Bengals' "Coach Speak" Article on foxsports.com

[membengal]

Figured we could use a little break from the Pollack gnashing of teeth...saw this on foxsports.com:

http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/story/3893138

The article ends with:

"Predicted Team Record

Ten wins and the playoffs. Yes, it is still the Bengals. But do yourself a favor and put aside the memories of the lost years from 1991-2002. Since Marvin Lewis arrived with a professional approach and an honest-to-goodness plan for the franchise, Cincinnati has been a different place in terms of professional football. The pieces are in place. The stability is there. All that is left is to perform. There are not a lot of excuses left in Cincinnati. This is the year they finish turning the corner."

Decent little article.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I like this part, you can tell this guy's been keeping up with them lately:

Who benefits

Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. For a team on the cusp like this one is, the tendency will be rely on leaders, and Palmer and Johnson have become that for the offense. Palmer has proven to be an effective presence in the locker room already, with a quick wit and the needle out for his teammates, helping to keep egos in check and everyone loose. On top of that, he has one of the best arms in the league and the confidence to make any throw. In Bratkowski's scheme, there are plenty of opportunities to take shots down the field, and Palmer is encouraged to make those kind of throws.

It helps that Chad Johnson is his teammate. Johnson has come into camp in the best shape of his career, and he has always been in fantastic shape, so that is saying something. He is catching everything thrown his way, and has been uncoverable most of the camp. He and Palmer appear to be well on their way to developing one of those special bonds that are so good to teams and so fun to watch.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Here's the thing, mere competency will get this team to the playoffs, the offense is that good.

I love this line, because while I don't believe our defense can really be a top defense this season, I do think we can hope for a little more than simple competency.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

BTW thanks again for posting this - it is a very good article on the Bengals going into this year - better than anything written in the local dumbed-down rags.

He even mentions LJ taking over for Simmons in '06 when Simmons leaves. (Simmons looks worse to me every year and if LJ deserves his spot "this year" I'm all for it based on production if Pollack works out somehow)

[buck3y3d]

He even mentions LJ taking over for Simmons in '06 when Simmons leaves. (Simmons looks worse to me every year and if LJ deserves his spot "this year" I'm all for it based on production if Pollack works out somehow)

I agree with this point too. Simmons looks like he is losing ground, and while many on hear think he is underrated, he looks to be a step slower every year. Plus, with a linebacking corps of johnson, thurman, and pollack, speed and youth would be abundant.

[HairOnFire]

Watch the play from the last preseason game where Corey Dillon gains the edge and rushes for 20 yards. For reasons I can't fathom Simmons commits early and simply throws himself into the still being strung out pile. As a result when Dillon finally gets to the edge...there's nobody there to meet him.

BTW, I hope that article was more than decent because I'd be hard pressed to find fault with anything written. Maybe the bit about Brat being gone after this season if the offense stumbles, but who knows?

[membengal]

Well, if the offense is not what everyone's expectations are for it, Brat is going to feel a ton of heat, and deservedly so. Also, after the Les Frazier whacking, no question that ML will move on if there is a problem there.

[Geep]

Here's to great expectations. Nice article indeed. :player:

[The Big Orange]

Hey! Welcome, Geep. Nice 1st post...short but sweet.

Interesting name. You're not from Kazakastan are you?

[Geep]

Thanks. Thought this was a good enough thread to lose my cherry. Not from Kazakastan unless they moved Kazakastan close to Baltimore and didn't tell me about it. By the way, according to the local sportstalk stations here nobody will be able to score against the Ravens 46 this year. I hope Marvin and the boys know that. Should save them the trouble of playing the games.

[The Big Orange]

Thanks. Thought this was a good enough thread to lose my cherry. Not from Kazakastan unless they moved Kazakastan close to Baltimore and didn't tell me about it. By the way, according to the local sportstalk stations here nobody will be able to score against the Ravens 46 this year. I hope Marvin and the boys know that. Should save them the trouble of playing the games.

