AMPHAR

Zac should be accountable for the mounting 1 score losses, blown leads at home that have happened in games they were favored the past 3 seasons. It really isn't worth listening to anybody that can't grasp this reality of the NFL.

lol, get off my lawn.

If we had real local media they would have been on Shemar during the summer. He/his agent made up a reason to hold out. The local guys buy his version despite other rookies without contracts participating. It was fair back then and its fair now to question IF Shemar really wants to play NFL football. Even though Darnell Wright (Bears 1st round pick OT) is a becoming one of the leagues better RTs he dominated Stewart to a point you have to Stewart's pride. Apparently whooped him so bad his knee hurts now. Off topic its not unthinkable for Mims to take the path of both Wright or Sewell were they really start to morph into elite status year 3. Off topic a 2nd time: Wish those mocks that had us getting Wright with pick 60 or whatever during that draft were correct. I think he went top 10.

Probably the best game to judge the O-line. Last game Pitt had an impressive streak of sacks in the games prior. Bengals got the ball out quick and Pitt couldn't cover without committing a penalty. Now up in Pitt, defense adjustments, maybe a defense favorable whistle will put more pressure on the line to protect, IMO.

Expectations are a bitch. In all the hirings and firings of Head Coaches/General Managers, I have yet to see BigDawg101 from Browns Watercooler message board hired. Or Mo from 1530 AM hired. Or Whoever. Coaches fired/hired are mostly victims of a parity league and fall victim of the cyclical nature of success/failure in the NFL especially once expectations are risen. Then there is a deep pool of qualified replacements.

Supposedly Burrow told Glazer he'd be back before Thanksgiving, according to Glazer. So if that's the case its hard to bench Burrow in that circumstance. Sure if he was limping in December, like he was with his calf that's a different story.

If its rushed comeback, I agree. If he's healthy then and there's little risk to the initial injured area I think you have to let him play. If the organization is having thoughts of having to save a healthy Burrow from himself, then its time to trade him.

Aaron Rodgers looks annoyed to have to be playing football.

I'm going to say no.

Yep. Preseason worries came to haunt the Bengals. 1. Burrow being dumb with the ball taking a bad play and making it worse while also getting himself twisted into a pretzel basically what he did against Jacksonville that resulted in several missed games. 2. Defense soft no pride during preseason washed away as "no game plan" or whatever. Basically same crap that has shown up regular season. I have no idea. But its the 2nd summer of defense looking good against what most everyone would say is one of the best collections of offensive talent. Based on regular season might want to take a deeper dive into this: A. How much Summer Camp success was when Jake Browning taking snaps? B. Zac with Burrow wants the offense completely on the QBs shoulders. So that requires a lot of reps/communication. Is the defense really getting what it needs out of practice basically being the scout team so the offense gets what it needs? Pad level, pursuit basic shit that was a problem under Lou is a problem under Golden. Which is always a problem under Zac.

Nerds

Bengals defense competes all off season to what amounts to extensive 7v7 flag football. This is what the offense needs as they value winning football through the air and run so much through the QB. The defense on the other hand is horrible in pursuit. Horrible at pad level. Horrible in 3rd and long. Horrible in run gap and down the line fundamental mistakes when they go against an independent offense designed to beat their scheme's not work on their base line offense for the season. 2 summers in a row. The defense competes with the best offense skill in the league. Doesn't and hasn't translated into winning defensive football.

Its the same pattern as the Dalton era. Once they started winning the draft success declined sharply as the draft position lowered. Then as they paid the very good guys they drafted the success in the FA market also declined. It most likely they shift more to filling a "need" and projecting roster openings outward as they try to manage a tighter cap vs. just taking the BPA. For example. Mims looks like a guy they will want to extend and could be a high level player. However he was the 6th,7th tackle off the board and passed on the draft's best CB. Then this year they went DE as assumed Trey leaving a future hole over a very good set of safeties. Myles Murphy taken to replenish projected aging DL in a DE draft class thats been blah over a Sam La Porta. In both cases of Murphy and Stewart there has been rumors that they weren't the top target. There's been several rumors suggesting Walter Nolen was the top of board. So that suggest they are trying to fill an overall roster gap at position group.

The no trade of Trey probably sets them on the path of franchise tagging Trey. Given the fact no team has been able to bring enough of a package to complete a trade despite multiple opportunities. Trey after some public moaning and groaning probably takes it and completes the deal he could have had sometime last off season. So that sets the stage of rebuilding a defense (again) with 1 piece taking up $36m in cap (????). Worth it? Right now no other DE or DL can sniff the QB unless they hold on to the ball. Have no idea but Bengals aren't going to let Trey walk into UFA and realistically if he doesn't bounce back 2nd half of the season making $36m is probably his best opportunity. BJ Hill is probably on the fringe. He essentially signed a 1 year deal. Surprised there were no trade rumors surrounding him. They probably got to upgrade/replace 5 bodies factoring young players they won't give up on. DJ Turner/Dax Hill are probably the only ones worth consideration of extension right now. Maybe Battle.

Isn't this the bye week? My personal opinion. Zac/Tobin et al achieved good things here, BUT its an exclusive club with plenty of people deserving of a chance. I'd be shock with they cut that deep but it would be warranted. Don't make the same mistake that was made with Marvin trying to band aid it.