Things I Like

[membengal]

Since 2008 had a bullet put in its head after week 2, everything since then has been about getting ready for 2009 (and especially since Carson's injury). With that in mind, what I like about 2009 at this point:

1. 2009 will have Pat Sims starting from the outset. That guy is an absolute beast in the middle, and gives us a legit DT presence when paired with Peko. In fact, it is not at all surprising that Odom and Geathers have looked frisky the last few weeks, that has coincided with Sims' playing time. That play where Sims ran down Garrard on the sideline was damn impressive, and he mauled the middle of the Jags line (at least two holding calls on the guy trying to stop him). More, please.

2. Leon Hall is making a leap to shutdown corner. I don't know if JJ will ever get there, but Hall is fulfilling his first round promise. He's tight in coverage, and is starting to show a good nose for the ball and breaking up passes. I like.

3. Whitworth. Thank God somebody showed some red ass. There's a leader on the line. Good.

4. Cedric Benson. Sign him to a decent contract, and don't draft a RB. Draft line help. Then draft some more line help.

5. Fitz. At least in 2009 there will be no doubt that we have a decent back-up who can move the team.

Get Carson healthy, draft lineman until you can draft no more, and hope for better days in 2009.

[CJBestInAFC]

Time to give Shirley some playing time and phaze out Thornton. I really want to see Shirley get some snaps. The coaches waited so long to give Sims some playing time and now that they have the D has improved. Now get Shirley in there and stop playing Thornton.

I think you need as you said to sign Benson to a long term deal. The sooner the better and Benson will only get more expensive as the season goes on.

I agree with drafting oline, but I really want to get a stud mlb in the first in next years draft. Dhani Jones has played decent but they are missing an Odell type mlb in there.

[Spor_tees]

Since 2008 had a bullet put in its head after week 2, everything since then has been about getting ready for 2009 (and especially since Carson's injury). With that in mind, what I like about 2009 at this point:

1. 2009 will have Pat Sims starting from the outset. That guy is an absolute beast in the middle, and gives us a legit DT presence when paired with Peko. In fact, it is not at all surprising that Odom and Geathers have looked frisky the last few weeks, that has coincided with Sims' playing time. That play where Sims ran down Garrard on the sideline was damn impressive, and he mauled the middle of the Jags line (at least two holding calls on the guy trying to stop him). More, please.

2. Leon Hall is making a leap to shutdown corner. I don't know if JJ will ever get there, but Hall is fulfilling his first round promise. He's tight in coverage, and is starting to show a good nose for the ball and breaking up passes. I like.

3. Whitworth. Thank God somebody showed some red ass. There's a leader on the line. Good.

4. Cedric Benson. Sign him to a decent contract, and don't draft a RB. Draft line help. Then draft some more line help.

5. Fitz. At least in 2009 there will be no doubt that we have a decent back-up who can move the team.

Get Carson healthy, draft lineman until you can draft no more, and hope for better days in 2009.

And you just fell into the annual vicious Mike Brown cycle of a "Things to look forward to next year" thread....

[membengal]

Bulls**t.

And, f**k off.

What would you have me do, continue to bitch and moan about how awful they are? Jeebus. I have certainly done plenty of that, but at some point, you have to look for what is good. And it is not all bad.

So, f**kface, is there anything good you can take out of this season to this point? If not, why are you here? Just to bitch?

[HoosierCat]

Memo to membengal: time to switch to decaf.

Re point No. 5, Fitz is a UFA after this season. Given all the time he's gotten and the fact he is getting better (all too slowly) re-signing him is probably wise. But whether it happens, we'll see.

[membengal]

Sorry, hoosier, but when I make an effort to actually try and be a little positive, it rubs me the wrong way to have that thrown in my face.

It sux donkey ass to be reduced to sifting through trash for the few bits of goodness, but that's where we are. And, since we are reduced to that, I guess I will make the effort.

Sims' play has been a delight. Hall is moving in the right direction. We have a back-up QB. There are some things that are going okay. It is fair to talk about that, right? Without being accused of being on Mike Brown's payroll?

Seriously, that s**t really pisses me off.

