Midterm grades are in

[jjakq27]

http://bengals.enquirer.com/2004/11/09/ben1a.html

Mark Curnutte of the Enquirer has given the Bengals a C- for their overall grade.

Based on the good one week-bad the next performances, I think that is probably about right.

It's funny how differnt things would look if we had beaten Tennessee or Cleveland. 4-4 is a whole lot better than 3-5.

[HoosierCat]

The first of many "halfway point" analyses we'll see, no doubt. Curnette is a touch more pessimistic than I am, but not by much.

My own take on the Bengals after 8 games is: they're better than they were last year.

After 8 games, we're the same 3-5 we were last year. However, the '03 Bengals had an easier schedule, more veteran players, and far fewer injuries. Had someone sketched out our current scenario in August (Warrick, Williams, Webster all on IR, o-line collapsing due to injury, Carson with a negative TD to INT ratio, Rudi with just a couple 100 yard games, first round pick on the bench hurt while second, third and even fourth round picks from last April are starting and/or seeing significant time, etc.) I would have said that the team would be lucky to be 1-7 at this point.

The Bengals are headed in the right direction. They won't get to the top this year, unfortunately, but I didn't expect they would. But they will.

[Bobcat Bengal]

yeah, a good flat C is about right.

SOme games they played like hot garbage and in others they obliberated opponents.

At least they've defeated a couple of teams by more than a TD this year.

[JPW]

yeah, a good flat C is about right.

Yea that is where I have them to....

If we start to get some CONSISTENCY from the "D" and even More Importantly from the "OL", I can see a much better grade for the second half of the season.

[Barbarian]

I say D. 3-5????????? The Defense is giving up all that yardage on the ground????? The terrible coaching decisions of the coordinators??????? A "C" is a definite stretch guys.

You homers are being too soft. When you only win 3 out of 8 times, you are pushing for an "F".

[richmond_mat]

I say D. 3-5????????? The Defense is giving up all that yardage on the ground????? The terrible coaching decisions of the coordinators??????? A "C" is a definite stretch guys.

You homers are being too soft. When you only win 3 out of 8 times, you are pushing for an "F".

I'm leaning toward Barb here. C-\D+ but trending toward a B next season.

Hopefully we'll finish at least .500 in the division, if then 9-7 could be reality.

[jditty47]

we need a A next season, f**k a B.

and this year is a solid D. 3-5 is not where we wanted to be. Run defense is a F, pass defense is a C and getting better. Run offense is a D and pass offense is a D. Overall D.

[Bobcat Bengal]

we need a A next season, f**k a B.

and this year is a solid D. 3-5 is not where we wanted to be. Run defense is a F, pass defense is a C and getting better. Run offense is a D and pass offense is a D. Overall D.

yo, the Pass D is the lone bright spot on the team.

I can't remember any of our CB's being burnt long or for TD's this year

(Is BEGGING to be corrected or reminded.)

[kingwilly]

Man, as tough as this is to say, I agree with Barbara.

D to a D- is how I would rate the team.

Overall Offense - D+

Line - D

QB - D

RB - C

WR - C+

TE - D

Overall Defense - D (I think they are showing decent improvement)

Line - D-

LB - D

Seconday - B-

This is a D to a D- team. They are VERY close to being nearly a C (.500). A few plays, a few more red-zone TD's instead of FG's. About three fewer major QB mistakes.

I think there are about 11-12 plays that would have won us 2-3 more games.

[kingwilly]

Terry....

Deltha got burned big time by Suggs in Cleveland. I think it was Andre Davis who took 99yrds to the house over KK and James.

Madieu got burned for a long TD by some no-name NY Jet WR.

We have given up a few more long plays that did not go for TD's (25+ yrds.)