Which one of you are looking to next year???

[MiamiOH91604]

I have read some comments on other websites about how this year's team is NOT a playoff team and that they have work to do in the offseason..are u kidding me??

After the fact that we lose our two best LB's in pollack and Odell, Carson wasnt 100% til week 4 or 5, and that we suffered major O-line injuries, if you really look back on our schedule..the only two games we should have lost were New England and the Colts..we easily should/could have won the Tampa game, Atlanta, Baltimore, and San Diego..

This team if just fine..we just played poorly in the games we should have won.

We beat denver and pitt we should be fine for the play off run..

[PMThor]

We shouldn't have lost to the Colts. No way, no day should that have happened.

BUT. We have major issues on the defensive side of the ball.

[Kazkal]

A defense that works.....Pass rush....Odell returning and brooks playing strong jeanty or landon on weak

[delhole]

NEXT YEAR? WHATTTTTTTTTTT??? We're smack dab in the middle in the middle of the playoff hunt.

Bengals played a bad game on both sides of the ball. They play a bad complete game every 4-5 games. If my math is correct the next one isn't due till the AFC championship and maybe they'll have it out of they're system by then!

But I will admit I am excited about next year......and the year after, and the year after, and the year after, etc.

[Kazkal]

ya but after playoffs still be looking for that

[Scottishbengal]

Next year will be just as tough as this year:-

Home: 3 x divisionals, Patriots, Jets, Cardinals, Rams + 1 other

Away : 3 x divisionals, Bills, Dolphins, 49ers, Seahawks + 1 other

You can't afford to play poorly and lose games you should win. We need consistency on both sides of the ball and to make sure that we do win the games we should.

Can't wait til next year (hoping to make the Seattle game) but there's still a sh1tload of football to be played this year, starting on Sunady night in Denver!

[agreen_112]

If we don't make the playoffs, it would'nt surprise me one bit. We're lucky to be in this position and that's only because of the head coach, Marvin. We're absolutely diminished by injuries and no one (media) talks about that. Looking back at our schedule, yeah we should've beat those teams, but we didn't and that's because of the depth problems we've had.

Do you think Baltimore would be where they are at right now missing Ed Reed, and Ray Lewis and that other Monster LB. No way. If we make the playoffs, we'll be very fortunate to have made it that far. But, it's going to have to take the offense to get us there. They have to get it together and get their stroke back and get into some kind of a rythm.

Pittsburgh will be pumped up and they will be out for blood because they will not be in the playoffs and would love to knock us right out of there. Indy really made us look bad, I mean terrible! You have to admit, that was scary...

[HoosierCat]

If we don't make the playoffs, it would'nt surprise me one bit.

Me either. Frankly, if I had to place a bet now I would guess our final record will be 8-8.

Indy really made us look bad, I mean terrible! You have to admit, that was scary...

Indy didn't make us look bad. They played well, yes, but it was the Bengals who made themselves look bad. The offense was muddled, the defense soft, the coaching poor and individual performances were, almost to a man, terrible. Despite going in leading the WC pack, the Bengals looked like a 3-10 '90s-era Bungles squad just playing out the string.

[Riagogogoindanati]

I'm not ready to look to next year like the Sqealers fans. Looking to next year at this point of the season would mean I've given up on our Bengals. I don't think the Marvinati Tiger Cats are ready to compete/win in the Superbowl, but I still think we have the chance to get to the playoffs and then go from there. Any given Sunday, baby!

[agreen_112]

I'm not ready to look to next year like the Sqealers fans. Looking to next year at this point of the season would mean I've given up on our Bengals. I don't think the Marvinati Tiger Cats are ready to compete/win in the Superbowl, but I still think we have the chance to get to the playoffs and then go from there. Any given Sunday, baby!

What's the difference.. Making the playoffs or not? If we don't play well in the playoffs its one and out. That's why I wouldn't be upset if we didn't make it this year. Now if every player on the team was healthy with a few guys banged up, I would really really be upset. The fact of the matter is, is that we are absolutely diminished by injuries and it's amazing that we're still able to compete. If everyone was here we'd really be a scary team.

[GregCook]

I think we all should know by now, One game in the NFL doesn't make a season or mean much about what will happen in the next week's game. This is the same team that beat Balt 13-7 right? Pittsburgh in Pitts. These guys could clobber Denver and Pitts and sail right into the playoffs. Marvin built a 2006 SuperBowl contender in April-May 2006.

They went and got big Sam Adams, one of my favorite beers. They got DJack & had a great draft So this season was a legit team. I don't think they are after all the injuries set in. They will probably lose J Smith, Stieny to FA. They will not have Odell or Pollack next season too. Those are very high picks to not have around and can't be replaced in the draft. As I understand the cap, the Bengals will have a very deep pocket for FA's. That might be what they do to fill their gaps on defense. As for offense, they will need to add depth to their Oline now that backups will be starters next season. Sometime they need to find a tight end that can catch and block. We all know they have serious cornerback issues. Is Deltha healthy or is something else wrong? He was Pro Bowl last year. What happened?

