2012 Douchebag Predictions Thread

[bwillycuse]

Bengals 7.5 wins

/>http://usat.ly/LH4ebi

Call me homer, I don't care, but i'll take the over...

umm.ill definitely take the over and ill take the under for the browns at 5.5 wins.

[derekshank]

Matt Miller has the Bengals Winning the AFC North.

He also has the Steelers missing the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

[ArmyBengal]

Nice to see the Bengals geting some love.

Here's to hoping they play up to that line of thought.

[cincyhokie]

Matt Miller has the Bengals Winning the AFC North.

He also has the Steelers missing the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

The Steelers might be in for one of their dropoff years, but I just don't know if I'd count on it.

I also don't see the Browns going 3-13. In fact, I could see all of the AFCN finishing within 6-10 and 10-6.

[Stripes]

If I had to predict the division standings, I'd put Pittsburgh on top of them.

[HoosierCat]

The Cryptkeeper predicts the AFCN records:

Baltimore 10-6

Pittsburgh 10-6

Cincinnati 8-8

Cleveland 4-12

Hensley's take (based on his comments):

Pittsburgh 11-5

Cincinnati 10-6

Baltimore 9-7

Cleveland 4-12

I'm feeling closer to 8-8 than I am to 10-6 at the moment. That may change once camp gets underway.

[ArmyBengal]

Honestly, i'm more in line with Hensley's take at 10 wins.

I really don't see an 8-8 season when looking at things.

We have a bunch of talent and now have depth at most spots on the roster.

I'm not concerned about our #2 WR, because we have a bunch of guys there and Gresham and Charles at TE.

The safety spot concerns me if injuries hit and moreso if that player is Nelson.

I also don't think the linebacking corps can afford to lose one of the starters either.

Outside of that, I think the whole "next man up" approach will work.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I'll make no predictions until the conclusion of preseason, but I'm leaning towards the 8-10 range.

[HoosierCat]

In 2011, Andy Dalton was the No. 33 QB in a 32 team league -- with the arrow pointing down, according to John Clayton.

in 2012, he's the No 19 QB in the league and may break into the top 10, according to Jaws.

What a difference a year makes, eh?

[HoosierCat]

And here's Clayton with his obligatory douchebag prediction.

/>http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8084947/nfl-which-playoff-teams-repeat

[HoosierCat]

And ESPN continues to pile on.

I felt dumber after watching that video. As usual, there's no actual analysis, just a bunch of feeble commentary about youth and a supposedly tough schedule. Oh, and some yammering about how Dalton and Green might have been a fluke (no rationale cited).

[ArmyBengal]

I don't really care about the opinion of those two. It's apparent they haven't really been doing much research.

Their thoughts seem very lazy to me and again, I don't really care.

When you have guy like Kiper that make comments like this:

Last season, the Bengals improved on the defensive side of the ball, and I wonder if they are ready to become one of the better defenses in the NFL in 2012. But don't be surprised if the best defense in the AFC North isn't from Pittsburgh or Baltimore in 2012.

And this from Hensley that has actually been to a Bengals camp and watched the team, when asked about predictions:

I'm not giving any iron-clad predictions yet. But two that pop to mind as possibilities (and both are Bengals-related): A.J. Green leads the NFL in touchdown catches or the Bengals finish with best defense in the division. Just something to ponder.

Color me unconcerned about Whiley's and Woody's comments.

Honestly, while I really am optimistic about this season and think they are capable of making another playoff appearance, it won't surprise me to see the Bengals, Steelers, or Ravens finish in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place. It could go any sorts of different ways.

[HoosierCat]

Doc drinks the Kool-Aid.

/>http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120724/COL03/307240064/Pre-training-camp-luncheon-has-different-feel?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p

Also, Prisco predicts the Bengals make it to the AFC Championship game.

Daugherty & Prisco both climbing on the bandwagon? Ye gods...

[derekshank]

Matt Miller is a better draft scout than an NFL analyst in my opinion, but he did some offense power rankings, and has the Bengals Offense Ranked 14th.

That's the best of the AFC North... and he says they have the ability to end the season as a top 5 offense. Wow.

He loved Dalton coming out of college (had him ranked as his #1 QB prospect leading up to the 2011 draft), so it doesn't surprise me that he's sticking to his guns... but wow.

[ArmyBengal]

I think this is the season the offense makes some strides.

I'm sure you could easily argue the flip side to the coin and say they are inexperienced, but I think things will go well.

Nice read by Miller. Thanks Derek.

