Browns @ Bengals Pregame Thread

[Tommy]

We ain't gonna make the damn playoffs next year either, Hoyer was ok, but he's got game tape on him now. And with some rookie qb at the helm? Na. Were doomed forever.

[combatbengal]

Hey, we're (the site) finally back up! Glad we got that win, I do have to admit, I was screaming bench Dalton in the first quarter!! If we're going to go anywhere in the playoffs, or even make the playoffs, Dalton and that offense better wake up and figure out how to sustain drive, score TD's and put points on the board. These penalties, three and outs and turnovers won't cut it!

Props to our Def, they're beat up but dang on it, they show up week after week and keep us in games! Hats off to special teams too. Two blocked punts was awesome!!

Take this week to heal, find a way to fix this offense and lets finish out this season strong. Love to see some home playoff wins this season!!

Who Dey.

[combatbengal]

Oh and that was a nice payback for game one!! In reality, the Bengals should be 10-1 right now. Cleveland was the only team that out right beat us. We beat ourselves in the other three losses!!

[HoosierCat]

This was never the Browns year. Next year they'll make the playoffs. Not this year. Not at any point were they going to make it.

Are they better than the Bengals? Nope. Next season maybe it's a different story.

I thought the Browns had shot at making some noise before the season. The D looked legit, they had a healthy Richardson and all they needed from Weed was to manage the game and lob the occasional bomb to Gordon. Then Gordon got suspended, Weed went to pot and they traded Richardson for 1,001-year-old Magahee. I have to hand it to the team for not folding earlier this year but I have no idea what their front office's plan is.

[cincyhokie]

We ain't gonna make the damn playoffs next year either, Hoyer was ok, but he's got game tape on him now. And with some rookie qb at the helm? Na. Were doomed forever.

Do Bengals fans swing this fast after one game? Always remember the team is never as good as they look on their best days. They're also never as bad as they look on their worst ones.

The Browns have plenty of talent to build off of. Find a QB (with 2 first round picks that could happen) and things could get really interesting.

[Tommy]

TRich is horrible and we fleeced the Colts. Mcgahee is gone most likely, he was there for "veteran leadership" and Norv Turner likes his smaller fast backs like sproles etc. I just read a stat that we... The Cleveland freaking 3 qb Browns have thrown more than any other team in the league, yes more than Peyton and Matt Stafford. Just unreal Norv needs to have his head examined. And it's not like we've had to throw a ton to catch up, we've been in almost every game.

[HoosierCat]

Do Bengals fans swing this fast after one game? Always remember the team is never as good as they look on their best days. They're also never as bad as they look on their worst ones.

All football fans swing this fast after one game. It's what we do. A win means the Lombardi is just around the corner. Lose and everyone should be cut/fired, the stadium burned down and the ground salted.

[volcom69]

TRich is horrible and we fleeced the Colts. Mcgahee is gone most likely, he was there for "veteran leadership" and Norv Turner likes his smaller fast backs like sproles etc. I just read a stat that we... The Cleveland freaking 3 qb Browns have thrown more than any other team in the league, yes more than Peyton and Matt Stafford. Just unreal Norv needs to have his head examined. And it's not like we've had to throw a ton to catch up, we've been in almost every game.

Dalton going into the browns game lead the league in pass attempts, and to me that's just horrible.

[Scottishbengal]

Do Bengals fans swing this fast after one game? Always remember the team is never as good as they look on their best days. They're also never as bad as they look on their worst ones.

All football fans swing this fast after one game. It's what we do. A win means the Lombardi is just around the corner. Lose and everyone should be cut/fired, the stadium burned down and the ground salted.

Knee-jerk reactions borne out of intense passion for your team, severe annoynace when it goes titties up and great euphoria when it all goes right. This is why we love the game right? And being a fan of any team = an emotional rollercoaster ride, just depends on the team how up are the up's and how down are the down's

[ArmyBengal]

Teams are always looking for the next Peyton Manning or Tom Brady.

Thing is, those types of guys only come around so often.

Even getting someone above average is lucky.

You need not look any further than teams that keep taking QB's in the first round each year.

It's also the reason the thought of replacing Dalton is a worry for so many.

You could do SOOOO much worse.

Don't think so ?? How's Blaine Gabbert (10th overall) doing these days ??

[cincyhokie]

Teams are always looking for the next Peyton Manning or Tom Brady.

Thing is, those types of guys only come around so often.

Even getting someone above average is lucky.

You need not look any further than teams that keep taking QB's in the first round each year.

It's also the reason the thought of replacing Dalton is a worry for so many.

You could do SOOOO much worse.

Don't think so ?? How's Blaine Gabbert (10th overall) doing these days ??

Very true. Getting even a mid-level QB is not the same as getting a top quality lineman, for example. Top level QB's come out every 2-3 years, if that. This is why I'm more for improving the interior of the O-line and adding depth to it overall. A Dalton with time to throw is a pretty damn good QB.

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, minus the need to draft a CB, improving the interior of the o-line would be paramount in my opinion.

They have a slew of WR's, they have Gio and two talented TE's.

Giving Dalton an upgrade in the interior of his o-line would be VERY welcomed.

I'm with TJ and his saying in regards to the draft.

I might tweak it to read, "GIMME AT LEAST TWO LINEMEN" !!!

[Sea Ray]

Problem is they've tried to address the interior of the line and improvement has been marginal. Boling and Zeitler are very recent additions and Cook, somewhat recent. I'm all for improving the interior but they need to do a better job

[cincyhokie]

I think that Cook and Boling should be replaced. Boling with a better shot of being taken out. Cook signed an extension so that's doubtful. However, they'd better figure out a plan for him in playing Ngata in the game coming up because each and every time he gets abused.

