7 INTs with that squad, I am beyond excited to see what he can do this next year.
I know that "injuries happen", but if our kicking game doesn't totally implode, they very well might have made the playoffs which is increidble considering everything else that happened.
Look at your post and then take just a second and realize that you have to make 14 of those excuses for Marv and his merry band of Bengals. One for each season he's been here and hasn't produced even a single playoff win.
Fourteen.
"The measure of a man's intelligence can be seen in the length of his argument."
(05-22-2017, 03:12 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Look at your post and then take just a second and realize that you have to make 14 of those excuses for Marv and his merry band of Bengals. One for each season he's been here and hasn't produced even a single playoff win.
Fourteen.
Ok, if you want to go total Marv history (I can't believe I am the one defending him), I think it is only fair to compare him to the 14 years prior to his arrival.
Bengals record from 1989-2002: 72-150
Playoff appearances in that time frame: 2 games
Playoff wins in that time frame: 1. in 1990, the infamous "Jerry" Bowl
Bengals record from 2002-2016: 93-80-2
Playoff appearances in that time frame: 7
Playoff wins in that time frame: 0
There is your history. You can be a cynic and say that Marv has had zero improvement because they haven't won a single playoff game, but I am much happier with a team that has been in the hunt 50% of the time, and been close many more times. From 1990 to Marv's beginning in 2002, this team had no hope. They do now. I am not going to dissect playoff game by playoff game and make excuses why they lost. Only one team wins the Super Bowl and it hasn't been them.
My post that brought you to your "fourteen" response dealt with LAST year, and tried to provide evidence as to why they will be right back in the thick of things THIS year. If you would rather live in the past and be upset about Marv's previous failures in the post season, have at it.
I choose to look forward and be excited about where this team is headed.
By the way, do you feel the same about the Reds? Have they won a playoff series since 1990? Do you not enjoy the team any longer because of all their post season failures? Just curious.
(05-20-2017, 12:33 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but you guys (not just you two) are doing what Bengals fans do every year. The closer the season gets, the more distant the memories of the previous year get.
Still got Marv. Still got Mike. I would only advise you to temper your enthusiasm a bit so the fall isn't so hard.
Just saying...
Don't mean to be a wet blanket for your hatred, but there have been many years recently when the doom and gloom sayers were more wrong than right. Lots of predictions of losing seasons that have been wrong.
And of course some people just chose to have a positive attitude instead of dreaming of failure.
(05-20-2017, 12:33 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but you guys (not just you two) are doing what Bengals fans do every year. The closer the season gets, the more distant the memories of the previous year get.
Still got Marv. Still got Mike. I would only advise you to temper your enthusiasm a bit so the fall isn't so hard.
Just saying...
TY for your concern. Since we are handing out advice, I will give some to you.
Negativity is a curse and living in a world of it creates more negativity and is counter productive to success. Focusing on optimism brightens may day so when some barriers (negatives) arise it is easy to get through it due to all of the optimism in other area of my life I remain focused on daily. In short, I am Loving it (LUVNIT2) and have no issues if my team does not succeed after a brief mourning period.
I am so ready for 2024 season. I love pro football and hoping for a great Bengals year. Regardless, always remember it is a game and entertainment.
(05-23-2017, 11:41 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: TY for your concern. Since we are handing out advice, I will give some to you.
Negativity is a curse and living in a world of it creates more negativity and is counter productive to success. Focusing on optimism brightens may day so when some barriers (negatives) arise it is easy to get through it due to all of the optimism in other area of my life I remain focused on daily. In short, I am Loving it (LUVNIT2) and have no issues if my team does not succeed after a brief mourning period.
Zac Taylor 2019-2020: 6 total wins
Zac Taylor 2021-2022: Double-digit wins each season, plus 5 postseason wins
Zac Taylor 2023: 9 wins despite losing Burrow half the season
Zac Taylor 2024: Started 1-4. If he can turn this into a playoff appearance, it will be impressive.
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