I'm optimistic

[BengalChris]

(12-19-2020, 09:24 PM)Benton Wrote: I get the angst and anger over this season. It's been a rough two years. And just when we looked like we were about to turn a corner, things got worse.

But I've got to admit, I'm optimistic about next season for a couple reasons.

1. Burrow. He was looking good when he went down and with the way things are, he's likely to come back around the start of the season as healthy as before.

2. Coordinators. Head coaching aside (and I realize in a few posts this is going to devolve into "we ain't going anywhere with ZT driving"), one of our biggest issues has been the coordinators. I don't see any way a few of the worst aren't gone.

But the big thing is...

3. Drafting. Our last draft was the best in a long time. And not just because we got Joe. Tee is looking good. Wilson is heading in the right direction. Akeem is going to take some time, but he's going to be decent. The rest, who knows? But the last I felt like we had four good picks by the end of the season was 2013. With another high pick and ZT's second year with the draft, I think we'll do good again.

4. FA. Last offseason we were aggressive for the first time in a long time. And this year, we're 5th or 6th overall in money available. I think we'll continue the spend (we've got a while before we have to worry about big resigning contracts).

2. Coordinators - Hum, ZT is the defacto OC in that he calls the plays, designs the plays, etc. So he sucks at that as well as HC. I see no logic in keeping him around. Lots of talk, but literally zero walk.

1. Burrow - I don't see Burrow starting week 1. More than likely a month into the season. I could be wrong about that, but any sort of set back, even a little, and he won't ready for the start of the season. So, just to be prudent and prepared, I expect him back week 5, a month into the season. We'll see if the Bengals throw the towel in early by not acquiring a decent backup QB in the off season.