[kingwilly]

Problem is they've tried to address the interior of the line and improvement has been marginal. Boling and Zeitler are very recent additions and Cook, somewhat recent. I'm all for improving the interior but they need to do a better job

To me, Cook is the weak link.

Zeitler has been solid, if not great.

Boling has improved and will continue if permitted.

Other option is to bring Whit inside to finish career, and roll Collins at LT (maybe expensive but then so is getting your QB killed).

Robinson at C would at least offer a guy with proper experience.

So, Collins - Whit - Robinson - Zeitler - Big Dre

hooked on pu-honics...works for me.

[ArmyBengal]

I guess it depends on what one considers making attempts to upgrade.

I think Boling is getting better, but I have never been a fan of Cook.

He might be a heady player, but he gets ran over and get silly penalties.

I don't know much about the centers in the upcoming draft though.

[Sea Ray]

I guess it depends on what one considers making attempts to upgrade.

I think Boling is getting better, but I have never been a fan of Cook.

He might be a heady player, but he gets ran over and get silly penalties.

I don't know much about the centers in the upcoming draft though.

The best thing that can be said of Cook is that he's better than his predecessor , Guy-suck

[COB]

I just saw Guy-suck at my local grocery store, getting trampled by old ladies in the produce aisle. I helped him up, but then a 98 year-old bumped him with her half full cart.

Down he went.

[Sea Ray]

I just saw Guy-suck at my local grocery store, getting trampled by old ladies in the produce aisle. I helped him up, but then a 98 year-old bumped him with her half full cart.

Down he went.

He couldn't block a herd of termites

[GapControl]

It's true, the Browns D did dominate...for the first 15 minutes. Dalton had just 19 yards passing and completed as many passes to Joe Haden as he did to guys in orange shirts. The run game added whopping 8 net yards. Subtract the penalties on a Cook and Whit and Cincy had 7 net yards for the first period.

The rest of the game? Not so much. Dalton went 10 of 19 for 70-odd yards and 3 TDs. For quarters 2-4 his QB rating was 101.1. He didn't rack up big yards, but didn't need to because, one, turnovers set the O up deep in Cleveland territory, and two, the run game took off. BJGE and Gio combined for 99 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Moral of the story? Gotta play all four quarters.

Have to disagree about the run game. I have it as 22 carries for 86 yards at 3.9 yards a carry after the 2nd quarter. Ist half stats at 9 for 20.

Considering the Browns were playing from way WAY behind I wouldn`t be shocked to find they were doing everything possible to prevent a huge pass play in the second half, giving the Bengals a little room to work the run game.

[cincyhokie]

It's true, the Browns D did dominate...for the first 15 minutes. Dalton had just 19 yards passing and completed as many passes to Joe Haden as he did to guys in orange shirts. The run game added whopping 8 net yards. Subtract the penalties on a Cook and Whit and Cincy had 7 net yards for the first period.

The rest of the game? Not so much. Dalton went 10 of 19 for 70-odd yards and 3 TDs. For quarters 2-4 his QB rating was 101.1. He didn't rack up big yards, but didn't need to because, one, turnovers set the O up deep in Cleveland territory, and two, the run game took off. BJGE and Gio combined for 99 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Moral of the story? Gotta play all four quarters.

Have to disagree about the run game. I have it as 22 carries for 86 yards at 3.9 yards a carry after the 2nd quarter. Ist half stats at 9 for 20.

Considering the Browns were playing from way WAY behind I wouldn`t be shocked to find they were doing everything possible to prevent a huge pass play in the second half, giving the Bengals a little room to work the run game.

You'd think it would be the opposite as controlling the clock with the run is the death knell for a team down by multiple scores. I have to disagree. They knew the Bengals were running and simply couldn't stop them (for the most part) in the second half.

[GapControl]

I thought it would be the opposite, too but I didn`t really see the Browns playing many run based defenses. Seemed like they were in the same packages as the first half. I guess therein lies my point. The Browns didn`t load the box but were still able to make the Bengals work for a tough 86 yards in the second half. I think the telling stat is how many times were the Bengals forced to punt...

[ArmyBengal]

A telling stat is seeing the Bengals eat up 17 minutes worth of clock in the second half.

This put the Browns in situations they would have rather not been in.

Having to go for it on 4th down twice in the 4th quarter (both failed) and then a passing play that led to an INT.

[GapControl]

looked it up. Bengals had 5 punts in the first half and 4 punts in the second. That just doesn`t suggest a dominating running game. I will concede it helped flip field position but I just can`t get excited about what they did in the game running the ball.

I mentioned this to another die-hard fan after the win. Boling was the NEXT in LINE replacement for Nate Livings. The team obviously wasn`t too overjoyed at this since the signed Travelle Wharton to a multi-year deal. Wharton goes down, gets cut after injury. Back comes Boling.

Furthermore, Whit isn`t the guy he was when he was 2 to 3 years into the league.

Just wondering what happened to the days in 2009 where we were running the ball at will.

[cincyhokie]

looked it up. Bengals had 5 punts in the first half and 4 punts in the second. That just doesn`t suggest a dominating running game. I will concede it helped flip field position but I just can`t get excited about what they did in the game running the ball.

I mentioned this to another die-hard fan after the win. Boling was the NEXT in LINE replacement for Nate Livings. The team obviously wasn`t too overjoyed at this since the signed Travelle Wharton to a multi-year deal. Wharton goes down, gets cut after injury. Back comes Boling.

Furthermore, Whit isn`t the guy he was when he was 2 to 3 years into the league.

Just wondering what happened to the days in 2009 where we were running the ball at will.

Chris Pressley is eligible to come off of the PUP list for SD. If the Bengals make that transaction it might help the running game. I haven't seen enough of Charles to say that he's an intergral part of the offense.