I think the Bengals are in a great position

[walzav29]

Everyone has jumped off of the bandwagon, because the Bengals can't stop the run. The line will get fixed. The return of Dexter Jackson will only help. I think the bye week will help Chad get over the lingering effects of that concussion, and oh yeah. The Bengals are 3-1. If they were 4-0 they would have had 2 weeks of everyone kissing their butts. Instead all anyone talks about is how much they can't do. Very humbling.

[derekshank]

Everyone has jumped off of the bandwagon, because the Bengals can't stop the run. The line will get fixed. The return of Dexter Jackson will only help. I think the bye week will help Chad get over the lingering effects of that concussion, and oh yeah. The Bengals are 3-1. If they were 4-0 they would have had 2 weeks of everyone kissing their butts. Instead all anyone talks about is how much they can't do. Very humbling.

I haven't heard many in the national media jump off the band-wagon. Just fickle Bengal fans.

The run defense has been bad... but it'll get fixed. I will reference last year as proof. We had terrible games against Jacksonville and Pittsburgh earlier in the season (which made everyone think we were soft), and then the last game of the season against KC when we played back-ups (which most in the national media just assumed was further proof of our bad run defense).

In those 3 games we gave up an average of 201 yards/game, but in the other 13 games we gave up an average of only 95.8 yards (which would have ranked us 7th in the NFL). Don't let 2 bad games against the run (one of which we won) let you get too worried. We'll turn it around... just like last year.

Our run defense issues have been somewhat exagerrated over the past couple of years. What I find much more troubling has been giving up big plays and lots of points. We seem to have improved our pass-rush. The run defense, although certainly not elite, should still be fine. We're still a Super-Bowl contender. A bad game against NE doesn't discourage this belief in my mind.

[walzav29]

I'm not discouraged either, but the offense does need to find it's groove.

[HoosierCat]

I haven't heard many in the national media jump off the band-wagon. Just fickle Bengal fans.

I haven't even seen any of those. I do see a lot of people realizing they may have overindulged in the kool-aid. Our depth, much-ballyhooed in the offseason, has proven less deep than advertised. Granted, the extent of injuries and idiocy that have hit the LB and WR positions would tax any team -- but there it is, all the same. A crucial injury on the o-line, coupled with a nagging injury to Levi, has made Carson vulnerable. And another year's worth of reraranging the deck chairs on the Titanic that is our d-line has, yet again, not produced much.

Are the Bengals dead? Of course not. But the team has had a helluva lot go wrong in the first month, and damn but we could use a few breaks. Some improvement by Bluto, get a couple guys back off the injury report, a couple rooks (Peko, Brooks) and vets (Reggie Kelly, Kenny Watson, Chad) pick it up, and the Bengals will be right back in it.

[skyline]

I still think the single greatest difference right now is the absence of Chris Perry.

Once he returns, I think you'll see this offense right itself.

[derekshank]

I'm not discouraged either, but the offense does need to find it's groove.

We haven't lived up to our billing yet... but that is to be expected with Palmer coming off a major knee injury (see Culpepper) and Braham going down in the 1st quarter of our 2nd game. We aren't what we were a year ago, for sure. We might not get there at all this year... but hopefully our D can pick up the slack.

But lest you get too discouraged about our current play on offense... We had one of the worse offensive games in a long time against NE, and we're still averaging almost 25 points/game. That's still pretty damn good. I'd like to get it closer to 30, and I'd certainly like to see Palmer get going, not get sacked so much, and have Rudi get a couple more games like he had against Cleveland and Kansas City. It'll come.

Just remember... weeks 1 through 6 is not really when you want to peak (sorry Bears).

[HoosierCat]

I still think the single greatest difference right now is the absence of Chris Perry.

It certainly hasn't helped. And in 20/20 hindsight, the losses of Schobel and Walter have hurt the Bengals in the early going, too. Chatman was supposed to be K-walt's replacement, but he's missed 3 games totally and while he got in last week, he now says he doesn't expect to be 100% all season. And on the TE front, we now have no real pass-catching threat.

Not saying we should have necessarily kept Schobel or Walters, but combined with the Perry injury, the Bengals now lack short-range receiver talent at a time other teams are concentrating on taking away the long ball.

Perry coming back should be a boost -- if he can stay off the injury report...

[ArmyBengal]

I'm discouraged and angry with how little development we have on the defensive side of the ball. It's just rediculous... However, to jump off the bandwagon, you have to be a "bandwagon" fan and I don't see many of those around here, just pissed off fans that want to see this team play to it's capabilities week in and week out !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Kirkendall]

I'm discouraged and angry with how little development we have on the defensive side of the ball. It's just rediculous... However, to jump off the bandwagon, you have to be a "bandwagon" fan and I don't see many of those around here, just pissed off fans that want to see this team play to it's capabilities week in and week out !!!

WHODEY !!!

I don't see the difference between a constantly pissed off critical "fan" and a Steelers fan. Both rip the team to no end. And THEY are on this board -- you know who you are.

