Everyone does know that preseason means nothing?

[schnarfer]

Quit b!ching about anything going on in the preseason..It means nothing..vanilla offense, wanilla defense...try some stuff out ..try new plays..PRACTICE...these are practice games...let the vets sit until the last practice before baltimore if needed...this game is 99% mental...we will be the champs of the AFC North with great depth...barring injuries we are the favorites...period

[casbengal]

Ah, a voice of reason in the wilderness!

[BengalszoneBilly]

barring injuries we are the favorites...period

You need to pick up your period. Just a quick scan on many sports books and related websites on the internet DO NOT list the Bengals as the favorites in the AFC North. From what I've seen, most seem to list the Steelers as the favorites finishing at 10-6, with the Bengals next at 9-7.

[Stripes]

Meanwhile, the Superbowl champion Colts lose their twelth preseason game in their last thirteen tries.

[kurgan74]

For the past few years the Colts have been one of the worst teams in the preseason,

but have turned it around when the games count. Could the Bengals do the same?

maybe. The team has to avoid reverting back to the dark days when they managed to

find different ways to lose a game. Losing is contagious and with the way last season

finished, many fans are nervous for this season.

In addition, the injury bug which can take a Superbowl contender and turn them into

a 3-4 win team. Unfortunately, the bug has been biiting the team hard this year.

20 players out for the first 2 preseasongames is concerning. I personally think, if healthy,

the Bengals could go deep into the playoffs. However, if the team does not heal up,

the first 5 games could bury the team.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Obviously you don't look at the final score when trying to read the tea leaves of preseason games. But that doesn't mean they're looking really good right now.

* Am I concerned that the Bengals lost? NO.

*Am I concerned about the impact of injuries on our O-Line? YES.

*Am I concerned about Carson and his receivers being on the same page? NO.

*Am I concerned about the lack of talent in the interior of the D? YES.

*Am I concerned about our running game? Mildly.

*Am I concerned that Brooks still isn't getting it? YES.

Of course, did I need the preseason to tell me any of that? NO.

[TecmoFever]

I agree with DC Fan. Yes, the preseason games mean nothing--the scoreboard means nothing. But when there are concerns going into training camp and the preseason, and the preseason games do nothing but solidify those concerns, then fans are going to get frustrated/panicked.

For every person that keeps reminding us that preseason means NOTHING, I would just say that I would rather have to be telling myself that preseason means nothing after watching Carson Palmer go 6-for-6, Ahmad Brooks racking up multiple tackles and key stops, etc. After watching Brees march down the field, Saints fans no doubt had to keep telling themselves to not get too excited and that it's just the preseason and it means nothing. Wouldn't you rather be downplaying the preseason after watching a bunch of positives than a lot of negatives?

I haven't pressed the panic button yet. I keep reminding myself about the trickle-down effect of all of the injuries--from undrafted TEs starting the game to the scramble to find guys to play special teams to the fact that everyone's legs are shot. There are plenty of concerns at this point that I didn't have before training camp started. In my opinion, they are:

1. Offensive line injuries (though reports on Willie and Levi are more positive)

2. Ahmad Brooks

3. The secondary

4. Chuck Bresnahan

5. WR depth/ #3 WR (though I think if Tab Perry stays healthy, we'll be fine there)

6. Panic mode if Carson, Rudi, or Reggie Kelly goes down. Of course, almost any team presses the panic button if their starting QB or RB goes down. For us, though, there is a bigger dropoff at both of those positions than possibly any other team (except maybe the Colts).

So far, in the two preseason games, there has been very few, if any, reasons to feel good about those concerns. If the game against Atlanta is like the New Orleans game, then I'll move from concerned to worried. If we look great in all areas of the game against Atlanta, then I'll have to keep telling myself that it's just the preseason and that it doesn't mean anything...except this time I'll do it with a smile on my face.

[Spor_tees]

Some people just miss the point entirely when it comes to the feelings of some of the posters about this preseason. I include myself in the category of people "concerned" about the Bengals during this preseason. Why? Not because I think these games count for anything, but because the Bengals are looking awful in the same areas they have looked awful at for the past 3+ years. These are the areas that were supposed to be addressed in the offseason and corrected, yet the teams continues to struggle i.e. LB's, pass defense, tackling, assignments, injuries, ect.

I could care less if the Bengals won their preseason games, as long as when they lost it looked like they were improving in the areas of need. But right now it looks like the team is regressing instead of improving, players are looking "older", and the young guys look like they aren't learning the game like they should be. (except for a VERY few - Peko)

So if you can't understand now why some people are concerned at this point, then I don't know what else to say.

