State of the Bengals

[ArmyBengal]

There are games that we should be dominating and yet we seem to play to the level of that team and end up losing. We allow our so called super stars to play below the level that they are capable of.

On that note, as the board's resident AJ Green hater, I would be remiss if I didn't flag this from a Coley Harvey post yesterday.

Green's routes have been an issue in Cincinnati recently. Many times this season he would ad lib by either cutting off or extending routes on options he thought Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton also saw. The improvisation would lead to what routinely looked like poor, non-fundamental routes on his part and underthrows and overthrows by Dalton. It all also led to interceptions.

One of the relatively few dings on Green coming out of college was a need to run better routes. That it's still a problem three years in is...irritating.

I have made similar comments about Green and his route running and what appears to be laziness at times.

Each time I have made a comment about how Green should have done more and a particular throw wouldn't have been an INT, it's usually met with the typical "Dalton sucks" response. While I still concur with the thoughts of Dalton needing to improve, he's NOWHERE near being alone in that thought process.

[HoosierCat]

Very seriously, though, the site looks (and always has looked) like it was made by an amateur.

It suffers from what I call "early newsletter-itis." Way back in the mists of time (the early 1990s) everybody who was anybody got a Mac and some desktop publishing software and started churning out a newsletter. And they all looked like this:

NEW LOOPS FOR SAM. Toucan Sam is getting a new look as Kellogg has introduced new packaging for the venerable brand. "It was time for an update for today's kids who are lot more sophisticated than kids even ten years ago," says Fruit Loops Marketing Manager Jimmy Jerkface. "With a new bold look, bright colors and updated language, kids will be begging their parents to buy Fruit Loops." We here at WAYNE'S FOOD WORLD NEWSLETTER got an exclusive peek at the new package and let me tell you it looks awesome!!! The wizards of Battle Creek have done it again!

You had a million fonts and itals and bolds and underlines and sizes so you did EVERYTHING! And it was f**cking UNREADABLE! bengals.com reminds me so much of that whole era, and not in a good way.

[ArmyBengal]

I don't understand why they have the five stories that blink too quickly at the top, a link to the same story or video to the right of that, and then the same thing under both of them. There are items that are cut off and not even readable as well. Really ?? How does that happen ?? If I were to put a presentation together that looked like that, I would fail my classes.

Nothing flows on that site at all. It hurts my eyes.

[ArmyBengal]

Soooooo, "State of the Bengals".

I'm looking forward to seeing how some of these players test at the combine in a couple of weeks.

CB's, Safeties, and O-linemen will be the groups I pay most attention to.

My biggest hope in regards to free agents is that they find a way to bring Collins back.

If they don't, OT moves way up on the priority list considering Whit's age and two years remaining on contract.

Right now, I wouldn't mind a CB in the first, Safety in the second, and a Center in the third.

Follow that up with another OT somewhere later if Collins returns.

[HoosierCat]

Just looking at the final numbers for the year there are a few "obvious thing is obvious" things I'm trying to keep in mind:

Must improve the run game. Yeah, the Bengals O ranked 10th overall, but it was no thanks to the run game. Despite having the 8th-most rushing attempts in the league, the Bengals were 18th in rushing yards and 28th (barf!) in rushing yards per attempt. We averaged 3.6 YPA. Granted some of that was due to Andy Dalton busted play scrambles (he had 61 rushes for 183 yards, a 3.0 YPA) but Bennie averaged just 3.4 yards a lug. Bernard was at 4.1. They need to open up the competition at RB and give Burkhead a chance, at least. More Gio, less Green-Ellis next year in any case.

Also: more running creativity. Per FO's numbers, when the Bengals ran the ball, they ran it up the middle 59% of the time. The rest of the runs were split pretty equally among both guards and both tackles. So not only was our run/pass ration way out of whack (see next point) but when we did run it, we were wholly predictable.

No more mad bomber playcalling. 586 attempts. And I'd bet at least half those 61 rushes were busted passing plays, so really the attempts number ought to be well over 600. Measure that against 390 rushes for Bennie and Gio combined.

