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We're about to get into camp and I want to know how you see your team BEFORE your favorite player blows his Achilles day one of camp. You can go into as much or as little detail as you like, but what I personally find the most interesting is:
Since I'm me I wrote a page and a half, but you shouldn't feel the need to keep to this format at all. I just wanna know where you're at.  Predictions and initial impressions: 2021 Bengals What looks promising: Burrow is good at spreading the ball around and he’s gonna have a lot of talented targets. The offense has the potential to be as good as any Cinci has fielded since 2015 or 2005. It’s going to be hard to reliably defend the Bengals 11 personnel. On defense a couple key players are coming back and seeing what players like Bates - who took a leap despite a depleted supporting cast- can do with a more complete defense will be exciting. What looks ominous: Coaching. The team went into last year thinking they had addressed key weaknesses, but they failed spectacularly. I haven't seen any reason to believe in the offensive or defensive playcallers. The line has a new coach in Pollack, but I expect it will still be a liability. The question is how much of a liability. They need to surpass a basic threshold of competency where it’s possible to scheme around the lack of talent on the line and not have a limited playbook. On defense they are working to move to an off-zone scheme and I don’t see a reliable pass rush. The defense is highly paid but doesn’t have many established difference makers -I would say the only two are Reader and Bates. Keys to the season: Guard play: They need to find a mediocre or better combination from Spain, Sua-Filo, and Carman. The offense has the potential to be special if they hit on Carman, but if they have another year with Michael Jordan level guard play it’ll be a long one. Tackle should be more or less fine and Hopkins is an OK center when healthy. finding or scheming a pass rush: The defensive line rotation has a couple guys who MAY have promise but there’s no one who is obviously a plus pass rusher. The secondary has a couple good players but they aren’t capable enough to cover people down the field for several seconds. This defense has the potential to be AWFUL if no one gets to the QB Edge defense: running between the tackles should be difficult, but the Bengals don’t really have a plus second level run defender to stop runs towards the sidelines. Guys to watch: Jackson Carman: slated to play right guard and probably the most important rookie on the roster, if they hit on Jackson the line should be improved significantly from last year. Logan Wilson: Had a pretty solid rookie year at linebacker. There isn’t really anyone else on the roster who has plus potential at linebacker. Mike Hilton: This free agent slot corner is a very effective blitzer, seeing if he’s given those opportunities will be a good way to evaluate the coaches. If they just utilize him in coverage it's a wasted signing. Chase/Higgins: The Bengals need one of these guys to be a true #1 WR. By the end of the year one of these guys has to be earning double-teams considering the resources that went into them. Realistic best case scenario: If the line meshes I could see this team having a winning record. I would be shocked with 10 wins or more, but it’s not impossible. I don’t see them getting 3 wins out of the division and that limits the season. Realistic worst case scenario: I could see the team at 4-5 wins if the coaching continues to struggle and the team gives up quick pressure to 3-4 man rushes. My prediction: 7 wins. I see a team that can’t stop an above average offense. I think the games will be fun to watch - as long as they have any luck with injuries- but I see them losing fun. I hope 7 wins would get Taylor fired, but Mike and Joe love him so my guess is they keep Zac and fire the DC. Accolades #9-15 scoring offense #24-32 scoring defense Burrow is on short list for CBPOTY Chase is in the mix for ROTY but loses out to a QB Bates makes the ProBowl, the team sends fewer than 3 players, largely because they aren't winning.
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Jul 22, 2021 01:27
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| # ¿ Apr 24, 2024 03:57 |
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I think Brevin Jordan is going to be good, even on the Texans.
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Jul 22, 2021 16:16
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Eifert Posting posted:
Judging by initial reports on training camp I'm either really wrong about this defense or really really wrong about this offense. Hooo boy. I know which seems more likely to me.
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Aug 4, 2021 14:43
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