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