Can I haz returner pls? 0. That's the number of return TDs scored by Brandon Tate. 9.3. That's his average yards per punt return. 26.1. Same deal on kickoffs. The guy is no threat to do anything. There may not be one better thing they could do to bolster the offense than a gifted returner who can consistently deliver good field position.

[ArmyBengal]

Couldn't agree more Hoosier.

We've talked about that around here in regards to the playcalling and especially in the running game.

How many times did we see BJGE running swing plays to the outside knowing d*mn well he wasn't making it to the edge ??

Just stupid in every shape, form, and fashion. Those should ALWAYS be Gio's plays, because he can make it to the edge and beyond.

The return game has been a constant source of aggravation for at least a couple of seasons.

My guess is they bring Tate back and he's doing the same thing in the 2014 season.

Why ?? For the same reason we will get Cook back at Center, the coaches like them.

[skyline]

I think the kickoff thing is blown WAY out of proportion.

On kickoff returns, Tate was 9th in the NFL in terms of yards per....

On punt returns, he was 13th.

Hardly a world-beater, but also ranked #39048390583904583905 on reasons why the Bengals didn't get further this season.

I don't think they'd pass the opportunity to bring in a real return specialist in the draft if things fall that way, but I also think (and rightfully so) that there are higher priorities to worry about.

[Wraith]

Is that 24 Million with or without MJ's franchise tag?

I would love to see Khalil Mack from Buffalo on this team, that being said to get this team to championship caliber we need two more OLinemen and 2 solid young DBs and an edge rusherIMHO. I would love to see us grab Taylor Lewan, Khalil Mack, C.J. Moseley, or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with our 1st rounder though I also lke Calvin Pryor (Louisville) and Ed Reynolds (Stanford) at safety so we could wait till the second to take our DB help. At Corner I like Stanley Jean-Baptist out of Nebraska (in the second) and Darqueez Dennard from Michigan State (if he drops to us in the first) or Keith McGill from Utah (in the second or third). I like Shayne Skov from Stanford and Chris Borland from Wisconsin as possible second/third round targets at LB. If we go Center in the second or thirdI really like Travis Swanson from Arkansas and Brian Stork from Florida State. I am really enamoured with Kyle Van Noy from BYU right now if the other pass rushers (Clowney and Mack) go early as expected as a surprise 1st round selection.

Long story short there is plenty of talent around the areas where we will pick to choose from, taking a guy like Lewan and following him up with Travis Swanson in the second would secure our OLine for 5 years. Taking Moseley in first would lock down our LBing Corp. Obviously taking a Safety early would allow us to transition from Reggie Nelson. I love what Seattle did with their larger corners this year and with Iloka and Kirkpatrick we have a good start to build a secondary with that talent (if that is what we want) and grabbing guys like Jean-Baptist and McGill in the middle rounds would round that off nicely. Lot's of potential, this team is primed to be successful, I too think Hue is an upgrade and I have confidence in Paulie G....but the proof is in the pudding this team needs to start winning playoff games.

[ArmyBengal]

Dennard and Reynolds would be a nice 1-2 punch that would infuse the secondary.

If somehow Richburg at Center would fall to us in the 3rd, that would be nice.

They are certainly going to draft at least one OT and maybe two depending on Collins.

I'm done with the frustration of how the season ended.

Time for the combine, free agency, and the draft.

Always a good time in my book !!!

[COB]

Dennard sure looked good against Big 10 talent. I really want him, his physical play would fit well with our defense. I don't know if they have senior days for cornerbacks. I'd sure like it if he could be seen trying to cover really fast receivers. By that I mean NFL level, or one step above Big 10 level.

[COB]

Patrick Daugherty on Rotoworld just ranked all 32 head coaches in order. He had Marvin 12th. I am in the distinct minority, I'm sure, but I agree with him. Marvin is a good coach still looking for that one thing that will make him a great coach - a great quarterback. Unfair to mention Akili Smith.

I'm a caveman so I still don't know how to post a link in here from my phone.

[gregcook68]

I'm hoping the Bengals draft either the Georgia or LSU QB, as one of the two should probably be around into the 5th or 6th round. That way they can get rid of Dalton after this season, and I can start believing in a SB victory again!

