Embarassing

I was going to post a message after the Ravens game to contradict my previous post about the Bengals season. The schedule, here on out, looked easy I thought. Browns, Seahawks, Chiefs, the NFC West, I mean 12-4 was a real possibility...or so I thought.

I knew the defense would not cause 6 turnovers again, lets face they were about 6 turnovers from an 8-8 season instead of 11-5 in 2005. Thankfully, that year we got the NFC North. It doesn't matter though, no pressure on Derek Anderson (not just saying that... they actually put no pressure on him) and now him, Edwards, Winslow and Jamal Lewis all look like gods. The defense is horrible, how can your offense score 45 and lose? Of course they won't give up 51 every game, but you never should, especially to Cleveland. Five years and still no defense also the clock management was again poor:

Why did we call a timeout with 3 minutes and change remaining and not save it until later? Essentially, if we didn't make a stop at that point the game was over, and puts all the pressure on the defense. With less time on clock (evident by the Falcons play calling), the offense tends to get more conservative, and we would have had the 2-minute warning and an extra timeout. If it had went down that way and assuming the Bengals get a stop, there is 1:10 on the clock instead of :30.

This is what I wrote last year after the Falcons debacle. Nothing has changed, just replace Falcons with Browns. I don't care if you think you made the stop, you don't call a timeout, your offense needs those. Also, 4th and 1 from the 2? You can't waste 4 points!!!!!! Your defense can't stop anybody, you need all the points you can get. The IQ on that sideline is low, especially in tight situations.

So my post from 8/18 stands, I wish I could blog longer but I have better things to do with my time than discuss or watch the Bengals...until next Sunday. Which Bengals team will show up?

Bengals Lose to Saints 27-19

I'm just going to ramble because there is a lot I want to say. One, of course, lets not panic and write off the whole season because it is only Game 2 of the preseason, and a lot can happen once they start for real.

With that being said however the defense needs to do something. Drew Brees was 6 for 6 before you could blink an eye, and the backs were having no problem busting through the line against our 1st team D. Lets face it, Smith and Geathers are average rushers and poor tackling DE's. Yes, Geathers had 10.5 sacks last year but most of those were against banged up OL's or coverage sacks, and of course they signed him to a mega huge deal. Maybe it was warranted...but then again maybe not. Smith is getting big bucks this year, so he better have a huge year, but he has one move. Peko might have his breakout year, but Marvin still insists on going with Thornton and Robinson on the DL and honestly what do they really do? J-Joe has the makings of a star, but he is not a star yet and Deltha...well nobody knows what to make of him. Jackson and Williams are average safeties who both played, when healthy, below average last year. The linebackers are mostly young and inexperienced, Miller and Johnson are solid, but Jeanty and Brooks will be getting most of the time early on. Hartwell needs to help this team or it will be a long year for the LB corps. There is really no depth on the defense so if guys go down, it is in serious trouble. I can talk myself into thinking that the defense has another year experience under their belt and will be better, but I say that every year. Bresnahan's schemes are too predictable. Everyone knows whats coming. How many times have you seen a Bengal break free to the QB on an all out blitz? Not often. I think they finish in the bottom 5 in defense again this year. There is a lot of talent on this side of the ball, but most of it is very inexperienced

The offense...well they struggled today. It hurts not having Levi and Willie back there to protect Carson, as we saw last year. No QB can be great without an offensive line. Levi needs to get back soon and Willie needs to find a doctor that knows a little something about foot injuries. If Carson gets a little time, he can get in a zone and the offense is as good is any in the NFL. Chad and TJ are gamers and will be there, although without #15 I think we struggle to find a solid, reliable #3 WR. Rudi...never hurt, rarely fumbles. No proven TE, but I don't know if that hurts us, it may with no Chris Henry. Jeremi Johnson -- I don't where that leaves us either.

19 injuries...I mean you definitely need to rest guys if they are hurt, but they also need some game experience before September 10 so lets hope some of these guys can play during MNF in Atlanta.

So as of 8/18 we have a D - defense and probably a B+ to A- offense at this point and with all the injuries tossed in but with the benefit of an easy schedule (the way it looks now), I say right now 8-8, 9-7 at best, but this, as always, is subject to change.