Threads from the Enemy, wild card playoffs: Raiders

[NTS_Raider]

(01-11-2022, 05:04 PM)Awful Llama Wrote: Where are you coming from?  If it's Vegas, you're in luck 'cause Cincinnati has a casino, too.  Just like Vegas 

Jersey! We're worldwide. It's weird, growing up around here I saw Raiders flags and bumper stickers everywhere. I'm not much of a gambler though. I rarely win 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(01-11-2022, 04:36 PM)NTS_Raider Wrote: Hey fellas, Raider fan from the the other board heading into Cincy for the game. I have zero expectations for the outcome, but will relish every moment of being there. It's not often the Raiders are in the playoffs, after all.

I've got two questions, one football related and the other not.

I'm somewhat ignorant to your defense. The standard media coverage is all Burrow, Chase, and Mixon. How do you feel about your defense? Who is your best player, your worst?

Non football related: Any go-to recommendations for the downtown area? Food, drinks, etc? I don't have a lot of time to sight see and want to make sure it counts.

I'd be happy to return the favor and answer any questions about my team, board, or the wacky posters you're seeing over there. Good luck to you guys, I hope both our squads give us a competitive, entertaining, and injury free game.

My answer is football only. 

DE Trey Hendrickson is our only Pro-Bowler on D. He had sacks in, I think, 11 stright games? Total of 14 and also drew a slew of holding penalties. But he and Sam Hubbard (7.5 sacks, good run edge defender) played a TON of snaps because our #3 DE (Ossai) missed the year with injury and #4 (Kareem) missed a lot of time as well. We don't rotate much at DE. #5 is rookie Cam Sample (who has been hurt the last couple weeks) and #6 is Ray who we signed mid-season due to all the DE injuries. Ray did have a strip sack that was returned for a TD last week. 

DT/NT has been a bright spot.  DJ Reader has an excellent PFF grade (2nd on the defense). But he is a run-stopper and usually comes out in passing situations. DT Ogunjobi has 7 sacks and has made some big plays, and he tied with Hendrickson & Hubbard for the team lead with 12 TFL. We did rotate a lot inside. BJ Hill had 5.5 sacks as Ogunjobi's backup (and third down partner inside). Tupou rotated with Reader at NT but got hurt last week.  Will likely see Mike Daniels (from the PS) for Tupou. 

CB Awuzie would be my pick.  He did not play last week, but after Week 17, he had the #1 PFF grade of any AFC corner.  However, we do play a lot of zone. We don't blitz a ton, either. CB Mike Hilton came over from Pittsburgh and has been very good in the slot. CB Tre Waynes was signed to be a #1 corner two years ago, but missed all of last year with injury, and almost all of this one. CB Eli Apple has taken over his spot, and after a rough start, has been pretty darn good the last third of the year. Waynes is #4 now. 

SS Von Bell and FS Jessie Bates play almost every snap at safety.  Though we will sometimes play 3 safeties will Bell as a LB in passing downs. #3 safety Ricardo Allen has a concussion, so he is out. As is our other usual safery and kickoff returner, Brandon Wilson. The #3 safety role will either be Mike Thomas (signed mid-year) or Tre Flowers (big CB, signed mid-year, formerly a Seahawk). Bell has been good but is not a great cover guy. Bates was fantastic last year but has slipped this year.  

LB has been a weakness forever for us. 2nd year LB Logan Wilson led the team in tackles and interceptions (4).  3rd year LB Germaine Pratt is the other starter and has played better lately. But neither guy is super dynamic. Akeem Davis-Gaither is the #3 LB, but is out for the year. 2nd year LB Bailey will be the main reserve, or we will go 3 safeties. 

[Johnny Cupcakes]

(01-11-2022, 05:04 PM)Awful Llama Wrote: Where are you coming from?  If it's Vegas, you're in luck 'cause Cincinnati has a casino, too.  Just like Vegas 

We have prostitutes too! (no business cards) 

And drugs! Though are drugs are less nightlife style drugs and more under the bridge by a barrel of fire drugs. 

[NTS_Raider]

(01-11-2022, 05:07 PM)Synric Wrote: It's the defensive line rotation as a whole.

The Bengals have solid depth especially at defensive tackle. Larry Ogunjobi and BJ Hill have both had solid season as run defenders and interior pass rushers. Josh Tupou the 2nd string rotational NT/1T was injured vs the Browns in week 18 but they will bring up 32 year old former Packer Mike Daniels who is fresh and had a monster game vs a great Browns interior offensive line.

The depth on the edge is a little more questionable behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Khalid Kareem has had some really nice plays he just needs to stay healthy and Cam Sample has shown some flashes but is a 4th round rookie.

All in all the Bengals defense is going into the playoffs healthy which is huge.



PS: Is there any word yet on Denzel Perryman?

I don't believe so. It's still a bit early to figure things on the injury front. Darius Philon had a career day against the Chargers, and tore up his knee. So we will be short handed at DT. The thing with Perryman, some Raider fans are higher on him than I am. He racks up tackles but it seems like a hollow stat as it's not often that it's for a loss or minimal gain. His pass coverage is an issue as well. With the Bengals receiver group we should be operating in Nickel most of the day and could afford to sub him for someone who can cover anyway. 

