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  • July 18, 2008 03:43 PM ET

State of the Franchise: Cincinnati Bengals

phillyfansrockz:BEAT DODGERS (21-34-4) vs T-fo is Medium Pimpin' (135-64-14)
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Ok follow my format, it is different today!

Last year they finished with a 7-9 record, and had many people in jail.

Offense: I will rate them a B, I rate them this because they have great talent if that talent is not in jail or arguing about the team he is on (not mentioning any names). If #85 comes back they will really do some damage this year, I say that because who would you cover when you have Chad and T.J., they have some great playmakers on Offense.

Defense: I will rate them a C-, because they have alot of holes that need to be filled. I mean they have some good players, but not enough to go above 10 wins.

Past offseason: B- They helped their case out this past offseason, they got a great player in Keith Rivers, and a great end with Odom, but they drafted three recievers, I mean I would see one or two, but not three of them. They also got many players back from injuries, and suspensions.

Needs: I think they might need one O-LIne player, but I think they really need to improve their D-Line and LBs, I think they have some good DBs, and they can really bost that team.

2008 record: 8-8
Playoff contention: Yes
Playoff team: NO

I always need more room!!!


Last year they finished 7-9. Unfortunately they did very little to make themselves better.

Offense: I give their passing game an A-. With Palmer chucking it to TJ and Ocho, that is a very nice combo. I dock them the minus because there is very little depth at WR. Rookies won't make much of a 1st year impact. Their running game is horrible. Rudy J is fat, old and slow. I give the running game a C, and their offense, because it is so one dimensional, a B-.

Defense: Worse even than you think. I give them a D- as it is one of the worst in the league. They do have a pair of outstanding corners. Unfortunately, Cincy generates little pass rush, and corners can't cover forever. You also can run all day on the Bengals so there isn't much need to pass anyway.

Offseason: C-. With all the problems on D, they were not players at all in the FA market, and the holes that were there all last year are still there.

2008 record: 6-10 (very tough schedule)
Playoff contention: NO
Playoff team: NO


Ok their offseason was actually good, not because of what did in the FA market, but the players that are coming back. What I mean is they are getting players back from suspenions, and injuries. They are getting back Chris Perry, which will be a nice complement to Johnson's power game, they are getting back Anderson back from a knee injury. And the four LBs that was on the injuriedreserve list last year. Plus they got Odom from Tennessee.

With their offense, their running game is not horrible, I mean it is not good, but not as bad as you say. I say this because they have a lot of depth at that postition. And if they do suffer another inujury or arrest they still have some ok RBs.

With their Defense, they have really gone in the right direction to try and get it better. They fired their D Coordinator, and LB coach, so maybe a change in coaches might jump start that D. They know that they need a D, and every year they try and improve this (they drafted a D player the last four years in the first round). This past offseason they picked up two LBs to add depth at that position.

And I think they have a tough schedule, but not very tough. They will not lose 10 games this year.


Chris Perry should not be a part of any equation. He has proved to be to injury prone throughout his career to count on. Look at his 4 seasons:
2004 - 2 games - 2 carries
2005 - 14 games - 61 carries
2006 - 6 games 10 carries
2007 - 0 games - 0 carries

As for the rest of their rushing game, Rudi Johnson is clearly on the downside of his career. He averaged just 2.9 yards a carry last year. The year before, just 3.8. That's a bad downward trend. Kenny Watson is little more than a poor man's Willie Parker, and best suited for 3rd down work. There running game is indeed hoorible.

The other factor I'll address here is their schedule. Here are games they will play against teams with winning records last year:
TEN
@NYG
CLE (x2)
@DAL
PIT (x2)
JAX
@IND
WASH
They also play @HOU who played 8-8 last year with players on injury, and who likely would have been over .500 in a lesser division. That's 11 games they should lose. I'm giving them 1 upset. AND that's banking wins in the other 5 games that include an improved Jets team and 2 against division rival BAL.

That's a BRUTAL schedule. 6-10 might be generous.


Forfeited Turn


Sure they changed their D coaches. What is relevant though, is that Marvin Lewis remains. He was brought in as a "defensive genius" but that simply has not proved to be the case in Cincy.

The fact of the matter is, the AFC North has become a very competitive division. I would argue that all three of PIT, BAL and even CLE have better defenses. I would also say that in terms of both talent and balance between run and pass that both CLE and PIT have better offenses.

My prediction remains the same. Cincy will be battling Baltimore for last place.

Comments (15) Add A Comment

July 18, 2008  04:04 PM ET
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Leaning right....

July 18, 2008  04:12 PM ET
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schedule does play a factor in this, and i agree that taking 3 WRs in the draft is not a good idea. Both sides have a point right now will wait till arguements get a little deeper. I'm just happy this isnt another ignorant TD.

July 18, 2008  04:14 PM ET
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I hate you t-fo

July 18, 2008  04:20 PM ET
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All i KNow is Carson Palmer is Antrel Rolles ****!!!!!!!!!

July 18, 2008  04:26 PM ET
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Everyone's voting too quick, so I'll vote right to even this out.

But Philly:

2008 record: 8-8
Playoff contention: Yes
Playoff team: NO

Do you really think an AFC team will be in contention with an 8-8 finish?

July 18, 2008  04:29 PM ET
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------>

July 18, 2008  05:34 PM ET
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9-7

But pending arguments

Phillyfans, is every team in NFL going 8-8???

July 18, 2008  05:42 PM ET
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I think everyone is under estimating. This team made the playoffs two years back and had a down year last year 7-9 still can consider that a mediocre year... They have basically the same players in place to make a run at the playoffs again... With the addition of some promising players on defense..

July 18, 2008  05:48 PM ET
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Agree and I think the Bengals D will be better this year

July 18, 2008  05:48 PM ET
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At least they have Palmer, Browns need to see if Anderson was a fuke........

July 18, 2008  10:35 PM ET
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I have two teams going 8-8

July 18, 2008  10:36 PM ET
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Playoff contention means they could make the playoffa, not that they will

July 19, 2008  07:49 AM ET
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I hate you t-fo
Porkins | 07/18/08, 04:14 PM


you gotta be cruel to be kind

July 19, 2008  08:33 AM ET
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Leaning right for now...

 
July 19, 2008  01:32 PM ET
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leaning right, but taking 3 wr's in a draft isn't good...wr's are a dime a dozen!

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