Week 13: Bengals @ Ravens

[ArmyBengal]

Turkey coma 4pm with a missed Bengals game.

[COB]

Someone named Matt Fitzgerald who writes for strype hype wrote a piece blasting our personnel decisions on defense, and finished with the following:

“This is what happens when you try to outthink the room and are an arrogant purist about your draft big board. You sabotage your football team.”

 

Absolutely ruthless summation of the FO’s drafting philosophy.

[Stripes]

7 hours ago, COB said:

Someone named Matt Fitzgerald who writes for strype hype wrote a piece blasting our personnel decisions on defense, and finished with the following:

“This is what happens when you try to outthink the room and are an arrogant purist about your draft big board. You sabotage your football team.”

 

Absolutely ruthless summation of the FO’s drafting philosophy.

Agreed. They'd be better off if they followed Mel Kiper's defensive board, and that is atrocious.

[HoosierCat]

Speaking of the draft, here's today's entry in the category of, things I want the Bengals to do just to enjoy the social media freakout.

[AMPHAR]

Once extending the core of a winning group.  Bengals find themselves drafting in the bottom half of the rounds.   Their strategy goes from BPA to NEED.    It doesn't take a whole lot of research or thinking to realize this.    Its not as dramatic and won't get clicks, so I guess that's why Matt or whoever don't write it or maybe they are dumb? Who knows?

Example: Rumor Walter Nolan the target BPA.  Gone.  Stewart the pick.  They simply had future DE roster needs that needed to be filled once the last of the BPA board was gone.    Kincaid target, Murphy the pick.   Karlaftis the target, Hill the pick.    It was the same in the post Dalton extension years. 

 

 

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, AMPHAR said:

Once extending the core of a winning group.  Bengals find themselves drafting in the bottom half of the rounds.   Their strategy goes from BPA to NEED.    It doesn't take a whole lot of research or thinking to realize this.    Its not as dramatic and won't get clicks, so I guess that's why Matt or whoever don't write it or maybe they are dumb? Who knows?

Example: Rumor Walter Nolan the target BPA.  Gone.  Stewart the pick.  They simply had future DE roster needs that needed to be filled once the last of the BPA board was gone.    Kincaid target, Murphy the pick.   Karlaftis the target, Hill the pick.    It was the same in the post Dalton extension years. 

And this is why I am usually a fan of trading up if this is how you're going to approach the draft. If you are going to draft based on need, and I agree the Bengals do this routinely and not just at the bottom of the first, and you have your eye on a certain player -- just go get him. That guy you get with the 4th or 5th or 6th you're hoarding is probably not going to matter, so go get your guy. Quit settling for the consolation prize.

Or, alternatively, if the "need" target is picked before you, consider a switch to BPA. Sam LaPorta would not have solved our pass rush issues but he would have been a better pick than Murphy.

[HoosierCat]

So for those who are big SF/fantasy fans, here's the Bengals' path to the postseason, courtesy of John Breech over at CBS sports.

Quote

BENGALS
Remaining opponents: at Ravens (Win), at Bills (Win), Ravens (Win), Dolphins (Win), Cardinals (Win), Browns (Win)
What has to happen: This one is easy, the Bengals have to run the table and win their final six games. If they pull that off, that would mean a sweep of the Ravens, which would bring Cincinnati right back in the division race. 
Final record: 9-8, 5-1 in division

RAVENS
Remaining opponents: Bengals (Loss), Steelers (Win), at Bengals (Loss), Patriots (Win), at Packers (Loss), at Steelers (Win)
What has to happen: The Bengals need the Ravens to go 3-3 over their final seven games. Since the Bengals have to sweep the Ravens, that means that Cincinnati only needs Baltimore to lose one other game on the schedule, so let's say the lose on the road at Green Bay. That would also mean that the Ravens sweep the Steelers, which would basically take Pittsburgh out of the division title race. 
Final record: 9-8, 4-2 in division

STEELERS
Remaining opponents: Bills (Loss), at Ravens (Loss), Dolphins (Win), at Lions (Loss), at Browns (Win), Ravens (Loss)
What has to happen: The Steelers have a brutal schedule down the stretch and if they get swept by Baltimore, that might put them in a position where they don't even make it to 9-8. In our scenario, Mike Tomlin finishes with a losing record for the first time in his Steelers' career.  
Final record: 8-9, 3-3 in division

 

[ArmyBengal]

15 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

And this is why I am usually a fan of trading up if this is how you're going to approach the draft. If you are going to draft based on need, and I agree the Bengals do this routinely and not just at the bottom of the first, and you have your eye on a certain player -- just go get him. That guy you get with the 4th or 5th or 6th you're hoarding is probably not going to matter, so go get your guy. Quit settling for the consolation prize.

Or, alternatively, if the "need" target is picked before you, consider a switch to BPA. Sam LaPorta would not have solved our pass rush issues but he would have been a better pick than Murphy.

THIS, THIS, 100% FREAKIN' THIS !!!

Knowing the draft is a crap shoot, then go shoot your shot.
If you miss going after the guy you think is a difference maker, I could live with that.
Sitting tight while your guy goes off the board and taking "the next best thing" and then missing is just shit.