[agreen_112]

I'm with you sport tees, I too am very concerned with the way they are playing. I don't care if its the preseason or not, they look BAD, really bad! I hope they get it together and I think they will this week against Atlanta. The only area that I'm not worried about is RB... As long as Rudi stays healthy... he's looks to be in raw form this season.

[HoosierCat]

Meanwhile, the Superbowl champion Colts lose their twelth preseason game in their last thirteen tries.

Not to pick on you, TDB, but you do realize that the Colts are the exception, not the rule? Kirk did the breakdown on his blog a few days back:

The 2006 Super Bowl Champions, Indianapolis Colts, went 1-3 during that season's preseason.

The 2005 Super Bowl Champions, Pittsburgh Steelers, went 3-1.

The 2004 Super Bowl Champions, New England Patriots, went 1-3.

The 2003 Super Bowl Champions, New England Patriots, went 4-0.

The 2002 Super Bowl Champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, went 3-1.

The 2001 Super Bowl Champions, New England Patriots, went 3-1.

The 2000 Super Bowl Champions, Baltimore Ravens, went 3-0.

The 1999 Super Bowl Champions, St. Louis Rams, went 2-2.

So 7 of the last 9 SB champs went .500 or better in preseason.

[bengalboomer7]

I don't understand. This is a website of dedicated and passionatte Bengals fans that spend their free time coming to this site to carry on a conversation about their favorite team. Without opinions and conversation, the boards would be empty, their would be nothign to talk about, and no one would visit here. So, why is it bitching to say the bengals haven't looked that good and to start a conversation as to why?

[skyline]

I don't understand. This is a website of dedicated and passionatte Bengals fans that spend their free time coming to this site to carry on a conversation about their favorite team. Without opinions and conversation, the boards would be empty, their would be nothign to talk about, and no one would visit here. So, why is it bitching to say the bengals haven't looked that good and to start a conversation as to why?

I don't think that's the issue. It's the fact that not all of the negative talk is necessarily justified.

It's ok to discuss concerns and whatnot, but when people talk as if the season is already played and done because of a couple of preseason games...well, it starts to get old.

[BengalszoneBilly]

So, why is it bitching to say the bengals haven't looked that good and to start a conversation as to why?

Answer? It isn't my friend. They're not jumping ship. They're simply voicing their genuine concern for the team they love, and which they definitely want to see succeed! They are likely tired of missing the playoffs, and not making it to the Super Bowl since 1988! Can't fault a fan for that. I'm sure every Bengal fan here wants the same thing, to see the Bengals win in Glendale Arizona on Feburary 3rd, 2008!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

So, why is it bitching to say the bengals haven't looked that good and to start a conversation as to why?

Answer? It isn't my friend. They're not jumping ship. They're simply voicing their genuine concern for the team they love, and which they definitely want to see succeed! They are likely tired of missing the playoffs, and not making it to the Super Bowl since 1988! Can't fault a fan for that. I'm sure every Bengal fan here wants the same thing, to see the Bengals win in Glendale Arizona on Feburary 3rd, 2008!

Exacto mundo.

Some of us aren't satisfied with that status quo and 18 freakin years is too long to go without even a playoff win.

It can make the die hard fans who actually enjoy winning (versus cheering on individuals and using game days as an excuse to get away from the wife and kids) and football, a little crazy and very frustrated.

I appreciate the chance to vent here a bit, but "try" not to force it down people's throats, or come-off that way.

Just sick of losing, and all the bandwagon "WhO DeYz!!" fans that have come along the last 3 years, and have made it difficult for those with longer memories, who are, justifiably, a bit more jaded.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Just sick of losing, and all the bandwagon "WhO DeYz!!" fans that have come along the last 3 years, and have made it difficult for those with longer memories, who are, justifiably, a bit more jaded.

I recommend repression. It's worked for me. You should try it.

WhO DeYz!!

[BengalszoneBilly]

Just sick of losing, and all the bandwagon "WhO DeYz!!" fans that have come along the last 3 years, and have made it difficult for those with longer memories, who are, justifiably, a bit more jaded.

I recommend repression. It's worked for me. You should try it.

WhO DeYz!!

That's a temporary fix at best DC. I've been waiting for the big win since '68. Nobody can repress something that long for crissakes!

[Stripes]

Not to pick on you, TDB, but you do realize that the Colts are the exception, not the rule?

They may be the exception among Superbowl winners, but not necessarily among winning teams. I went back and compared preseason/regular season records over the past three seasons.

In 2006, nine teams finished the preseason with a winning record. They were Cincinnati, Houston, Jacksonville, Oakland, Denver, New York (NFC), Dallas, Minnesota, and Carolina.

