Dr. Z's predictions and rankings

[The Big Orange]

I can't think of a nicer thing that Dr. Z could have done for us right before the season begins than predict we would finish 7-9 (even worse than last year) and ranked 20th.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/...5/scout.report/

Since this has no bearing on the season whatsoever, opposing teams may look at this and see us as just fly over country, and our players might read this and get pissed off like they have something to prove. I wonder what Jumpy plays like angry?

Since our first few games are against mediocre teams, we may not get noticed until we beat the Jags in primetime-still undefeated or with only one loss.

[oldschooler]

I like the Scouting report better...

Cincinnati Bengals

3rd in AFC North, Dr. Z's Rank: 20th overall

Marvin Lewis is rebuilding his porous defense on the same foundation that brought him success elsewhere: bruising linebackers

His second season as an NFL head coach was off to a miserable start, and Marvin Lewis decided enough was enough. Tired of watching opposing offenses effortlessly roll up the yards against his team, Lewis took over the defensive game-planning and play-calling duties from embattled coordinator Leslie Frazier before the fifth game of the season. The one-game experiment officially became a disaster midway through the opening quarter, when the Browns, pinned near their own goal line, scored on Jeff Garcia's 99-yard touchdown pass to Andre' Davis.

Three hours later, after a 34-17 defeat in which Cincinnati allowed 449 yards to a lowly Cleveland offense, Lewis gathered his players in the locker room and cracked, "Well, I just proved I could give up 34 points -- just like anybody else."

Upon the completion of a second consecutive 8-8 campaign, Lewis made some tougher calls: He replaced Frazier and three defensive starters. "If you don't tackle well, that's a very frustrating thing, and it is somewhat a correctable skill," Lewis says. "You coach them as hard as you can, and then if they don't get it, you replace them in the off-season."

As the architect of the Ravens' record-setting defense in their Super Bowl season of 2000, as well as other punishing units in Pittsburgh and Washington, Lewis knew precisely how to address the problem: The Bengals' defense needed some dawg in it, and in April the coach took that philosophy to a new level, using the team's first two draft picks on a pair of relentless defenders from Georgia, end David Pollack and linebacker Odell Thurman.

Lewis and his new defensive coordinator, Chuck Bresnahan, projected Pollack, the No. 17 pick, and Thurman, a second-rounder, as immediate impact players -- and Cincinnati's offensive players were quick to understand why. "What stands out are their motors," says wideout Chad Johnson. "They're consistently moving, moving, moving. They just don't stop. Most players from Georgia are like that."

Pro Bowl right tackle Willie Anderson, sees the presence of Pollack and Thurman as the start of something nasty in 'Nati. "If you want to have a good defense, you've got to have some real bad-ass linebackers," Anderson says. "Your linebackers have to bring an attitude. They should be the identity of your defense, or even of your entire team."

That's the way Lewis has always liked it, from his days in Pittsburgh, where he coached such standouts as Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene and Chad Brown, through his glory days in Baltimore with Ray Lewis. He coached a Ravens unit that went nearly three seasons without allowing an opposing runner to gain 100 yards. The Bengals, by comparison, were victimized by nine 100-yard rushers and gave up four runs of 50 yards or more in 2004 alone.

Enter Thurman, a 6-foot, 235-pound middle linebacker who has impressed Lewis with his quick grasp of the pro game and his intensity. "I don't want to jinx Odell and compare him to other guys," Lewis says, pausing before doing just that. "But he has the personality that Ray [Lewis] had as a rookie. Ray walked into that [baltimore] huddle on the first day with vets like Pepper Johnson and Don Griffin like he'd been there for years. Odell has that same aura."

Landon Johnson, who had 84 tackles as a rookie in '04, will likely start the season ahead of Pollack at outside linebacker, opposite steady veteran Brian Simmons. But Pollack will be given ample opportunity to put up eye-catching numbers: On passing downs he will be asked to come off the corner and harass quarterbacks. The Bengals, however, don't expect the 6'2", 276-pound Pollack to live by the sack alone. "Everybody puts him in the wrong category," Anderson says. "I see him as a young Junior Seau -- someone who can put his hand down and rush but can also make plays in the running game and in coverage."

Whatever Pollack does for the Bengals, Lewis is convinced it will elevate the defense. "Talk to anyone he grew up with -- no matter what it is, he's always been good at it," the coach says of Pollack. "His entire life, everything he's touched has turned to gold."

The same, of course, has been said about Lewis and the defenses he coached elsewhere. This year, finally, he hopes to add the Bengals' to the list.

-- Michael Silver

Issue date: September 5, 2005

Playmaker

Few noticed because the Bengals were already slipping out of playoff contention, but Carson Palmer's development into a potent passer took a dramatic jump in his final six starts of 2004. During that span, in which Cincinnati was 4-2, the former Heisman winner and No. 1 pick of the '03 draft threw for 1,429 yards and 13 touchdowns and had a rating of 96.9. With a stable of big-play receivers led by All-Pro Chad Johnson, Palmer should be able to air it out with even more impressive results this year.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/...rt/bengals.html

[Defender]

This is one of the reasons I don't take Dr. Z very seriously. Does he honestly think the Lions are better than the Bengals?!?! That's one of the teams I can honestly say, "At least the Bengals aren't... (Lions, 49ers, Browns, etc...)

[RedsFan75]

Funny thing is a lot of the 'experts' are saying this will be the Lions breakout year.

People in Detroit think this is the year they'll be justified in getting rid of Harrington.

