5 straight wins.... 9-8 season

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 01:24 AM)Destro Wrote: How does anyone think that shapes up for next year? Tee and Trey wanting the pay day and our drafting always seems to be suspect beyond Top 5. Do we get better?

I'm a bit torn on Lou myself. Defense was terrible his first year and then this year it may have matched the worst I've ever seen from them. Decent down the stretch but his best times were with amazing free agent pickups. Feels like we'd have to be active again and do it well on top of that. I think the teams needs to go all in now whatever that translates to there isn't any worrying what a few years looks like we can figure it out then.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(01-05-2025, 01:24 AM)Destro Wrote: How does anyone think that shapes up for next year? Tee and Trey wanting the pay day and our drafting always seems to be suspect beyond Top 5. Do we get better?

It is gonna hard to be worse in some areas (IOL, S, HC). 

We have a TON of glaring needs: both guard spots, DE2, DT (at least 2 if not 3), S, WR2, WR3, TE1, better speed at LB, RB2.

It is a lot and we may have to live with some warts. 

But some guys flashed at times tonight. Ossai got a sack (or half one). Fig made some plays. ADG & Pratt made some plays. Murphy applied some pressure a couple times. Jackson flashed a time ot two. Heyward. Williams had a nice return. Hudson made a nice play. 

We cannot afford Rankins/Scott/Stone level whiffs in FA, nor Burton/Carman/Murphy level whiffs in the draft. And there is not enough money to fix everything in FA. .

But FFS, Volson/Cappa/Ford are not starter level. Rankins has to go. Bring Tee back. Restructure Burrow. Extend Chase. And Trey. Stop insisting on Stone Age contracts. 

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 01:28 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: of course it was worse competition down the stretch

I know it was. But do you think the FO will look at it that way?

[NUGDUKWE]

I will say even if all it did was hurt our draft position. Got to give everybody involved credit. With 5 games to go I would've bet the house we lost all 5 over we would win out. Kept us locked in until the bitter end.

[QueenCity]

Kudos to the team for not giving up... this season could have been over weeks over. At the very least we got exciting football for 5 weeks and a chance to get in the playoffs.

Obviously there will be a lot of talk this off-season if there needs to be changes... my vote is yes you can't excuse 3 straight seasons of starting the season in a hole.

Scouting has been horrible our picks are not panning out... big off-season regardless on what happens tomorrow.

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 01:34 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: It is gonna hard to be worse in some areas (IOL, S, HC). 

We have a TON of glaring needs: both guard spots, DE2, DT (at least 2 if not 3), S, WR2, WR3, TE1, better speed at LB, RB2.

It is a lot and we may have to live with some warts. 

But some guys flashed at times tonight. Ossai got a sack (or half one). Fig made some plays. ADG & Pratt made some plays. Murphy applied some pressure a couple times. Jackson flashed a time ot two. Heyward. Williams had a nice return. Hudson made a nice play. 

We cannot afford Rankins/Scott/Stone level whiffs in FA, nor Burton/Carman/Murphy level whiffs in the draft. And there is not enough money to fix everything in FA. .

But FFS, Volson/Cappa/Ford are not starter level. Rankins has to go. Bring Tee back. Restructure Burrow. Extend Chase. And Trey. Stop insisting on Stone Age contracts. 

Makes my head hurt thinking about it and certainly not envious of the job. But they dug themselves this hole and they need to pony up and figure it out. This is the time all teams strive for you can't sit on your hands anymore.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(01-05-2025, 01:34 AM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: It is gonna hard to be worse in some areas (IOL, S, HC). 

We have a TON of glaring needs: both guard spots, DE2, DT (at least 2 if not 3), S, WR2, WR3, TE1, better speed at LB, RB2.

It is a lot and we may have to live with some warts. 

But some guys flashed at times tonight. Ossai got a sack (or half one). Fig made some plays. ADG & Pratt made some plays. Murphy applied some pressure a couple times. Jackson flashed a time ot two. Heyward. Williams had a nice return. Hudson made a nice play. 

We cannot afford Rankins/Scott/Stone level whiffs in FA, nor Burton/Carman/Murphy level whiffs in the draft. And there is not enough money to fix everything in FA. .

But FFS, Volson/Cappa/Ford are not starter level. Rankins has to go. Bring Tee back. Restructure Burrow. Extend Chase. And Trey. Stop insisting on Stone Age contracts. 

