This Has Been the Best Off-season Since...

[TJJackson]

For release to the press immediately: I hate Chad Johnson too, and I have no therapist.

[derekshank]

I also hate Chad Johnson. I have since '05. The fact that he wears the colors I cheer for don't change the fact that I think he's one of the biggest douce bags in the NFL.

That said... I'll weigh in. I'm not particularly optimistic about this season. The defensive depth concerns me greatly. I don't think a mere coordinator change is going to be a quick fix on a defense where lack of depth and top tier talent is the clear problem.

That said... I'm deciding to jump on the bandwagon that the offense is going to return to '05 form. Chris Henry was a rookie during the '05 season... so I see no reason to assume that a rookie WR can't be proficient. Add into that the real added weapon of Utecht at TE (a position that Carson Palmer has never had a true weapon at in his career) and a seemingly healthy and deep O-Line (something we haven't seen since '05) gives me reason to expect a lot of scoring.

I don't think the Bengals are a playoff team. But I think they'll be fun to watch while losing games 45 to 42.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I also hate Chad Johnson. I have since '05. The fact that he wears the colors I cheer for don't change the fact that I think he's one of the biggest douce bags in the NFL.

That said... I'll weigh in. I'm not particularly optimistic about this season. The defensive depth concerns me greatly. I don't think a mere coordinator change is going to be a quick fix on a defense where lack of depth and top tier talent is the clear problem.

That said... I'm deciding to jump on the bandwagon that the offense is going to return to '05 form. Chris Henry was a rookie during the '05 season... so I see no reason to assume that a rookie WR can't be proficient. Add into that the real added weapon of Utecht at TE (a position that Carson Palmer has never had a true weapon at in his career) and a seemingly healthy and deep O-Line (something we haven't seen since '05) gives me reason to expect a lot of scoring.

I don't think the Bengals are a playoff team. But I think they'll be fun to watch while losing games 45 to 42.

I am one that believes the Bengals have all the makings of being a somewhat sleeper team this season. A strong DC makes all the difference in a defense, if you have the players, which I believe the Bengals do. Position by position, the Bengals on par with most of the league, minus maybe San Diego and Dallas. An agressive scheme will really bring out the best of the athletes we have in Geathers, Odom, Joseph, Hall, Rivers, Brooks and Peko who are near the best at their positions. Throw in another year under the belt for Nduke and White and consistent play from guys like Jackson and D.Jones with the potential of Sims and Shirley and the defense could be top-10, under Zimmer.

Offensively, I think this year's team, barring injuries will be as effective, if not as explosive as the '05 squad. It is diificult to replace a Chris Henry, as we have found out over the last 2 seasons, but I think that the combination of Utecht, Simpson, Caldwell and Holt/Chatman should account for at least 100 catches and 10 TD's, which should suffice from a 3rd/4th receiving option. If Perry and Rudi stay healthy, then the offense has a chance to be the best in the league, if you consider the defections/injuries of the Patriots and Colts.

[derekshank]

I am one that believes the Bengals have all the makings of being a somewhat sleeper team this season. A strong DC makes all the difference in a defense, if you have the players, which I believe the Bengals do. Position by position, the Bengals on par with most of the league, minus maybe San Diego and Dallas. An agressive scheme will really bring out the best of the athletes we have in Geathers, Odom, Joseph, Hall, Rivers, Brooks and Peko who are near the best at their positions. Throw in another year under the belt for Nduke and White and consistent play from guys like Jackson and D.Jones with the potential of Sims and Shirley and the defense could be top-10, under Zimmer.

Offensively, I think this year's team, barring injuries will be as effective, if not as explosive as the '05 squad. It is diificult to replace a Chris Henry, as we have found out over the last 2 seasons, but I think that the combination of Utecht, Simpson, Caldwell and Holt/Chatman should account for at least 100 catches and 10 TD's, which should suffice from a 3rd/4th receiving option. If Perry and Rudi stay healthy, then the offense has a chance to be the best in the league, if you consider the defections/injuries of the Patriots and Colts.

