3 things that Must change next season

[*bengalfan74*]

(6 hours ago)TecmoBengals Wrote: It's what I'd like. Nothing is a guarantee with the draft or the world of Mike Brown ownership.

Right

This team is far enough away from being truly good that you're not going to fix it with one draft. They'd have to hit a HR on every pick and that's highly unlikely!! If we get two quality starters in the draft and another good prospect we'll be flying.

They're IMHO going to have to go out and get probably 4 experienced quality starters in free agency. What and how that plays out???

Free agent RG and draft another ? Free agent DT and draft a DE ? Free agent safety and draft a CB ? What about WR if Tee leaves ? I'd almost rather get a proven vet WR.

Bottom line - the F.O. has a good bit of work to do. 

[SunsetBengal]

(5 hours ago)bengalfan74 Wrote: Right

This team is far enough away from being truly good that you're not going to fix it with one draft. They'd have to hit a HR on every pick and that's highly unlikely!! If we get two quality starters in the draft and another good prospect we'll be flying.

They're IMHO going to have to go out and get probably 4 experienced quality starters in free agency. What and how that plays out???

Free agent RG and draft another ? Free agent DT and draft a DE ? Free agent safety and draft a CB ? What about WR if Tee leaves ? I'd almost rather get a proven vet WR.

Bottom line - the F.O. has a good bit of work to do. 

I wonder if they even realize the volume of work that they should be doing, even prior to any transactions taking place? The reason that I ask in that fashion, is it typically appears that the FO is reactive, as opposed to being proactive and prepared.

[*ochocincos*]

(5 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: I wonder if they even realize the volume of work that they should be doing, even prior to any transactions taking place? The reason that I ask in that fashion, is it typically appears that the FO is reactive, as opposed to being proactive and prepared.

They're waiting for our board to post a bunch of offseason mock FA and draft scenarios so they can know who to look at :)

[*bengalfan74*]

(5 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: I wonder if they even realize the volume of work that they should be doing, even prior to any transactions taking place? The reason that I ask in that fashion, is it typically appears that the FO is reactive, as opposed to being proactive and prepared.

YUP

I feel that's the Bengals F.O. single biggest failure. They're way too willing to just "let it ride". Way to prone to hanging onto players that have obviously declined. Too eager to see if an oft injured player can be different next season? On the cheap of course

There's a long list of players that should have been let go way before they were. You can't build a team on hope.

And they seem to have this great desire to "pull a diamond out of the rough", and it's weird. Margus Hunt, and now Murphy, to name a couple. This is a big list as well.

I'd love to know who is making these calls?

[SunsetBengal]

(5 hours ago)ochocincos Wrote: They're waiting for our board to post a bunch of offseason mock FA and draft scenarios so they can know who to look at :)

Take this current situation where they fired 4 coaches along with 2 additional support personnel. So far the only thing that we know for certain is that they've interviewed 2 minority candidates for DC and have thus satisfied the Rooney Rule. Not a single word about any OL coach candidates to date. Any other "news" has all been speculatory about possible "interest" in candidate X or Y, it's almost like they fired guys without having any sort of directed plan on replacing them.

Meanwhile we're 7 weeks away from the legal tampering period for free agency, and I'm betting that this team doesn't even have a targeted list together yet. How can they? They don't even have coaches in place to get their input for a wish list..

[ERIC1]

(5 hours ago)bengalfan74 Wrote: Right

This team is far enough away from being truly good that you're not going to fix it with one draft. They'd have to hit a HR on every pick and that's highly unlikely!! If we get two quality starters in the draft and another good prospect we'll be flying.

They're IMHO going to have to go out and get probably 4 experienced quality starters in free agency. What and how that plays out???

Free agent RG and draft another ? Free agent DT and draft a DE ? Free agent safety and draft a CB ? What about WR if Tee leaves ? I'd almost rather get a proven vet WR.

Bottom line - the F.O. has a good bit of work to do. 

I dont know how far away we are...but the cool thing is that many younger players got extended playing time this year...

[ERIC1]

(5 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: Take this current situation where they fired 4 coaches along with 2 additional support personnel. So far the only thing that we know for certain is that they've interviewed 2 minority candidates for DC and have thus satisfied the Rooney Rule. Not a single word about any OL coach candidates to date. Any other "news" has all been speculatory about possible "interest" in candidate X or Y, it's almost like they fired guys without having any sort of directed plan on replacing them.

