USA Today's Bengals Offseason Report

[HoosierCat]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...rt_N.htm?csp=34

Nothing we didn't already know, but a pretty good summary of the situation the team is in. Bottom line:

Cincinnati will be tested early, facing playoff teams in five of its first six games. If the offense can increase its possession time and the defense avoids big-play breakdowns, the explosive Bengals should be playoff-bound.

That's about it, IMHO.

[bengal4life]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...rt_N.htm?csp=34

Nothing we didn't already know, but a pretty good summary of the situation the team is in. Bottom line:

Cincinnati will be tested early, facing playoff teams in five of its first six games. If the offense can increase its possession time and the defense avoids big-play breakdowns, the explosive Bengals should be playoff-bound.

That's about it, IMHO.

I like how they really like stating the obvious. USA Today "If a teams offense scores and the defense doesn't allow scores then that team will win."

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...rt_N.htm?csp=34

Nothing we didn't already know, but a pretty good summary of the situation the team is in. Bottom line:

Cincinnati will be tested early, facing playoff teams in five of its first six games. If the offense can increase its possession time and the defense avoids big-play breakdowns, the explosive Bengals should be playoff-bound.

That's about it, IMHO.

I like how they really like stating the obvious. USA Today "If a teams offense scores and the defense doesn't allow scores then that team will win."

Now, it wasn't that bad. Here's how it translates:

Defense: "if the defense avoids big-play breakdowns" --> Shoot Tory James and dump his body in the Ohio River. Also, teach defenders how to actually tackle.

Offense: "If the offense can increase its possession time" --> Shorten the game so your defense has fewer opportunities to screw you. You can always go no-huddle if you need more possessions, should they screw you early in the game.

[HoosierCat]

I like how they really like stating the obvious. USA Today "If a teams offense scores and the defense doesn't allow scores then that team will win."

No doubt -- but that's pretty much true of the vast majority of sportswriting. I mean, it's not rocket science. But it is nice to see a national media article that has its facts straight (for example, it notes Perry's busted leg to explain the Irons pick) and which doesnt fall into the tired old "Bengals missed the playoffs because of off-field distractions" BS. It's also one of the few pieces I've seen to at least mention that, for all the D's shortcomings, the offense had plenty of important breakdowns of its own.

In other words, I've seen a lot worse, so props to McPaper writer Tom Weir.

[bengal4life]

I like how they really like stating the obvious. USA Today "If a teams offense scores and the defense doesn't allow scores then that team will win."

No doubt -- but that's pretty much true of the vast majority of sportswriting. I mean, it's not rocket science. But it is nice to see a national media article that has its facts straight (for example, it notes Perry's busted leg to explain the Irons pick) and which doesnt fall into the tired old "Bengals missed the playoffs because of off-field distractions" BS. It's also one of the few pieces I've seen to at least mention that, for all the D's shortcomings, the offense had plenty of important breakdowns of its own.

In other words, I've seen a lot worse, so props to McPaper writer Tom Weir.

I totally agree with you, I have definitely seen worse....This guy kind of sounds like Maddena a little.