I'm with you on the offense. I really am. I think that Carson Palmer has the potential to be the best value pick in fantasy football this year. But I just don't see eye to eye with you on the defense.

I like Peko... but he can't do it by himself. Thornton sucks and I'm not ready to put my hope in a rookie DT as of yet. Especially ones that weren't taken on the first day of the draft. With that being the case... I'm not sure how much hope I can put in Geathers. I love Geathers - but he can't be effective when he's the only weapon that an O-Line needs to focus on. Time will tell if Odom and Peko can do enough to get Geathers back to his double digit sack season - but for now I'm not too optimistic about this D-Line. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong.

I do like the secondary of this team. I love the CB's. I think Joseph, Hall, and Deltha can match up as effectively as any team in the league. I'm not as giddy about the safety situation as others... but because I like the CB's so much, I think it's good enough.

The LB's worry me a lot. I don't think Dhani Jones is a NFL quality starting MLB. He'd be a fantastic back-up at multiple positions who can fill in and be a fan favorite for that reason. But as a starting MLB... I just don't like it. I of course like Rivers... but he's a rookie, and Brooks has yet to show me that he can be the stud that I hoped he could be. But even more concerning than the starters is the depth. The Bengals have had serious problems with injuries to LB the last few years. Brooks and Jeanty don't appear to be durable... and if Dhani Jones gets hurt, who will be the starting MLB? Good God that's a bad situation.

While I believe that Zimmer could possibly improve this defense with a change in scheme - I don't see the talent level to get this team in the top half of the league. All I really hope for is that he cuts Brooks loose as a pass-rusher. I could see this team being decent in the pass rush for the first time in decades (which would most likely result in more int's). But I also see this defense as a couple injuries away from the worst in the league.

If this is a playoff team, it's going to have to look like the Colts. Just find a way to outscore everyone.

[TippCityRick]

I agree with you Derek that this defense is a couple of injuries away from being one of the worst in the league. However I like what they've done and barring catistrophic injuries like last year, they should be better overall. This is especially true if the offense returns to form and doesn't have nearly as many three-and-outs.

[derekshank]

I agree with you Derek that this defense is a couple of injuries away from being one of the worst in the league. However I like what they've done and barring catistrophic injuries like last year, they should be better overall. This is especially true if the offense returns to form and doesn't have nearly as many three-and-outs.

Yeah man. I buy that. The defense shouldn't be much worse. Injuries have killed them the last two years. I can believe they will make strides (assuming the same types of injuries don't reoccur). I just don't see this being a squad that breaks the top 15. And I don't see this being a playoff team without something close to that happening. I believe the Bengals will be ready to make an '09 run. If this year serves as the stepping stone... I'm cool with that. But I would like another playoff appearance to get me excited again. Hopefully the defense will prove me wrong - and the offense will prove me right.

[BengalszoneBilly]

The defense shouldn't be much worse. Injuries have killed them the last two years. I can believe they will make strides (assuming the same types of injuries don't reoccur). I just don't see this being a squad that breaks the top 15.

I'll be thrilled if they break the top twenty! Who knows...stranger things have happened.

[HairOnFire]

Congratulations on your promotion to the biggest putz on the board.....Shula will be so disappointed.

And props to you BengalByTheBay, for sweeping all of the awards related to the size and quality of a poster's vagina. It's nice to see your pussified mewlings finally recognized for what they've always been.

[HairOnFire]

That said... I'll weigh in. I'm not particularly optimistic about this season.

Careful now. Several of us have said no more than the above yet our sanity was quickly called into question.

I don't think the Bengals are a playoff team.

I agree. However, on the upside....we're now free to laugh at the dips**ts who seem determined to convince themselves that the Bengals are no worse than ALL of the teams within their division.

[HairOnFire]

I believe the Bengals will be ready to make an '09 run. If this year serves as the stepping stone... I'm cool with that.

