ArmyBengal

Agree with that thought as well. If it is stated RG and RG alone is the "make or break" for the entire season, I question what someone really knows about football. Do I like our RG situation? No, I do not. Do I think the season is over before it starts because of that hole? Hardly. Cappa sucked mad ass last year and Burrow led a top 10 offense with an MVP type season. Lets talk about what's important though. IT'S FUCKING GAME DAY !!! I don't care if it's the 4th string out there, I will be planted in my chair in front of my TV.

I won't claim that every year. Certainly not predicated on the rookies. Take last year for example. I hated most of that entire draft class. 2023 was a little better. 2022 about the same. This year however, I actually like the rookies for the most part. Were there other players I liked more maybe? Sure, but now we aren't just seeing those picks be made and hang out, we are seeing them looking at starting day one. For quite some time I have said and heard people say, rookies probably won't get starting roles because they won't be able to beat out installed players. This year, the #1 pick is reportedly pushing for snaps right away. The 2nd rounder is starting and they let Pratt walk. The 3rd rounder is starting and the pushed Volson aside. When was the last time our first three rookies picked had a real shot at starting week 1? Probably 5 years ago after coming off a shit season and getting Burrow, Higgins and Wilson. Yeah, I'll take the excitement of this training camp and hope it carries over into the season !!

True as well. If there were enough above average OT's in the league you wouldn't see guys like Bobby Hart having a 10 year career in the league.

It may be both, but I don't know. I haven't watched any of the practices. I want to believe the coaches are basing the praise from a more technical standpoint. Meaning, he's getting pressure, sacks, and dropping into coverage because he's executing appropriately? Could the combination of rookies and shit RG options play into that? Surely. I like this whole "optimistic" vibe I have going on, so I'm going to stick with it !! Going to buy a Stewart jersey to try to further the #97 Geno Atkins mojo. Maybe... lol

Yes, we saw last year how one break here or there literally made all the difference. Will take whatever is tossed our way.

Knock those first three picks out of the park and this team is fierce. Yeah, that's me slowly becoming more optimistic, but this just feels more than fluff training camp speak. Kay Adams has a bunch of interviews with players on YouTube from yesterday I think. Sounds like Golden is really making his presence felt on the defensive side. Feels Zimmer-like. The way the players are talking, it just seems like something's in the air. Everyone sees it. Coaches, players, the media, the fans. Literally everyone. Impact rookies on the D-line, O-line and the LB corps? GTFOH !! There really isn't much more the fans could hope for.

Agree about Stewart. I was one of the ones not terribly upset with the pick. Maybe his lack of production in college does equate to little production in the league, but there were reasons for that. Couple that with insane athletic ability and I'm VERY intrigued by him. Saw they have had him both inside and out. Yes, second year players like Jenkins and McKinley should be a fun watch. If those two continue to improve that's really solid. 3 pretend games to see what's what. NO INJURIES

There are a bunch of players I will be excited to watch tomorrow night, but since we are on the run game, put me in the Tahj Brooks camp. Clearly Brown and Perine are the #1 and 2 RB's, but the #3 and 4 tend to get a lot of snaps in the preseason and I hope he does well. Outside of him, any other rookie should be fun to watch. Is it too much to hope that Myles Murphy looks good going against non starters?

I'm not saying I agree with their being causation between playing in the preseason and starting fast or slow, but starting slow has been a concern and I think the team is trying to do anything it can think of to try to reverse course. I think Zac is under pressure to reverse the trend as well. Maybe it's not the playing in and of itself, but the mental aspect of doing so. I think there is something to be said for getting reps live on the field vs. doing the "mental reps" which I don't think is much more than thinking about what you are going to do. I hate when I hear people comparing the two. Not saying that's happening here. Like I mentioned before. I don't know why they are starting slow, but it's a trend here. Since Zac has been here his record through the first two weeks is 1-11. Through the first three weeks it's 4-13-1. That shit has got to change if you picture your team as contending for the top seed come playoff time. Maybe playing early helps, maybe it doesn't. If not, next year will probably be something else new to try. If Zac gets another opportunity.

Agree. If they head into Minnesota 0-2 after dropping games to the Browns and Jags, my new TV is going to have a short lifespan. The neighbors dog may come up missing and the ice cream man may catch a beatdown. "ONLY CHOCO TACOS ?? WTF !!! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRG"

The Browns are pretty much screwed with Watson, but yeah it should be interesting to watch. Personally, I'm hoping he gets healthy and shows up ready to go. I would laugh my ass off. Remember all the headlines yelling COLLUSION about teams not willing to give fully guaranteed contracts after Watson signed his? That ruling came down and it was crickets after that. No one complaining now. Yes Cleveland, you and a sexual predator with injuries preventing him from playing occupy that island alone.

Starting fast rears it's ugly face again. A rather large piece that Zac has yet to get his hands around. Many may say they don't like starters playing in these games, but that approach hasn't worked. However, is it the approach or something else entirely? I have no idea. Since I have no idea, I'm good with something new and if that means starters get some reps, I'm good with it. Try whatever you need to in order to start fast. Honestly, I give them credit for at least making that attempt. God knows it sucks trying to play catch up for the #1 seed after 4 weeks into the season because they can't put shit together. Come the last few weeks of the season you have to root for other teams to lose games instead of controlling the situation. Please fix this Bengals.

And Browns fans can't figure out why their teams takes so much shit from everyone. Just when you think you can't hate someone more than the Brown family, Cleveland comes knocking. Comical

Going back to recent practices, I like hearing what’s being said about Stewart and it echoing some of the things I mentioned pre-draft. I wasn’t down on the pick when it happened and am honestly really optimistic when considering his ability. Many times in the past the Bengals would draft “talented” guys with low athletic ability and they failed. Now we get an absolute freak of an athlete that needs to learn some more technique. Color me excited with what Golden can get out of him. Couple that with Trey working with him despite holding in and I agree that we see him sooner rather than later. Looking forward to Thursday’s game.

Agree, I really don't have any issue with either OBJ, Karras, or Mims. I really expect Mims to continue to grow since he is younger. I will remain cautiously optimistic about Fairchild until I have no reason to be. Hopefully that was a Peter's pick and he knows something more, because I was a huge Ratledge who we could have had in round 2. I won't fault a coach for wanting who he wants. I also think Patrick and his Veteran presence will be enough, but we need him to stay healthy as well. Can he be any worse than Cappa was last year? Wait, don't answer that. All the other OG's combined don't amount to much of anything more than depth that I hope never sees the field.