And thus...the campaign begins

 

 

 

About to be the Joe Burrow revenge tour

The trail to New Orleans starts Sunday 🧡 🏆 🖤 

 

 

This game should be a win but as they say "Any given Sunday."  Kendrick Bourne is starting the season on the PUP list

so he'll be out.  His back up, (K.J. Osborn), was good for 50 receptions and 500 or so yards each season with the Vikings

so he's not a total bum.  Their other WR, (Demario Douglas), is a 2nd year player that had 49 receptions for 561 yards.  Not bad for

a 6th round pick with their QB play last year.  This will be Dax Hill's 1st year at the NFL level starting at CB.  Moving from CB

to Safety is one thing but doing the opposite is a different animal.  Hopefully his transition goes smoothly.  I'm not too 

concerned with Cam Taylor-Britt and not concerned with Hilton.  Patriots go with 2 TE's and we all know how we've struggled

in the past covering TE's.  We need to see improvement there and bringing back Bell making sure everyone is in the right place

should help and as long as Hill doesn't need safety help, having Geno Stone being able to roam should help with that also. 

Stopping the run, even with Reader last year, is still a concern.  I know we brought in Rankins but at 305, he's not your typical

330 lb. + "slobber knocker" at NT and McKinnley Jackson is out. Tufele will be next up in the rotation.  

 

On offense, with another year of the OL playing together with the exception of Trent Brown, (whose a well seasoned vet),

we should see some improvement there.  I'm about done with Pollack as the OL Coach so if there's little to no improvement,

it's time for him to go.  He's also the run game coordinator so we'll see how this RB by committee deal with Zach Moss and

Chase Brown goes.  Not only in the run game but also pass protection help and receiving.  Moss is probably an improvement over Mixon

there, (or at least was in the past), so we'll see how he does in Pollack's system.  WR is our deepest position in my opinion and

I'm not undermining Chase's obvious ability to draw double coverage and stretch the field but with our depth and Higgins being

basically a 2nd #1 WR, it won't be as "flashy", but we also have probably our best TE room since Joe has been here and should still

be able to get the job done as long as Burrow is behind center!    

 

Let's go already!!  

56 minutes ago, Griever said:

 

 

 

I was today years old when I learned he was a Bengals fan

Sunday the city will be painted orange 🍊 ...

 

21 minutes ago, Randle P McMurphy said:

This game should be a win but as they say "Any given Sunday."  Kendrick Bourne is starting the season on the PUP list

so he'll be out.  His back up, (K.J. Osborn), was good for 50 receptions and 500 or so yards each season with the Vikings

so he's not a total bum.  Their other WR, (Demario Douglas), is a 2nd year player that had 49 receptions for 561 yards.  Not bad for

a 6th round pick with their QB play last year.  This will be Dax Hill's 1st year at the NFL level starting at CB.  Moving from CB

to Safety is one thing but doing the opposite is a different animal.  Hopefully his transition goes smoothly.  I'm not too 

concerned with Cam Taylor-Britt and not concerned with Hilton.  Patriots go with 2 TE's and we all know how we've struggled

in the past covering TE's.  We need to see improvement there and bringing back Bell making sure everyone is in the right place

should help and as long as Hill doesn't need safety help, having Geno Stone being able to roam should help with that also. 

Stopping the run, even with Reader last year, is still a concern.  I know we brought in Rankins but at 305, he's not your typical

330 lb. + "slobber knocker" at NT and McKinnley Jackson is out. Tufele will be next up in the rotation.  

 

On offense, with another year of the OL playing together with the exception of Trent Brown, (whose a well seasoned vet),

we should see some improvement there.  I'm about done with Pollack as the OL Coach so if there's little to no improvement,

it's time for him to go.  He's also the run game coordinator so we'll see how this RB by committee deal with Zach Moss and

Chase Brown goes.  Not only in the run game but also pass protection help and receiving.  Moss is probably an improvement over Mixon

there, (or at least was in the past), so we'll see how he does in Pollack's system.  WR is our deepest position in my opinion and

I'm not undermining Chase's obvious ability to draw double coverage and stretch the field but with our depth and Higgins being

basically a 2nd #1 WR, it won't be as "flashy", but we also have probably our best TE room since Joe has been here and should still

be able to get the job done as long as Burrow is behind center!    

 

Let's go already!!  

 

 

I have never been a fan of RB by committee. When you have to play different guys at a position because neither can do it all it gives you a tell as to what your offense is going to do because you're now playing to the strengths of the guy on the field. I have little expectation that our running game is going to be good this year, and that still has a lot to do with our o-line's lack of run-blocking ability, but add into it the committee stuff and I don't see us doing much in the running game, if all we do is stay at the level we were with Mixon, I think that will be the expectation I have.  I think the guys who blamed Mixon for the lack of running game and not the O-line have been drinking large amounts of copeium, because fixing it by fixing the O-line is a lot harder than replacing one RB. Hope I'm wrong, but I'll be surprised.

38 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 

 

I have never been a fan of RB by committee. When you have to play different guys at a position because neither can do it all it gives you a tell as to what your offense is going to do because you're now playing to the strengths of the guy on the field. I have little expectation that our running game is going to be good this year, and that still has a lot to do with our o-line's lack of run-blocking ability, but add into it the committee stuff and I don't see us doing much in the running game, if all we do is stay at the level we were with Mixon, I think that will be the expectation I have.  I think the guys who blamed Mixon for the lack of running game and not the O-line have been drinking large amounts of copeium, because fixing it by fixing the O-line is a lot harder than replacing one RB. Hope I'm wrong, but I'll be surprised.

