July look ahead to Opening Game

[kevin]

Patriots at Cincinnati. Patriots have a new coach and a new quarterback and a whole new system. Never take the Patriots lightly, but I think Bengals can take them in Cincinnati. Patriots may still have a good D, but I can't see Patriots new offense in high gear right off the bat. Hopefully Burrow is healthy for a change at start of season, which normally he isn't. If Burrow could be on his game in this one, and Bengals D with Hendrickson is giving Patriots offense a hard day, hopefully Bengals start season with a Win. It would be good to get out in front and start with a Win, as opposed to these opening game losses.

GO BENGALS....Have a good training camp and an injury free preseason, and get after Patriots in Cincinnati.

[FormerlyBengalRugby]

(07-12-2024, 02:08 PM)kevin Wrote: Patriots at Cincinnati.  Patriots have a new coach and a new quarterback and a whole new system.  Never take the Patriots lightly, but I think Bengals can take them in Cincinnati.  Patriots may still have a good D, but I can't see Patriots new offense in high gear right off the bat.  Hopefully Burrow is healthy for a change at start of season, which normally he isn't.  If Burrow could be on his game in this one, and Bengals D with Hendrickson is giving Patriots offense a hard day, hopefully Bengals start season with a Win.   It would be good to get out in front and start with a Win, as opposed to these opening game losses.

GO BENGALS....Have a good training camp and an injury free preseason, and get after Patriots in Cincinnati.


   

I think it will come down to how well the o-line is playing together at that point, since they rarely play together in pre-season games.

[kevin]

(07-12-2024, 02:49 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I think it will come down to how well the o-line is playing together at that point, since they rarely play together in pre-season games.

I could put it another way.  If Bengals aren't ready to play on day one, and lose to a team with a new coach and a new quarterback in Cincinnati, that is a bad loss.  Losing this game would really put Bengals behind the 8 ball, because their season is much tougher than this game.  Shame on Coach Taylor if Bengals aren't ready to get at it on day one against Patriots.  I'm tired of the excuse Bengals weren't ready, they can read a schedule and a calendar can't they ?  

IF they lose at home to Patriots, and the next week is at Super Bowl Dynasty Kansas City Chiefs, Bengals could end up with an 0-2 start trying to avoid 0-3 and fans looking at 2025 draft after week 3. So be ready, and beat Patriots in Cincinnati.

[WeezyBengal]

Really do not enjoy playing first year coaches and QBs when there is zero tape out on them.

That being said, we should win this game. If we don't, then it'll be a huge disappointment.

[jj22]

If Burrow has a healthy camp and gets good work in with the joint practices (I doubt started play in the preseason, expectations should be a win.

New coach, new QB, new system. They’ll put up a fight but NE won’t be ready to compete with a healthy seasoned Bengals team.

[*rfaulk34*]

(07-12-2024, 03:03 PM)kevin Wrote: I could put it another way.  If Bengals aren't ready to play on day one, and lose to a team with a new coach and a new quarterback in Cincinnati, that is a bad loss.  Losing this game would really put Bengals behind the 8 ball, because their season is much tougher than this game.  Shame on Coach Taylor if Bengals aren't ready to get at it on day one against Patriots.  I'm tired of the excuse Bengals weren't ready, they can read a schedule and a calendar can't they ?  

IF they lose at home to Patriots, and the next week is at Super Bowl Dynasty Kansas City Chiefs, Bengals could end up with an 0-2 start trying to avoid 0-3 and fans looking at 2025 draft after week 3.  So be ready, and beat Patriots in Cincinnati.

They've done it before, a few times.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

I do understand why some say we shouldn't take them lightly with the Pats having a new HC and a new QB where we have no
NFL tape on him. But I do agree with Kev that our Defense should be ahead of their Offense at this point in the season and Burrow
and our Offense will want to start out fast this season as they never do it seems. I expect us to have most of our starters play in at
least 1 preseason game to get acclimated this year. A couple series at the very least.

Need to change things up to start faster, I know Zac and the coaches know this. I know some say practice is what counts but it did
not help last season in getting us ready for the opener even if Burrow was hurt.

[Soonerpeace]

We’ve started slow the last few years. Blame it on Joe’s appendectomy and calf injury all you want. Same thing happened in ‘21. The staff needs to analyze their approach. I get that they are trying to pace them. But JMHO that’s has been Zac’s biggest failure is slow starts.

