5 Predictions That Will Come True Before Season

[BFritz21]

A to Z Sports has five predictions that they think will come true before the season starts, and that gave me hope.

Quote:1. Trey will sign his extension:

I think if one contract holdup gets solved before the other, it's the one that's been around for longer. Hendrickson has been away from the team for the entirety of the offseason outside of one impromptu media session during voluntary workouts. He knows his worth, and the closer the season gets, the Bengals will realize it as well.

This could definitely go into training camp, even if the deadline should be the first practice, but I don't think it'll last much longer than that. Hendrickson is a workaholic who wants to be out there as much as the team needs him.

I expect an extension to be signed in time before the team's first preseason game on Aug. 7. That doesn't mean he'll play in that game, rather it means he'll participate in camp at some point and not take this all the way to the start of the regular season.

I'm still up in the air about signing him to an extension, but it's good to know that they think he'll end his holdout because that situation has been bugging me.

Quote:2. Shemar Stewart will sign his rookie contract right before the regular season

This situation mirrors past Bengals rookie contract holdups of the past, long before the rookie wage scale put an end to those problems. Many of those holdouts lasted until the games got real.

Déjà vu is very real here.

Stewart and his camp managed to make his contract dilemma more intense and contentious than Hendrickson's plight. The problem is he has essentially zero leverage as someone who has never practiced in the NFL let alone played a down. The Bengals want him to accept new default language. Odds are he'll eventually say yes, but not before exhausting as much time as possible and getting a concession in return such as an advance on his signing bonus money.

No way Stewart sits out the year and passes on all this money. I understand that he's upset by the new contract language, but the team is finally being smart and Shemar needs to realize that this is the future of the entire league.

Like Hendrickson, that's good to hear because I always expect the worst with our franchise.

Quote:This is the most important battle of Bengals training camp, sans Cal Adomitis vs. William Wagner for long snapper of course. Patrick is the newcomer veteran looking to start for a fourth team in his career while Ford aims to remain in the starting lineup after taking over at left guard late last year.

Not exactly the heavyweight fight many expected to take place back in February, but here we are.

Patrick has been around longer and is a better athlete in pass protection compared to the stockier Ford. I think that difference will convince the coaches to start Patrick and utilize Ford as a versatile backup again, but the margins here are razor-thin.

Anything to get the best players on the field to protect Burrow is great, IMCO because the line is the only thing keeping us from a Super Bowl, especially with an improved defense.

Quote:4. Tahj Brooks will make Zack Moss expendable at running back

Rookie running backs are made for the preseason. It's time for them to run wild behind chaotic offensive lines and against equally inexperienced defenders. It'll be the perfect proving ground for Brooks as he's the youngest of the tailbacks projected to make the initial 53-man roster.

Brooks will not overtake starter Chase Brown, nor will he earn more trust than Samaje Perine. Overtaking Zack Moss on the depth chart before September? Entirely plausible.

Moss is already a tad behind recovering from his season-ending neck injury. How involved he'll be in camp remains to be seen, so Brooks will have ample opportunity to make his case as RB3, which could create a whole new conversation about Moss.  

I liked Moss but I think Brooks was a steal and I think he'll eventually be a playmaker for us, which he could have a few big plays this season, even playing behind Brown and Perine.

Quote:5. Josh Newton will be named a Week 1 starting cornerback

One of the most popular names coming out of the offseason program, Newton is locked in entering his second year. The departure of Mike Hilton opens up a starting gig as the nickelback, and Newton's main competition, Dax Hill, has yet to be cleared to practice with his nearly healed ACL.

Even when Hill returns to the field, he'll have a chance to take snaps on the boundary and give DJ Turner and Cam Taylor-Britt a run for their money. Newton looked just as good, if not better, than those two in May and June and made a great first impression throughout his rookie season.

I think it'll take a disappointing August for Newton to not emerge as one of the top three cornerbacks in this group. He's in good favor with the coaches and the available role in the slot suits him well.

Let's hope Newton continues to improve and creates competition in the defensive backfield to get the best players on the field.

Let's hope these predictions come true and we come out swinging!

WHO-DEY!

[*pally*]

I actually think all of those are acheivable goals. #5 would be my only maybe.

[Luvnit2]

(07-01-2025, 06:27 PM)pally Wrote: I actually think all of those are acheivable goals.  #5 would be my only maybe.

I think all of those are possible as well.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Sure hope all those come to fruition. Really like Tahj Brooks and agree with that prediction for sure. I think he fits the most out of all the
RB's with our OL and the inside zone we will most likely be running a lot of. Tahj's vision is very good and he has more burst than Samaje.

We will be better in short yardage I think this year with the new OL coach, Patrick, Fairchild, Perine and Brooks IMO.

Also agree on Fig Newton, he is very smart and a hard worker and the coaches love him.

I just want the first 2 predictions to come true and everything else is gravy. Have to have Trey and Shemar in the fold before the regular
season.

[XsandOs]

Brad, aka the Great Carnac, please provide your predictions on the following:
1) Starting Guards
2) Starting SS
3) Starting LDE
4) Starting CB2
5) Vyper

[Soonerpeace]

Those are spot on. We are a 10 win team floor and 12 ceiling. Al Golden has to come through as does Scott Peters to get back near the top. I see 11 wins. Watching Get Up right now Mike Tannenbaum predicts a AFC championship game and the other guy too.

[*ochocincos*]

If Stewart doesn't sign his contract by next year's draft, he's eligible to reenter the draft and be selected by another team.
I don't know if the Bengals would get reciprocated in any way for essentially losing their drafted player, but I don't believe they would.
But if Stewart really doesn't sign until by or right before the start of the season, he will have lost out on incredibly valuable learning time so he could perform better this year.
Not being on the field the entire offseason leading up to the season when you already aren't coming in very refined as is would very likely mean he'll contribute very little if at all this year.

