Your daily Hobs

[cincygrad]

Hobson's Choice: camping out


Hobs is all in on the running game. It's his 'go-to' answer this offseason. Apparently the additions of Hue and two rookies along with the subtraction of Gruden is going to solve our inconsistent attack.

What's your over/under on Bengals final rushing rank at the end of the season? We were 18th last year.

 

[alf8478]

All I read on twitter yesterday from some people watching practice was how many of our running plays got blown up in the backfield.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I am going to go with 12th. I think the running game will be improved with Benard and Hill getting a bulk of the carries this year instead of BJGE. Then along with that, the no huddle and fast paced attack of the offense will wear the defense out and with a double headed RB combo, and the passing game, I think the run game will be improved.

My guesses:

12th Offensive Run
9th Offensive Pass
7th Overall Offense

9th Defensive Run
3rd Defensive Pass
4th Overall Defense

11-5 Record

I am going optimistic, because I still like our chances in our division where I think we still have the best offense of all teams in the division, and maybe the best defense, depending on how healthy and together Baltimore is all year. We by far have the best depth though on all aspects of our team, except maybe offensive line and WR after #4.

PS..Save your breath Kramer and Flaming, I know I am a disgusting homer.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Andrew Whitworth can shoot up as many roids as he wants to now, it's his last year.

Although personally, I don't want him to do that, and he won't.

I'd say we'll be around 15th ? Jeremy Hill is a good addition, but he's still going to need the OL to block for him.

 

[cincygrad]

I am going to go with 12th. I think the running game will be improved with Benard and Hill getting a bulk of the carries this year instead of BJGE. Then along with that, the no huddle and fast paced attack of the offense will wear the defense out and with a double headed RB combo, and the passing game, I think the run game will be improved.

My guesses:

12th Offensive Run
9th Offensive Pass
7th Overall Offense

9th Defensive Run
3rd Defensive Pass
4th Overall Defense

11-5 Record

I am going optimistic, because I still like our chances in our division where I think we still have the best offense of all teams in the division, and maybe the best defense, depending on how healthy and together Baltimore is all year. We by far have the best depth though on all aspects of our team, except maybe offensive line and WR after #4.

PS..Save your breath Kramer and Flaming, I know I am a disgusting homer.

You are a disgusting homer, but your projections aren't crazy..... We were 10th in total offense last year and 3rd in defense. We were 11-5....... We also play in a division that isn't nearly as good as it's reputation. Pittsburgh finished strong but has some major transition issues. Baltimore has the best tight end to ever play football, but they need better quarterback play and a better longterm solution at receiver. Cleveland is intriguing, but they have a new coaching staff and might make the transition to Johnny Eight-Ball.

All that said, our team is worse than it was going into last year...... We're basically fielding the same squad without two proven vets and uncertainty with two defensive leaders coming off injury. We're staking our running game on a rookie center and a rookie running back. Dalton is still our quarterback..... We've had our trouble with injuries on the defensive side of the ball, but have been relatively okay on offense -- All that can and will change at some point. Can't be healthy forever, right? And we lost the best coach on our staff (Zimmer). I think we're due for some struggles.

 

[cincygrad]

Andrew Whitworth can shoot up as many roids as he wants to now, it's his last year.

Although personally, I don't want him to do that, and he won't.

I'd say we'll be around 15th ? Jeremy Hill is a good addition, but he's still going to need the OL to block for him.

Apparently you haven't been reading Hobson. Our new center is really mean -- Therefore he is really good.

I suppose guys like Ghiachic and Cook were just too damn nice.

 

[alf8478]

You are a disgusting homer, but your projections aren't crazy..... We were 10th in total offense last year and 3rd in defense. We were 11-5....... We also play in a division that isn't nearly as good as it's reputation. Pittsburgh finished strong but has some major transition issues. Baltimore has the best tight end to ever play football, but they need better quarterback play and a better longterm solution at receiver. Cleveland is intriguing, but they have a new coaching staff and might make the transition to Johnny Eight-Ball.