[ArmyBengal]

1 minute ago, HoosierCat said:

So for those who are big SF/fantasy fans, here's the Bengals' path to the postseason, courtesy of John Breech over at CBS sports.

 

"When you wish upon a star..."
"Makes no difference who you are..."
"Anything your heart desires..."
"Will come to you..."

[gregcook69]

Big Whit expresses his concerns;

 

[ArmyBengal]

Burrow or no Burrow, the Bengals are NOT winning the AFCN.
Are people simply forgetting having watched the defense to this point?
Is anyone here SERIOUSLY thinking this is happening?

I'm not talking about, "It could".  Like no shit.
I'm talking about, "I'm really confident in this happening".

Not a prayer.

[Stripes]

They could win out, and it still probably wouldn't win the division. They won't win out. They're cooked.

But they'll play the games. Might as well "hope" until the math kills them for good.

[gregcook69]

7 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

Burrow or no Burrow, the Bengals are NOT winning the AFCN.
Are people simply forgetting having watched the defense to this point?
Is anyone here SERIOUSLY thinking this is happening?

I'm not talking about, "It could".  Like no shit.
I'm talking about, "I'm really confident in this happening".

Not a prayer.

Which is WHY Whit believes why now?

What does management think they are going to accomplish with the worst defense in the league?

[ArmyBengal]

1 hour ago, Stripes said:

They could win out, and it still probably wouldn't win the division. They won't win out. They're cooked.

But they'll play the games. Might as well "hope" until the math kills them for good.

Don't get me wrong, I'm intrigued and will be watching what Burrow does coming back from the injury.
As I watch, I will be rooting for them and happy if they win.  I just don't think it matters and come April, I'll be irritated.

"Hope and Pray" in full effect.  Unfortunately, that's the foundation of this franchise.

[ArmyBengal]

1 hour ago, gregcook69 said:

Which is WHY Whit believes why now?

What does management think they are going to accomplish with the worst defense in the league?

I think Whit simply doesn't want to see Joe get hurt again.
I get that, but it's football.  Players get hurt.
His premise is that players may (and do) make bad decisions in coming back too soon.
He's not wrong in that, but it is what it is.

[Prophecy]

 I am torn. On one hand, i love watching Burrow play, but on the other hand, I had really been looking forward to the possibility of the Bengals drafting Caleb Downs. They are now probably going to win just enough games to make that impossible, still not make the playoffs, and then likely draft another DE who cant sack the QB.

[gregcook69]

55 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

I think Whit simply doesn't want to see Joe get hurt again.
I get that, but it's football.  Players get hurt.
His premise is that players may (and do) make bad decisions in coming back too soon.
He's not wrong in that, but it is what it is.

Only difference is, so far, Burrow has been injury prone and if Whit is smart enough to know’why now?’ you’d think, with all the variables, the defense, the severity of the injury, Flacco putting points on the board etc, someone else would see it, but I’m sure it comes down to the ‘money’ with MB.

Even though there’s nothing at stake, with the variables, MB is willing to gamble with the chance of further damage keeping him out for even longer!  Let’s hope he survives these next 6 games.

Yes, AB, it is what it is like it has been since 1968!

[gregcook69]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Don't get me wrong, I'm intrigued and will be watching what Burrow does coming back from the injury.
As I watch, I will be rooting for them and happy if they win.  I just don't think it matters and come April, I'll be irritated.

"Hope and Pray" in full effect.  Unfortunately, that's the foundation of this franchise.

Ditto AB!  My philosophy is similar; ‘Expect the worse, and ‘hope’ for the best!’

[COB]

5 hours ago, AMPHAR said:

 Their strategy goes from BPA to NEED.    It doesn't take a whole lot of research or thinking to realize this.  

Yea I think most everyone knows this.  It’s not the position they draft that this dude is objecting to, it’s the player(s) they pick.  Repeatedly.  

[COB]

On Burrow playing:

He’s a football player coming off injury, like hundreds of others. I don’t agree with the philosophy of sit him since we’re not headed to the playoffs.  A lot of games are played by teams not headed to the playoffs.  It’s part of NFL life.  If he’s healthy and not rushing it, he should play.  If he’s in a game and the game is out of reach either way, pull him and put depth guys in.  This is something I see teams ignore.  Game over?  Pull your starters and get the JV in there, they need it and they deserve it.

[volcom69]

They are seriously talking about how they can get to the playoffs now that Burrow is back. Um not sure if they have seen the rest of the team? Also not sure if they have seen Burrow play when he comes back from injury or not played for awhile. 

[COB]

Startling Event:  the bengals flight to Baltimore was delayed five and a half hours, which, and friends, there is no way this can be a coincidence, is the exact length of time I plan to spend today continually eating mashed potatoes.  

[Stripes]

Rest in peace, COB.

[HoosierCat]

Skipping the bird this year. Doing Steaksgiving instead.

[HoosierCat]

HONDA COMMERCIAL!

(I mean it’s about the most exciting thing in this game so far…)