Take a bow....week 1

[*psychdoctor*]

(09-09-2019, 11:51 AM)yang Wrote: This is exactly what being a Bengals fan is all about right?   I mean, the fact we screwed up a win isn't that embarrassing.   Hell, we are giving kudos to a left guard that had his ass handed to him all day and our QB didn't break his hand when he threw the ball to their offensive lineman this time.  Something he has a penchant for when big wins are on the line, not that it's the only trick in his repertoire.  

I know we never planned for a rookie to start at guard and only has to because our personnel director has been horrible drafting.  So, I suppose it could have been worse.  Dalton didn't win us the game like a good QB would, and our line was almost mediocre.  Yay! 

I think there were trepidations by many Bengal fans because ZT is unprovened.  His choice of DC seemed like his 5-7th choice.  The preseason was Vanilla and the team was unassuming.  Bengals should have won the game against Seattle, statistically, Seattle were not in the game as the Bengals dominated.  

Dalton must find throwing lanes better and the team had significant TOP advantage without a successful rushing game but needs to establish the rush.  Honestly, I think many are in shock at how good the Bengals are this year.  This team looks quite talented and played fast.  They played like it was a play-off game.  Disciplined.  High amount of energy.  

[McC]

(09-09-2019, 08:52 AM)jason Wrote: I think all of the John Ross truthers can take a bow too. I know you, and Nate have been pretty vocal in his defense. For all we know yesterday was an anomaly, but he finally showed up. I didn't think he had it in him.

He just needed to be loved instead of resented.  Pretty simple really.

Wasn't it Reuben Foster Marvin wanted?  He's turned out great, hasn't he?

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(09-09-2019, 08:48 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: In honor of one of Dave Lapham's favorite quotes, "Take a bow" recognizes the top performers from week 1.

Take a bow (in no particular order):

[b]Andy Dalton[/b]-  No rushing attack to speak of.  The pocket afforded to Dalton...well, let's say you could fit five of them inside what was afforded to Brady last night.  Without AJ Green.  Without his starting LT.  With a rookie at X. Dalton stayed cool under pressure and had a great game against a really good defense.  Keep it up, Andy.  Your first experience with an offensive head coach is going to be a very good one.  

John Ross-  I don't care what has happened in his first two seasons under Marv.  In his FIRST GAME under ZT, with no AJ drawing coverage, he showed his potential impact on this team.  He didn't let an early drop and an NFL rectal on a reviewed catch (WTF were they looking at?) affect him.  And Dalton kept going to him.  The funny part?  I STILL don't think they have tapped what he can do on screens.  That first TD?  The second would-be tackler wouldn't have got him in flag football.  Hilarious.  Way to prove the doubters wrong, John.  

The offensive line, in particular, Michael Jordan.  Never heard the rookies name, and that is what you want on the offensive line.  Amazing start for the rookie.  Can't wait to see the PFF rankings here.   Bobby Hart, John Miller, and Trey Hopkins deserve credit here as well.  Andre did his best in a tough situation and was getting destroyed by Clowney....but who doesn't?  Here is what I saw:  They were challenged early, and beat badly in the early parts of the game, but they didn't get frustrated and quit...they adapted.  They got better as a unit as time went on.  The rushing attack was stymied by Seattle's insistence of staying in a 4-3 base look and they dared the Bengals to beat them in the air.  Pass blocking is harder than run blocking and most offensive linemen would tell you they would prefer to hit the opponent rather than catch.  They had to pass block 51 times and Dalton rarely got him.  Major props, fellas.  

Sam Hubbard-  This guy would be talked about like Clowney if he played for any other team.  He came in stronger, faster, and with an attitude.  His play raised the standard for the entire defensive line.  And Wilson's knee hit on what should have been a THIRD sack for Hubbard.  He also did a fantastic job of sealing the edge when Russell kept the ball.  I would give him the game ball.

Preston Brown, Nick Vigil, and Jordan Evans-  They used to call the offensive line in the 90s "The M&M Boys" for "Much Maligned".  That is these guys.  Our worst position group stuffed the #1 rushing offense in the league last year to the tune of 2.9 ypc.  I heard boos in the stands as their run KEPT GETTING STUFFED.  Great job, guys.  

Coaches- The right scheme.  The right attitude.  The right use of the roster.  I believe we will also see this scheme change from  week to week (or even at halftime?   ) without BS excuses like "we don't have time to change, we just need to tackle better".  I have said for years that this team had the talent but was hamstrung by the poor coaching.  No more.  Thank you, coaches.  I could almost picture Marv's dazed look while being curb-stomped if you weren't here.

You left out Billings and Dunlap who also had a great game. Fun game to watch and honestly we were better than i thought
we would be in the first game against a tough opponent in one of the most hostile environments possible. Loved seeing Ross
and Billings step up. Hubbard was a beast. Ross is so damn talented, just have to keep giving him chances, he can have huge
games like this all the time if Dalton keeps going to him.

Great game, just have to get the run game going and we will be tough.

[THE PISTONS]

(09-09-2019, 01:04 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: You left out Billings and Dunlap who also had a great game. Fun game to watch and honestly we were better than i thought
we would be in the first game against a tough opponent in one of the most hostile environments possible. Loved seeing Ross
and Billings step up. Hubbard was a beast. Ross is so damn talented, just have to keep giving him chances, he can have huge
games like this all the time if Dalton keeps going to him.

Great game, just have to get the run game going and we will be tough.

And Geno. He had no sacks, but many was he getting pressure right up the middle.

[Whacked]

Indeed !

Steelers game was awesome Lolol

Loved it !!

(09-09-2019, 10:12 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Meanwhile, the Stealers and the Browns each lost by 30.....