All that said, our team is worse than it was going into last year...... We're basically fielding the same squad without two proven vets and uncertainty with two defensive leaders coming off injury. We're staking our running game on a rookie center and a rookie running back. Dalton is still our quarterback..... We've had our trouble with injuries on the defensive side of the ball, but have been relatively okay on offense -- All that can and will change at some point. Can't be healthy forever, right? And we lost the best coach on our staff (Zimmer). I think we're due for some struggles.

This.
Add into the fact that there are high expectations for this team, and that always ends badly.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

You are a disgusting homer, but your projections aren't crazy..... We were 10th in total offense last year and 3rd in defense. We were 11-5....... We also play in a division that isn't nearly as good as it's reputation. Pittsburgh finished strong but has some major transition issues. Baltimore has the best tight end to ever play football, but they need better quarterback play and a better longterm solution at receiver. Cleveland is intriguing, but they have a new coaching staff and might make the transition to Johnny Eight-Ball.

All that said, our team is worse than it was going into last year...... We're basically fielding the same squad without two proven vets and uncertainty with two defensive leaders coming off injury. We're staking our running game on a rookie center and a rookie running back. Dalton is still our quarterback..... We've had our trouble with injuries on the defensive side of the ball, but have been relatively okay on offense -- All that can and will change at some point. Can't be healthy forever, right? And we lost the best coach on our staff (Zimmer). I think we're due for some struggles.

I don't necessarily agree with us being worse than last year.

We lost our starting DE in Johnson, that was a blow, but with the depth at DE and DL in general, I don't think this is as huge of a loss as everyone is making it out to be. It will have its ups and downs and we transition Ivan Drago to DE, but with Gilberry to pull some of those snaps from Ivan, we should be okay, not better off, but okay.

Then we lost our backup LT. Granted, i think he was a dang good player and we definitely do not have as much depth, he was not goign to start over Whitworth anyways if we could find a decent LG between Boling/Pollack/Hopkins. So he would have remained a backup anyways. I find that upsetting for depth with Whitworth's aging injury concerns, but for as a starter, it didn't affect us at all.

Then we lost our #4 WR in Hawkins. We have 3 other Hawkins on the team. He was a complete non-issue.

What did we really lose in Cook? I honestly can't imagaine Bodine being WORST than Cook from game 1. He will have some mental lapses as a rookie, but as much as our LG and Cook got blown up last year, I honestly can't imagine this is worst case scenerio, a lateral move talent wise, and at best, we found that mauling center to be our anchor for 10 years in a tough division known for its NT/DT's.

On the positives, We upgraded our run game, just by demoting BJGE and making sure that Bernard gets more carries.

We are going more fast paced, and more of a no huddle type offense at times, which is the type of offense I think Dalton will excel in, as well as our entire set of offensive weapons. If you can get to a no huddle offense with the defense playing the wrong personnel on the field, you can get lined up and just mismatch them completely down the field.

We have so many skilled players with so much talent (Green, Sanu, Jones, Bernard, Hill, Gresham, Eifert) that most secondaries can't handle that kind of fire power as most secondaries are lucky to have a decent 3rd CB. I also think Dalton is going to have his contract year to really stick it to the team as well. So between all these factors, the fact we replensihed depth, are getting Dennard in the secondary, Hall is back, Atkins and Lamur are back, we have a chance to be the best defense in the NFL, right up there with Seattle and SF.

I really think we are in a good place as long as we can stay pretty healthy and not lose any of our valued starters for a prolonged period of time this year.

