Its time to start thinking about next year in a couple hours (if you weren’t thinking about it already).To follow from last week, the biggest question of the offseason is, who goes and who stays? To answer this question, you must look first to the coach, then to the scheme, and finally to the players who will fit that scheme.
I don’t see much to discuss with the offense. I doubt much changes besides Willie Anderson and Rudi Johnson losing their starting positions (and potentially their contracts with the Bengals). Bratkowski will likely be here next year, and though there are a few tweaks that need to adjusted, the Bengals will take the ‘don’t reinvent the wheel’ approach to the offense.
However, the defense could see drastic changes. It all starts up front. Will Justin Smith be back? Probably not. This opens the door for a three-four defense, and this is a change that Marvin Lewis will give a hard look to in the offseason. The Bengals already have a decent three-lineman scheme rotation with Geathers, Fanene, Peko, and Rucker. I picture a defense starting four linebackers including Jeanty and Landon Johnson on the outside and Dhani Jones and (dare I say it) Odell Thurman. Caleb Miller and Ahmad Brooks add good depth to the four linebacker scheme.
Look for the Bengals to fill gaps at both lineman and linebacker in the draft and free agency. Clearly, this is where the biggest needs lie. Its hard to predict at this point who the Bengals will draft due to their wavering draft position based on what happens today throughout the NFL.
I’m interested to see whether the Bengals keep Madieu Williams. The secondary of the future looks clearer every week, but does Williams fit inside the picture? We’ll soon see.
With those things in mind, one number to keep watch of is 186. This is how many yards Carson Palmer needs to make a 4000 yard passing season. I realize this isn’t much of a victory, but it shows the consistent offensive output that the Bengals are capable of.
That’s all I’ve got for now. WHO DEY!
Goodbye Big Willie? Say it ain’t so.
Times sure are changing in Cincinnati. Some of our most beloved vets could be suiting up at home for the last time today. It’s a bitter sweet moment. The Bengals want to look to the future of the franchise, but at the same time, this means the sun sets for guys that have been here awhile.
Willie Anderson is positive this is last home game, and I don’t see any reason to disagree. Deltha O’Neal and Dexter Jackson are the next likely victims of the youth movement. And then the Bengals have guys like Madieu Williams and Landon Johnson, who we better hope like crazy get resigned.
Out of all of those guys, Landon stands head and shoulders above the rest as most likely to get a contract. The Bengals have the secondary of the future locked up except for a nickel corner. If Madieu becomes a free agent, the Bengals will start safeties and corners who all have been in the league for no more than 3 years. But out of all the potential free agent and cut situations, Madieu is the second most likely to see a contract.
The great part about all of the names previously mentioned above, except for Landon Johnson, is that the Bengals have legitimate replacements for them. Clearly there still are additions that need to be made in the defense. Next week, let’s talk about potential draft picks and free agents who can cover those needs.
That’s all I’ve got for now. WHO DEY!
The Bengals/Niners game brings back some vivid memories doesn’t it? Though its not quite the Super Bowl at stake, there’s a few implications to be had with this game. Most importantly, the Patriots hold San Francisco’s first round pick, which right now is second.
Does this sound unfair to anyone else? The Patriots are the smartest and luckiest team in the NFL. And as a side note, while I’m not rooting for a perfect season, I was happy to see them pound the Steelers last week – further proof that they’ll be one and done in the playoffs.
The Bengals look to win out to ensure that Marvin Lewis never has a losing season as a head coach. This would be a great feat, yet people still whisper “fired” around the Cincinnati area. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Marvin Lewis isn’t walking out that door, unless he decides he wants to coach elsewhere.
The Niners are just trying to keep their heads above water, but we know that this is not a foolproof scenario where the better team prevails. Last week the Bengals should have beaten the Rams by 30, though I will give them the weather factor. The defense and the run game were excellent, but again, the Bengals pride and joy, the passing game, is mediocre at best this year.
Give us some sign of life Carson, so we can go into the off-season with some hope of what used to be. But I tell you what, I’m pumped about the future of this defense, particularly in the secondary. The linebacking corps needs some help no doubt, but the corners and safeties have all looked like studs.
And one more thing before I go. Speaking of linebackers, the Bengals have a great one in Landon Johnson. He’s a free agent after this year, so, Marvin, Mr. Brown, please make sure he stays in Cincinnati. I think this will be the end result, but it is something to keep an eye on.
That’s all I’ve got for now. WHO DEY!
Not much to talk about is there? Nonetheless, I’ll do my best to keep you entertained for the next couple of minutes.
Here’s some key points I’d like to see the in the last four games, all of which are pretty self-explanatory :
1) Let’s keep getting this O-Line in sync (or is that N*Sync?) with Stacy Andrews anchoring the right side.
2) Let’s play the young guys: Ndukwe, White, Rucker, Dorsey, and Fanene.
3) Let’s have fun and throw the ball like we’re 30 points down the whole game.
4) And P.S Roger, start thinking about letting Odell back. Pretty please?
Other than that, I’m packing it in for next season, at least as far as the Bengals are concerned.
In other news, you’ll be saddened to know that I picked the Heisman wrong. I thought McFadden would bring it on home, but we saw that an underclassman truly does have the ability to take home the hardware. It must be nice to be a Gator fan, although they need to come up with something better than, “If you ain’t a Gator, then your gator bait.” That just doesn’t make any sense.
Elsewhere in the football universe, Pittsburgh plays New England today. Who in the world are you supposed to cheer for in this game? I’d hate to see the Patriots (aka the Barry Bonds’ of the NFL) go undefeated, but it may be even more worse to hear the obnoxious Steeler fans talk about how they were the only team to beat the best team ever.
I’m hoping for a tie. I wish somehow, both teams could lose, but that’s the best I can hope for. Though we’re sure to hear black and gold word vomit no matter how the cards fall. Oh well, maybe next year.
Only two more home games – its been fun and not fun at the same time, but they’re still our Bengals.
That’s all I’ve got for now. WHO DEY!
It’s a shame; this is one of the few Steeler Weeks in the Marvin Lewis era that doesn’t have much meaning. The AFC North will likely produce a first round dud in the playoffs, whether it’s Pittsburgh or Cleveland. So I’m not thinking too much about the playoff picture. It’d be nice if the Bengals help play spoiler to the Steelers playoff hopes, but either way, Pittsburgh isn’t going far.
There’s been a lot of talk about potential problems with Heinz Field after the Monday night fiasco (aka the worst Monday Night Football game of all time). The weather man’s calling for a sixty percent chance at showers, so it could be more of the same.
We’ve seen that the Steelers can’t do much in sloppy conditions (other than play dirty –surprise, surprise), but it’s hard to tell whether the Bengals could do much better. The running game has been sub-par, so the best bet might be some screens, reverses, and short routes. Hey, but I’m no Bob Bratkowski.
I know I’m incredibly biased (especially in a game against the Steelers), but I’ve got a good feeling about this one. The Steelers seem to have stalled, while the Bengals seem as though there getting their mojo back on offense. At the very least, make sure your starting those Bengals players on the fantasy team (minus Rudi Johnson).
In other news, our thoughts go out to Sean Taylor’s family and friends. I truly hope that he doesn’t go down in the history books as a bad guy. He acted like Joey Porter for a couple of years, but he seemed to be getting it together recently, which only made him a better football player. The guy would have been one of the best at his position, and that’s how I’ll remember him.
That’s all I’ve got for now. WHO DEY!
