Well folks..I'm done with this team

[*jason*]

(11-25-2020, 12:00 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Ok, gramps...Let's look at this from a big picture standpoint:  

Did you expect Burrow to come in as a rookie and win the Super Bowl? No one did.  But we wanted better than 2 wins and a tie, right?  Look at the first few games of the year:

Screwed by refs against Chargers
Stupid decisions and a whiff by a lineman cost them the Philly game
Second Browns game was just pathetic defense
Colts game led 21-0 and couldn't hold it
Would have pounded Washington if Burrow doesn't go down
Would win at least 2 of NYG, Dallas, Miami, Houston games

Take that final two wins and just two of the previous 5 above it and you have a six win team.  That is about what everyone expected.

We are ready to kill Anarumo and the infamous "anonymous player" has reared his ugly head.  

Look at how they played in the Baltimore game.  The Tennessee game.  The Wash game.  And those games didn't have Reader or Waynes, the two big FA on the defense.  Dunlap was a joke this year, and Atkins has provided nothing.  That is four of your top 6 players on defense giving you nothing....(I put WJIII and Bates in the top 6 if you are wondering who the other two are).  I am not saying they are good, but they have at least been showing signs of improvement and he is doing that with substantial playing time coming from rookies Kareem, Logan, and ADG.  Bates has been insane.  WJIII has been inconsistent.  Overall, they have been below average, but I like what I am seeing from the young players and now that Hubbard is back, there might be a little more pass rush (there was against wash) because you can't just focus on Lawson.  

Get some help in the middle to pair with Reader (in the draft) and maybe another pass rusher and this defense with Waynes and WJIII back there will be a different story.

What about the offense?  They scored 27, 34, and 31 against Indy, Cleveland, and Tennessee.  They were on a roll, but for some reason they forgot how to screen against a pitt team in harsh conditions.  They have shown they can put up points, but against the best defenses, it is simply too easy to shut down Boyd and Higgins when those are your two main weapons.  A player like Jamar Chase would go a long way to opening up this offense to what they thought John Ross could do.  

Sign Joe Thuney as a FA, maybe Spain, XSF, or Finney shows enough to be the LG for next season and off you go.  Burrow will be back and ready for week 1 and he will be more determined than ever.  I just read that Booger McFarland thinks the Bengals should sit out Burrow the 2021 season.  Sure, Booger, I bet the league would love not having to deal with Burrow while his rookie deal gets closer to expiring.  I like Booger, but that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard...and this is an election year.

Burrow is used to having people doubt him.  He will prove them all wrong, again.  

It is frustrating beyond belief, but I am telling you this team will be back next year and they will be contending for our division, which just happens to be the toughest in the league.  Don't give up on them now.  They have the QB.  They will have more weapons.  They will get healthy.  And they will contend.....NEXT YEAR.  

I admire your optimism (spin)... Every team in the NFL is juuuust this close. The bad teams never make it happen though. Ifs, buts, coulda, shoulda... I'm not quitting like Gramps, but I'm not blocking the door of those that want to.