Fake Game 1: Bengals @ Eagles

[COB]

Burton played.  Nothing great but at least he showed up to practice and a game.  
 

That defense last night did not inspire confidence.  Stewart and Knight must develop quickly and both need to be average or above average at their respective positions.  That’s the only way this defense gets any better.  It’s putting a lot on them, but that’s the way it is right now.  

[Allentown21]

1 hour ago, AMPHAR said:

I'd be real concerned IF the Bengals started shopping for re tread DBs at this point without an injury as causation.    

That'd be a WTF moment for me.  Your plan all offseason was this and 1 quarter of preseason football has you scrapping it?  That would say they didn't have faith in their plan to begin with.

I don't think that's the case.   

Even IF the defense threw up a Goose egg last night, nobody is going to believe in them until regular season bullets start to fly and wins are stacked with the defense not being the sole reason for a win but a contributor and not fucking it up. 

What's your opinion on the eagles? Their trenches are elite and have depth. 

Are you picking the eagles to represent the NFC again? 

[AMPHAR]

IMO, Eagles depth looks good within the NFL reality.   They have guys like Pyor and Kinnard running in their 3rd team (2nd Team?) that have starts and were draft picks vs no start UDFAs which is common throughout the league.     Rolling out AJ Dillon as your 3rd Rb is solid.  Johnny Wilson was a draft steal but fell because of injury.    Kenyon Green was a first rounder(?).  Think he got hurt in 2nd half.  

Ty Robinson the dude Fairchild was blocking mostly was a top 150 pick and was a standout in the Senior Bowl.  

I would guess multiple teams will review their cuts.  Not saying whoever they cut would walk into a starters job.   

Good thing is Duke's son works in the Eagles front office.    Going through the Eagles depth chart reminds of when Zimmer/Tobin had an entire DB room of first rounders one year.  Marvin/Dalton squandered loaded rosters those years.  

[AMPHAR]

Eagles broadcast so much better than the local Cincy.   Not sure he got in on the tush push.  Replays completely better than what was last night. 

 

 

[Stripes]

Interesting to see the league’s handling of the brutal injury during Lions/Falcons last night (stepping in to call the game as both coaches desired). It was clearly the right move, and thankfully the player (Mo Norris) has had positive signs since.

I wonder if it goes that way without the precedent set previously by Zac Taylor and Sean McDermott after Damar Hamlin’s injury. While a 4th quarter in the preseason is certainly different from a second quarter on Monday Night Football, I suspect that precedent still mattered. They forced the league’s hand that night, and it might have made the league a better place today.

[Stripes]

This video gives a nice view of the IOL. It focuses on Patrick (a bit rough) but also gives a good view of Fairchild, who looked pretty solid.

I think I’m slightly encouraged on balance. Hopefully they continue to improve as the sample grows.

[AMPHAR]

OL looked good I would include Patrick in that.   However, its limited reps and the ball was coming out on time because the Eagles had trouble covering.

Eagles did unleash a 0 blitz during the first quarter which is an indication of D-Coord frustration with the ball movement. 

The one issue that people keep bringing up which I would take issue is "back up".   1 Eagle DL played more than 70% of snaps last year.  They rotate a lot.   They are down 2 Edge/LBs Sweat (lost in FA) Dean (PUP knee), they signed 2 FAs and those were the guys that were playing and probably will fill big roles. 

I guess you could say they passed first test, but its preseason.  

[AMPHAR]

The main take away I have not seen address by the pod casters (because they don't really know things) IS.... once the o-line starters were out they remained OUT.   That's a sign the coaching staff saw what they wanted AND there's not competition for any spot right now.

If you think back to the Volson/Carman/Adeniji/Hill days.  They were inserting those guys with starters, back ups, switching spots.   

That's probably the biggest indicator of the job they did up front.    Guys like Tanner Hudson (played great) but he's catching TDs in the first and 4th quarter.  Tells you they are on the fence with him AND maybe giving him film to move on maybe trade.   

[ArmyBengal]

Hudson was also playing because he’s #4 on the depth chart and both Gesicki and Fant weren’t playing. I liked what I saw of him though and liked his tough mentality of play.

Im sure some may feel different but I fully expect the o-line to be OBJ, Fairchild, Karras, Patrick and Mims.  I won’t complain about that either.

[HoosierCat]

Stone now week to week with a soft tissue injury. Not supposed to be a long term issue but we’ll see.

[TJJackson]

Jermaine Burden is not practicing

[HoosierCat]

 

[TJJackson]

Joseph Ossai, Geno Stone, and Burden are all hurt

[HoosierCat]

20 hours ago, TJJackson said:

Joseph Ossai, Geno Stone, and Burton are all hurt

All reportedly minor issues, likely your standard camp stuff (pulls, strains, etc.). Usually not a long-term issue unless your name is Houshmanzadeh.