You want all hands on deck for the playoffs but if he doesn't play I don't think it will impact things significantly. 

[Goalpost]

(01-11-2022, 04:36 PM)NTS_Raider Wrote: Hey fellas, Raider fan from the the other board heading into Cincy for the game. I have zero expectations for the outcome, but will relish every moment of being there. It's not often the Raiders are in the playoffs, after all.

I've got two questions, one football related and the other not.

I'm somewhat ignorant to your defense. The standard media coverage is all Burrow, Chase, and Mixon. How do you feel about your defense? Who is your best player, your worst?

Non football related: Any go-to recommendations for the downtown area? Food, drinks, etc? I don't have a lot of time to sight see and want to make sure it counts.

I'd be happy to return the favor and answer any questions about my team, board, or the wacky posters you're seeing over there. Good luck to you guys, I hope both our squads give us a competitive, entertaining, and injury free game.

Keep your eyes open heading from the airport...it's in Northern Kentucky...into Cincinnati.  You will travel on I-75 northbound thru what's called the cut in the hill, where you will curve downhill, to an eventual nice view, where Cincinnati appears.  Paul Brown Stadium is right there on the right as you cross over the Ohio River.

[HarleyDog]

(01-11-2022, 04:58 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I tried to tell you guys 2 weeks ago to be careful what you asked for. It only gets worse from here, if we win this one, the nerves are worse for the next. When we get to the AFC Championship game and SB, it's full on Xanax time.

[JaggedJimmyJay]

(01-11-2022, 05:29 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: This. Isn't. The. Same. Team. Or. Players.

The team will be prepared.

Right. That's what I said.

[HarleyDog]

(01-11-2022, 04:36 PM)NTS_Raider Wrote: Hey fellas, Raider fan from the the other board heading into Cincy for the game. I have zero expectations for the outcome, but will relish every moment of being there. 

I'm somewhat ignorant to your defense. The standard media coverage is all Burrow, Chase, and Mixon. How do you feel about your defense? Who is your best player, your worst?

 SCREW YOU RICH BISACCIA - YOUR NOT FOOLING US. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!

[*pally*]

(01-11-2022, 04:58 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I tried to tell you guys 2 weeks ago to be careful what you asked for. It only gets worse from here, if we win this one, the nerves are worse for the next. When we get to the AFC Championship game and SB, it's full on Xanax time.

It would be an experience I am willing to live through for the next month

[*michaelsean*]

(01-11-2022, 05:04 PM)Awful Llama Wrote: Where are you coming from?  If it's Vegas, you're in luck 'cause Cincinnati has a casino, too.  Just like Vegas 

They legalized it in Nevada?

[*michaelsean*]

(01-11-2022, 04:58 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I tried to tell you guys 2 weeks ago to be careful what you asked for. It only gets worse from here, if we win this one, the nerves are worse for the next. When we get to the AFC Championship game and SB, it's full on Xanax time.

Nerves won't get worse for me.  I had no expectations this year, so get the playoff win thing off our back, and I'm fine.

[Sled21]

(01-11-2022, 05:42 PM)Goalpost Wrote: Keep your eyes open heading from the airport...it's in Northern Kentucky...into Cincinnati.  You will travel on I-75 northbound thru what's called the cut in the hill, where you will curve downhill, to an eventual nice view, where Cincinnati appears.  Paul Brown Stadium is right there on the right as you cross over the Ohio River.

Cut in the Hill??? When I lived up there it was called "Death Hill"

[*Awful Llama*]

(01-11-2022, 05:36 PM)Chip Smallwood Wrote: We have prostitutes too! (no business cards) 

And drugs! Though are drugs are less nightlife style drugs and more under the bridge by a barrel of fire drugs. 

I hear under the Brent Spence is like a midwestern Studio 54.  Wear a hard hat    

[*rfaulk34*]

(01-11-2022, 06:27 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Cut in the Hill??? When I lived up there it was called "Death Hill"

That was before they fixed it. 

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(01-11-2022, 05:56 PM)JaggedJimmyJay Wrote: Right. That's what I said.

Correct, I was reiterating

[BengalsRocker]

(01-10-2022, 03:55 PM)Interceptor Wrote: Having higher standards makes one look weak?

Apparently we need a "commitment to ****ing excellence" ?

[Interceptor]

(01-11-2022, 09:39 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: Apparently we need a "commitment to ****ing excellence" ?

**** yeah, *****!  

[Tiger Teeth]

(01-11-2022, 05:36 PM)Chip Smallwood Wrote: And drugs! Though are drugs are less nightlife style drugs and more under the bridge by a barrel of fire drugs. 

Are any of these "drugs", say, very skunky smelling? 

[*michaelsean*]

(01-11-2022, 05:35 PM)NTS_Raider Wrote: Jersey! We're worldwide. It's weird, growing up around here I saw Raiders flags and bumper stickers everywhere. I'm not much of a gambler though. I rarely win 

You know there’s a couple teams in your neck of the woods, right?

[Johnny Cupcakes]

(01-11-2022, 09:47 PM)Tiger Teeth Wrote: Are any of these "drugs", say, very skunky smelling? 

I never knew the Stoner Stanley meme came from a gif…