What is your biggest concern right now?

[Jason]

If you voted other, what is it?

Discuss.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Until I see how the scheme without Reader and our depth handles the run vs last year that's my biggest concern. I think, assuming health, both Brown and Mims will be better than Jonah was last year, I just don't think about punters a whole lot, and the Chase stuff will get worked out.

[MichaelWeston]

Burrow health. 

[T-Dub]

Not just RT but the entire unit  This will be the 5th year in Burrow's career with the Bengals entering the season depending on questionable starters and no depth to speak of on the OL.  It will be a minor miracle if they can hold it together for 18+ games.

[UncleEarl]

Bengals struggled stopping the run last year and things have not gotten better on the DL.   

[Shebengal]

I picked run defense, but I would also add coverage in the middle and covering TEs. We still can’t do that, and I’m so sick of seeing 3rd and long converted for this reason. 

[Jason]

1 hour ago, Jackie Treehorn said:

Until I see how the scheme without Reader and our depth handles the run vs last year that's my biggest concern. I think, assuming health, both Brown and Mims will be better than Jonah was last year, I just don't think about punters a whole lot, and the Chase stuff will get worked out.

Health was the key thing in the voting option.  

I am also most concerned about the run defense.

[|BlackJesus|]

Concerns ...

 

1. Getting Ja'Marr extended 

2. Getting Mims healthy 

3. Protecting Burrow's wrist 

4. DE pass rush. 

5. Leaving Burrowhead 2-0 (season defining game). 

[Jupiter Fan]

1 hour ago, T-Dub said:

Not just RT but the entire unit  This will be the 5th year in Burrow's career with the Bengals entering the season depending on questionable starters and no depth to speak of on the OL.  It will be a minor miracle if they can hold it together for 18+ games.

Agreed, Oline is our ticket to the playoffs and beyond.

We never go into a season with solid healthy starters and at least serviceable backups. 

I'm not sure this is going to happen this season either.

[Jamie_B]

Other - Depth on both O and D lines.

[|High School Harry|]

Other... getting my aging body back into good enough shape so I can go to the games again with my son. 

[Le Tigre]

Other: 

 

Things which are not controlled…such as unforeseen rises in quality of other teams. This leads to unforeseen battles for division and/or conference seedings. 
 

Adaptation to rule changes. 
(The NFL will continue to favor certain teams. That is unavoidable. The only way to offset the certain officiating bias, is to score many more points than the favored opponent. Key word:many)

 

That I don’t lose all hearing or develop vertigo from the incessant noise, lights, and constant urgings to “get loud” from the scoreboard 

[Jackie Treehorn]

52 minutes ago, Jason said:

Health was the key thing in the voting option.  

I am also most concerned about the run defense.

 

Yep totally missed that part haha. I'd call RT health 1b, or the overall oline for the same reason others have stated.

[fluhartz]

Voted health but really I am concerned about all in various stages.

That right tackle needs to not be a problem for the next 10-12 years.

 

Run defense is also very concerning. 

Chase contract is a concern for sure...  Just pay the man.. the guy is just different and makes the whole team more confident.

We can beat NE at home without him, @ KC in week 2 might be a different story.

[KA14_HOF]

Last year our D was dead last in Net Yards Per Pass Attempt (7.1). I'm optimistic that our pass defense will be improved.

 

Our D was tied for 2nd-to-last in Rush Yards Per Attempt (4.7), and we lost D.J. who ate double teams for breakfast. I'm hopeful our run defense will be improved, but Rankins, Jenkins and McKinley are question marks until they show they can get the job done. And to whatever extent they factor in, we're still waiting for Murphy and Ossai to come into their own.

 

Facing LamaRB, Fields and The Mad Flasher twice apiece means the key to success in the AFC North is making these guys beat us throwing the ball, IMO.

 

We cannot afford to throw away divisional games again and still seriously entertain post-season aspirations. So Run Defense it is for me.

[|High School Harry|]

2 hours ago, Le Tigre said:

Other: 

 

Things which are not controlled…such as unforeseen rises in quality of other teams. This leads to unforeseen battles for division and/or conference seedings. 
 

Adaptation to rule changes. 
(The NFL will continue to favor certain teams. That is unavoidable. The only way to offset the certain officiating bias, is to score many more points than the favored opponent. Key word:many)

 

That I don’t lose all hearing or develop vertigo from the incessant noise, lights, and constant urgings to “get loud” from the scoreboard 

Also difficult and confusing to keep track of what color shirt the Pumpkinettes want you to wear on what day.

[T-Dub]

1 hour ago, KA14_HOF said:

 

 

We cannot afford to throw away divisional games again and still seriously entertain post-season aspirations. So Run Defense it is for me.

 

Crucial to improve the division record. Road dogging it through the playoffs is fighting uphill.