Ossai being out is probably a blessing in disguise. I think we pretty much know what we have there, and Stewart can use all the reps he can get.

[ArmyBengal]

I really am hopeful for Shemar.  Because we need him to be what you would expect from a first round pick.
I really do think he will make an impact.  I don't like that there wasn't sacks while in college.
However, I think people forget that is only one way to measure the impact a DE makes.

I don't think there is anyone here that would deny that getting pressure on the QB is VERY important.
The fact he led his team in tackles for loss counts.  I mentioned in his draft day thread that "seconds to pressure" is actually measured and he got pressure in an average of 2.43 seconds from the snap of the ball.  Is that good?  As a matter of fact, he led college football in that category last year.  Yes, that counts.

We don't need him to get 17.5 sacks like Trey.  We need him to not be Myles Murphy.
We need him to continue to get pressure on the QB, like we saw in the first game.

I know he's not well liked and I never made the comment that I loved the pick, but I didn't hate it either.
I made good on the channeling Geno Atkins with him wearing #97 and have an orange jersey coming.
If he makes good on his potential, I'm taking all credit.  LOL...

[COB]

Insane and never-warranted pre season confidence level RISING!

[Stripes]

I can already taste that Supper Bowel. THIS time, this is the real one.

[COB]

Is there a new league we can play in this year?  Because this nfl thing isn’t even going to challenge this team. 

[ArmyBengal]

So this year’s salary on them winning it all huh? I might have to get in on that too COB !!

[Coltsguy451]

Even if you have eleven clowns on defense, your offence may rescue you

Burrow  is a laser to Chase  and  Higgins

Don't give up hope, friends

[OliverHudson]

Makes sense to keep guys like Gesicki and Dax Hill out this early. Excited to see Burrow and the starters for a few series—just want everyone healthy for Week 1.

[AMPHAR]

When Qbs face soft coverage and are in rhythm its hard to produce pressure numbers on 16 snaps or whatever.  Same reason why the OL looked good but you can't get too high about them because the Eagles DL were handicapped as well from poor coverage.  

Why Browning can't dominate preseason games with soft coverage despite his regular season experience is a mystery and probably the biggest concern from preseason game 1. 

As for the overall defense.  Last year they weren't good in any quarter but amazingly got a lot worse in the 4th qtr from the level they established in quarters 1-3.   There's no preseason action that's ever going to show if that will improve prior to the season.    

With the assumption the offense will be just as good.  The defense being better in close games in the 4th quarter is the first hurdle.

 

[ArmyBengal]

7 hours ago, Coltsguy451 said:

Even if you have eleven clowns on defense, your offence may rescue you

Burrow  is a laser to Chase  and  Higgins

Don't give up hope, friends

Not giving up hope by any stretch, but will immediately reference last year.
They start the season 4-8 and a big part of that was Burrow not being a laser.
To top that off during that 4-8 skid, the defense was given at least 33 points or more in FOUR of those games and managed to lose all four of them.  It was literally the definition of eleven clowns on defense and having no answer.

Many do not feel they did enough on the defensive side of the ball to not have a repeat of 2024.  In a quick non-start to the season high, lets take a quick look.  Trey is here but not practicing.  I think they are screwed without him.  Hubbard is gone and while some (me) think it was time, his replacement is a question although being high on Stewart.  Pratt is gone, ADG is gone and the linebackers have a rookie starting with a new FA acquisition in Burks.  I really like Knight though.  The secondary was not the best last year, especially early on and did nothing but get injured players back and not resign Hilton.  I like the DT rotation and love the hire of Golden, but those two things in and of themselves are not a guarantee.

Am I hopeful?  Hell yes I am and can't wait to see the starters on the field together.  I will tell you what though, if they start off giving up 30 plus points to the likes of the Browns and the Jags in the first two weeks and lose, people will be losing their shit.

Also agree in their inability to play solid defense late in games.  HAVE to find a way to improve that.

[AMPHAR]

Take defense out of the equation.   A 1-4 start could have been 4-1 without exhaustive mental gymnastics.  

Defense simply wasn't going to help dig them out of a momentum shifting play, hold a late lead or tie most weeks.   Offense wasn't perfect BUT if they eliminated early season TOs they are 4-1 and maybe by two scores in every win. 

 

 

[Coltsguy451]

13 hours ago, AMPHAR said:

Take defense out of the equation.   A 1-4 start could have been 4-1 without exhaustive mental gymnastics.  

Defense simply wasn't going to help dig them out of a momentum shifting play, hold a late lead or tie most weeks.   Offense wasn't perfect BUT if they eliminated early season TOs they are 4-1 and maybe by two scores in every win. 

 

 

Shooter (McPherson) was also in an easy FG missing funk that I hope he'll be out of this season...Bengals would've made the playoffs had not happened

In any case, I hate to say it but I have better faith for your team being a better AFC contender this year than mine...what's it like to have an actual franchise QB...I remember those days