2010 off season.

[*SHRacerX*]

(03-21-2018, 04:13 PM)fredtoast Wrote: The last "big" off season I can remember for Bengal fans was 2010.

First of all there was the afterglow from the magical 2009 season where a bunch of last minute heroics hid tha fact that the '09 team was all smoke and mirrors.  After that team beat Pittsburgh in the 9th game of the season (without scoring an offensive td) they went 3-5, and did not beat a team that was better than 5-11.  Over their last 5 games they were outscored more than 20 points per games (168-65).

Second there was the using of a first round pick on a "pass catching" TE.  The pass catching TE had been like a unicorn for Bengal fans before they drafted Gresham with the 21st pick.  

Finally there was the signing of Terrell Owens.  At the time even I felt this was a huge move by the Bengals.  In the first 8 games of the '09 season when Chris Henry was playing the Bengals passing game ranked 10th in tds, 13th in passer rating, and 18th in yards.  But after Henry went down teams just bracketed Ochocinco because our other WRS (Caldwell, Coles) could not beat single coverage.  With no receiving threat from the TEs (Coats, Foschi) or the RB (Benson) our passing game dropped to 30th in yards, 27th in tds, and 21st is passer rating over the final 8 games of the season.

So it seemed like the Bengals had made two crucial moves to improve our passing game and since we already had a running game and solid defense anticipation was near an all time high for that 2010 team.

But don't worry.  I am sure nothing like that will ever happen again.  So we don't have to worry about our optimism from this off season melting away in a series of bitterly disappointing losses.

No way.

I remember that season very well.  It played out a lot like last season, rather than what you imply might happen this season (although I see your point).  

In 2010, Carlos Dunlap was a rookie that sat for most of the early part of the year, despite not getting much pressure from the starting LDE, Robert Geathers.  He came on very strong at the end of the year, and nearly tied Suh for the rookie lead in sacks with 9.5.  The middle of the defense had Peko and Sims, neither of which were very impactful in a pass rushing situation, while the rookie Geno Atkins sat most of the time.  Though the draft of 2010 might have been one of their best ever, they didn't really get the benefit of those players (except Gresh) that season while they were still in contention.  That sounds a lot like last year.  No Ross, Mixon in rotation, young DEs still sitting behind MJ, etc. 

Another similarity between 2010 and 2017 was the stale coaching of OC Bob Bratkowski.  Saddled with Dennis Roland at RT (again, like last year) but determined to use a downfield passing attack, the offense led the league in INTs and struggled to score points.  Bratkowski had become predictable, and to your point about 2009 being smoke and mirrors, the league had slowed what was a high-powered passing attack in Palmer's early years.  There are many that also though Palmer had still not completely recovered from his elbow injury.  It is often forgotten that former second round pick, Jerome Simpson, got his chance at the end of the season when Chad had an ankle injury to have 18 receptions for 247 yards and 3 TDs in the last two games.  He only had one reception in the previous two seasons.  It would have been nice to have him in the game plan before the season was over.  

Fast forward to the upcoming 2018 season:  A fresh OC with the chance to work an entire off season to install his offense.  No longer stuck with the tired Paul Alexander and his patty-cake slide blocking (puke) that Dave Lapham (who normally never shows real criticism would lose it during games on a third and one rush that would lose two yards with something like "Just line up and drive the guy in front of you!".  Also an infusion (I am hoping) of speed and youth at WR with Ross, Malone, and Core to join the returning Eifert.  Kroft filled in quite well, thank you, and I would like to see more of the two of them on the field in the red zone.  The biggest addition (by subtraction?) will be Ced O being replaced by Cordy Glenn, and even if there ends up being a health issue there, we now know Boling can move to LT if needed.  Mixon and Gio really came on at the end of the year under Lazor and the new blocking scheme.  A new center is a certainty, as well as potentially a new RT in Hart, a draft pick, or an improved Fisher after a cardiac tune-up.  

On the defense, the biggest question mark at LB and DT have been answered with the signings of Brown and Baker, and there will most certainly be draft picks used at the LB and DT position as well.  Glasgow should be even better in year two.  Burfict's suspension won't help matters, but at least we have a veteran in the LB corps that is a tackling machine in Brown.  Not sure what to make of Austin at DC.  At the very least we have a rising star in WJIII, some young speedsters in Willis and Lawson, and the veterans of Dunlap and Geno.  

The more I look at this the more I think a player like Vita Vea would be a bigger impact on this season than a tackle like Kolton Miller, should McGlinchey be gone.  Although a player like Hernandez or Wynn may still be there.  Tough call.  

Regardless, I see this upcoming season as more like 2011 when Gruden came in with a fresh offense and there was some young talent on defense just starting to make a name for themselves.  2010 was a horrible season and it was so bad that Palmer took his ball and went home.  I am not sure how much the loss of Henry (RIP) affected Palmer, but that 2010 team was a dud.  I think last year's team was more like 2010 than next year's team will be...or at least I am hoping.