[HoosierCat]

Sims' play has been a delight. Hall is moving in the right direction. We have a back-up QB. There are some things that are going okay. It is fair to talk about that, right? Without being accused of being on Mike Brown's payroll?

Of course it is. I'm just poking ya with a stick.

I've been saying for weeks that we're in preseason 2009, so focusing on individual performances is probably the way to go. When you back up, the fundamental issues remain. The Bengals still struggle to finish (they almost blew it yesterday), they're inconsistent and only sporadically motivated, the coaching is highly suspect at most positions and the offensive playcalling ranges from brilliant to horrible on any given series.

But yeah, it's good to see Sims come on (I didn't think he'd get enough playing tim this year to matter, but fortunately Marvin's love child John Thornton got hurt) and Hall develop. Joseph has been a big disappointment, at least to me. I expected a breakout year from him and instead we got a washout year. Rivers was looking good before he got cheaped by Ward. Whit finally woke up yesterday. Peko needs to step it up a notch after getting paid.

We have some pieces. Remains to be seen if anyone can build a team out of them by next September.

[membengal]

I def won't hold my breath for 2009, but would at least like to feel like a few pieces are in place.

I could not be happier that Thornton finally got hurt. It is shocking how big a difference it makes having someone with talent and not just someone who takes up space in the middle of the line...viva Sims!

I have not checked, but is whatshisface in New Orleans having a big impact at DT? Seems like the Saints are not that great defensively either...and I still think Sims has a chance to be as good.

[HoosierCat]

Nah, surprisingly Ellis hasn't done spit in NO. 5 games, 10 tackles and a sack. Sims has 8 more tackles in one less game.

Now, if Shirley can get the fug out of the courtroom long enough to practice we might actually have a d-line on this team, and wouldn't that be something else?

[Spor_tees]

I def won't hold my breath for 2009, but would at least like to feel like a few pieces are in place.

I could not be happier that Thornton finally got hurt. It is shocking how big a difference it makes having someone with talent and not just someone who takes up space in the middle of the line...viva Sims!

I have not checked, but is whatshisface in New Orleans having a big impact at DT? Seems like the Saints are not that great defensively either...and I still think Sims has a chance to be as good.

Well first off I was simply pointing out the cycle that Mike Brown likes the fans to fall into every year where the team goes through a bad season and then gives just a enough of a hint of hope that it keeps fans interested in the next year.

Now that being said, where are the mods that enforce any forum rules around here? I did not make one personal attack at this guy and he responds with nothing but profanities...

Then I also have to point out how sad it is that someone can sit and say how they are happy to see a player "finally" get hurt. Hoping for a player to lose his starting position because of poor play is one thing...wishing injury on a player is a totally different one. It just isn't classy, in fact it is pretty tasteless.

[membengal]

Trying to pick a fight, spor tees?

Just admit you were being a dick, and move on. I am no happier than you to be looking for progress among the dreck that is this season, but just because we have had to do that before, doesn't mean we can't be doing it now. Admitting that some things have gone well doesn't mean Mike Brown has "won", as I don't foresee myself going to training camp next year, going to a game next year, or otherwise spending money on the team. Will that make a difference to Brown? Of course not, but it is all I can do to "protest". But that doesn't mean I have to stop looking objectively at the team as it is performing right now, does it? Or is commenting that Sims is playing well somehow playing into Brown's hand? Huh? Wtf are you getting at, exactly?

What pissed me off was your dismissive and ill-informed dismissal of a thread that seeks to figure out if anything is going right with this team. If you don't want to participate, f**kin' don't participate. But spare me your officious dropping in with crap comments. There are other threads for that.

As for complaining to the mods, I already apologized to Hoosier above. But I am rather intemperate as a Bengals fan nowadays, and don't appreciate the implication that I am somehow falling into Mike Brown's evil trap by acknowledging a few good things amidst the wreckage of this team's season.

Frankly, Mike Brown doesn't care enough to actually HAVE an evil trap...

[Spor_tees]

Trying to pick a fight, spor tees?

