AFCN Hate Guide

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Hard to believe the Bengals never host the Steelers in the opener. But here we go.

Yea that was my first thought as well! Then it was this

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Fair to say I’ll be feeling that way for every game until I see something promising from Matt Canada’s offense.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

Fair to say I’ll be feeling that way for every game until I see something promising from Matt Canada’s offense.

Pickens and Austin are very nice. At least something is brewing.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Pickens and Austin are very nice. At least something is brewing.

Going to expect a lot of growing pains but they do have an exciting nucleus. Pickens is a stud if he can keep himself out of trouble & keep his ego in check. Austin’s athleticism is crazy for his frame. I expect big things from him this year.

I used to think the Steelers were headed towards some down years, but they’ve retooled quite nicely. I don’t have much faith in the OC though & we’ll have to hope that the defense doesn’t change drastically under the new in-house DC.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Going to expect a lot of growing pains but they do have an exciting nucleus. Pickens is a stud if he can keep himself out of trouble & keep his ego in check. Austin’s athleticism is crazy for his frame. I expect big things from him this year.

I used to think the Steelers were headed towards some down years, but they’ve retooled quite nicely. I don’t have much faith in the OC though & we’ll have to hope that the defense doesn’t change drastically under the new in-house DC.

This division and the AFC West are stacked. The East is not even that bad with 3 teams right now. Interesting time for football.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Bengals new secondary motto in week 1 of the season will be, "Pickett".

 

[cincygrad]

Even with a super crappy offense the Steelers upset the Bills on the road last season in Week 1. And the Bills were the Media champs of 2021 (the team everyone acts like they won the SB when in reality they won a single playoff game).

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Even with a super crappy offense the Steelers upset the Bills on the road last season in Week 1. And the Bills were the Media champs of 2021 (the team everyone acts like they won the SB when in reality they won a single playoff game).

This. Never underestimate the power of being unpredictable. Steelers can surprise some teams early if their coaching staff has the team prepared week 1. But even against BUF they relied pretty heavily on a blocked punt returned for 6 points IIRC. Sorta fluky

 

[cincygrad]

This. Never underestimate the power of being unpredictable. Steelers can surprise some teams early if their coaching staff has the team prepared week 1. But even against BUF they relied pretty heavily on a blocked punt returned for 6 points IIRC. Sorta fluky

That's Week 1 though..... Every season there are some weird things that happen in Week 1. In a season where the Bengals play 8 of their 17 games at home, it's a big spot to have a divisional opponent at home in week 1. Losing can really put you behind the 8 ball early.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

That's Week 1 though..... Every season there are some weird things that happen in Week 1. In a season where the Bengals play 8 of their 17 games at home, it's a big spot to have a divisional opponent at home in week 1. Losing can really put you behind the 8 ball early.

Definitely a big game that will set a tone for the division. It's the Bengals' game to lose.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Going to expect a lot of growing pains but they do have an exciting nucleus. Pickens is a stud if he can keep himself out of trouble & keep his ego in check. Austin’s athleticism is crazy for his frame. I expect big things from him this year.

I used to think the Steelers were headed towards some down years, but they’ve retooled quite nicely. I don’t have much faith in the OC though & we’ll have to hope that the defense doesn’t change drastically under the new in-house DC.

I'm still not sold on Pickett. He reminds me of a bit better Dalton - someone who needs things to go right around him for him to reach peak performance...Maybe he'll prove me wrong.

I like Pickens. I worry about the influence of the locker room currently with Pitt. I'm higher on him if he had landed in a more veteran/stable situation - but if Pickett does work out, then Pickens could end up being a huge steal.

A lot of upside - but I think the floor could also be pretty low. A lot of volatility. Still think the OL needs more work.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I'm still not sold on Pickett. He reminds me of a bit better Dalton - someone who needs things to go right around him for him to reach peak performance...Maybe he'll prove me wrong.

I like Pickens. I worry about the influence of the locker room currently with Pitt. I'm higher on him if he had landed in a more veteran/stable situation - but if Pickett does work out, then Pickens could end up being a huge steal.

A lot of upside - but I think the floor could also be pretty low. A lot of volatility. Still think the OL needs more work.

Pickett... kid has a lot of the tools that could make him very successful as a rookie. But there will be struggles. He needs a lot of work on the mental aspects of the game as well as adjusting to the speed of the NFL like all rookies. I don't think many people understand Pickett's passion & tangibles are better than most people think, at least not what anyone can conclude from watching film or scouting his combine/pro-day. One of the benefits of sharing the same practice facility & stadium is that Colbert & his scouting staff were able to watch Pickett every day for years. They've seen him do a heck of a lot more than what he showed some teams that didn't have him on the radar longer than last season. I hope he surprises a lot of people.

Locker room... I share the same concern. Their vet leaders have dwindled so its time for some people to step up. And specifically there is no vet presence in the WR room and thats a very scary thought. I had hoped they might land Jarvis Landry which would have made a world of difference. But instead they draft 2 rookies. Only chance they have of signing a vet now is if they trade someone like DJ or Claypool, which I don't see that happening. However things could change very quickly with a new GM hire a few weeks away.

 

[blue_suns]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Got a discussion on the Steelers board about it… Captain Kmart thread.

Long story short… terrrrrible idea. You don’t get to walk on someone, let alone everybody that ever gave you an opportunity & still get to ask something from them.

Not saying it won’t happen. I just think it needs time to settle down the noise.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Got a discussion on the Steelers board about it… Captain Kmart thread.

Long story short… terrrrrible idea. You don’t get to walk on someone, let alone everybody that ever gave you an opportunity & still get to ask something from them.

Not saying it won’t happen. I just think it needs time to settle down the noise.

I'd give him a 1 day contract at $0 and he can retire.

That WR room, and team in general, already lacks the type of leadership that the Steelers are used to having in the locker room - adding AB to it would be like pouring gasoline on an open fire next to napalm.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Got a discussion on the Steelers board about it… Captain Kmart thread.

Long story short… terrrrrible idea. You don’t get to walk on someone, let alone everybody that ever gave you an opportunity & still get to ask something from them.

Not saying it won’t happen. I just think it needs time to settle down the noise.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I'd give him a 1 day contract at $0 and he can retire.

That WR room, and team in general, already lacks the type of leadership that the Steelers are used to having in the locker room - adding AB to it would be like pouring gasoline on an open fire next to napalm.

That would be the ONLY thing on the table, if ever, from the Steelers. I never even remotely considered the possibility of him actually playing lol. Yea fuck that.

 

[Shanemansj13]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[Wamu]

To balance everything out he needs a Chuck Noll tat on the other side.