Meanwhile we're 7 weeks away from the legal tampering period for free agency, and I'm betting that this team doesn't even have a targeted list together yet. How can they? They don't even have coaches in place to get their input for a wish list..

wrong...because they have not made public their interviews or potential candidates ..does not have anything to do with a plan or lack thereof..actually ..its impressive compared to the clown show of other teams..but I do think they should consult with the wonderfully passionate fans on this Bengals Board before making any decisions

[ERIC1]

(Yesterday, 01:15 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: And it's kinda baffling how the coaching staff hasn't seen this. Hopefully this can be fixed because it's a shame for a 1st round pick to be a total bust. And he's leaning that way pretty hard.

with players like  Jackson..Jenkins etc...I think our defensive line will shine in the near future

[SunsetBengal]

(5 hours ago)ERIC1 Wrote: wrong...because they have not made public their interviews or potential candidates ..does not have anything to do with a plan or lack thereof..actually ..its impressive compared to the clown show of other teams..but I do think they should consult with the wonderfully passionate fans on this Bengals Board before making any decisions

What's really impressive is that you consider yourself a knowledgeable fan, yet appear to be completely comfortable defending the front office's every move.

[ERIC1]

(Yesterday, 02:12 PM)3wt Wrote: I'm with you dude.   I also would not be upset if they went OL,DL,OL,DL - as long as they are quality players

OL...DL.. Receiver...linebacker..OL..DL..General Manager

[c766]

(Yesterday, 11:03 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I disagree with your assessment of this FA's WRs.

Tee Higgins
Chris Godwin
Stefon Diggs
Keenan Allen
Brandin Cooks
DeAndre Hopkins
Darius Slayton
Tyler Boyd (not catching "passes" from Levis and Rudolph)
Elijah Moore
Tutu Atwell
Olamide Zaccheaus
Josh Palmer
Noah Brown

And Marquise Brown, KJ Osborn, or DJ Chark might be interesting buy-low prove-it gambles.


- - - -
There's a good smattering of talent of different levels. We already have a elite true #1 WR and we already have an elite QB, so the hard parts are already done. After that we just need to fill the ranks with decent dependable talent. 

Josh Palmer is projected by Spotrac for 3yr/$12.8m and Brandin Cooks is projected for 1yr/$5.2m. Obviously on the assumption that we extended Chase, if we signed both of them or one of them plus Tyler Boyd (spotrac doesn't offer a projection for him but I would imagine something like 1yr/$2m) I would feel quite satisfied with our WR group heading into 2025 even if we didn't use a pick on WR (though we probably should still use a 4th or a 5th round pick just in case for depth).

This is an abysmal list of FA WRs.   The only #1 FA WR is Higgins, the rest are way past their prime, or #3s, or Injured and way past their prime.

The Bengals only have 2 choices.  Tag Tee....And trade him for draft capital.  Or, extend him creatively with Chase.

I think I prefer the first option, given he misses 5 games a year over the last 2 seasons. 

[c766]

(01-13-2025, 03:00 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: The "poor start" thing is such a lazy narrative.

Taylor has started 0-2 in 5 of his 6 seasons as HC. And 1-1 in the other. 

Still think it's Lazy?  I noticed you have not replied since your hilarious comment....

[PCB Bengal Fan]

(Yesterday, 11:11 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Looks like a bunch of AARP members to me.

All of them better than Burton.

[chopperbobby]

10 -21 against division. Not good.
Hire a good ex coach to look at our pre season and make suggestions to get us out of the 1 and 11 starts.
Guards with depth
More rushers 1 on defense does not work
Need a good LB
Big old nose tackle to plug the line

A proven defense coordinator
Seasoned line coach. Not some one because he or she has beeen with the team and want continuity. Needs a shake up.

Might be more work than one year esp on defence

[ERIC1]

(4 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: What's really impressive is that you consider yourself a knowledgeable fan, yet appear to be completely comfortable defending the front office's every move.

sunset..you can go to the majority of any city that has an NFL team..aside from maybe 4-5 that are consistent winners..all fans feel that the owners are knuckleheads..I have always maintained that we need a real GM and more scouts..that is the fulcrum of all of our problems.. yet..I genuinely believe that with Mike being almost 90...with impending lease negotiations..and knowing that Burrow in a couple of years will be up for another contract..that we just might seem some definitive changes..And we are..in the past Mike would have never allowed such definitive moves @ the coaching level as we are seeing now..Our defense was inconsistent..Lou is gone..Our offensive line quite frankly is bad...Pollack is gone...Our linebackers and tackling is bad...the coach is gone..Changes are taking places right in front of our eyes. Ane next year if things don't get better and this team starts out so poorly, I would imagine that Zac will be gone...