[combatbengal]

Marvin is a good coach but I don’t think he’s got what it takes to get us past that next level. We have had some really talented teams (on paper) but Mrvin and his coaching staff hasn’t been able to get them to perform to their potentials and haven’t been able to create a discipline team. Gresham continues to get 15 yard penalties which killed numerous drives; they never fixed that stuff. Our time management in games is awful and hasn’t improved. We never show any urgency in games when we’re down and when we’re up we seem to go to prevent and let the other team back in the game or win it!

I don’t see us drafting a QB. The coaching staff is set on Dalton being the man! Look at some of the decision that they have made with our roster; we got rid of a better FB this past season in order to use a TE (Charles) at FB. That didn’t really work out to well. We kept Tate and he just plain sucks; makes bad decisions and fumbles the ball. We resigned Maualuga; who continues to forget the fundamentals of tackling. Um let’s see, we kept Nugent who can’t kick the ball in the end zone on kickoffs and got rid of a young kid who had a powerful leg and didn’t miss anything in preseason.

On a positive note we did have a good draft and some of those guys produced for us!! What we need in FA or this draft are DB’s, OL, and another top WR to help AJ!

If we go for a QB I say bring in a Vet to challenge and push Dalton. Josh McCown and Matt Flynn are pretty good back ups that can do that.

[ArmyBengal]

I would love to see a solid vet QB to backup Dalton, but don't see what he needs in any of the guys available.

He needs more than another guy just sitting there.

If you look at what the Bengals did in the 2013 draft and the planning they did for a couple years out, you can speculate about what they are going to do in the 2014 draft.

I would anticipate:

CB (probably x2)

Oline (definitely x2)

WR

Safety

DT

I think they will roll with what they have at the LB position or maybe look to add some mid tier FA to solidfy.

You could go so far as to add TE to that conversation as well.

[ArmyBengal]

I was looking at trying to put a Bengals mock draft together, but I think it's still too soon to gauge where some players might go.

I can tell you this though, with the talent there is at some of the Bengals positions of need, they look to add some VERY good players.

CB and OL are the main positions i've been looking at.

[Scottishbengal]

I'm hoping the Bengals draft either the Georgia or LSU QB, as one of the two should probably be around into the 5th or 6th round. That way they can get rid of Dalton after this season, and I can start believing in a SB victory again!

So you're saying a 5th or 6th round QB, after backing up Dalton for a season, will come in and win us the Superbowl ??? I think you need to add a wee bit of water with your scotch GC68

Via either FA or the draft we need to strengthen the secondary, not draft for depth, but actually improve the starting core. The O-line needs improving. A bad-ass linebacker would be a great addition. A new dynamic in the running game would help.

Chris Crocker can't be relied on to come off the couch again and save the secondary, it's time the Shawn Williams and Taylor Mays either show up or ship out. Same at CB - Newman, Hall, Kirkpatrick, Jones are fine but again we need CLH to continue to improve and push. Ghee ... well he's a fragile thing always dinged up - I'd not be sad to see him leave.

I think with added Oline protection we should be fairly set - i don't even know if we really need to draft a wideout unless a "can't pass" opportunity presents itself ... Green, Sanu, Jones, Hawkins, Sanzenbacher, Hamilton ... then we have Tate (spit) and Whalen - I wouldn't lose any sleep about losing those to either to a FA addition or a draftee but the coaches seem to like having them around.

I'd like to see some of the LB's who've been a round a couple of years either pushing for some decent playing time or moving on ... Dimanche, Joiner, Lamur and Porter ... they need to prove thmselves or pack their bags. I'd really like to see some addition to the roster to push these guys for a roster spot.

RB's seem fairly set with different dimensions but again if a decent player was available to improve what we have then I'd be happy to see that move take place.

[gregcook68]

I'm hoping the Bengals draft either the Georgia or LSU QB, as one of the two should probably be around into the 5th or 6th round. That way they can get rid of Dalton after this season, and I can start believing in a SB victory again!

