Moves I'd like to see us make immediately.

[MichaelWeston]

 

On 2024?

 

Probably. We will give Jake (I typed Jack first if that tells us anything) Browning a chance to see if he can get some wins, but only in some crazy world where Lamar Jackson, Pat Mahomes, Tua, and Josh Allen get hurt are we in any kind of mix. And while chaos is fun I wouldn’t want that to happen to any of them.

So then what? We have two paths for a bit, One where we try to win every game we can and one where we try to set ourselves up for 2024. A 2024 where we could have a top-ten draft pick and a last-place schedule.

 

Let's go position by position. First here is the current roster.

 

Here is our current roster

							IR	PS
QB	Burrow 25	Browning 25			2			McCarron
RB	Mixon 25	Williams 24	Evans 25		3		Brown 27	Plitt
WR	Chase 26	Iosivas 27			2			Felton
WR	Higgins 24	Irwin 24			2			Morgan 24
WR	Boyd 24	Jones 27			2			Lassiter 25
TE	Smith 24	Sample 24	Wilcox 24	Hudson 25	4			Pryor
LT	Brown 27	Carman 25			2		Cochran 25	Jackson 26
LG	Volson 26	Ford 24			2			Gentry
C	Karras 25	Hill 25			2			Gilliam 25
RG	Cappa 26	Scharping 24			2		Kirkland 26
RT	Williams 24	Smith 25			2
K	McPherson 25				1
P	Robbins 27				1
LS	Adomitis 24				1
LE	Hubbard 26	Ossai 25	Murphy 27		3			Gunter 26
LT	Hill 25	Tupou 24	Tufele 25		3			Davis 25
RT	Reader 24	Carter 26			2		Maxwell 26
RE	Hendrickson 26	Sample 25			2
WLB	Pratt 26	Davis-Gaither 24	Bachie 24		3			Heyward 26
MLB	Wilson 28	Bailey 24	Harper 26		3			Johnston
SLB
S	Scott 26	Battle 27			2			Thomas 24
S	Hill 27				1		Anderson 27
CB	Awuzie 24	Turner 27			2			George 24
CB	Taylor-Britt 26	Ivey 27			2			Jones 24
NB	Hilton 25	Davis 25			2
					53

 

Quarterback: Browning will have a chance to show he is the capable backup we want. Does that mean winning X number of games? I don’t think so. I think it all has to do with how well we look. If we lose games but he is throwing touchdowns and completing passes, I think we can be okay. My expectation is that he is good enough. He essentially beat out Brandon Allen and Trevor Simiean and a coaching staff full of quarterbacks likes him. This is the position that can be most obviously settled by year's end.

Burrow is likely to go on IR this week and then we will elevate AJ McCarron. I would like for them to leave AJ there with the understanding that Browning is the starter unless he fails and then AJ will start if Browning is injured/is bad. I would like them to leverage that position by stealing Max Duggan off the practice squad of the Chargers and adding him to the active roster.

 

Duggan’s game, to me, is perfect for a backup. Gutty leader with tons of success in college, who can run. Obvious limitations but that’s why he is a backup. That’s the prototype for success as a short-term backup. FWIW, Browning had the most starts in Pac-12 history and ran for 16 TDs in his career. He is a better QB for the room than Drew Plitt and the only way to get him is to add him to the active roster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7tS0vgdxcA. He might be terrible, but if you sign him now you get 6 games and then the offseason with him to find out.

 

Another guy I would love to look at is Jordan Ta’Amu. He is a spring football start and still just 25. Again, better than Drew Plitt and IMO a guy who could be a solid backup or practice squad guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci9aydyy_wI

 

Running Back: Last game Mixon saw 2/3rds of the snaps on offense to Williams 1/3. I think that continues and we see more of Williams, Evans, and Brown who is coming off IR. Mixon has played well enough and costs little enough (5.75M non-deadcap) in 2024 that he is likely to stick around. But we have to find his successor. I had thought it was Evans. His 24 snaps through 10 games tell me I was wrong. Williams hasn’t been too bad. Brown will get his chance.