Of those nine, only two finished the 2006 regular season with a winning record -- Denver and Dallas. You may include New York as well because they made the playoffs, but they finished 8-8.

In the 2005 preseason, it was New York (AFC), Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Denver, Dallas, New York (NFC), Minnesota, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, and Arizona.

Six of those eleven did finish winners that regular season, a better showing. They were the Steelers, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Vikings, and Bears.

In 2004, only four of eleven preseason winners became regular season winners. Jets, Browns, Ravens, Titans, Jaguars, Raiders, Cowboys, Redskins, Panthers, Bucs, and Seahawks.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

That's a temporary fix at best DC. I've been waiting for the big win since '68. Nobody can repress something that long for crissakes!

As a wise man once said, "Cocaine's a helluva drug."

[Stripes]

Of course, did I need the preseason to tell me any of that? NO.

Exactly. The Bengals have problems to work out, and everyone here knew that well before the preseason started. I just don't understand why the sky didn't start falling until now.

[HoosierCat]

Not to pick on you, TDB, but you do realize that the Colts are the exception, not the rule?

They may be the exception among Superbowl winners, but not necessarily among winning teams. I went back and compared preseason/regular season records over the past three seasons.

In 2006, nine teams finished the preseason with a winning record. They were Cincinnati, Houston, Jacksonville, Oakland, Denver, New York (NFC), Dallas, Minnesota, and Carolina.

Of those nine, only two finished the 2006 regular season with a winning record -- Denver and Dallas. You may include New York as well because they made the playoffs, but they finished 8-8.

In the 2005 preseason, it was New York (AFC), Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Denver, Dallas, New York (NFC), Minnesota, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, and Arizona.

Six of those eleven did finish winners that regular season, a better showing. They were the Steelers, Broncos, Cowboys, Giants, Vikings, and Bears.

In 2004, only four of eleven preseason winners became regular season winners. Jets, Browns, Ravens, Titans, Jaguars, Raiders, Cowboys, Redskins, Panthers, Bucs, and Seahawks.

Yup. The CHFF guys did a similar analysis a few weeks back:

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Article.php?Page=1532

See Nos. 4 & 5. The bottom line is that a good preseason generally isn't indicative of regular season performance. OTOH, a bad preseason does corellate pretty strongly with a poor-to-mediocre regular season performance.

[HairOnFire]

The bottom line is that a good preseason generally isn't indicative of regular season performance. OTOH, a bad preseason does corellate pretty strongly with a poor-to-mediocre regular season performance.

Maybe the Bengals should play their starters throughout each game for the entire preseason? Granted, that would increase their odds of sustaining a serious injury by an impact player, but by doing so they should be able to go 4-0 in meaningless games, thereby calming most of their very jittery fanbase.

[COB]

I get the impression that losing teams, especially those with new coaches, really care about winning preseason games. They look to establish a winning attitude, and try to bury the losing ethos that has permeated the organization in the years prior. Not so with the Bengals, the Colts, the Ravens, etc. They just want to practice, although they do want to practice well. I watched the end of the Cleveland-KC game a week and a half ago, and when the Browns pulled it out Romeo looked like he'd just won a playoff game. DESPERATE.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

The bottom line is that a good preseason generally isn't indicative of regular season performance. OTOH, a bad preseason does corellate pretty strongly with a poor-to-mediocre regular season performance.

Maybe the Bengals should play their starters throughout each game for the entire preseason? Granted, that would increase their odds of sustaining a serious injury by an impact player, but by doing so they should be able to go 4-0 in meaningless games, thereby calming most of their very jittery fanbase.

Don't know who you're arguing with, there isn't a person here who is claiming that losing a preseason game is indicative of anything.

[BengalszoneBilly]

The bottom line is that a good preseason generally isn't indicative of regular season performance. OTOH, a bad preseason does corellate pretty strongly with a poor-to-mediocre regular season performance.

Maybe the Bengals should play their starters throughout each game for the entire preseason? Granted, that would increase their odds of sustaining a serious injury by an impact player, but by doing so they should be able to go 4-0 in meaningless games, thereby calming most of their very jittery fanbase.

What gets me "jittery" Hair is the feeling that even the starters wouldn't be able to get a 4-0 run in these meaningless games.

[HairOnFire]

Don't know who you're arguing with, there isn't a person here who is claiming that losing a preseason game is indicative of anything.

Uhhhh, I don't blame you for not paying attention, but Hoosier is.

He'll even show you stats that back up the claim.

Oh, and if you ask him the current champions are the exception that proves the rule.