6 hours ago
(05-22-2025, 05:28 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I am not a big believer in the ability of coach Peters to turn mediocrity into magnificence. NE sucked last year, their OL sucked, and he got fired.
Fairchild + Patrick with Ford, Volson, & Rivers as backups could be better than last year, but not by much.
And OT depth is actually worse with Brown gone.
Now, we are certainly healthier at some spots (CB), but not all (TE).
On paper, atm, most improved: NT, LB, RB, DE, OG, C depth.
Same: QB, WR, PK P, LS.
Worse: CB (better health, worse depth), S depth, OT depth, 3T, TE (All injury).
Now, I get we are counting on some improvement from some younger players (Iosivas, Burton, Jenkins, Jackson, D. Hill, Turner, Newton, Battle), and scheme/coaching cjanges to help us, but I really don't think we improved much roster-wise.
Our biggest "gains" have been in signing our own FA's (Higgins, Hill, Gesicki, Ossai, Ford, C. Sample, Rehkow, Adomitis), and extensions (Chase, D. Hill 5th year).
Not a big fan of any of the salary cutting renegotiations. Stone is the most understandable, as he is a starter AND has a productive NFL history, and we have zero S depth. But Moss & Volson are backups..Much rather have had the full $$ and turned that into another G, or S, or paying Trey. Perhaps 2 of 3.
I question the value of the new coach as well. Last time I checked, the Bengals are a football team. They aren't a Brazilian jiu jitsu organization. IDGAF about MMA when it comes to protecting Burrow. I want a competent OL. If NFL OL play was as simple as taking mid rounders and borderline starters then teaching them MMA horseshit we'd have it made. I hate to break it to you guys, but it probably isn't.
You can bring whatever gimmicks you want. If you can't teach guys to protect the qb, it's just annoying anecdotal drivel. It's not magic.
To that end, blaming coaches is an excuse that they are burning hard. What happens when everyone begins to realize that to win, you actually need good football players?
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)