08-25-2015, 03:12 AM
Just got home from the game. One of my best friends over the past 25 years has a son who played basketball with one of the Bucs CBs when they were kids, so we were sitting right behind the Bucs bench tonight.
It was a bit difficult to see over to the Bengals sideline and I was going to take some pics but there really wasn't a good angle for that from where I was sitting.
Now to the game. Here's what I saw and not in any particular order, just as they come to mind.
1. The Bengals lacked energy, except for a few players. Some players jogged off the field at half time and some walked somberly and more slowly than my dead grandma. The same was true at the end of the game.
The players who jogged off after the game was over were Bodine and Eifert together, AJ Hawk, AJ Green and Aktins. There were a couple of others who I forget cause I didn't know them by their numbers.
Hue Jackson walked off with his head down all the way out and he didn't look happy at all. His master plan just went up in smoke and his QB looked like a rag doll.
2. Dalton just wasn't a leader out there. I don't know how anyone can say he's taking a leadership role. Again, just like last year, when something goes wrong (tonight it was the pass off AJs fingers that became an INT), then he just falls apart and starts acting out of desperation.
One yard of separation is open in the NFL, but when Dalton doesn't keep the ball down the receivers needs to have a lot more separation than a mere yard. That second pick reminded me of the San Diego playoff game two years ago.
3. Alternating Hill and Bernard by offensive series just isn't going to work. I didn't like this last year and now, seeing it in person, I like it even less. Hill is one of those guys who needs carries to get into a rhythm and alternating on offensive series with Gio doesn't allow this to take place. Hill with 20 carries is greater than Hill+Gio for 25 carries. Gio should come in once Hill wears down the defense some. Just how I see it.
4. WTF is going on with the OL? It wasn't all on Bodine. It was all across, up the middle and on the outside. Did anyone look good on the OL?
5. Lewis-Harris got burned several times. Don't think he makes the team.
6. Hunt did his usual preseason superman act against the second/third team offensive line where he gets a good push, but I'm afraid I'm not buying. I want to see him do something against a #1 OL.
7. I'm a fan of James Wilder Jr. He looked good out there and I saw him on some special teams plays, which is important for him. Since I see us carrying Hill, Gio and Burkhead, plus one. I'm now routing for Wilder. He's an up the field runner who'd rather run over you than juke you. Ideal backup to Hill's role.
8. The fumble by Hill was very disappointing.
9. The offensive huddle was sharper with McCarron in the game. It was obvious being there. Clear as day. No long "down the field" passes from McCarron, but he was accurate and on time with most of this throws. The team seemed to respond to him. Out played Dalton regardless of competition on the field. Dalton was out of sync, high and off target on most of his throws. Granted, Dalton was under pressure a lot, but where were audibles and passes to an outlet receiver?
10. Dalton reminds me more of Cutler than he does Joe Flacco. Sorry Dalton enthusiasts, but Dalton is developing that Cutler Bitter-bear face when things don't go his way.
11. Winston was the best QB on the field tonight, hands down. Dalton was the worst, hands down.
12. Our run defense was on vacation early. That surprised me.
13. Where the hell is the press coverage in the secondary? I really thought our secondary would have two picks tonight, but it was Winston who played better.
14. I did see the play calling change once McCarron came in. The offense moved the ball. Granted the Bucs started playing off, but McCarron did what one is suppose to do in those situations, complete passes and move the ball down the field and get the team in the end zone. So I would say that McCarron delivered in the situation he was put in.
15. Tate started as the returner and I was unhappy with that. Expected to see someone else, anyone else. That was a let down. Tells me that he's Lewis' guy.
In the end, I found out that I was correct in not buying any hype coming out of training camp. Dalton hasn't learned to deal with unexpected bad events and still goes into desperation mode. McCarron did actually do something and played smart ball. Can't fault him for that. He dealt with pressure up the middle better than Dalton did.
Even though the Bengals played poorly in the first half, it was fun to go to the game.
It was a bit difficult to see over to the Bengals sideline and I was going to take some pics but there really wasn't a good angle for that from where I was sitting.
Now to the game. Here's what I saw and not in any particular order, just as they come to mind.
1. The Bengals lacked energy, except for a few players. Some players jogged off the field at half time and some walked somberly and more slowly than my dead grandma. The same was true at the end of the game.
The players who jogged off after the game was over were Bodine and Eifert together, AJ Hawk, AJ Green and Aktins. There were a couple of others who I forget cause I didn't know them by their numbers.
Hue Jackson walked off with his head down all the way out and he didn't look happy at all. His master plan just went up in smoke and his QB looked like a rag doll.
2. Dalton just wasn't a leader out there. I don't know how anyone can say he's taking a leadership role. Again, just like last year, when something goes wrong (tonight it was the pass off AJs fingers that became an INT), then he just falls apart and starts acting out of desperation.
One yard of separation is open in the NFL, but when Dalton doesn't keep the ball down the receivers needs to have a lot more separation than a mere yard. That second pick reminded me of the San Diego playoff game two years ago.
3. Alternating Hill and Bernard by offensive series just isn't going to work. I didn't like this last year and now, seeing it in person, I like it even less. Hill is one of those guys who needs carries to get into a rhythm and alternating on offensive series with Gio doesn't allow this to take place. Hill with 20 carries is greater than Hill+Gio for 25 carries. Gio should come in once Hill wears down the defense some. Just how I see it.
4. WTF is going on with the OL? It wasn't all on Bodine. It was all across, up the middle and on the outside. Did anyone look good on the OL?
5. Lewis-Harris got burned several times. Don't think he makes the team.
6. Hunt did his usual preseason superman act against the second/third team offensive line where he gets a good push, but I'm afraid I'm not buying. I want to see him do something against a #1 OL.
7. I'm a fan of James Wilder Jr. He looked good out there and I saw him on some special teams plays, which is important for him. Since I see us carrying Hill, Gio and Burkhead, plus one. I'm now routing for Wilder. He's an up the field runner who'd rather run over you than juke you. Ideal backup to Hill's role.
8. The fumble by Hill was very disappointing.
9. The offensive huddle was sharper with McCarron in the game. It was obvious being there. Clear as day. No long "down the field" passes from McCarron, but he was accurate and on time with most of this throws. The team seemed to respond to him. Out played Dalton regardless of competition on the field. Dalton was out of sync, high and off target on most of his throws. Granted, Dalton was under pressure a lot, but where were audibles and passes to an outlet receiver?
10. Dalton reminds me more of Cutler than he does Joe Flacco. Sorry Dalton enthusiasts, but Dalton is developing that Cutler Bitter-bear face when things don't go his way.
11. Winston was the best QB on the field tonight, hands down. Dalton was the worst, hands down.
12. Our run defense was on vacation early. That surprised me.
13. Where the hell is the press coverage in the secondary? I really thought our secondary would have two picks tonight, but it was Winston who played better.
14. I did see the play calling change once McCarron came in. The offense moved the ball. Granted the Bucs started playing off, but McCarron did what one is suppose to do in those situations, complete passes and move the ball down the field and get the team in the end zone. So I would say that McCarron delivered in the situation he was put in.
15. Tate started as the returner and I was unhappy with that. Expected to see someone else, anyone else. That was a let down. Tells me that he's Lewis' guy.
In the end, I found out that I was correct in not buying any hype coming out of training camp. Dalton hasn't learned to deal with unexpected bad events and still goes into desperation mode. McCarron did actually do something and played smart ball. Can't fault him for that. He dealt with pressure up the middle better than Dalton did.
Even though the Bengals played poorly in the first half, it was fun to go to the game.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