So you're saying a 5th or 6th round QB, after backing up Dalton for a season, will come in and win us the Superbowl ??? I think you need to add a wee bit of water with your scotch GC68

Via either FA or the draft we need to strengthen the secondary, not draft for depth, but actually improve the starting core. The O-line needs improving. A bad-ass linebacker would be a great addition. A new dynamic in the running game would help.

Chris Crocker can't be relied on to come off the couch again and save the secondary, it's time the Shawn Williams and Taylor Mays either show up or ship out. Same at CB - Newman, Hall, Kirkpatrick, Jones are fine but again we need CLH to continue to improve and push. Ghee ... well he's a fragile thing always dinged up - I'd not be sad to see him leave.

I think with added Oline protection we should be fairly set - i don't even know if we really need to draft a wideout unless a "can't pass" opportunity presents itself ... Green, Sanu, Jones, Hawkins, Sanzenbacher, Hamilton ... then we have Tate (spit) and Whalen - I wouldn't lose any sleep about losing those to either to a FA addition or a draftee but the coaches seem to like having them around.

I'd like to see some of the LB's who've been a round a couple of years either pushing for some decent playing time or moving on ... Dimanche, Joiner, Lamur and Porter ... they need to prove thmselves or pack their bags. I'd really like to see some addition to the roster to push these guys for a roster spot.

RB's seem fairly set with different dimensions but again if a decent player was available to improve what we have then I'd be happy to see that move take place.

I'm just being real Scottish. COB has opened my eyes to the truth. Dalton is incapable of getting the Bengals to a SB, let alone winning it! He's had 3 years and that's enough! It's time to draft another QB, let Dalton play out his contract, and start over with another QB in 2015! :frustrated:/

[Scottishbengal]

I'm just being real Scottish. COB has opened my eyes to the truth. Dalton is incapable of getting the Bengals to a SB, let alone winning it! He's had 3 years and that's enough! It's time to draft another QB, let Dalton play out his contract, and start over with another QB in 2015! :frustrated:/>/

I know there's a lot of feeling that Dalton isn't capable ... and a lot of people that think he is ..... I was more raising my eyebrows to the notion that a 5th/6th rounder being the QB that could go all the way with this squad.

[gregcook68]

I'm just being real Scottish. COB has opened my eyes to the truth. Dalton is incapable of getting the Bengals to a SB, let alone winning it! He's had 3 years and that's enough! It's time to draft another QB, let Dalton play out his contract, and start over with another QB in 2015! :frustrated:/>/>/

I know there's a lot of feeling that Dalton isn't capable ... and a lot of people that think he is ..... I was more raising my eyebrows to the notion that a 5th/6th rounder being the QB that could go all the way with this squad.

I said 5th or 6th because the Bengals won't draft a QB early, and since the Georgia and LSU QBS have injuries they will probably be around in those rounds.

[HoosierCat]

I think whether and when they draft a QB depends on how the draft falls. As has been mentioned before there are a couple good but injured prospects who might be tempting in rounds 3 or 4. OTOH even though it's not a great QB class there are a lot of QB-needy teams, so even guys that would have to sit out 2014 could go fast. We shall see.

[ArmyBengal]

Well, we are bound to get a comp pick or two, so I'd be good with a QB in there somewhere.

Don't really want one before the 4th or 5th preferably.

They just won't make an impact.

[combatbengal]

Enjoy the read - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325863/article/offseason-forecast-cincinnati-bengals

[Scottishbengal]

Enjoy the read - http://www.nfl.com/n...cinnati-bengals

interesting article. I wonder if Marvin/Hue are tempted to say goodbye to Law-Firm and draft Carlos Hyde ... more effective, more economical with the cap

[ArmyBengal]

Enjoy the read - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325863/article/offseason-forecast-cincinnati-bengals

So, i'm still in the mindset of adding 2 CB's and 2 OT's.

I've seen articles thinking the Bengals could get 2-3 comp picks.

I don't know if that is fact or not, but if so, it really opens things up for them.

[JaxonFord87]

According to the espn afcnorth blog, hue and Caskey are committed to maintaining the same fullback setup as last year. So look for more Orson Charles this year.

/>http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=afcnorth&id=77933