All in all, regardless of this season, next year will be a very big rebuilding year for the Bengals.

[delhole]

I don't see how next year will be a rebuilding year. Our offense will be pretty much exactly the same and I wouldn't count Smith out yet either. He's had a down year and we'll be able to get him for alot less than what was first thought plus why wouldn't he want to stay on a perrenial playoff team? Basically I agree with what this website has to say on the bengals team needs for 2007: http://www.footballsfuture.com/2007/nfl/anneeds.html

Cincinnati Bengals - OL, DT, S , TE

The Bengals don’t have a lot of needs at the moment, since the team has compiled a solid group of youth to develop together, but there are a few areas to improve upon. The offensive line is intact, but it won’t hurt to draft a player that can take over a spot in the future with veteran Willie Anderson aging. There are two more spots that should receive attention, though. Defensive tackle can be addressed since Sam Adams won’t be around much longer and Bryan Robinson will need help if he is still being used. A safety could be added to fit into head coach Marvin Lewis’ system. At tight end, the team has an effective blocker, but a true receiving tight end could make the offense even more dangerous.

That pretty much sums it up.

[HoosierCat]

I don't see how next year will be a rebuilding year. Our offense will be pretty much exactly the same and I wouldn't count Smith out yet either. He's had a down year and we'll be able to get him for alot less than what was first thought plus why wouldn't he want to stay on a perrenial playoff team? Basically I agree with what this website has to say on the bengals team needs for 2007: http://www.footballsfuture.com/2007/nfl/anneeds.html

Cincinnati Bengals - OL, DT, S , TE

The Bengals don’t have a lot of needs at the moment, since the team has compiled a solid group of youth to develop together, but there are a few areas to improve upon. The offensive line is intact, but it won’t hurt to draft a player that can take over a spot in the future with veteran Willie Anderson aging. There are two more spots that should receive attention, though. Defensive tackle can be addressed since Sam Adams won’t be around much longer and Bryan Robinson will need help if he is still being used. A safety could be added to fit into head coach Marvin Lewis’ system. At tight end, the team has an effective blocker, but a true receiving tight end could make the offense even more dangerous.

That pretty much sums it up.

I'd have to disagree. Other areas of need include CB -- Tory James is done and behind JJ and Deltha we got nothing (Ratliff is a nickle on a good day); DE -- Geathers is an RFA, Justin is a UFA, and B-rob is sucking O2 in a tent; LB -- even if both Odell and Pollack are back Brian Simmons is running out of steam, Jeanty is good but not a stud, Brooks is sitting because he cant play STs, and Landon is un-impressing by the play; RB -- Time to give up on Perry? Even WR could be a concern. Don't look now, but Chad will be 29 in less than a month, Housh will be 30 next September, and Henry might be suspended or in jail.

[delhole]

I don't see how next year will be a rebuilding year. Our offense will be pretty much exactly the same and I wouldn't count Smith out yet either. He's had a down year and we'll be able to get him for alot less than what was first thought plus why wouldn't he want to stay on a perrenial playoff team? Basically I agree with what this website has to say on the bengals team needs for 2007: http://www.footballsfuture.com/2007/nfl/anneeds.html

Cincinnati Bengals - OL, DT, S , TE

The Bengals don’t have a lot of needs at the moment, since the team has compiled a solid group of youth to develop together, but there are a few areas to improve upon. The offensive line is intact, but it won’t hurt to draft a player that can take over a spot in the future with veteran Willie Anderson aging. There are two more spots that should receive attention, though. Defensive tackle can be addressed since Sam Adams won’t be around much longer and Bryan Robinson will need help if he is still being used. A safety could be added to fit into head coach Marvin Lewis’ system. At tight end, the team has an effective blocker, but a true receiving tight end could make the offense even more dangerous.

That pretty much sums it up.

I'd have to disagree. Other areas of need include CB -- Tory James is done and behind JJ and Deltha we got nothing (Ratliff is a nickle on a good day); DE -- Geathers is an RFA, Justin is a UFA, and B-rob is sucking O2 in a tent; LB -- even if both Odell and Pollack are back Brian Simmons is running out of steam, Jeanty is good but not a stud, Brooks is sitting because he cant play STs, and Landon is un-impressing by the play; RB -- Time to give up on Perry? Even WR could be a concern. Don't look now, but Chad will be 29 in less than a month, Housh will be 30 next September, and Henry might be suspended or in jail.

Ok, so basically ALL we need to be a superbowl contender is a new OL, DT's, a stud safety, an Antonio Gates, a few CB's, somehow resign both Smith and Geathers, find the fountain of youth for CJ, Housh, Braham, Big Sam, and Simmons, and pay off the cops to keep anyone else from getting arrested. Did I forget anything?