LMAO

I don't see the Ravens with a winning record this year, and at the bottom of the AFCN in a year or 2. The Bengals will abuse them badly. There defesnse will be about the same as ours and their O will smell like rotten cashew fruit (not a pleasent smell).

The Browns will be tougher to beat than these guys.

[redsfan2]

The Browns will be tougher to beat than these guys.

Now THAT'S going to get a reaction. Is that what you were going for or is this a serious take ???

Sorry for the bad manners Geep .... Welcome aboard!

[Geep]

Oh, and large amounts of hand wringing over Kyle Boller which is always fun to hear. Lots of Ravens fans REALLY hate the guy and are tired of hearing "we're going to go back and look at film and correct our mistakes" after every game. Solidifies the arument for Palmer sitting and watching his first year. Might have eliminated some jumpiness.

Or Boller might really not make wise choices. That's possible too.

[Stripes]

Those Ravens have had the worst string of recent quarterbacks I've ever heard of. Stewart, Grbac, Wright, Boller... am I missing any? That said, can it rival Akili, Gus, and Jony boy?

[Bobcat Bengal]

Nice, solid article.

Even though he sung our praises, I could still feel the objectivity in the piece.

He's just saying don't sleep on us.

[Geep]

Those Ravens have had the worst string of recent quarterbacks I've ever heard of. Stewart, Grbac, Wright, Boller... am I missing any? That said, can it rival Akili, Gus, and Jony boy?

Lessee Chris Redman, Stoney Case, flirted with Jeff Blake of course (LOVE his signing in Chicago BTW). Yeah, just a litter of failed projects there. I'd bet Boller rises to the competence level of Dilfer this year at the very most.

[HairOnFire]

Thanks. Thought this was a good enough thread to lose my cherry. Not from Kazakastan unless they moved Kazakastan close to Baltimore and didn't tell me about it.

Ewww.

Didn't understand the Kazakstan angle....perhaps my edumacation is lacking. As for my own wild guess I sorta wondered if the Geep tag was linked to the character in the oldest Popeye cartoons. It's pretty obscure stuff dating back to the 40's, but somehow became part of the jeep tradition. As I recall it's a real goofy looking character that I first became aware of when I stumbled across an example painted on the hood of a very stuck in the mud 4-wheel drive. Might make a fine avatar.

That said, welcome aboard.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Thanks. Thought this was a good enough thread to lose my cherry. Not from Kazakastan unless they moved Kazakastan close to Baltimore and didn't tell me about it.

Ewww.

Didn't understand the Kazakstan angle....perhaps my edumacation is lacking. As for my own wild guess I sorta wondered if the Geep tag was linked to the character in the oldest Popeye cartoons. It's pretty obscure stuff dating back to the 40's, but somehow became part of the jeep tradition. As I recall it's a real goofy looking character that I first became aware of when I stumbled across an example painted on the hood of a very stuck in the mud 4-wheel drive. Might make a fine avatar.

That said, welcome aboard.

Not Kazakstan, Kadurkadurk.

[skyline]

Wow, thanks for posting that.

Who woulda thunked it...a worthwhile article from Fox...

[ckj414]

Thanks. Thought this was a good enough thread to lose my cherry. Not from Kazakastan unless they moved Kazakastan close to Baltimore and didn't tell me about it. By the way, according to the local sportstalk stations here nobody will be able to score against the Ravens 46 this year. I hope Marvin and the boys know that. Should save them the trouble of playing the games.

I disagree with Big Orange, I don't see the Ravens fading that quickly. On offense, I know all too well how good an OC Jim Fassel is (and how bad a head coach he is...but thats another story). If he can get that offense to just mediocre they're a playoff team. They certainly have the personnel to run the 46...they're going to be tough this year.

[WorldBFree]

Justin Smith, who has drawn a lot of unfair fire for his play in Cincinnati, has flipped sides of the line to take advantage of his natural strength against the run.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Good to see the rest of the world getting to see that things in cincy really are different now that Lewis is in charge.