(08-02-2018, 05:56 PM)Brimey Wrote: Year after year I convince myself that this is the year that the Bengals make the leap. And year after year the season ends with a definitive thud of reality. But I'm looking at this team realistically and not seeing why this year couldn't be the year. The year a corner is turned and this team not only is in the playoffs, but winning some games. So tell me where I'm wrong in my rose colored view of the team as it stands.
QB: B. Last time this team had healthy weapons and a decent offensive line number 14 had a great year. I believe he can do that again. He has to stay healthy though because the options behind him are scary.
RB: B+. Mixon could be an absolute stud, and Gio is still a dangerous guy with playmaking ability.
TE: B+ Eifert playing even 10 to 12 games and Kroft? That's a great tight end duo. Obviously health is key, but Eifert IS playing right now. So my optimism seems warranted.
OL: C- This grade is just below average. I don't see the line being a F anymore. We have a lot of young guys, and there is really no way to see how they will shape up. But apparently Ced is still bring abused in practice and standing out as the poorest lineman, and we we're counting on him to be our LT(!!!) last year! The line doesn't have to be great. Just average with the weaponry we have.
WR: B AJ Green automatically gives you a B. He's a top 5 receiver. And there is a plethora of young talent with top notch athleticism. Boyd, Malone, Ross, Tate as a red zone threat? The fact that they cut Lafell tells me the young guys are REALLY coming along. Red zone sets with Tate, Green, Eifert and Ross would be lethal.
DL. A Dunlap, Atkins and Lawson on passing downs? Oh my. Lawson looks like he has the ability to be the best edge rusher we've had in forever. Willis looks impressive. Billings stepping up and reaching his potential would be huge
LBs. D This is the weak spot to me. Burfict is a great linebacker when he is healthy and motivated (and my favorite player in the league to watch play) and not suspended. Brooks looks to be a solid backer. The rest are very meh. Someone will have to step up between Vigil, Jefferson and Evans.
CBs B+. We have arguably the best young CB in football. Solid vets rounding out the rest of the unit. Dre Isn't great, but he's probably the 3rd best corner on the team which he's certainly capable of filling that role.
S. C Iloka and Williams are average vets. Bates may be starting sooner than later.
We added the OL coach of probably the best OL in football, the QB coach of perhaps the best QB in football and a DC that preaches what we've wanted the Bengals to do for years...get the ball get the ball get the ball.
The national media understandably discounts this team any opportunity they have. And the thing is it's usually a narrative of the Head Coach is still there and so is the QB. Well I see all new coordinators and serious talent at every single level of the team. And some serious YOUNG talent.
So please, dispel my notions. Don't allow me to trick myself this year like I have so many times. Bring me back down to earth before the cold hard reality of Bengals football always seems to as the season progresses.
Well gentlemen, the season is officially over for our sad sack Bengals and the reality has set in again. So allow me to look at my optimistic position rankings from preseason and update them for the end of season grade.
QB- C. Dalton was average. Driskel was not good. The Bengals QB position is blah at best
RB- B+ Mixon led the AFC in rushing behind a mediocre line.
TE Incomplete. Decimated by injuries early. This position was basically nonexistent by the end of the season
OL D- Costly penalties and mediocre blocking. No one stood out. Glenn was disappointing, Redmond was terrinle, Price had a poor rookie season, Hart was OMG bad at times and Boling was merely solid.
WR- B- Green was his solid self. Boyd stepped up and appears to be a future Pro Bowl player. Ross is a work in progress who is on the cusp of bust status. Everyone else was blah.
DL- B- Lawson got hurt before he ever really got going. Atkins disappeared for a chunk of the season. Dunlap was solid yet unspectacular. Billings was average. Hubbard flashed. Glasgow was a costly injury. Willis never did anything.
LB- F- This group was laughably inept. Vigil was the only decent player in the group. Burfict missed as many tackles as he made. Nickerson is painfully unathletic. Evans looked lost. Brown was hurt and ineffective. Just awful.
CB- C- Jackson wasn't the player we expected him to be. Dre was average. Dennard struggled and was injured. Everyone else was blah. Zero interceptions from this group.
S- B.Bates was a bright spot. Fedj made a couple of big plays. Williams did as well.
Coaching .F
The defensive coordinator was fired by the midpoint of the year as the defense played at a pathetic level. Good offenses scored at will. Marvin takes over the defense and the next game allows the franchise record for rushing yards in a game .
The offensive coordinator showed almost no ingenuity. Running consistently on 2nd and 10. Not using the backs in the passing game. Not finding ways to get the ball in Ross's hands. Using Driskel as a pocket QB.
Marvin showed little fire and continued to stick with underachievers (Redmond)
See you guys after the draft when I'm back in delusional mode. Hopefully this thread can remind me to think with my head and not my heart
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
