Good start to the season

[cincygrad]

Given all the troubles we've had with the defense and the DBs in particular, 3-1 feels pretty good. The schedule looks a little softer than I expected at the beginning of the season and the offense looks like it's built to last. I still think we'll be overmatched against the top teams in the league (look at what happened in week 1), but we're clearly capable of taking care of the average/below average teams on the road.

 

[jgreene95]

Thats how we roll.But,yeah, I'm with you on our offense. They are better than last season.
Now, if our Defense can get healthy,and keep improving,this could turn into something good.

 

[cincygrad]

Thats how we roll.But,yeah, I'm with you on our offense. They are better than last season.
Now, if our Defense can get healthy,and keep improving,this could turn into something good.

We're still a few pieces away from competing with the big boys. We could use a real running back on offense and a lot of help at DB on defense. But I like the franchise guys on this team. AJ is obviously the real deal. Dalton is improving. Atkins, Johnson and (gulp) Dunlap are playing great. And Burfict is a complete steal.

 

[flamingrey]

*yawn*

 

[cincygrad]

*yawn*

Your point?

 

[DanBengalfan]

he's exhausted from the victory party, obviously!

 

[DanBengalfan]

ITS HOW WE ROLL BEE ITCH!!!

 

[flamingrey]

Your point?

The same one I've made in similar threads over the last 2 weeks and throughout last season...no point in jumping the gun. That's why they're called averages.

I expect us to look good the next 2 weeks as well, but I won't be celebrating just yet. When we make the same plays against the better defenses and better teams, then we'll talk. Otherwise, it's a deja vu.

 

[cincygrad]

The same one I've made in similar threads over the last 2 weeks and throughout last season...no point in jumping the gun. That's why they're called averages.

I expect us to look good the next 2 weeks as well, but I won't be celebrating just yet. When we make the same plays against the better defenses and better teams, then we'll talk. Otherwise, it's a deja vu.

I agree. I was simply making the point, because a quarter of the season was gone and things are shaping up better than I thought. The main reason I think we'll have more wins than I expected is that I don't think the teams on our schedule are as tough as I originally expected. So, in many ways this year could be a lot like last -- Lots of wins vs. average teams.

 

[Be Weary of Query]

I don't see any "gun jumping" in this thread. Cincygrad includes all kinds of caveats on the way to his enjoyment of the team being 3-1.

No "we are going to the Super Bowl!" or "we have the best offense since '05!" No hyperbole...just a fan that looks at the record of 3-1 at the quarter pole with a smidge of optimism.

Not a damn thing wrong with that.

 

[Cincyfan78]

We are doing the same thing as last year.

1 good team we faced...we lost.

The other 3 teams we've faced, were all predicted to finish last in their respective divisions. Only Washington is a team that might perform above expectations when compared to Jax and Clev, and they were missing 3 of the top players, 2 on defense, and the one position guy on offense that could have really opened things up for RGIII in Garcon.

As I've said all along...if the Bengals are not 5-1 heading into the Pitt game, they are putting themsleves at dire risk of not making the playoffs. 4-2 is the minimum, but with Miami a mess and Cleveland again...there is not much room for error.

The back end of the schedule for this team is down-right brutal. They need all the wins they can get early on, because I can see this team fading down the stretch again. Especially on defense when our secondary has to face, Ben(twice), Flacco, the Mannings, and Rivers.

 

[DanBengalfan]

miami did ok against arizona yesterday, they should be able to pass the ball against us as well.

 

[bengaldoug]

Miami is not as bad as everyone thinks....their defense is playing pretty well, and Tannehill, while mistake prone, can move the ball through the air......we'll have our hands full this week......

 

[bengaldoug]

I'm quite sure our offense has improved, poor competion or not.....Dalton's passer rating never approached 100 at any time last year, as it is now, and his ypa never approached the 8.8 it is now.....I'm not trying to say Dalton can keep his rating above 100 or his ypa as high as it is, but I do expect his final numbers to improve over last year's.....the ypa is the best key to winning modern day football.....the combined average defensive ratings of the Bengals' opponents so far are passer rating of 88.3 and ypa of 7.75 so our averages are significantly higher in both cases.......

 

[kramer1]

Miami is not as bad as everyone thinks....their defense is playing pretty well, and Tannehill, while mistake prone, can move the ball through the air......we'll have our hands full this week......

And Reggie Bush should be at full strength too.

 

[bengaldoug]

And Reggie Bush should be at full strength too.

He'll probably run all over us.....

 

[bengaldoug]

At this moment we are the NFL team sacks leader with 17.....Chicago is only three behind us and could catch us tonight, rushing Romo vs Nate the human turnstile Livings and cronies.....our opponents have given up an average of 10.25 sacks so that stat also legitimately excels.....

 

[DanBengalfan]

plus, our opponents have been real jabronies, WOOOO!!!!!

 

[bengaldoug]

Miami's defense will be a very good test for our offense.....they are giving up only 2.4 ypr and 54.7% completions, 7.4 ypp, and passer rating against is only 77.9.....strong numbers across the board......

 

[flamingrey]

I'm quite sure our offense has improved, poor competion or not.....Dalton's passer rating never approached 100 at any time last year, as it is now, and his ypa never approached the 8.8 it is now.....I'm not trying to say Dalton can keep his rating above 100 or his ypa as high as it is, but I do expect his final numbers to improve over last year's.....the ypa is the best key to winning modern day football.....the combined average defensive ratings of the Bengals' opponents so far are passer rating of 88.3 and ypa of 7.75 so our averages are significantly higher in both cases.......

I attribute much of that improvement in the offense to Gruden and the offensive scheme. Our receivers are getting some serious yac contribution that we didn't see against even the easier teams last season that are inflating most of our numbers. But the question remains, can we count on that same contribution against the better defenses who will be less prone to missing tackles and leaving players wide open in the middle of the field?

If it works, then great. But if not, it's all fool's gold. This is the biggest problem with relying so heavily on yac. Against easier competition, it gives the false sense that the offense is much better than it really is, only to falter against tougher defenses. And in the long run, it's something that teams figure out once there's enough film. It happened to Philly who used to be tremendous at gaining yac. The one team that seems immune to being figured out are the Patriots, but that's for obvious reasons.

For the above reasons, especially going through the second half stretch, I'd like to see how Dalton fares as compared to last year as an individual in completing tougher passes against better defenses. Is the ball getting out sooner? Are the passes more accurate in tighter windows? Is the long ball more accurate with more pressure in his face? Etc.