QuizGuy66
Footballguy
As promised here is the new repository for all thoughts Bengal for the 2010 offseason/season.
Lots of questions for our boys heading into this offseason, but also a lot of positive going on for once as there are definitely things to build off of.
Some of the big questions:
1) Will we totally implode if Zimmer leaves? Answer - very possibly. But I'd rather not contemplate us needing to hunt for a new DC. Here's hoping Mikey Boy makes one of those rare forays into his wallet and does the right thing. Given that he seems on track to end up a HC at some point in the not-too-distant future, Mikey should consider that he won't actually have to spend all that money anyway
2) The Carson situation. And now it truly is a situation. The Bengals are really in a tough spot here. Carson hasn't reached Delhommesian levels yet - but the uncomfortable question has to be asked. Is he physically alright or are injuries impacting his play? If so, is it something recoverable. If not - what the heck do we do? The fact that people are talking potential departure/trade/etc would seem sacrilege just a year or so ago. The problem is, looking around the league, there isn't really a guy out there who could step in and replace him (my quick look seemed to ID Kerry Collins as being one on the possibilities - and that really says it all). Starting over with a young QB - while it's worked for other teams of late - seems really difficult, especially with our draft position and frankly with the makeup of the locker room. Getting rid of Carson would seem to be a blow-it-up type move. And I don't know that we're there just yet. I don't know that drafting a project-type QB is necessarily the answer either - though I wouldn't mind seeing, say, a 2nd round QB if it means no more JT O'Sullivan.
3) Brother can you spare a WR? For a long time this was a team strength, but now it's really a shambles. Chad's slowing down a bit - though on balance he had a great year this year - he was giving up his body a lot more than he did in '08. Coles just wasn't worth the $. I'm not sure that franchising Housh would've been the best idea - that was truly a situation that I think could've hurt the locker room at a fragile time. It's easy to go back in the time machine but ultimately they should've franchised NOBODY. Btw, if Housh went back in the time machine, I bet he would've stayed now
Anyhow - this is an area of the team that needs a serious revamp. Simpson is the bust to end all busts it seems (though Caldwell - picked in the same draft class - makes me feel a little better overall). Still - we need a serious burner and deep threat. I think that Henry's impact on the team on the field was much greater than we all realized - even if the numbers weren't very big last year before his injury. Without him we are dinks and dunks only.
Side note - when is the last time an NFL playoff team dressed only 4 WR for a game?!?
4) The o-line is ultimately a great story - but I hope they learn to improve their pass blocking this offseason. Edge rushes really started to kill us later in the year, but it's really hard to complain about this unit that came so far so fast. Looking at the guys we got rid of, perhaps we should've done all this sooner. Levi Jones wasn't signed until midway through the season and basically a speed bump for those seeking to kill Jason Campbell all year. Ghiaciuc was cut by the CHIEFS in training camp. Though I just read that the Chargers have apparently signed him as an injury replacement - though for their sake I hope he's inactive! It'll be interesting to see what Andre Smith does with a full offseason and training camp - I expect him to be much improved. Or at least maybe stop having like 9 false starts a game. I think this group needs time more than anything else right now.
5) The defense was the story of the year obviously. Safety help is the most crying need going into this offseason. I wouldn't mind seeing a depth LB drafted either as we seem to always get a million injuries there. It'd be great to see what this group could do over a whole year without any injuries. Those losses really added up over the course of the year.
6) Huber looks like the answer. I damn near bought a Huber jersey when I was out for the game but resisted the temptation - he is after all my called shot of last year's draft
Anyway, the main point of this point is Graham. Don't resign him. I really fear that Graham will suddenly be willing to give Mikey Boy a discount and that Mikey won't be able to resist. Hell even burn a 6th round pick on a kicker if you feel better going that way - but NO MORE GRAHAM.
That's all I got right now.
Have at it Who Dey Fans! It's a make-or-break type of feeling offseason.
WHO DEY
-QG
Lots of questions for our boys heading into this offseason, but also a lot of positive going on for once as there are definitely things to build off of.