But, conversely, because , and unlike many other franchises and their clown shows, just because we dont know whom is getting interviewed..or not..is not a big deal...I tend to look at the big picture ..We are lucky to have a franchise..if I was Mike Brown I would have taken that extra 175  million Baltimore was offering 24 years ago and moved the team..We have Burrow..even when we lose its exciting..and we are blessed..We have a Reds team with a worse owner..but we have Elly.., Francona..a new manager..the Reds should be fun to watch this year..WE have NFL playoffs  and we can cheer because Pittsburgh lost big time..We have college playoffs..Life is good..But no Sunset, I am far from comfortable with the way Mike and company run things....have a great day

[Nicomo Cosca]

(4 hours ago)PCB Bengal Fan Wrote: All of them better than Burton.

Talk about a low bar.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(4 hours ago)c766 Wrote: This is an abysmal list of FA WRs.   The only #1 FA WR is Higgins, the rest are way past their prime, or #3s, or Injured and way past their prime.

The Bengals only have 2 choices.  Tag Tee....And trade him for draft capital.  Or, extend him creatively with Chase.

I think I prefer the first option, given he misses 5 games a year over the last 2 seasons. 

Godwin had 3 straight 1k+ seasons before getting hurt this year.
Diggs has some personality problems, but had 6 straight 1k+ seasons before this year.
Keenan Allen had 1200+ yards last year before taking a significant QB talent decrease.

If you're calling Tee a #1 WR, but not those three, you're just wrong.

- - - - - -

Tagging and trading Tee isn't an option anymore. 
-We can't trade Tee until he actually signs the franchise tag (he signed the first one June 16th)
-Until we trade Tee we can't use the $26m in Free Agency (which starts March 10th)
-The NFL draft is April 24th so if Tee doesn't sign and get traded before then we can only get a 2026 draft pick which does nothing to help us this year
-It's questionable how many teams are willing to pay Tee's 2nd franchise tag of $26.1m AND give him a new contract AND give us a pick of actual value.

So by tagging Tee, we'd have $26m we couldn't use for the first 3 months of Free Agency and then we'd just get a 2026 draft pick anyway. We need to knock this FA out of the park, so can't be doing that.



You forgot the third choice, which is the only choice at this point.... just letting him walk and moving on. With that $26.1m you could sign those two WRs I mentioned before AND have $16.6m left over from the $26.1m to spend on a Guard, which is top-15 guard money. Once you add the $8m from cutting Cappa, you have up to $24.6m to sign his replacement, which is $3.6m more than any G is making so you can pay any FA G you want the money he would demand and still have two solid WRs behind Chase.

Tee for 12 games/Charlie Jones for 5 games + Alex Cappa < Trey Smith + Josh Palmer + Brandin Cooks

[*ochocincos*]

(5 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: Take this current situation where they fired 4 coaches along with 2 additional support personnel. So far the only thing that we know for certain is that they've interviewed 2 minority candidates for DC and have thus satisfied the Rooney Rule. Not a single word about any OL coach candidates to date. Any other "news" has all been speculatory about possible "interest" in candidate X or Y, it's almost like they fired guys without having any sort of directed plan on replacing them.

Meanwhile we're 7 weeks away from the legal tampering period for free agency, and I'm betting that this team doesn't even have a targeted list together yet. How can they? They don't even have coaches in place to get their input for a wish list..

If we get into February, it will feel just like 2019 all over again! 

[TecmoBengals]

(5 hours ago)ochocincos Wrote: They're waiting for our board to post a bunch of offseason mock FA and draft scenarios so they can know who to look at :)

So did you personally screw up drafting us Dax Hill and CTB? How are you grading yourself? 

[TecmoBengals]

(2 hours ago)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Talk about a low bar.

At least start at Chuck Nasty for the floor.

Edit: Or is it Chuck Sizzle or whatever we're calling our injured punt returner.