Hendrickson at least has some ground to stand on when it comes to his contract, batting well above his allotted pay up to this point and already being a proven commodity in the NFL and with the Bengals specifically.
Stewart is none of that, and it's making him look somewhat selfish and unwilling to "deal with it" when some feel he should just be appreciative he's getting to play in the NFL and was a 1st round pick.
If the rumors by PDJ are true and this contract wording is in place for the 16th and 18th pick, becoming more common, I tend to agree this is just the way things are now for contracts and you may just need to suck it up, be overly mindful and cautious, and get to work.

[J24]

If Newton is one of the starting CBs then who are the other 2?

Also where does Dax Hill play in the secondary?

[*bfine32*]

(07-02-2025, 05:50 PM)J24 Wrote: If Newton is one of the starting CBs then who are the other 2?

Also where does Dax Hill play in the secondary?

Hill and Turner. 

[*ochocincos*]

(07-02-2025, 05:50 PM)J24 Wrote: If Newton is one of the starting CBs then who are the other 2?

Also where does Dax Hill play in the secondary?

They're predicting Hill may not be ready to play by Week 1 given he hasn't yet been given the all clear to practice and it's July.
If he is cleared and is able to start, he's probably starting with CTB and Turner. It would be extremely disappointing for CTB, Turner, or Hill if any of them get beat out by a 2nd year 5th round pick. When they're entering their 3rd year (Turner) or 4th year (Hill/CTB) and are all 2nd rounders or higher.

[jj22]

Hill will cover TE’s and play the old Tre Flowers role…

[*bfine32*]

(07-02-2025, 06:24 PM)ochocincos Wrote: They're predicting Hill may not be ready to play by Week 1 given he hasn't yet been given the all clear to practice and it's July.
If he is cleared and is able to start, he's probably starting with CTB and Turner. It would be extremely disappointing for CTB, Turner, or Hill if any of them get beat out by a 2nd year 5th round pick. When they're entering their 3rd year (Turner) or 4th year (Hill/CTB) and are all 2nd rounders or higher.

IDK, Hilton was our best CB over the last few years, and he went undrafted. 

Additionally, I will not stop the CTB for FS campaign. 

[sandwedge]

I think CTB id relegated to 2nd string. Hill and Turner will be CB 1s with Newton in the slot

[jj22]

I'm surprised more aren't concerned with the Shemar not signing until right before the season. His rookie season is already teetering on a wash. This would all but end any hope of him contributing.

Already a boom or bust prospect with the need to develop. He's behind the ball and would only be further behind if this goes deeper into training camp.

[Soonerpeace]

(07-03-2025, 08:30 AM)jj22 Wrote: I'm surprised more aren't concerned with the Shemar not signing until right before the season. His rookie season is already teetering on a wash. This would all but end any hope of him contributing.

Already a boom or bust prospect with the need to develop. He's behind the ball and would only be further behind if this goes deeper into training camp.

Just curious what has he really missed? Not ideal but seems a stretch teetering on a wash. I do think camp has to happen.

[jj22]

(07-03-2025, 11:39 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Just curious what has he really missed? Not ideal but seems a stretch teetering on a wash. I do think camp has to happen.

I think even with the perfect participation in offseason Shemar was a ways away (as a pass rusher), so missing OTA's minicamp etc. has only stalled his development. We've seen training camp for players who miss the spring due to injury not be enough to get them up to speed to start the season. This really isn't much different. 

It was always far fetched to expect him to come in and be a 8 sack player as a rookie given his college production. 

We have to remember even Murphy came in more acclaimed and "pro ready".... 

[BFritz21]

(07-03-2025, 11:42 AM)jj22 Wrote: I think even with the perfect participation in offseason Shemar was a ways away (as a pass rusher), so missing OTA's minicamp etc. has only stalled his development. We've seen training camp for players who miss the spring due to injury not be enough to get them up to speed to start the season. This really isn't much different. 

It was always far fetched to expect him to come in and be a 8 sack player as a rookie given his college production. 

We have to remember even Murphy came in more acclaimed and "pro ready".... 

I do realize with Murphy and it would help getting reps against other players, but are can be doing all the other workouts on his own and might even be working with other players or at least doing end drills and working on his moves and overall game.

[Soonerpeace]

(07-03-2025, 11:42 AM)jj22 Wrote: I think even with the perfect participation in offseason Shemar was a ways away (as a pass rusher), so missing OTA's minicamp etc. has only stalled his development. We've seen training camp for players who miss the spring due to injury not be enough to get them up to speed to start the season. This really isn't much different. 

It was always far fetched to expect him to come in and be a 8 sack player as a rookie given his college production. 

We have to remember even Murphy came in more acclaimed and "pro ready".... 

Sure but I don’t share teetering on a wash.

[jj22]

(07-03-2025, 01:46 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Sure but I don’t share teetering on a wash.

Why not? How likely did you think he'd contribute significantly as a rookie to begin with?  

[ERIC1]

(07-03-2025, 11:42 AM)jj22 Wrote: I think even with the perfect participation in offseason Shemar was a ways away (as a pass rusher), so missing OTA's minicamp etc. has only stalled his development. We've seen training camp for players who miss the spring due to injury not be enough to get them up to speed to start the season. This really isn't much different. 

It was always far fetched to expect him to come in and be a 8 sack player as a rookie given his college production. 

We have to remember even Murphy came in more acclaimed and "pro ready".... 

OTA is nothing more than tag football and getting to know your team mates and where you locker is at..stewart was there everyday except one..if this carries on into summer training camp..then there may be an issue