 

[cincygrad]

It's not so much the losses, it's the fact that we let it happen when we had complete control...... It would have been very easy to retain Hawkins. A matter of a couple hundred thousand would have made him less appealing as a restricted free agent. We didn't understand the market for him and we lost him. We didn't have to lose Collins AND Johnson. Maybe it didn't make sense to keep both of them, but we have plenty of cap space that could have been used to retain one. And I do think they make a big difference. Johnson has been one of our most consistent linemen for the past two years and I think he makes Gillberry better because Gillberry doesn't need to play as much. Collins was terrific for us last year and had he been re-signed we wouldn't be screwed if we were getting poor production from the left guard position. We also could have inked him to a long term deal that would allow him to replace Whit at left tackle long term, rather than counting on a high draft pick.

And it's okay to say that we're going to 'play fast.' But if that's the easy solution, every team would do it -- From what I'm hearing, every team is certainly going to try. But we really don't know if that's perfect for Andy. From what I could tell, Gruden's offense was perfect for Andy. Gruden through more screens and short passes than any team I can remember.... Hue might push the ball more.

 

[alf8478]

The up tempo, no huddle offense is only working because Gresham is still on PUP

 

[CrashDavisSports]

It's not so much the losses, it's the fact that we let it happen when we had complete control...... It would have been very easy to retain Hawkins. A matter of a couple hundred thousand would have made him less appealing as a restricted free agent. We didn't understand the market for him and we lost him. We didn't have to lose Collins AND Johnson. Maybe it didn't make sense to keep both of them, but we have plenty of cap space that could have been used to retain one. And I do think they make a big difference. Johnson has been one of our most consistent linemen for the past two years and I think he makes Gillberry better because Gillberry doesn't need to play as much. Collins was terrific for us last year and had he been re-signed we wouldn't be screwed if we were getting poor production from the left guard position. We also could have inked him to a long term deal that would allow him to replace Whit at left tackle long term, rather than counting on a high draft pick.

And it's okay to say that we're going to 'play fast.' But if that's the easy solution, every team would do it -- From what I'm hearing, every team is certainly going to try. But we really don't know if that's perfect for Andy. From what I could tell, Gruden's offense was perfect for Andy. Gruden through more screens and short passes than any team I can remember.... Hue might push the ball more.

No huddle is different than short passing, dink and dunking down the field too. I heard a stat that Dalton's QB rating actually improved with the more time he had to analyze the play. He was at his worst when taking a quick 3 step drop and throwing. Dalton is accurate when throwing, but not as accurate on timing patterns that expects the WR to be in an exact location, and Dalton to deliver it perfect. Too many chances for INT's when you have a quick angle and the LB or CB could be in the right place and there goes an INT. That happened a lot last year. I like the fact we will be doing more play action, because it means that Dalton will be getting deeper drops, be given a chance to look over the field a bit more. I also think that the No Huddle is a nice weapon to have when your offense is loaded with so many weapons, because if you get the right defensive personnel on the field, you can just run them into the ground with the way your offense may align.

I liked Collins, and he would have made an excellent LT when Whit is done. I just don't think they were willing to give that much to someone they were going to make a backup this next year, especially with Dalton, Green, Burfict due to make huge coin upcoming. Those are three players you can guarantee we will keep at almost any cost. Of course we are goign to play hardball with their agents, Mike Brown and family always do, but they always seem to get their own guys back they really want back.

 

[cincygrad]

No huddle is different than short passing, dink and dunking down the field too. I heard a stat that Dalton's QB rating actually improved with the more time he had to analyze the play. He was at his worst when taking a quick 3 step drop and throwing. Dalton is accurate when throwing, but not as accurate on timing patterns that expects the WR to be in an exact location, and Dalton to deliver it perfect. Too many chances for INT's when you have a quick angle and the LB or CB could be in the right place and there goes an INT. That happened a lot last year. I like the fact we will be doing more play action, because it means that Dalton will be getting deeper drops, be given a chance to look over the field a bit more. I also think that the No Huddle is a nice weapon to have when your offense is loaded with so many weapons, because if you get the right defensive personnel on the field, you can just run them into the ground with the way your offense may align.