Here's the disclaimer so people don't step onto the soap box and say, "you don't have to suck Mike Browns coat tails to be fan." I'm just as critical of the team for issues I believe are warranted. But then I'm done with it. Bah-bye. Go Bengals! Others get off banging the beat of being angry meddlesome fans. Again, you know who you are.

[Tasher]

Sheesh, You would think we were in the middle of the 2002 season the way everyone is so down.

Get OVER IT! We are virtually tied for first in the division with 2 games vs the Ravens still to be played!

You'd think we were the Oakland Raiders or something.

When we limp out of week 11 at 3-7 then start belly aching.

This team is awesome. It is going onto week 6; relax.

[ArmyBengal]

Whoa whoa whoa Kirk !!! Not even close to compare a Steelers fan to a constantly pissed off Bengals fan. The way I see it is, if anyone here is truly happy with this defense, I think they are crazy. I just choose not to put the same happy go lucky spin on all things defense that others have up to this point. I am all for giving credit where credit is due and maybe when we get some guys healthy, that will be the case, but right now, IT'S NOWHERE CLOSE !!! I will not turn a blind eye to the fact our defense has constantly sucked and continues to do so. If that makes me a Steelers fan, oh well !!!

WHODEY !!!

[HoosierCat]

Here's the disclaimer so people don't step onto the soap box and say, "you don't have to suck Mike Browns coat tails to be fan." I'm just as critical of the team for issues I believe are warranted.

Who's dumped on Mikey lately?

Certainly he gets his portion of blame for okaying some questionable draft calls, and for declining to pursue a top-tier FA d-lineman, but most of the Bengals' current issues are strictly related to on-field issues: injuries, missed tackles, players out of position, etc. Most of those things can be fixed, but it will take some time and some luck. The former is slowly running out and the latter has been in short supply lately. Hopefully, things begin to turn around this week.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

One player is not going to "fix" the team on either side of the ball.

[Stripes]

I for one do not expect the run defense to improve a great deal this season. The loss of Thurman and Pollack has been very noticeable in the linebacking corps, and they'll be gone all year long. The defensive line is better than it was last season, and that should help the numbers improve from last season. Still, while I don't think the Steelers and Patriots games are an acurrate indicator of how the run defense will perform this year, I think they are more acurrate than the previous two games were.

If we're going to go far this year, it'll have to be despite the run defense. The pass rush seems improved though, so that should help ensure we don't have a late season defensive collapse against the pass a la 2005.

[agreen_112]

aint' nobody jumping off the ship over here. I'm very pleased that we're 3-1 coming off the buy week. BUT, we do need to do something about the run-stopping situation. Guys aren't tackling, their blowing their pursuit, the line isn't getting any penetration, I mean we're looking absolutely terrible on defense. Quite possibly in the worst 5 of the whole NFL.

[walshfan]

someone want to explain to me WHY the team still sucks at tackling and why they are OUT OF POSITION?????

Kudos to Ricky Hunley and all the defensive coaches in general...

[HoosierCat]

someone want to explain to me WHY the team still sucks at tackling and why they are OUT OF POSITION?????

Tackling is a problem across the NFL, has been for years. It's just not an emphasized skill, i.e. you don't get drafted for it, and a lot of teams dont stress it in practice for fear of getting someone hurt.

The out of position stuff you can blame, at least in part, on guys being new and playing positions they've not played before. Still, they are supposed to be pros. Gotta tighten it up.

[Tasher]

someone want to explain to me WHY the team still sucks at tackling and why they are OUT OF POSITION?????

Tackling is a problem across the NFL, has been for years. It's just not an emphasized skill, i.e. you don't get drafted for it, and a lot of teams dont stress it in practice for fear of getting someone hurt.

The out of position stuff you can blame, at least in part, on guys being new and playing positions they've not played before. Still, they are supposed to be pros. Gotta tighten it up.

Now THIS I can agree with.

Did you see how poorly Ray Lewis tackled last night? Sheesh, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Man!

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I still think the single greatest difference right now is the absence of Chris Perry.

It certainly hasn't helped. And in 20/20 hindsight, the losses of Schobel and Walter have hurt the Bengals in the early going, too. Chatman was supposed to be K-walt's replacement, but he's missed 3 games totally and while he got in last week, he now says he doesn't expect to be 100% all season. And on the TE front, we now have no real pass-catching threat.

Not saying we should have necessarily kept Schobel or Walters, but combined with the Perry injury, the Bengals now lack short-range receiver talent at a time other teams are concentrating on taking away the long ball.

Perry coming back should be a boost -- if he can stay off the injury report...

I think that was 20/20 foresight. I think most people realized at the time that entering the season with no decent dump-off option was rolling the dice. They put themselves in a position where they had to draft a TE and then didn't do it. Chatman being hurt is a minimal problem, as he woudn't see that much PT anyway (except for the next 2 weeks). Perry being hurt is...predictable.

So I don't let them off by saying this was a hindsight problem. This was something easy to see coming.

I think one problem you mention will get better - teams sitting on the long ball and daring us to go short. That worked for the Patsies because there's only one deep threat to worry about - Chad. Bring Henry back, see how well that works. Probably about as well as it did for the Steelers. They can't double cover both guys. Or if they do, that means there's probably a nickel back on TJ with no safety help, and I'll hit that all day long.

