10-12-2015, 12:22 AM
My observations from this game are similar to yours but I also have some others. First off we are watching Andy become the qb that we all thought he could be when he took over the job after Carson left. He is more confident and he has a swagger about him that shows he has matured into a leader after his previous four seasons with the team and he is quickly becoming one of the best qbs in the league in the first half of the season. I know everyone will continue to say it does not matter because it is not the playoffs which is fair but he is not the same and anyone with common sense can see that. Also AJ is playing great right now and is showing why he is a top receiver in this league. We are fortunate to have two other threats in MJ and Sanu because finally teams cannot double team AJ without a chance of getting rocked by another of our receivers. What a luxury this is. Our running game is good but could be better. I know I may get several people that will disagree with me but I honestly feel that Gio should get the majority of the carries from this point out as a starter and have Jeremy come in on shorter yardage plays and even at the goal line until he can get out of his slump that he is in. Hands down the biggest threat and possible MVP of this team is Tyler Eifert. He is showing what we missed without him last year and what a mismatch he is for anyone on the defense. He is easily becoming the second best te in the league behind Gronk. What a difference he makes for this offense and especially Andy as a red zone threat. I am a little concerned about our offensive line right now because they are not giving Andy the protection he needs. The holding on Whit today and it clearly was holding, could have been a back breaker for this team but it wasn't which was a great thing. Past teams would have folded after that. As for the defense the run defense is a big question mark right now. They are giving up way too many yards on the ground. However, I think we all can see the difference that a healthy Geno is making on this defense. Dre has got to play better on the corner because it is getting hard to watch him getting burned at least once or twice every week. I know Nugent made two key field goals today but it still makes me nervous when he lines up to try a field goal and even an extra point. I hope he continues to kick like he did today because that will hopefully give him the confidence he needs. As for special teams, Darrin Simmons has got to tell Brandon Tate to stop bringing out the ball from ten yards deep in the end zone because he is not very good. He nearly cost us on three different occasions with his horrible decisions. That has got to stop. We need to have Adam Jones returning because he is a difference maker returning kicks period. Today's call where they said he called for a fair catch was horrible. Last time I checked you have to raise your hands over your head when calling for a fair catch. Also the key play in this game at the end of regulation was the field goal team getting on the field within 10 seconds and I think Darrin Simmons deserves full credit for that. That was great timing to get the field goal and send it into overtime. Finally I saw a team today that will not quit like previous teams have. They have a confidence about them and if they stay healthy I do not care what the rest of the country says they can beat anyone in the league period. They match up with anyone and they have the potential to make a deep run into the playoffs. I think this team is more talented than the 2005 group when Kimo Von Olhoffen took out Carson's knee, costing them the win against Pittsburgh and a potential trip to the Super Bowl that year. Today however made me even more proud to say that I have been a Bengals fan for my entire life and I will never change. Who Dey!!!