I liked Collins, and he would have made an excellent LT when Whit is done. I just don't think they were willing to give that much to someone they were going to make a backup this next year, especially with Dalton, Green, Burfict due to make huge coin upcoming. Those are three players you can guarantee we will keep at almost any cost. Of course we are goign to play hardball with their agents, Mike Brown and family always do, but they always seem to get their own guys back they really want back.

This is likely true for every quarterback in the league. Think about it -- On plays where your line gives you a long time to throw, you should complete a very high percentage of passes. On plays that are rushed, you probably have a lower percentage.

 

[DanBengalfan]

yea, that makes since I guess.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

This is likely true for every quarterback in the league. Think about it -- On plays where your line gives you a long time to throw, you should complete a very high percentage of passes. On plays that are rushed, you probably have a lower percentage.

You are probably right about that. Like I said, I just heard it on something, I can't remember, but it stuck in my head.

However, we designed plays that took no time and forced Dalton to keep throwing them because that was Gruden's system, where as most QB's that are throwing that quickly (because Dalton had one of the fastest snap to releases in the NFL), are being blitz and forced to throw quick. It was not by design typically. Granted, Dalton had chances to spread out, to lineup in shotgun, a chance to take 5 or 7 step drops, but so much of Gruden's plan revolved around quick timing patterns, Dalton never got a chance for the play to develop, his WR's to work their way open, and a chance for Dalton himself to analyze the defense.

More play action will hopefully hold some of that blitz off Dalton (if the run game doesn't suck), it will give the play a chance to develop, Dalton to find a open WR and a lane to pass through, and hopefully his QB rating will go up into the low to mid 90's.

 

[bengaldoug]

Just because Hue says we're going to run it more doesn't mean we're going to run it well. Gio averaged 6+ per carry in college, and 4.1 as a rookie in the NFL. Not sure whether it's poor scheme, poor blocking, poor play calling, or a mixture of the three, but they just didn't shake him loose often enough. Now we are adding a power runner that averages 6+ through his college career. Hopefully he can do better than BJGE's 3.4, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Just because Hue says we're going to run it more doesn't mean we're going to run it well. Gio averaged 6+ per carry in college, and 4.1 as a rookie in the NFL. Not sure whether it's poor scheme, poor blocking, poor play calling, or a mixture of the three, but they just didn't shake him loose often enough. Now we are adding a power runner that averages 6+ through his college career. Hopefully he can do better than BJGE's 3.4, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

I think the 4.1 was decent for a rookie with a line that struggled most of the year in run blocking. However, I imagine the largest reason for decline and I would project Hill will run into the same thing, is the level of competition in the NFL, versus being in college. Plus, Bernard was not given a very steady diet of balls either. BJGE was the feature, and Bernard was the compliment, and when Benard was in the game, they focused on him, because most teams were not worried abotu BJGE beating them or outrunning them like Bernard could.

We have yet to see what Jackson's offense actually does, so there is always a question until we see it for ourselves against real competition.

 

[bengaldoug]

If the team can average 4.2+ per carry this year it would surely add a couple wins and give them a chance to win a playoff game with their mediocre quarterback......not holding my breath, though......

 

[cincygrad]

I think the 4.1 was decent for a rookie with a line that struggled most of the year in run blocking. However, I imagine the largest reason for decline and I would project Hill will run into the same thing, is the level of competition in the NFL, versus being in college. Plus, Bernard was not given a very steady diet of balls either. BJGE was the feature, and Bernard was the compliment, and when Benard was in the game, they focused on him, because most teams were not worried abotu BJGE beating them or outrunning them like Bernard could.

We have yet to see what Jackson's offense actually does, so there is always a question until we see it for ourselves against real competition.

He's not Cedric Benson.

 

[DanBengalfan]

they have to worry about his big play ability.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

He's not Cedric Benson.

Touche! I double meaning. HAHA.

Very well done.