2 RBs sharing snaps isn't exactly a committee. I will be judging Moss by how many YAC he gets on his carries while judging Brown on his number of explosive plays. Moss should be the primary back out of the shotgun...that's where he excels. Brown might be used more when Burrow is under center. 

 

Mixon's greatest asset was ball security. Cincinnati had a league low 2 fumbles lost last year, one reason they exceeded expectations with an injured Burrow and a brutal schedule. Chase had at least one lost fumble last season, not sure who had the other. So ball security for CBrown and Moss will be very important

Pats’ OL is a bit of a mess so the Bengals’ DL should be able to generate pressure. That said, Brissett ca run and he’s got a decent arm, so the D will have to be disciplined and not let him break the pocket a lot. Stevenson runs hard and he’s a load - and I’m sure the Pats will try to play ball control by keeping it on the ground, staying out of obvious passing situations, and grinding the clock. 
 

They do have a nice D and they are fast and physical. Christian Gonzalez is one of the better young CBs in the league and their safeties are good. They’ve got some good young guys in their front 7, too… Wise, Bentley, etc.. But obviously they miss both Matt Judon and Christian Barmore up front. Given it’s their first game under a new coach, Mayo will have them amped and ready to play. 
 

I expect a win and I’d love a rout, but I expect a closer game. 

Chances of victory ...

 

If Ja'Marr plays = 99% 

 

If he doesn't = 75%

 

Should win either way, but I hope they work something out. 

1 minute ago, BlackJesus said:

 

 

That's also all the DB's he is going to face this year, crying and saying "Jamar is my dad"

 

 

57 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

Sunday the city will be painted orange 🍊 ...

 

It looks stunning..

 

Has the official depth chart been announced? Who won between Dax Hill and DJ Turner?

4 hours ago, Griever said:

 

 

I can live with these once a year I guess but Jesus that's waaaaay too much orange.

 

All white (with orange helmet) or Death!!!!

1 hour ago, Jamie_B said:

 

 

I have never been a fan of RB by committee. When you have to play different guys at a position because neither can do it all it gives you a tell as to what your offense is going to do because you're now playing to the strengths of the guy on the field. I have little expectation that our running game is going to be good this year, and that still has a lot to do with our o-line's lack of run-blocking ability, but add into it the committee stuff and I don't see us doing much in the running game, if all we do is stay at the level we were with Mixon, I think that will be the expectation I have.  I think the guys who blamed Mixon for the lack of running game and not the O-line have been drinking large amounts of copeium, because fixing it by fixing the O-line is a lot harder than replacing one RB. Hope I'm wrong, but I'll be surprised.

 

I don't care for the "RB by committee" thing either but it is what it is for now.  Mixon was definitely not the blame for the run game as his only weakness,

for lack of a better word, was pass protection.  The OL was worse at run blocking than pass blocking and they were average to a hair above average

at pass blocking so what's that tell you?  IIRC, Pollack said something like he wanted "glass eaters."  That's fine for the freak show at the circus I guess!?  😐

 

I looked at the depth chart just now and it currently has D.J. Turner as the starter and Dax Hill as his backup.  For some reason I thought Hill had been

named the starter but I guess not.  

 

1 minute ago, Randle P McMurphy said:

 

I don't care for the "RB by committee" thing either but it is what it is for now.  Mixon was definitely not the blame for the run game as his only weakness,

for lack of a better word, was pass protection.  The OL was worse at run blocking than pass blocking and they were average to a hair above average

at pass blocking so what's that tell you?  IIRC, Pollack said something like he wanted "glass eaters."  That's fine for the freak show at the circus I guess!?  😐

 

I looked at the depth chart just now and it currently has D.J. Turner as the starter and Dax Hill as his backup.  For some reason I thought Hill had been

named the starter but I guess not.  

 

 

 

We're on the same page about Pollack and the running game.

 

I thought Hill won as well, interesting.

4 minutes ago, Randle P McMurphy said:

 

I don't care for the "RB by committee" thing either but it is what it is for now.  Mixon was definitely not the blame for the run game as his only weakness,

for lack of a better word, was pass protection. 

 

Mixon's other big weakness is his inability to break tackles despite good size. and strength. He always leans forward at the point of impact, hits the defender hard, but is easy to bring down. Moss has a completely different style. He isn't interested in delivering a big blow on the would-be tackler, only looks to keep his balance, break the tackle and pile up yards after contact. Turn what should be a 4 yard carry into a 7 yard play instead.

Just now, dex said:

Mixon's other big weakness is his inability to break tackles despite good size. and strength. He always leans forward at the point of impact, hits the defender hard, but is easy to bring down. Moss has a completely different style. He isn't interested in delivering a big blow on the would-be tackler, only looks to keep his balance, break the tackle and pile up yards after contact. Turn what should be a 4 yard carry into a 7 yard play instead.

 

 

 

 

Moss's yards after contact last year were 1.9 to Mixon's 1.4.  So half a yard.  The only time Moss has had a significant amount of

starts was last year and only 8.  Mixon has had 88 so of course last year his YAC was down just from wear and tear.