[alleycat]

This should still be Burrow's best O-Line ever. As long as they are passable and he can stay healthy (obviously related), we go to the playoffs. 

 

If the D can return to top 10 form, we can win the Super Bowl. 

 

So my top worry is 😧

 

1) Interior/Run D. 

2) Pass Rush

3) LBs

 

I'm the least worried about the DBs, particularly with two vets now back at the Safety spots. 

 

The Jamarr Chase situation is just noise. We don't even need him if we have a run game and Burrow has decent protection. Thank goodness they've been drafting well at the spot recently. 

 

 

[Cricket]

1 hour ago, KA14_HOF said:

Last year our D was dead last in Net Yards Per Pass Attempt (7.1). I'm optimistic that our pass defense will be improved.

 

Our D was tied for 2nd-to-last in Rush Yards Per Attempt (4.7), and we lost D.J. who ate double teams for breakfast. I'm hopeful our run defense will be improved, but Rankins, Jenkins and McKinley are question marks until they show they can get the job done. And to whatever extent they factor in, we're still waiting for Murphy and Ossai to come into their own.

 

Facing LamaRB, Fields and The Mad Flasher twice apiece means the key to success in the AFC North is making these guys beat us throwing the ball, IMO.

 

We cannot afford to throw away divisional games again and still seriously entertain post-season aspirations. So Run Defense it is for me.

Run D —— Loudini is going to create a package against expected running plays.  That rookie LB from Wisconsin is going to introduce himself to the NFL with exclamation marks.  😎

 

 

Hey, a man can dream, can’t he?  

 

 

[cnbengal]

Other..

1) As always keeping Joe upright and uninjured, with that the sky's the limit.

2) Jamarr's me first attitude (his inner T.O. is beginning to show)

[CincyInDC]

other: the whole o-line

 

[Randle P McMurphy]

I voted "Other".  If there was an option for "All the above and then some",  I would have chosen that.  

 

Run defense was atrocious last year and that was WITH DJ Reader.  Last I heard McKinnley was 

in a knee brace and crutches so there's that.  Jenkins isn't a true NT and neither is Rankins.

DE depth is a big concern.  Murphy is out a few weeks and I don't know about Ossai.  He probably

should have been cut 10 minutes after the AFC championship game against the Chiefs!  lol

 

Pass defense last year wasn't any better if not worse than the run defense last year!  Hopefully 

bringing back Vonn Bell and signing Stone will help but I hope it doesn't stunt the growth of

Battle by doing so.   Moving Hill to CB is kind of concerning considering he's not played CB at

the NFL level yet.  Covering the middle of the field/opposing teams TE is a concern.  Stone may

be able to alleviate that some but if Hill ends up needing Safety help there goes that.  

 

Offensive line is still a concern.  At this point in his career is Trent Brown really an upgrade over

Jonah Williams?  Realistically Mims is Boom or Bust.  Being a 1st round pick comes with high

expectations and the lack of "starts" at the collegiate level is concerning.  It would be less concerning

if we had a Bill Callahan as our OL Coach but we have Pollack.  If the OL play doesn't improve drastically

this year he needs to go!!  Depth on our OL is horrible so offensive line health is a serious concern!

Knowing Burrow was going to get a huge contract and totally ignoring the OL position in the 2023

draft was a big mistake! 

 

WR position is the deepest and least concerning position on the team.  Even with Chase pulling his "hold in", shit we could

roll with Higgins on one side, Yoshi/Burton on the other side and Irwin or even Gesicki in the "slot"

which would be a matchup nightmare for defenses!  If Chase lets this go into the regular season than that's basically a "Fuck You"

to ownership, his teammates and the entire fan base so fuck him!  lol  Winning a SB with him sitting at home

writing checks for fines would be hilarious!  

 

 

""

 

 

 

[Inigo Montoya]

The biggest concern is the defense.  Last year even with Reader, they allowed almost 5 yards per carry as well as the most explosive plays in the league.  Burrow, Chase, and the OL are all important but ultimately it won’t matter if the defense doesn’t play much better.  

[texbengal]

Defense, especially vs. the run, is my biggest concern - so I picked that. I think the pass rush will be better with a healthy Ossai, a healthier Hubbard and Murphy in his second year. Plus, I think having Rankins inside will be a big lift there. 

Run D - I think the communication with the vet safeties will help the LBs for sure. That said, both Wilson and Pratt have to play a lot better. The D will need a boost from their rookies from a depth standpoint... not sure how long McK Jackson is going to be out, but I think he's gonna surprise folks with his ability once he's in there. I wish they had more ballast inside, but I guess we'll see if that becomes an issue. 

[Jamie_B]

Hopefully getting Von Bell back to lead things on the back end as far as communication goes, helps things, and to some degree I think it will, but long term who is the guy who is able to communicate and lead the defense? Because if they fell off that much without that leadership, Von is only here for one year, the D  is going to need a leader.