08-04-2021, 10:32 AM
The only thing I really care about right now is injuries, and to be more specific, I'm hoping for a lack of them. I obviously don't want to see anyone go down with anything that's going to cause them to miss games.
Why am I telling you this? Well, because there's been quite a few threads about camp. There's been talk about Carman's place on the depth chart, there's been talk about Burrow and the offense, the defense, etc. And look, I get it. I understand that is all we have to talk about, and that camp is important for guys to get going. I've just never been one that has put much stock in reports from camp, or even how the team looks in the preseason.
I've seen too many guys get glowing reviews from camp, who then go on to have shitty seasons. And I've seen too many players struggle in camp, or sit it out, who go on to have fantastic seasons. I've also seen too many teams look great in the preseason look like trash in the regular season. And I've seen teams go 0-4 in the preseason, the media start to wonder if the team is doomed, who then go on to have a great seasons.
Now, normally when I bring this up and I'd be labeled a hater. Ex: Me yawning when Armon Binns gets a glowing review from Ben Baby or James Be Rapin in August, and everyone is hyped. But in this case I don't think I will be.
Do I care that there are reports Burrow and the offense is struggling? No, not really. Wake me when real football starts. If there is any worrying to be done I'll do it then. What we're seeing right now may just be rust, it could be luck, it could be them taking longer to get moving. I'm not going to speculate on it, nor do I care to.
Do I care that Carman started the season on the bottom of the depth chart? No, not at all. Who knows why that is? Like I said in the other thread, it could be for motivation, it could be for appearances, or he could just need time. I really don't care. I'll worry about it when it actually matters.
Do I care that the defense has looked good? Again, no. I don't care the defense has looked in good in practice playing against their own team in the first week of practice. I'll care when they look good in a real game.
I'm never going to tell anyone how to be a fan or what to talk about. If you want to follow along with all of the reports then more power to you. Afterall, this is the only news you have right now with the Bengals and if you're a Bengals fan then why wouldn't you. I would only offer up that I wouldn't put a lot of stock into it. I wouldn't panic that Carman started low on the depth chart, or that Burrow threw a few picks. It's practice. We're sitting here talking about practice. Practice. Not a game, not a game. Practice.
You know who does have to worry? A team like the Colts. Their starting QB, Carson Wentz is now out 5-12 weeks. Quentin Nelson, their All Pro Guard, is now out with the same injury, and is dealing with the same recovery timeline (5-12 weeks). How would you like to be down your starting QB and your best O-Lineman before preseason even starts?
To each their own, but I'll take a healthy team who looks like shit all through camp and the preseason over a team that's hit with some injuries and has looked good in practice. I'm not going to let some practices with some fluff reports let me get too down or too excited. Burrow can continue to struggle in practice and I don't care. Just stay healthy and have the kinks worked out by September. Everything else is almost meaningless to me.
Hope this thread wasn't too boring or is seen as unecessary. I also hope I didn't offend anyone. I just thought I'd offer some perspective. I've seen a little bit of panicking or people getting down, and I thought I'd share my opinion. I really don't think this matters that much. I wouldn't get too worked up about what Beat Writers are saying in the summer.
Why am I telling you this? Well, because there's been quite a few threads about camp. There's been talk about Carman's place on the depth chart, there's been talk about Burrow and the offense, the defense, etc. And look, I get it. I understand that is all we have to talk about, and that camp is important for guys to get going. I've just never been one that has put much stock in reports from camp, or even how the team looks in the preseason.
I've seen too many guys get glowing reviews from camp, who then go on to have shitty seasons. And I've seen too many players struggle in camp, or sit it out, who go on to have fantastic seasons. I've also seen too many teams look great in the preseason look like trash in the regular season. And I've seen teams go 0-4 in the preseason, the media start to wonder if the team is doomed, who then go on to have a great seasons.
Now, normally when I bring this up and I'd be labeled a hater. Ex: Me yawning when Armon Binns gets a glowing review from Ben Baby or James Be Rapin in August, and everyone is hyped. But in this case I don't think I will be.
Do I care that there are reports Burrow and the offense is struggling? No, not really. Wake me when real football starts. If there is any worrying to be done I'll do it then. What we're seeing right now may just be rust, it could be luck, it could be them taking longer to get moving. I'm not going to speculate on it, nor do I care to.
Do I care that Carman started the season on the bottom of the depth chart? No, not at all. Who knows why that is? Like I said in the other thread, it could be for motivation, it could be for appearances, or he could just need time. I really don't care. I'll worry about it when it actually matters.
Do I care that the defense has looked good? Again, no. I don't care the defense has looked in good in practice playing against their own team in the first week of practice. I'll care when they look good in a real game.
I'm never going to tell anyone how to be a fan or what to talk about. If you want to follow along with all of the reports then more power to you. Afterall, this is the only news you have right now with the Bengals and if you're a Bengals fan then why wouldn't you. I would only offer up that I wouldn't put a lot of stock into it. I wouldn't panic that Carman started low on the depth chart, or that Burrow threw a few picks. It's practice. We're sitting here talking about practice. Practice. Not a game, not a game. Practice.
You know who does have to worry? A team like the Colts. Their starting QB, Carson Wentz is now out 5-12 weeks. Quentin Nelson, their All Pro Guard, is now out with the same injury, and is dealing with the same recovery timeline (5-12 weeks). How would you like to be down your starting QB and your best O-Lineman before preseason even starts?
To each their own, but I'll take a healthy team who looks like shit all through camp and the preseason over a team that's hit with some injuries and has looked good in practice. I'm not going to let some practices with some fluff reports let me get too down or too excited. Burrow can continue to struggle in practice and I don't care. Just stay healthy and have the kinks worked out by September. Everything else is almost meaningless to me.
Hope this thread wasn't too boring or is seen as unecessary. I also hope I didn't offend anyone. I just thought I'd offer some perspective. I've seen a little bit of panicking or people getting down, and I thought I'd share my opinion. I really don't think this matters that much. I wouldn't get too worked up about what Beat Writers are saying in the summer.