 

It may be time for Evans to go. While I was very high on him he isn’t getting a chance. However, he has played 58% of snaps on special teams.

 

From my perspective, I cut Evans and nab Dewayne McBride off the Vikings practice squad. I am extraordinarily high on McBride and think he is a one-day starter in the league. I loved his feet, balance, ability to sneak through cracks, and agility. The hang-up was he wasn’t used in the passing game at all at UAB. I think that can develop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mON-jbxoHRg. As with Duggan, I think we benefit from getting him in the room and into the offseason.

 

I am an XFL fan and Abram Smith was amazing this year. I am not sure why he isn’t on an NFL practice squad at the very least. I’d kick the tires and add him there. However, I do like Demetric Felton.

 

Wide Receiver: The roster is full of WRs who have flashed ability. The problem is there is a strange gap between elite WR and completely raw WR who you aren’t sure can even see snaps. Not much can be done here by keeping the primary goal of winning games. You must play Chase-Higgins-Boyd. Irwin should be back as WR four super safety net who is reliable but not spectacular. Jones and Iosiavas round out the roster. With Higgins and Boyd both free agents those two could answer some questions.  I don’t see a path to going into 2024 with both rookies replacing those veterans, but it could be one and one of the veterans back or an external free agent (Outside: Kendrick Bourne, Mike Evans, Van Jefferson, Slot: Darnell Mooney, Greg Dortch, Pariss Cambell, Curtis Samuel).

 

You must like Lassiter, Pryor, and Jackson on the practice squad. Each flashed in their respective rookie preseasons, and each has upside. But Jackson showed this week why you can’t count on them to be anything concrete anytime soon.

 

Tight End: As I mentioned in a different thread, I would cut Irv Smith. He doesn’t provide much this year and won’t be in the plans next year. We shouldn’t be holding more than three tight ends on the roster. Hudson is clearly the starter, and even at 29 a bit raw. The more snaps he can get the better. Sample probably retires a Bengal re-signing one-year deals to serve as a blocking tight end. Wilcox has seen 69% of the snaps on special teams.

 

That might just be your tight-end group next year. A starter who is more of a pass catcher. Immediate backup that is more of a blocker. Third-stringer who is focused on special teams but can do a bit of both. Hudson will be productive and inexpensive. Hudson is tied for the 7^th most catches by tight ends over the last three weeks.

 

Offensive Line: This is a tough one. The play isn’t good enough. We Capp and Brown Jr both are obviously returning. Karras is obviously returning but maybe at LG (Burrows C at LSU is a free agent). You can’t functionally rotate in guys to see if they are worth it on the offensive line the way you can at the skill positions outside QB.

 

I am also much more ignorant about good players on other teams' practice squads. I think the theory holds that if you like a guy on another team’s practice squad you could add them and then hold them through the offseason. There isn’t a name that stands out for me. I would be strongly in favor of it seeing as we have five backup linemen now two are free agents at year's end and the other three the year after.

 

Defensive Tackle: It would be great to see more rotation here. Zach Carter has been playing but not making an impact. Tupou and Tufele are playing less and similarly not showing out. Davis was impactful in the preseason but hasn’t seen any snaps. It would be worth at least an attempt to see if he can push the pocket.

 

Defensive End: This one is obvious, and they are unlikely to do it. Ossai and Murphy are high investment low low-impact players. Murphy can’t be written off yet, but Ossai is a free agent after next season. As is Sample. It’s time to grab Raymond Johnson off the Lions practice squad and see if he can be a spark in the pass rush. Getting him for the offseason would be like getting another draft pick.

 

Linebacker: Nothing can really be done here without being disrespectful. Pratt and Wilson have been extremely healthy all year. ADG and Bailey are free agents after the year but have had almost no snaps. ADG 25, Bailey 9. They both likely walk to a place where they can play. ADG will probably start somewhere. They have hedged by grabbing Harper from the Cowboys and keeping Hawyard and Johnston on the PS.

 

Safety: Browning and Battle are the two that could solidify a spot for the future this year. Battle is off to a great start but it’s just one game. Like the offensive line, it would be great to grab another guy to develop as a backup I just don’t have a name. Nick Scott could be released in the offseason to save some cash.

