Carson Palmer should make this team at least a .500 team. The onus of the season rest on the new OLine (which was ranked dead last, last year) and how well the D plays.
Carson Palmer should make this team at least a .500 team. The onus of the season rest on the new OLine (which was ranked dead last, last year) and how well the D plays.
a cold finish that leads to them missing hte playoffs or losing a 1st round bye
They were so bad last year that I see this as a positive. I certainly didn't want stability with that unit. Maybe they'll be just as bad this year, but they did address it in the draft. We'll see, hopefully Smith's holdout won't be too long. Mike Brown screws the team every chance he can it seems like.Originally Posted by Boss-Hog
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
I think the Bengals have upgraded at several positions this season both talent wise and in attitude. My main concern would be the O line which did play better the last few games of the year. Cook seems to be a center in the Rich Braham mold, strong and intelligent, so hopefully the guys can gell together around him.
Palmer is my surprise fantasy football steal this year. If he can get some protection and get on the same page with Chad and Coles, big year for Carson.
The receivers seem solid with Johnson and Coles with Henry as the third. Caldwell seemes poised for a nice follow up season and I imagine we will see his speed on a few reverses and wildcat formations. Jerome Simpson is a project he is like a rule V guy that you want to return to his original team. He is a year away from contributing.
Running game should be improved with Cedric Benson having a season under his belt. He is in camp and in great shape Tank Johnson says he has grown up a lot from his Bears days. I can hope for 1200yds from Ced this season with some nice reception yds mixed in as well. Leonard and Hopkins will back up with a nice change of speed.
I love Zimmer's D, wish Marvin had brought this guy in sooner to replace Chuck. He gets the most out of his players and they love and respect his honesty. Tank and Roy are big additions to the young guns and I have a feeling that Rey's jersey sales will surpass any other Bengal by midseason. Like Boss said earlier if Joseph goes down the Bengals have little depth behind them. I am sure the Bengals will scour the waiver wire for possible preseason cuts.
Rookie punters are a coin toss sometimes hopefully the Bengals found a gem in Huber.
Lots of question marks remain but there seem to be answers on this years team. I have been a fan since 1981 and I can honestly admit I am excited about this years team. If we avoid the injury bug, I say 9-7 and a playoff run.
If you have a losing record at Reds games, please stop going.
I agree - I didn't want any sort of stability from last year's porous unit, either, but I think it's a legitimate concern to have so many new faces in new spots.
Bengals Predictions for 2009-2010:
Worst Offensive Line in the NFL through the first 8 games according to www.footballoutsiders.com .
Top-10 Overall Defense at the end of the season according to www.footballoutsiders.com .
Bratkowski will try to fit square pegs into round holes. (trying to have Utecht block instead of catch passes, as he did 2-3 years ago when he led the entire NFL in catch percentage).
Luigs becomes the starting Center before year's end.
Defense a little better, but an awful offensive line means no running game. And no running game will lead to tons a pressure on Carson and an ugly overall offensive performance.
I'm feeling more optimistic than last year though so I'm going to go with 6-10. But I'd take the under if forced. Losing is part of the culture. I don't see anything that will change that this year. And offensive line is the most important piece of any football team. Not surprisingly, the one good season they've had in the past almost two decades was the season they had a strong O-line.
Grape works as a soda. Sort of as a gum. I wonder why it doesn't work as a pie. Grape pie? There's no grape pie. - Larry David
It all comes down to health. If the Bengals O-line remains in tact, I see a 9-7, maybe even 10-6 type season. If any of them miss a significant amount of time, it could get ugly.
Week 3 with Pittsburgh coming to town is going to be big. I am sick and damn tired of watching that team beat us in Cincinnati. It's got to end.
MWM pretty much pinned my take as well. I'll be a bit more optimistic and go with 7-9, but either way that's on the outside looking in for the playoffs so it doesn't matter too much.
The Lost Decade Average Season: 74-88
2014-22 Average Season: 71-91
I think it comes down to how everybody else ends up doing in the AFC North that plays a role in the Bengals outcome this season. The wildcard is going to be Baltimore and whether or not they break the trend of inconsistency that they have had in the past.
I don't think Cleveland will end up being much of a threat. If anything, they will probably be a top 5 draft pick team again next season. Didn't like the Mangini hire and the talent has dropped off considerably.
Pittsburgh is in a league of their own and will probably run away with the AFC North. Cincinnati and Baltimore will likely fight for a wildcard spot.
That being said, I am going with 9-7 and just missing the playoffs. Just good enough to keep Marvin's job.
x2.
If Andre Smith signs soon and pans out, Cedric Benson rushes for 1000 yards, and they'll go 9-7.
If Andre Smith holds out and/or is a bust, Cedric Benson is not starting by season's end (for one reason or another), they'll go 6-10.
The defense will be much improved.
Go BLUE!!!
6-10
Chad Johnson released
If they Bengals don't go at least .500 this year with that schedule, then there's no hope for this franchise.
i'm a niners fan, but the bengals are my dark horse pick this year. don't let me down.
There are so many other signs that theres no hope for this franchise, using something as arbitrary as a record this year seems pointless
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