Just admit you were being a dick, and move on. I am no happier than you to be looking for progress among the dreck that is this season, but just because we have had to do that before, doesn't mean we can't be doing it now. Admitting that some things have gone well doesn't mean Mike Brown has "won", as I don't foresee myself going to training camp next year, going to a game next year, or otherwise spending money on the team.

What pissed me off was your dismissive and ill-informed dismissal of a thread that seeks to figure out if anything is going right with this team. If you don't want to participate, f**kin' don't participate. But spare me your officious dropping in with crap comments. There are other threads for that.

No there are things going right for the team, Ndukwe is playing like a future pro-bowler, Simms is finally getting to play after getting healthy, and TJ is playing like he did last year despite playing with a back-up QB. That said, This is what we go through almost every year..."Man I can't wait until next year..." I'm sorry but it is only one game past the HALF WAY point in the season and we already talking about next year. No I am not being a "dick" and I did not make any personal attacks at you that would validate what you said in response. In fact I think it is pretty funny that after what you posted, you are looking for me to say that *I* was trying to be a "dick" and trying to pick a fight. Like I said in my last post, I was simply pointing out how pathetic it is as Bengal fans that we go through this cycle annually of looking forward to a season only to be heartbroken half-way through the season and then have to look for bright spots to look forward to in the next one. If you can't understand that, then I don't know what to tell you, but you could have taken your own advice, and not replied to my post instead of stooping to personal attacks.

[HoosierCat]

Can't you just feel the love in this thread?

[membengal]

There you go, spor tees! That wasn't too hard, was it? I agree on Ndukwe making a leap to being a solid starter, more than I ever could have expected with him coming out of Nottre Dame. I also agree with TJ being a pro.

I did NOT offer this thread as a "wait til next year", as I don't know that next year will be any better. But, while we wait to find out, we can discuss what is going well and not going well, no?

At any rate, stop bitching about "personal attacks", you are better than that. Apology accepted.

[membengal]

Can't you just feel the love in this thread?

Thing that's pissing me off is it is making me look anything but apathetic...

[HairOnFire]

Can't you just feel the love in this thread?

Thing that's pissing me off is it is making me look anything but apathetic...

I'm living proof that if a poster wants to appear truly apathetic the correct and proper approach is to ignore undeserving football teams until they finally show a pulse.

That said, my calendar says it's the bye week, a time to pause and reflect, and I'm actually in the mood for one of those "wait til next year" threads.

[HairOnFire]

Joseph has been a big disappointment, at least to me. I expected a breakout year from him and instead we got a washout year.

It doesn't have to be a washout. The year isn't over and Joseph might actually benefit from hitting bottom, as he clearly did against the Texans. For example, after Lewis and Zimmer each finally called Joseph out in the press he responded against the Jags rather than going into a shell or an even deeper funk. And while he made a few mistakes he also made plays....including the last one.

[BengalPimp]

Joseph has been a big disappointment, at least to me. I expected a breakout year from him and instead we got a washout year.

It doesn't have to be a washout. The year isn't over and Joseph might actually benefit from hitting bottom, as he clearly did against the Texans. For example, after Lewis and Zimmer each finally called Joseph out in the press he responded against the Jags rather than going into a shell or an even deeper funk. And while he made a few mistakes he also made plays....including the last one.

And his 15 tackles vs. the Jags

[ArmyBengal]

I would align myself with the train of thought that would wait for more than one 100 yard game from Benson "before" we sign him to some multi million dollar contract for many years. Don't misunderstand me here. I like what we've seen to this point and hope Benson continues to improve. I just don't want to see a knee jerk reaction to the first sign of a running game. Consistency would be the decision maker in this one for me.

Oh yeah, how bad is Chris Perry ?? I can't see him back in stripes next season...

[BengalszoneBilly]

Oh yeah, how bad is Chris Perry ?? I can't see him back in stripes next season...

Cut the bust now! Even healthy (which is rare) he brings nothing to the team.

[HairOnFire]

Oh yeah, how bad is Chris Perry ??

Well, let's give Perry some credit.

Granted, he only made one play against the Jags worth mentioning, but he somehow managed it without screaming out the word Fu@k so loudly that it could be heard by sideline microphones.

That may be a first for him.