Pretty much matches my own thoughts, and thus.....explains why I'm NOT as interested as I normally would be at this time of year.

[ArmyBengal]

I will say that I am optimistic about this year. Am I thinking we make the playoffs ?? Maybe, maybe not. I think I'm just more optimistic that the team will improve this season and will continue to improve. With that, injuries and things going your way or not can go a long way to determine how the Bengals or any team in the Division will finish. We finish this season on the easier side of the scedule (as it appears) and if the team progresses quickly, anything can happen.

I won't fault anyone for thinking this team is not going to make it happen this year and won't call names. I'll just remain slightly optimistic and hope for good things. It's just not as fun thinking you are going to suck and pack it in. Sort of like Dolphins fans...

WHODEY !!!

[Ickey44]

I think this team has the talent and potential. Where I think we lack has been coaching. I'm optimistic about Zimmer, but I still think we need a less predictable and more aggressive play-caller on the offensive side of the ball. Our horrid red-zone percentage last year is due to, in my opinion, Bratkowski's lack of imaginitive play calling.

[HairOnFire]

I won't fault anyone for thinking this team is not going to make it happen this year and won't call names.

(((shrug)))

I've said it before and I'll repeat it yet again. Name calling gets a bad rap.

Name calling is little more than verbal shorthand that allows the writer, or reader, to better understand where the other guy is coming from. It's really nothing more than the quickest way for someone to move a personal relationship from where everyone is to where everyone knows they're going to be eventually.

For example, I stepped away from the board for nearly three months yet almost immediately upon my return I was greeted by another estrogen-laden broadside from BengalByTheBay. Now, what I might have done so many months ago to enrage him so bitterly that he continues bleating like a little girl is something I can neither guess or or pretend to care about very much. Crying chest-beaters simply don't concern me very much.

However, by calling me names immediately and without any further provocation BengalByTheBay has let me know his internal hissy fit is still in full estrogenic bloom, and that's valuable information for me to have. In fact, it tells me all I need to know about his current opinion of me, and thus...tips me off about how to respond to his estrogenic ravings in the near future. And as many of you may have noted, I quickly responded in kind by calling BengalByTheBay a mewling pussified girl. Honor, and the rules of fair play, according to Hoyle, demanded I do no less.

So let's see what happens now.

[ArmyBengal]

Hair, I was only speaking for myself and try with every ounce of being NOT to speak for anyone else, as I think that is d*mned near impossible. That being said, I have never been offended by the whole name calling thing and 99% of the time I find it rather amusing. Hell on another website I was on the other day, one thread opened with an uncensored line of, "Why are you such a F*CK ??"...

I immediately started laughing and thought to myself, "nothing like cutting to the chase"...

WHODEY !!!

[BengalszoneBilly]

Name calling is little more than verbal shorthand that allows the writer, or reader, to better understand where the other guy is coming from. It's really nothing more than the quickest way for someone to move a personal relationship from where everyone is to where everyone knows they're going to be eventually.

For example, I stepped away from the board for nearly three months yet almost immediately upon my return I was greeted by another estrogen-laden broadside from BengalByTheBay. Now, what I might have done so many months ago to enrage him so bitterly that he continues bleating like a little girl is something I can neither guess or or pretend to care about very much. Crying chest-beaters simply don't concern me very much.

However, by calling me names immediately and without any further provocation BengalByTheBay has let me know his internal hissy fit is still in full estrogenic bloom, and that's valuable information for me to have. In fact, it tells me all I need to know about his current opinion of me, and thus...tips me off about how to respond to his estrogenic ravings in the near future. And as many of you may have noted, I quickly responded in kind by calling BengalByTheBay a mewling pussified girl. Honor, and the rules of fair play, according to Hoyle, demanded I do no less.

So let's see what happens now.

Hair, you took a hiatus for your own reasons. To come back slinging your as always biting satire back and forth with another member and play the part of the offended party I find out of your nature.