Well said Ike. Need to add at least 2 interior polished IOL in FA/Draft and we all know that the Draft takes time. Need to add a pass rusher
besides Trey even if we bring back Ossai who isn't bad. Fig played very well tonight IMO. I really like Fig and hopefully both Dax and Turner
will be back healthy next year to help at Corner. CTB made some plays but he is not a starter. Another pass rushing 3-tech has to be added.

I like Kris Jenkins but he isn't that yet from what he has shown IMO.

Ivey makes plays, I want to see more of this guy. Move on from Stone and Bell and keep Jordan Battle as SS while adding a true Free Safety.

[higgy100]

(01-05-2025, 01:23 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: I disagree. best defensive game came against the raiders lol 

steelers kept shooting themselves in the foot

Wrong. Bengals offense shot themselves in the foot far more. This gane and Denver game waste two best defensive games of the season by far.

[Joelist]

Regardless of whether they get in they ended well - they left it all out on the field and got to 9-8.

Obviously they have offseason needs (2 Guards, NT, EDGE) but right just now it is watch football tomorrow to see if they made it.

[Frank Booth]

(01-05-2025, 02:18 AM)higgy100 Wrote: Wrong. Bengals offense shot themselves in the foot far more. This gane and Denver game waste two best defensive games of the season by far.

we're both right

[reuben.ahmed]

(01-05-2025, 01:15 AM)WildCat Wrote: miami loses broncos dont

I have the opposite happening, though the NFL would prefer nix in the playoffs so i can see either.

I think we will see some questionable calls in the broncos game.

[Tomkat]

(01-05-2025, 01:15 AM)WildCat Wrote: miami loses broncos dont

No way Miami loses.
Jets are TERRIBLE 

[QueenCity]

(01-05-2025, 11:10 AM)Tomkat Wrote: No way Miami loses.
Jets are TERRIBLE 

Tua isn't playing and could be AROD last game in the NFL.... lots of reasons Jets can win this one.

[Sled21]

(01-05-2025, 01:17 AM)Nepa Wrote: When the team was 4 and 8, there were posters very authoritatively saying Zac had lost the team and it was clear the locker room was imploding and the team had given up. Hopefully, this will be end of such statements.

Those same posters WANT that to be true and bring that crap up any chance they get.

[Browns Town Bengal]

(01-05-2025, 11:38 AM)QueenCity Wrote: Tua isn't playing and could be AROD last game in the NFL.... lots of reasons Jets can win this one.

Huntley is a very capable backup unfortunately.  Remember he nearly beat the Bengals in the playoff game when he was with the ravens

[Sled21]

(01-05-2025, 11:43 AM)Browns Town Bengal Wrote: Huntley is a very capable backup unfortunately.  Remember he nearly beat the Bengals in the playoff game when he was with the ravens

Nearly

[QueenCity]

(01-05-2025, 11:43 AM)Browns Town Bengal Wrote: Huntley is a very capable backup unfortunately.  Remember he nearly beat the Bengals in the playoff game when he was with the ravens

Yes but he doesn't have Baltimore Defense.... the Jets CB's are very good so if Miami wins IMO it will be on the ground. 

[Sled21]

(01-05-2025, 01:34 AM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I'm a bit torn on Lou myself. Defense was terrible his first year and then this year it may have matched the worst I've ever seen from them. Decent down the stretch but his best times were with amazing free agent pickups. Feels like we'd have to be active again and do it well on top of that. I think the teams needs to go all in now whatever that translates to there isn't any worrying what a few years looks like we can figure it out then.

I have always been a Lou fan, and have been somewhat torn this year on if I wanted him to move on, or if he is being hamstrung by lack of talent. I've pretty much landed with wanting Lou to stay, but to clean out the DB coaching room and D-line coaching rooms and get better position coaches. The main problems this defense has is not concept (Coordinator) it is with fundamentals like tackling and being on a WR when the ball arrives.(Position coaches)

[007BengalsFan]

(01-05-2025, 02:18 AM)higgy100 Wrote: Wrong. Bengals offense shot themselves in the foot far more. This gane and Denver game waste two best defensive games of the season by far.

The Patriots scored just 16 points but unfortunately the offense could only score 10.  That hurts

[jj22]

You guys are too much. This year was SB or bust. Only kudos that should come is if they somehow happen to make the playoffs.

If they don’t let’s hope the FO remembers the failure this season was. And not wax poetic about a streak to end the season outside of the playoffs.

I’m only giving praise to individual players this offseason. The ones that showed up and came to play this season.