[Essex Johnson]

(07-12-2024, 02:49 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I think it will come down to how well the o-line is playing together at that point, since they rarely play together in pre-season games.

nope, this line is now a veteran line returning 4 starters, the norm now is sit starters in preseason with majority of teams..

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(07-14-2024, 02:42 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: We’ve started slow the last few years. Blame it on Joe’s appendectomy and calf injury all you want. Same thing happened in ‘21. The staff needs to analyze their approach. I get that they are trying to pace them. But JMHO that’s has been Zac’s biggest failure is slow starts.

Didn't they beat MN in game 1 in 21, or am I misremembering?

[BFritz21]

Personally, I'm looking forward to this game and I think we come out hot!

Burrow finally being healthy will have the entire team fired up and the Patriots coming to town would just fire the team up even more to beat the most successful franchise this century.

With training camp coming up, I think our players finally start believing in each other and rally behind a healthier Burrow that can finally take snaps under center and just looks like a general down in the trenches with the soldiers!

I wasn't going to put an exclamation point there but it got me excited!

Having Burrow under center with a decent line and two capable backs, I think we come out running the ball down their throats, The Patriots will have a good pass defense and pass rush, so it's important to come out and establish the run.

CAN'T WAIT!

[Ctfan73]

(07-17-2024, 02:23 PM)Wyche Wrote: Didn't they beat MN in game 1 in 21, or am I misremembering?

Yes.  They started 5-2 in '21.  There seems to be this idea that they always get off to a bad start in the Burrow years.  They did lose 4 out of 6 after the 5-2 start so they had to rally late to win the division but the start was good.

[*bengalfan74*]

(07-13-2024, 04:07 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I do understand why some say we shouldn't take them lightly with the Pats having a new HC and a new QB where we have no
NFL tape on him. But I do agree with Kev that our Defense should be ahead of their Offense at this point in the season and Burrow
and our Offense will want to start out fast this season as they never do it seems. I expect us to have most of our starters play in at
least 1 preseason game to get acclimated this year. A couple series at the very least.

Need to change things up to start faster, I know Zac and the coaches know this. I know some say practice is what counts but it did
not help last season in getting us ready for the opener even if Burrow was hurt.

I'm hoping they don't do the no starters take any pre-season thing again. I, like you, wanna see the full first team in a couple series anyways. 

We should beat NE

[SunsetBengal]

(07-12-2024, 02:49 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I think it will come down to how well the o-line is playing together at that point, since they rarely play together in pre-season games.

Indeed, I understand your hesitation as it comes to the lack of preseason reps for the starting OL.  The one thing in the Bengals favor is that this is the 3rd year in a row with the same interior players, Orlando Brown Jr. will be in his second year with the team and Trent Brown should have a major chip on his shoulder to crush his former team.

[Soonerpeace]

(07-17-2024, 02:23 PM)WychesWarrior Wrote: Didn't they beat MN in game 1 in 21, or am I misremembering?

They’ve started 1-3 and 2-3 the last 2 years

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(07-17-2024, 02:49 PM)Ctfan73 Wrote: Yes.  They started 5-2 in '21.  There seems to be this idea that they always get off to a bad start in the Burrow years.  They did lose 4 out of 6 after the 5-2 start so they had to rally late to win the division but the start was good.

That's what I was thinking. Even though he was coming off the knee injury, that's the best health he's had going into the season. While there's other reasons for slow starts, I feel like the biggest reason has been Joe Burrow starting off slow due to his health.

(07-17-2024, 08:17 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: They’ve started 1-3 and 2-3 the last 2 years

Yessir, it's been rough the last two seasons for sure.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(07-17-2024, 06:46 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I'm hoping they don't do the no starters take any pre-season thing again. I, like you, wanna see the full first team in a couple series anyways. 

We should beat NE

Agree with you as usual BF74.

A couple series shouldn't hurt us too bad. Everything is a gamble, including NOT playing starters a couple series in preseason.

(07-17-2024, 07:00 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Indeed, I understand your hesitation as it comes to the lack of preseason reps for the starting OL.  The one thing in the Bengals favor is that this is the 3rd year in a row with the same interior players, Orlando Brown Jr. will be in his second year with the team and Trent Brown should have a major chip on his shoulder to crush his former team.

Good point on Trent Brown, same with Mike Gesicki.

[Joelist]

I'd like to see us start the opener by lining up under center and playing powerball - let the OL use their size and attack and block down. Success at this would pull NE out of selling out to the pass and also get the linemen in sync; then Burrow can open fire.