ArmyBengal

Yeah, not happy with the defensive effort at all. Depth depth depth. It's simply something they do not have. They better hope the starters really make strides to improve this year AND stay healthy. In looking at it... No Trey, no BJ Hill, no CTB, and no Dax. That defense isn't going to look good with those 4 starters out of a game. Not sure about Murphy? Well, I am and nothing about last night changed my opinion. First round bust that continues to haunt this team with a defensive miss that bad. It's nothing personal, because he sounds like a great dude. However, he's simply lost out there. Flashes from Stewart, that tackle for loss was an impressive play, along with some of the pressures. Flashes also from Jenkins, Jackson, Carter and Taven Bryan (which I was happy to see). Damn near everyone looked like practice squad players at best.

Man the backup defense is straight ass.

Stewart with the pressure

They didn’t start starters across the defense either. Mixed bag.

Well done D

Stewart TFL

I’m pretty sure Tyler Eifert broke a leg watching the first drive from home.

Nope

Rivers with the hold Ugh

Nice pass blocking by Brooks on that completion.

Backups in. good

Nice return wiped out

Yep my bad

Held them to a FG. Ok

No Stewart yet

Yeah acorn indeed Hoosier, Murphy just looks lost out there.

Jenkins looking good

Still hate the Newton pick.

I swear to God if this defense blows another season for this offense, my TV will NOT survive.

Holy shit Murphy made a play.

Yep terrible

Well, minus Patrick’s hold that was about all you could ask for for the season’s first drive. Fairchild looked good on that drive for the o-line.

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.