There isn’t much that the Bengals need to do besides win to get to the playoffs, but that is easier said than done. Especially being in the AFC North, one of the toughest divisions in football. In the last 5 years they have sent more teams to the playoffs than any other division with 3 making the playoffs in 2011. Even the Cleveland Browns are competitive, despite their records. In my biased and unbiased opinion I believe the Bengals can make the playoffs, but they have to fix a few things and continue some of the great things.
AJ Green is easily one of the best wide receivers in the league. He is tall, strong, athletic and fast bundled into one being. Andy Dalton is his quarterback and together they are great, but there is no solid number two wide receiver consistent enough yet to help out when AJ isn’t having the best of games. Sanu could be an easy guess, but his refusal to go out and practice will limit his playing time. Although he could possibly become a solid number two, he has work to o right now. I like Hawkins where he is and he is great coming out of the backfield or being a slot receiver. His agility and quickness makes him dangerous, but not a legitimate number two receiver. With that being said we are deep at wide receiver with others such as Binns and Tate, but no one has yet to step up to claim the number two spot since TJ. I would even argue that Jermaine Gresham is more likely to be the number two than any of the previous receivers. (I know that’s not logical but it’s for the purpose of showing we don’t have a number two receiver, yet).
As of today we are in the 11th week of football and the Bengals have one running back with one 100 yard game. This is a problem! When the run game gets thrown out, or it is non-existent, that makes the Bengals one-dimensional. If you have noticed Andy Dalton has a lot of interceptions (not all his fault, but goes on his football cards). It’s hard to win games with a spread offense in the NFL. Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis has to do better running the ball to live up to why we let Cedric Benson (a thousand yard rusher) get away. I think there can be great success because all the blame is not on him. Part of it goes on the co-ordinator for throwing the ball so much and not attempting to utilize play action at all. If there is no consistency and a desire to run the ball, I can’t see the Bengals making a run this year. I am making a very un-bold prediction that we will see another back next year. If that doesn’t happen I’ll be surprised.
The secondary has been a major issue. Between safeties and injuries the secondary is a nursing home for touchdowns. We have great players on paper, but when you look at the details and how beat up they are your opinion may change a bit. Of course Leon Hall is a great corner, but he is coming off an injury. He is still our best corner right now (which isn’t really saying much with the play of everyone else). I like Pacman, but sometime I feel he should just stay on special teams. If he isn’t getting toasted he is committing college level penalties, and we know he is much better than that. Nate Clements is an old veteran and sometimes it shows. Enough said. Chris Crocker is an average safety but with Taylor Mays and company not being able to catch on we have to take what we can. He does play hard and has a great ability to create turnovers.
The defensive line and linebackers have been my favorite part of the defense this year (minus Maulugas first 8 games), and I’ll love it more when they get the great pads on Carson Palmer’s selfish self. Carlos Dunlap, Gino Atkins, and Burfict have been amazing and I would be a fool to say they are not doing a great job getting after the QB and causing havoc in the backfield. Watching them work is amazing and I am waiting to see the hammer fall on Palmer. Can you tell I’ll be excited to see him hurt (this time).
The coaching makes me so mad at times. especially when they call running plays in the 4th quarter and we are playing from behind with less than 2 minutes on the clock. that made me mad because they were not running the ball the whole game. The offensive play calling had been playing too conservative and not going for the jugular when needed to. I understand telling your players to be aggressive but they need to see the coaches doing the same thing as well. I love Marvin Lewis. We had been through a terrible unheard of slump before he got here, but we need to get over the hump and win a playoff game and Hulk smash teams when we are up. Baltimore didn’t take a break when they were routing their opponent on national tv. We shouldnt either, especially if our games are being blacked out. Marvin has to get more aggressive as well as the rest of the coaching staff. Get Brown off your mind and play football.
At the end of the day i am a true Bengals fan and I am not sure if i can truly be honest about not being biased. I believe the Bengals will make the Superbowl. Maybe not this year, but as soon as we win a playoff game (which will happen in the next 5 years), our Superbowl is next.
Who Dey All Day Everyday Especially on Sunday
true bengals fans 