No but seriously it doesn't look that bad next year, atleast not bad enough to call it a "rebuilding year". All we need is a couple rookies that will make an impact right away and pick up a few top-end FA's(which won't be as hard as in recent years especially if we make the play-offs two years straight) and Super Bowl here we come!

[HoosierCat]

Ok, so basically ALL we need to be a superbowl contender is a new OL, DT's, a stud safety, an Antonio Gates, a few CB's, somehow resign both Smith and Geathers, find the fountain of youth for CJ, Housh, Braham, Big Sam, and Simmons, and pay off the cops to keep anyone else from getting arrested. Did I forget anything?

Aside from someone to keep Chad and Ronald McDonald in seperate rooms, no, not really.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Bengals have the talent to beat anyone regularly, they just don't do it quite enough yet. They're still one of the most erratic and poorly coached teams out there. Brilliant one week, utterly horrible the next. Well beyond the normal fluctuations in the NFL.

Losing a game in that fashion in late December is not good. What an embarrassment.

At least Levi is back and maybe Steiny can go to center for the rest of the year - who knows. The defense clearly have no confidence in their scheme. It's not as if they don't have talent on defense - they do.

[MiamiOH91604]

jesus christ....not one person read my entire first post in this thread...wow..how badly can an entire board misunderstand one paaragraph..

[Kazkal]

Also next year I'll go to my 1st live game =)

I'll be one of the orange jerseys in seattle....even if it costs me my arm,leg and a nut.

[Bengalhead]

We shouldn't have lost to the Colts. No way, no day should that have happened.

BUT. We have major issues on the defensive side of the ball.

I agree that we have defensive issues but i was more disappointed in the offense only putting up 16 points on that lousy defense. That had me concerned more than the porous defense because we knew from the beginning that the Colts would put up a ton of points.

Also next year I'll go to my 1st live game =)

I'll be one of the orange jerseys in seattle....even if it costs me my arm,leg and a nut.

If we don't make the playoffs, it would'nt surprise me one bit. We're lucky to be in this position and that's only because of the head coach, Marvin. We're absolutely diminished by injuries and no one (media) talks about that. Looking back at our schedule, yeah we should've beat those teams, but we didn't and that's because of the depth problems we've had.

Do you think Baltimore would be where they are at right now missing Ed Reed, and Ray Lewis and that other Monster LB. No way. If we make the playoffs, we'll be very fortunate to have made it that far. But, it's going to have to take the offense to get us there. They have to get it together and get their stroke back and get into some kind of a rythm.

Pittsburgh will be pumped up and they will be out for blood because they will not be in the playoffs and would love to knock us right out of there. Indy really made us look bad, I mean terrible! You have to admit, that was scary...

I agree with you but if you ask every team, they'll say the same thing. That's why depth is such an important thing. Every team is (in their own mind) decimated by injuries.

[agreen_112]

We shouldn't have lost to the Colts. No way, no day should that have happened.

BUT. We have major issues on the defensive side of the ball.

I agree that we have defensive issues but i was more disappointed in the offense only putting up 16 points on that lousy defense. That had me concerned more than the porous defense because we knew from the beginning that the Colts would put up a ton of points.

Also next year I'll go to my 1st live game =)

I'll be one of the orange jerseys in seattle....even if it costs me my arm,leg and a nut.

If we don't make the playoffs, it would'nt surprise me one bit. We're lucky to be in this position and that's only because of the head coach, Marvin. We're absolutely diminished by injuries and no one (media) talks about that. Looking back at our schedule, yeah we should've beat those teams, but we didn't and that's because of the depth problems we've had.

Do you think Baltimore would be where they are at right now missing Ed Reed, and Ray Lewis and that other Monster LB. No way. If we make the playoffs, we'll be very fortunate to have made it that far. But, it's going to have to take the offense to get us there. They have to get it together and get their stroke back and get into some kind of a rythm.

Pittsburgh will be pumped up and they will be out for blood because they will not be in the playoffs and would love to knock us right out of there. Indy really made us look bad, I mean terrible! You have to admit, that was scary...

I agree with you but if you ask every team, they'll say the same thing. That's why depth is such an important thing. Every team is (in their own mind) decimated by injuries.

Other teams may think that, but I really don't think there is another team out there that is as banged up as us..

[HoTbOy]

I for one am looking to next year, the D is just not championship material...they just don't get enough pressure with the front 4 and another passing QB will just eat them alive...The Jaguars beat the Colts because of the run game, but they got alot of pressure in PManning's face right up the middle with just their front 4...I would rather be hurt by them not making the playoffs, than by them making it and getting roasted with the pass again...we need to get more pressure with just the front 4...