[LesterLyles]

Dr. Z has been so wrong so many times, its not even funny anymore. The guy is a bum.

[Stripes]

He ranks Indianapolis #1 overrall, and Carolina #2. He also says the Panthers will BEAT the Colts in the superbowl. Did he forget what he was typing? Does he understand that in rankings the lower number wins? I can honestly say that I disagree with EVERYTHING he has put on this page. Eagles AND Cowboys 10-6??? Two 11 win teams in the AFC North??? Has that ever happened in ANY division? I'm glad he expects the north to be good, but that would usually mean all the teams end up closer together in the 9 or 10 win area.....

Post # 400 for me :player:

400 posts since joining the 'Zone July 22nd...Not too shabby.

[Who?]

He ranks Indianapolis #1 overrall, and Carolina #2. He also says the Panthers will BEAT the Colts in the superbowl. Did he forget what he was typing? Does he understand that in rankings the lower number wins? I can honestly say that I disagree with EVERYTHING he has put on this page. Eagles AND Cowboys 10-6??? Two 11 win teams in the AFC North??? Has that ever happened in ANY division? I'm glad he expects the north to be good, but that would usually mean all the teams end up closer together in the 9 or 10 win area.....

Post # 400 for me :player:

400 posts since joining the 'Zone July 22nd...Not too shaby.

You think that's good Touchdown? I will be at the 1,000 mark in no time! Haha.

[Who?]

I think we will be able to tell in the opener how the season will end up looking like for both the Browns and the Bengals.

[Stripes]

He ranks Indianapolis #1 overrall, and Carolina #2.  He also says the Panthers will BEAT the Colts in the superbowl.  Did he forget what he was typing?  Does he understand that in rankings the lower number wins?  I can honestly say that I disagree with EVERYTHING he has put on this page.  Eagles AND Cowboys 10-6???  Two 11 win teams in the AFC North???  Has that ever happened in ANY division?  I'm glad he expects the north to be good, but that would usually mean all the teams end up closer together in the 9 or 10 win area.....

Post # 400 for me  :player:

400 posts since joining the 'Zone July 22nd...Not too shaby.

You think that's good Touchdown? I will be at the 1,000 mark in no time! Haha.

Wow, you do have a bunch considering your time as a member. Us Bengals fans are just likeable folks I suppose.

[Who?]

You guys have struggled just as much as the Brownies, that's why.

[bengalindian]

Well, it looks like Dr. Z is looking at the overall lack of improvement of the Bengals' D and he also sees the pretty decent offensive teams the Bengals face this year. Even more, he sees that the Bengals face the Ravens D twice, the Steelers twice, the improved Colts D, the Bills, the Vikings, and the Jags; and he saw the offense struggling against the likes of the Eagles, Redskins and Patriots first strings and draws conclusions from all of these.

At this point, I would have to agree with him as far as how the Bengals are ranked. Also, I have to say I like the Colts vs. Panthers in the Bowl, because they're two of my favorite teams to watch outside of Cincinnati.

[bengalboomer7]

Everyone needs to unbunch those panties. The guy gets paid to stir up controversey

[DontTakeAkili]

Well, it looks like Dr. Z is looking at the overall lack of improvement of the Bengals' D and he also sees the pretty decent offensive teams the Bengals face this year. Even more, he sees that the Bengals face the Ravens D twice, the Steelers twice, the improved Colts D, the Bills, the Vikings, and the Jags; and he saw the offense struggling against the likes of the Eagles, Redskins and Patriots first strings and draws conclusions from all of these.

I agree. It's hard to look at my Bengals objectively, but other than keeping the 11 offensive starters together and Palmer's steady improvement, there isn't much to think we will be much improved.

The schedule is tough (which NFL schedule isn't, though?). The defense had a holdout from its #1 pick, its best defensive player hasn't played a preseason snap, and our efforts to upgrade at DT has thus far landed Bryan Robinson.

Add to that, the mess that happened in Philly and the rash of injuries that are keeping key people from getting snaps, and I would say, yeah, 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7. Of course, the Bengal fan in me wants to know when playoff tickets go on sale.

[scott91575]

Funny thing is a lot of the 'experts' are saying this will be the Lions breakout year.

People in Detroit think this is the year they'll be justified in getting rid of Harrington.

I live in the Detroit area (born in Cincy), and it's a complete meltdown after the drubbing they took at the hands of the Rams. Way worse than after the Bengals got smoked by Philly.

The sad thing is I saw the same optimism in both teams, and now everyone is jumping off the bandwagon. Hopefully the Philly loss is not a prelude for things to come.

[Geep]

Power rankings are power rankings. They don't mean s**te and everyone for some reason gets very worked up about them. I happen to like Dr. Z and look forward to his columns during football season. He is easily the one columnist who seems to be having the most fun doing his job.

The Bengals need to prove themselves. Period. Until they do that they deserve to be low on any meaningless ranking system.

[membengal]

Power rankings are power rankings. They don't mean s**te and everyone for some reason gets very worked up about them. I happen to like Dr. Z and look forward to his columns during football season. He is easily the one columnist who seems to be having the most fun doing his job.

The Bengals need to prove themselves. Period. Until they do that they deserve to be low on any meaningless ranking system.

Yup, what geep said.

Dr. Z is one of the best columnists working on the NFL scene. Bar none. He's skeptical. Well, the Bengals have not given him or others a ton of reasons to be anything other than skeptical. It's a show me world. It's time for the Bengals to do some putting up.