This Is One Whacky Year In Football

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(11-17-2021, 09:42 PM)Wyche Wrote: No, I agree. They really need that Raiders game.I think with Hargreaves, and maybe even Flowers, being here a little while now and through the bye, we may have seen the last of Apple.

Apparently not, and Apple is an easy target as the one deep ball against the Browns looked to be his fault, but it was later revealed that Bell was supposed to be his help over the top.  

Apple, and the entire secondary, will look a lot better when the front gets more pressure.  Ditto the LBs.  The Raiders have far from a good offensive line and without Ruggs, no vertical threat.  They need to drop Bell down in to the box and play more single-high with Bates (his strength) against the Raiders.  

Stop their run game, slow their intermediate game, and put Chido on Waller (who oddly is their vertical threat and they take LOTS of shots with him), and we can hold them to 20 points.  I strongly believe Burrow will be dealing 30 burgers a lot of the rest of the season.  The defense needs to find some of its early form and that starts with pressure from the four down linemen. 

Regardless if that happens or not (the pressure from 4), I really want to see Hilton on a couple blizes, Pratt and Wilson in double-A gap blitzes, and maybe even Bell or Phillips, who seems to have a solid knack at pass rushing, get after Carr.  Stop waiting for mistakes that won't happen and try to force some.  

EDIT:  I didn't remember seeing that Desean Jackson signed with them, and had a big fumble last week, but will still get some deep shots.  I just really hope the Bengals don't give up 30 plays underneath, trying to prevent the one over the top.