[HoosierCat]

I do expect the offense to get better this season, but I don't see a leap from last year (18th in points, 20th in yards) to the top 5.

[derekshank]

Matt Miller's Power Rankings have the Ravens at #11, the Bengals at #12, and the Steelers at #13. Interesting division battle to say the least.

Miller's write-up of the Bengals is pretty positive overall.

[COB]

Doc drinks the Kool-Aid.

/>http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120724/COL03/307240064/Pre-training-camp-luncheon-has-different-feel?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p

Also, Prisco predicts the Bengals make it to the AFC Championship game.

Daugherty & Prisco both climbing on the bandwagon? Ye gods...

LMAO. Classic "Lucy Pulls The Football Away" setup for this season. I still don't care and when we get a thread going to post our own predictions for this season, I'm going to be downright reckless.

[HoosierCat]

Here's Mike & Mike's Bengals 2-a-day:

/>http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8306347

Greenie predicts 8-8, Golic 9-7.

[volcom69]

Here's Mike & Mike's Bengals 2-a-day:

/>http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=8306347

Greenie predicts 8-8, Golic 9-7.

I just hope guys start getting healthy. That's what I'm very worried about, and the secondary,

[volcom69]

Listening to a little Sirus radio they were not high on the Bengals at all.

Most thing i found interesting was they thought Dalton was going to have a big sophmore slump. I sometimes worry about the slump as well, but Andy is a smart QB who dosnt let alot phase him. I just hope starting Monday that we see a different Andy, and a guy who looks like he is getting better on every play. So heres hoping the o-line gives him time, and hits the recievers in stride.

[ArmyBengal]

The sophomore slump is just one of those things people like to point, but is worked around if the team continues to build around that QB. While I don't think the Bengals did enough in the running game, they did attempt to build the o-line even though injuries hit. I also think the WR corps is better now than at the end of last season. Some may say there is no clear cut #2, but I think these guys are going to surprise some people with their ability.

When it comes to Dalton, I think he will have another solid season as QB, but if they were to have a better running game and not have two starters on the o-line eat it, it would take the pressure off him a bit.

This team is building though and it would not surprise me to see the o-line addressed again in the early rounds, along with a shiny new RB. This is a young team and minus some horrific injury, will be ok moving forward. As a fan, this hasn't been the feeling i've had with this team until recently.

[cincyhokie]

The sophomore slump is just one of those things people like to point, but is worked around if the team continues to build around that QB. While I don't think the Bengals did enough in the running game, they did attempt to build the o-line even though injuries hit. I also think the WR corps is better now than at the end of last season. Some may say there is no clear cut #2, but I think these guys are going to surprise some people with their ability.

When it comes to Dalton, I think he will have another solid season as QB, but if they were to have a better running game and not have two starters on the o-line eat it, it would take the pressure off him a bit.

This team is building though and it would not surprise me to see the o-line addressed again in the early rounds, along with a shiny new RB. This is a young team and minus some horrific injury, will be ok moving forward. As a fan, this hasn't been the feeling i've had with this team until recently.

Good points.

Every season the football universe makes predictions based off the draft, then it's the preseason even though they all say the preseason doesn't mean anything. Unless good teams win and bad teams struggle. Then it's indicative of how the season will go. Add in last season's failures and successes and then you have the formula for the visiting Cowboys to be 5 point underdogs to the Giants. Nobody gives the Cowboys a chance and they come in and handle the Giants.

Let's wait until Monday. Like you said, I think we're going to be ok.

[HoosierCat]

The sophomore slump doesn't exist. Sirius needs to keep up.

/>http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/8/27/3270559/andy-dalton-and-the-sophomore-slump-revisited

[COB]

Listening to a little Sirus radio they were not high on the Bengals at all.

Most thing i found interesting was they thought Dalton was going to have a big sophmore slump. I sometimes worry about the slump as well, but Andy is a smart QB who dosnt let alot phase him. I just hope starting Monday that we see a different Andy, and a guy who looks like he is getting better on every play. So heres hoping the o-line gives him time, and hits the recievers in stride.

Last year Pat Kirwan, who is on Sirius' Movin' the Chains show, and who I respect a lot, seriously did not think Andy Dalton would succeed. He's usually, at the very least, a wait and see type guy. But every time Andy's name came up, Pat would say he didn't think Dalton would be the answer, and he felt the Bengals would have a season similar to 2010. Now I listen to him closely when Andy's name comes up, but haven't heard him say anything overly negative or positive. I think he's in the wait and see mode now, a year late.