Of course, thanks to Cheech being Cheeck, that's 2 games away.

Oh, and so I don't get accused of being a closet Steeler fan or whatever, go bengals.

[ttilt]

Well if people think everyones jumping off the bandwagon we can at least think of it this way...at least we arent the steelers

[membengal]

I don't understand wazlav's perception that people are off the bandwagon. This board is filled with zealots, we clearly care for the team, and are all pretty much on record as having them 10 wins or better. What we have here is two weeks of pure boredom over the bye, highlighted by having to stew over a 25 point drubbing for that duration. Not a lot of positives to dwell on in the short term, but I don't see people running for the hills either. Just normal chatter in the boredom of the down time (which has meant, unfortuantely, a return, thanks to Cheech Henry, to more discussions of character), and a focus on a definite concern, which continues to be, eternally, the alleged run "defense".

I, for one, can't wait for a return to actual game play just to move the general discussions a little bit...

[Tasher]

I don't understand wazlav's perception that people are off the bandwagon. This board is filled with zealots, we clearly care for the team, and are all pretty much on record as having them 10 wins or better. What we have here is two weeks of pure boredom over the bye, highlighted by having to stew over a 25 point drubbing for that duration. Not a lot of positives to dwell on in the short term, but I don't see people running for the hills either. Just normal chatter in the boredom of the down time (which has meant, unfortuantely, a return, thanks to Cheech Henry, to more discussions of character), and a focus on a definite concern, which continues to be, eternally, the alleged run "defense".

I, for one, can't wait for a return to actual game play just to move the general discussions a little bit...

+1

Jeesh, am I bored!

We sure better dismantle the Bucs, or this place will implode over the next week!

[fattyjay]

I think our position is still up for debate. The season is still very young and it's a little difficult to grasp how all the teams are playing consistently. Of our 12 remaining opponents only San Diego, New Orleans, and Indy are averaging close to the amount of points we have averaged so far. Running down the list of what most would consider "tough" games, the great majority of the teams are struggling to score more than 17 points. Obviously with a huge chunk of the season left to play this could all change, but my point is that if we get our offensive problems fixed (i.e. suspensions, injuries, and line play) we should be sitting right where most of us thought in the preseason, atop the AFC North. Defensively speaking, the problem with stopping the run could and should continue. Yes, getting DJax and Jeanty back might help some, but with so many holes at LB, there just doesn't seem to be a permant solution this season. Also, looking at the remaining opponents, the majority of them rely heavily on the run. We may see some indirect help from the offense by jumping out to early leads, but then it seems like we're just hoping for some relief. All in all still think we'll win the division, but until we get a little more solid on D we won't go far in the playoffs.

[johnstownsteel]

I don't see the difference between a constantly pissed off critical "fan" and a Steelers fan. Both rip the team to no end. And THEY are on this board -- you know who you are.

You honestly feel that Steeler fans are somehow magically different than all other fans don't you? In my opinion, no matter how successfull a team is there is always room for improvement. Great coaches think this way, so is it that bad for the fans to feel the same way? With your type of thinking, recent changes to the Bengals offensive line would never be made, Joseph might not ever see the field to show what he can do in a starting role nor would any changes be made to improve the defense.

I'm not saying this as smack nor am I a troll. I just feel we as fans have a right to be critical of problem areas or players. That being said, I'm not saying my way of thinking is correct. A fan base is made up of all types. Is there only one way to be a real fan?

[derekshank]

Defensively speaking, the problem with stopping the run could and should continue. Yes, getting DJax and Jeanty back might help some, but with so many holes at LB, there just doesn't seem to be a permant solution this season. Also, looking at the remaining opponents, the majority of them rely heavily on the run. We may see some indirect help from the offense by jumping out to early leads, but then it seems like we're just hoping for some relief. All in all still think we'll win the division, but until we get a little more solid on D we won't go far in the playoffs.

I have to debate your thinking here. As I've stated extensively in other threads, our poor run defense last year was over-stated. This year, our LB's may bit a bit weaker than last year... but our D-Line is much better. Also, the only LB that we were used to having last year that we don't have right now is Odell Thurman. Pollack only played consistently on passing downs.

Last year our LB's were for the most part, Simmons, Odell, Landon. This year, when healthy it is Landon, Simmons, Jeanty. Landon may be a downgrade from Simmons... but Simmons is a smarter player than Odell... and Jeanty is definetly a better SSLB than Landon Johnson.

All in all, I think our LB's are at least as good as last year... and with a better D-Line, our defense should be improved over last year. We've had 2 bad games (one really bad game)... but we choose to forget how good our D played in the first 2 weeks... when we had health (80 rushing yards/game).

We're not the kind of defense that is going to hold teams to 50 rushing yards a game. We're the kind that allows them to get short gains, and either stall out, or make a mistake. If we play against a team that doesn't make many mistakes... our offense is good enough to win a shoot-out. Our defense is the kind that allows a good offense to capitalize. That's how we're set up. We don't suck on defense.