[XenoMorph]

(09-09-2019, 10:12 AM)Sled21 Wrote: Meanwhile, the Stealers and the Browns each lost by 30.....    

someone took a dream into the kitchen and cooked up a nightmare..


Is the factory back in full gear?

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(09-09-2019, 01:05 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: And Geno. He had no sacks, but many was he getting pressure right up the middle.

True, Geno had a very good game too, just didn't show up on the stat sheet.

(09-09-2019, 01:08 PM)Whacked Wrote: Indeed !

Steelers game was awesome Lolol

Loved it !!

The Stoolers and Stains also lost to AFC teams which hurts them worse than us losing to an NFC team in their house.

[masonbengals fan]

TE position gets a nod also. This was an inspiring game with great effort. Something we haven't consistently seen the last few years.

[*bfine32*]

(09-09-2019, 09:39 AM)treee Wrote: He had a fair assessment in that post. Though the pass blocking was adequate a majority of the time (shout out to Bernard for making some great blitz pickups), 5 sacks is still way too many.

At least our oline out performed Seattle's. Russell got sacked 4 times in half as many attempts.

As to the OP: Good effort all around. If memory served when won our opener least year and I didn't feel nowhere as good about the team as I did after this game.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(09-09-2019, 04:50 PM)masonbengals fan Wrote: TE position gets a nod also. This was an inspiring game with great effort. Something we haven't consistently seen the last few years.

Mostly Uzo. Eifert didn’t do much, and all I remember from Sample was a penalty.

[XenoMorph]

(09-09-2019, 05:14 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Mostly Uzo. Eifert didn’t do much, and all I remember from Sample was a penalty.

well sample was asked to block clowny his first nfl game...   I give me some slack.. But he is 3rd on the DC so Eifert and Uz gonna play

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(09-09-2019, 05:05 PM)bfine32 Wrote: At least our oline out performed Seattle's. Russell got sacked 4 times in half as many attempts.

As to the OP: Good effort all around. If memory served when won our opener least year and I didn't feel nowhere as good about the team as I did after this game.

Same here. Feel much better about the team after this opener.

[McC]

(09-09-2019, 05:14 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Mostly Uzo. Eifert didn’t do much, and all I remember from Sample was a penalty.

Eifert converted two or maybe even three third downs.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(09-09-2019, 09:19 PM)McC Wrote: Eifert converted two or maybe even three third downs.

Hmm...I only remember one, but I’ll take your word for it. He should have had at least one more but he ran short of the sticks on one play.

[Nicomo Cosca]

Didn’t know which thread to mention this in, but now that week 1 is in the books it’s official that Dalton had the most yards of any QB, and Ross tied for second among WR receiving yds.

Sucks we lost, but with the way the league has been moving towards offense (excluding last year’s Super Bowl), it’s encouraging our offense can put up these kinds of big numbers. Without our best weapon, to boot.

[*rfaulk34*]

(09-09-2019, 09:19 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: The offensive line gave up 5 sacks and got very little push on running plays. Dalton did have time to throw on a decent amount of plays though.

Bengals gave up 1 sack for every 10 drop backs. Seahawks gave up 1 sack for every 5 drop backs. 

I'll take that ratio all day. 

[*SHRacerX*]

(09-09-2019, 09:12 AM)sonofstat Wrote: I thought Trey Hopkins was superb.

He was good last year and earned the starter role but going to Seattle with the noise, new scheme and to new guards either side...he was exceptional getting them lined up and i don't think we got a false start.

Absolutely.  Not a single false start.  Amazing giving the new players on each side and backup LT.  

[*SHRacerX*]

(09-09-2019, 09:17 AM)psychdoctor Wrote: The Bengals look like a team that fits the "modern" schematic blue-print to win against teams like the Chiefs, and Patriots.  I do not predict the Bengals will make the playoffs or even if they do, win in the playoffs this year.  Nevertheless, the coaching staff is getting the absolute most out of the talent they have.  

The coaching staff have adapted the play-book around player personnel.  The new defense looks damn right scary.  Once the team establishes the rush, they look unstoppable.  

Give ZT a couple more drafts and the Bengals will be formidable against upper echelon teams.

Well said.  Although I think they can absolutely get in this season.  Can't imagine a tougher opener except maybe New England away.  

[*SHRacerX*]

(09-09-2019, 10:09 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: I want to take Lou Anarumo somewhere nice for a big Italian dinner.  I’ve never seen such an off-season turnaround.

Damn right...Disalvo's is in Kettering!  Best Italian food in town!

Although Nicola's in OTR is downright amazing, albeit at a higher price point.  

[*SHRacerX*]

(09-09-2019, 12:04 PM)McC Wrote: He just needed to be loved instead of resented.  Pretty simple really.

Wasn't it Reuben Foster Marvin wanted?  He's turned out great, hasn't he?

Is there a rep cap?  You just hit it!  Damn right!

Marv had some big hits (Burfict, Odell Thurman) talent-wise but too many character issues.  He whiffed in how the saw Ross.  Instead of being benched after his first carry in the NFL was a fumble (and then not really giving him more chances), Dalton and ZT went RIGHT back to Ross after a drop and....TOUCHDOWN!

His confidence is soaring now because his coach and his team is confident in him.  Eifert was quoted as saying something to the effect of:  "We all knew what he was capable of as we always see it in practice...he just needed a chance and some confidence".  

Not saying I would rather have Ross over Mahommes (had no idea he would be what he is), but Ross is going to show what this team can do with him, Eifert, Boyd, Gio, and Mixon.  And just wait until Green returns.  YES, I AM TALKING TO YOU PISSBURGH!!!