As far as what happens now is presently an unknown. But if hostilities persist between people, threads will be closed, and the forum will be poorer for it.

[Stripes]

I feel like I've definitely seen worse offseasons, and I agree with most of the positives mentioned in mem's initial post. Even still though, I worry that the best of those positives (the current results of the Chad drama) will only manifest itself negatively when the season is actually underway. After all of his carrying on, I can't imagine Chad will play nice for seventeen weeks or longer.

I liked the draft, but that's essentially meaningless right now having no real playtime to assess. The Zimmer hire still looks good, but that's the same scenario. Nobody knows what affect that'll have yet.

The worst circumstance the Bengals will face remains the same as it was prior to last season's end: the strength of the division. Even with a surprising upswing in performance, Cincinnati will be competing with three franchises that are more than capable of playing even better.

[HairOnFire]

Hair, you took a hiatus for your own reasons. To come back slinging your as always biting satire back and forth with another member and play the part of the offended party I find out of your nature.

But you're dead wrong, Billy. I simply can't be considered the offended party if I have no problem with name calling, right? And not only have I no problem with name calling....it's fair to say I haven't slung very much biting satire since returning. In fact, I can't think of anything I've said that could be even described as controversial or for that matter hasn't been said by others. No, in this example the offended party is very clearly BengalBytheBay, and it's clear her panties are still tightly bunched over some past unforgiven slight that happened months or years ago.

Why should I care?

As far as what happens now is presently an unknown. But if hostilities persist between people, threads will be closed, and the forum will be poorer for it.

Life is full of tragedies both great and small. This won't be one of them.

[rwalling]

Name calling is little more than verbal shorthand that allows the writer, or reader, to better understand where the other guy is coming from. It's really nothing more than the quickest way for someone to move a personal relationship from where everyone is to where everyone knows they're going to be eventually.

For example, I stepped away from the board for nearly three months yet almost immediately upon my return I was greeted by another estrogen-laden broadside from BengalByTheBay. Now, what I might have done so many months ago to enrage him so bitterly that he continues bleating like a little girl is something I can neither guess or or pretend to care about very much. Crying chest-beaters simply don't concern me very much.

However, by calling me names immediately and without any further provocation BengalByTheBay has let me know his internal hissy fit is still in full estrogenic bloom, and that's valuable information for me to have. In fact, it tells me all I need to know about his current opinion of me, and thus...tips me off about how to respond to his estrogenic ravings in the near future. And as many of you may have noted, I quickly responded in kind by calling BengalByTheBay a mewling pussified girl. Honor, and the rules of fair play, according to Hoyle, demanded I do no less.

So let's see what happens now.

Hair, you took a hiatus for your own reasons. To come back slinging your as always biting satire back and forth with another member and play the part of the offended party I find out of your nature.

As far as what happens now is presently an unknown. But if hostilities persist between people, threads will be closed, and the forum will be poorer for it.

Billy,

You advance a well-reasoned, thoughtful response. Unfortunately, this is not a rational, thoughtful issue for some posters, nor do they respond to reason and change their behavior. To paraphrase Dark Knight: Some posters just like to watch the thread burn.

Thanks anyway for trying.

[Ickey44]

Didn't this thread used to be about the Bengals?

[BengalszoneBilly]

But you're dead wrong, Billy.

Don't worry. I've ridden that horse before, and will likely saddle up again.

Life is full of tragedies both great and small. This won't be one of them.

Good news. I appreciate it.

Didn't this thread used to be about the Bengals?

It did, and I was guilty as anyone for derailing it. As far as my opinion on this off-season, I already voiced it.

But...what would really make me feel better about it is getting most if not all of our rookies into camp ON TIME. As membengal posted, there is rapid progress being made with key potentially impact players. Good news indeed, especially for the defense. What would be great news is having Rivers inked soon afterwards.

Here's to hoping!

[Ickey44]

Rivers is the only one left to sign, right?