 

Cornerback: This is an easy one. Turner has basically taken over for Awuzie. I wouldn’t foreclose on Awuzie leaving but it would be good to get DJ Ivey more snaps to develop.

[|High School Harry|]

Start by putting Joe Burrow on season ending IR and opening a roster spot?

[claptonrocks]

16 minutes ago, High School Harry said:

Start by putting Joe Burrow on season ending IR and opening a roster spot?

For who?..

 

[Shebengal]

46 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

For who?..

 

DJ Ivey, maybe? Especially since I haven't heard anything additional about CTB's injury. 

[T-Dub]

I'd like to see them make any kind of moves geared toward long term improvement and success. Muddling along with their heads in the sand for the next 6 weeks until mathematically eliminated is dumb.

 

I want to see some aggressive, proactive moves by the FO for a change. Set a higher standard from the top down. Stop using loyalty as an excuse for the status quo. There's no Superbowl for clever marketing stunts and Twitter posts. 

 

Identify weaknesses and seek to eliminate them. Enough of this "he smiles a lot" goof shit, not even a dig at Mixon specifically but grow the f up, this isn't the Mouseketeer Club. I want players that can block, as long as they arent Deshaun Watson or Richie Incognito actual criminal scumbags I dgaf how nice they are. 

 

And FFS draft some OL. If they don't trust the people calling the shots to do that GET NEW PEOPLE. 

 

[claptonrocks]

19 minutes ago, T-Dub said:

I'd like to see them make any kind of moves geared toward long term improvement and success. Muddling along with their heads in the sand for the next 6 weeks until mathematically eliminated is dumb.

 

I want to see some aggressive, proactive moves by the FO for a change. Set a higher standard from the top down. Stop using loyalty as an excuse for the status quo. There's no Superbowl for clever marketing stunts and Twitter posts. 

 

Identify weaknesses and seek to eliminate them. Enough of this "he smiles a lot" goof shit, not even a dig at Mixon specifically but grow the f up, this isn't the Mouseketeer Club. I want players that can block, as long as they arent Deshaun Watson or Richie Incognito actual criminal scumbags I dgaf how nice they are. 

 

And FFS draft some OL. If they don't trust the people calling the shots to do that GET NEW PEOPLE. 

 

Agree completely.

Go to work fixing the club NOW.. 

[Jamie_B]

50 minutes ago, Shebengal said:

DJ Ivey, maybe? Especially since I haven't heard anything additional about CTB's injury. 

 

CTB's injury was reported as non serious, not sure if he misses time

[|High School Harry|]

1 hour ago, T-Dub said:

I'd like to see them make any kind of moves geared toward long term improvement and success. Muddling along with their heads in the sand for the next 6 weeks until mathematically eliminated is dumb.

 

I want to see some aggressive, proactive moves by the FO for a change. Set a higher standard from the top down. Stop using loyalty as an excuse for the status quo. There's no Superbowl for clever marketing stunts and Twitter posts. 

 

Identify weaknesses and seek to eliminate them. Enough of this "he smiles a lot" goof shit, not even a dig at Mixon specifically but grow the f up, this isn't the Mouseketeer Club. I want players that can block, as long as they arent Deshaun Watson or Richie Incognito actual criminal scumbags I dgaf how nice they are. 

 

And FFS draft some OL. If they don't trust the people calling the shots to do that GET NEW PEOPLE. 

 

So much this.

Still goofing on a Bengals Autopsy Thread starting with drafting Miles Murphy when we were in such dire need of O line and Tight Ends to

cup cake free agents with a lot of whoop-de-doo

to standing pat at the trade deadline.  Carl Lawson would have been nice and doable.

[MichaelWeston]

Ivey is already on the 53 I think. 

[Jamie_B]

Colts just cut Shaq Leonard

[claptonrocks]

1 hour ago, Jamie_B said:

Colts just cut Shaq Leonard

Once great.

Back injuries slowed him.

 

[|High School Harry|]

7 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

For who?..

 

Chase Brown is coming off IR

Him?