Some of the big questions:
1) Will we totally implode if Zimmer leaves? Answer - very possibly. But I'd rather not contemplate us needing to hunt for a new DC. Here's hoping Mikey Boy makes one of those rare forays into his wallet and does the right thing. Given that he seems on track to end up a HC at some point in the not-too-distant future, Mikey should consider that he won't actually have to spend all that money anyway
2) The Carson situation. And now it truly is a situation. The Bengals are really in a tough spot here. Carson hasn't reached Delhommesian levels yet - but the uncomfortable question has to be asked. Is he physically alright or are injuries impacting his play? If so, is it something recoverable. If not - what the heck do we do? The fact that people are talking potential departure/trade/etc would seem sacrilege just a year or so ago. The problem is, looking around the league, there isn't really a guy out there who could step in and replace him (my quick look seemed to ID Kerry Collins as being one on the possibilities - and that really says it all). Starting over with a young QB - while it's worked for other teams of late - seems really difficult, especially with our draft position and frankly with the makeup of the locker room. Getting rid of Carson would seem to be a blow-it-up type move. And I don't know that we're there just yet. I don't know that drafting a project-type QB is necessarily the answer either - though I wouldn't mind seeing, say, a 2nd round QB if it means no more JT O'Sullivan.
3) Brother can you spare a WR? For a long time this was a team strength, but now it's really a shambles. Chad's slowing down a bit - though on balance he had a great year this year - he was giving up his body a lot more than he did in '08. Coles just wasn't worth the $. I'm not sure that franchising Housh would've been the best idea - that was truly a situation that I think could've hurt the locker room at a fragile time. It's easy to go back in the time machine but ultimately they should've franchised NOBODY. Btw, if Housh went back in the time machine, I bet he would've stayed now
Anyhow - this is an area of the team that needs a serious revamp. Simpson is the bust to end all busts it seems (though Caldwell - picked in the same draft class - makes me feel a little better overall). Still - we need a serious burner and deep threat. I think that Henry's impact on the team on the field was much greater than we all realized - even if the numbers weren't very big last year before his injury. Without him we are dinks and dunks only.Side note - when is the last time an NFL playoff team dressed only 4 WR for a game?!?
4) The o-line is ultimately a great story - but I hope they learn to improve their pass blocking this offseason. Edge rushes really started to kill us later in the year, but it's really hard to complain about this unit that came so far so fast. Looking at the guys we got rid of, perhaps we should've done all this sooner. Levi Jones wasn't signed until midway through the season and basically a speed bump for those seeking to kill Jason Campbell all year. Ghiaciuc was cut by the CHIEFS in training camp. Though I just read that the Chargers have apparently signed him as an injury replacement - though for their sake I hope he's inactive! It'll be interesting to see what Andre Smith does with a full offseason and training camp - I expect him to be much improved. Or at least maybe stop having like 9 false starts a game. I think this group needs time more than anything else right now.
5) The defense was the story of the year obviously. Safety help is the most crying need going into this offseason. I wouldn't mind seeing a depth LB drafted either as we seem to always get a million injuries there. It'd be great to see what this group could do over a whole year without any injuries. Those losses really added up over the course of the year.
6) Huber looks like the answer. I damn near bought a Huber jersey when I was out for the game but resisted the temptation - he is after all my called shot of last year's draft
Anyway, the main point of this point is Graham. Don't resign him. I really fear that Graham will suddenly be willing to give Mikey Boy a discount and that Mikey won't be able to resist. Hell even burn a 6th round pick on a kicker if you feel better going that way - but NO MORE GRAHAM.That's all I got right now.
Have at it Who Dey Fans! It's a make-or-break type of feeling offseason.
WHO DEY
-QG
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The sooner we get a replacement the better. If that means taking a 7th-round kicker and clearing the deck like we did with Huber so be it. Graham's a good person, but a lousy clutch kicker.
Oh well, Mikey's loyalty is probable a big part of why we were able to keep Zimmer so you gotta take the bad with the good.
- apparently he said this Monday, I must've been hiding out of fear of reading that. Paul Alexander signed a three-year extension which is good news for the jelling OL.
