Looking At Cincinnati...

[Snake]

I am already excepting we are going to get beat by 40 points. I mean hell the bucs put up 20 on us....

[Sloth]

I come in peace.

I just want to learn a little bit more about your team before the game on Sunday, and I was wondering if you guys could fill me in. What are you expecting to see on Sunday? Good luck in advance, and let's hope for a minimal number of injuries. Also, if anyone wants a Bengals fan's opinion of his team, I'm happy to provide.

By the way, how's Tony Pike doing? I heard he was close to not making the cut, which is a shame... I'm a UC grad and loved seeing that kid lead our Bearcats to two Big East titles, and I hope he gets the chance to prove he can get it done in the NFL.

They liked Pike enough to keep him on roster at #3 without any preseason playing time and him being late to TC (because of school). He pushed out a coaching favorite project QB. We haven't seen anything from him, so no idea how he's progressing, but the team seems to accept that he's a project and are comfortable using a roster spot on him.

Our secondary is horrible, we have a really good LB group, DL is just ok. Better at run support than pass rush.

Offense hasn't clicked in any facet, but we may be throwing Clausen out there to try and spark something. We have a great running game.. WHEN it's on (it hasn't been on yet).

[WhoDeyBengals]

Welcome. I don't think Pike will get any opportunities with this team. Clausen is head and shoulders ahead of him due to playing in the same system at Notre Dame.

I know that Pike was behind Cantwell for much of camp, and he was one of the last guys in on the team. I didn't get to see much of Carolina during the preseason... did he perform? I have no idea.

Me personally, I am expected to see the bengals use Benson between the tackles to test our unheralded Dline, which inevitably will open up the pass. Not because you will be gashing us with Benson (who gets the tough yards), but because the run game will not work as well as you think it might. We have absolutely dominated in run defense the first 2 games.. take away the NYG's 2 meaningless longer runs at the end of the game and we had them for like 30 total rushing yards the whole game. Our secondary leaves something to be desired, so if Palmer is on point, he could have a field day.

I fully expect Clausen to get his first start against you guys, and I think it will be an upgrade over Matt Moore. He gave us a spark, and I think we can move the ball with him at the helm. I am hoping our oline will play harder with a new QB, but I think it will be a close game either way.

What are your thoughts on the game? What do you expect to see from us?

BENGALS ON OFFENSE:

Expect us to attempt to establish the run early with Benson. That's been our MO against every team we play, despite the fact that the first two teams we played exhibited excellent ability against the run. We'll come after your front seven anyhow. That sets up play-action passes, and you'll see a lot of that from us as well. When we pass the ball, we'll usually come at you with a three-wide set with a TE and one RB, regardless of whether the snap is taken from under center or from the shotgun. Ochocinco and Owens will always line up on opposite sides, and you're usually going to see Shipley and Gresham as the slot receiver and tight end. No offense, but I think Carolina doesn't pose quite the same challenge to a passing game as Baltimore or New England, and we'll get it done through the air.

CAROLINA ON OFFENSE:

The Bengals employ a 4-3 defense, and they do a good job of taking away the run when they decide that's what the other team does best. We'll probably start with Peko and Tank at DT on first and second downs, with Odom and Geathers on the outside. On running downs, expect Roy Williams to creep up into the box for a lot of eight-man fronts. The Bengals defense does a good job of flowing to the ball on running plays, and it could be a long day for Williams and Stewart. On obvious passing downs, we'll sub in DT Geno Atkins and LB Michael Johnson to generate a pass rush, usually sending four or five guys to rush with the rest dropping into coverage. The Bengals have a talented tandem of CBs, and they could give a rookie QB some problems early.

It's a road game, and that doesn't play to our strengths. We only won one game outside of the division on the road last year, and we lost to some teams that on paper we should have easily defeated (Oakland comes to mind). However, Carolina's strengths and weaknesses remind me a lot of Baltimore from a year ago: stout against the run, strong running game, but deficient against the pass and poor QB play. It's a matchup that plays to our strengths, and it'll probably be approached just like an AFC North game. I think we'll win, but seeing as I'm a lifelong Bengals fan, I'm never surprised when this team disappoints.

[Snake]

I really want to disagree with this but I know we are a horrible team right now. No need to kid myself.

[SCP]

I come in peace.

I just want to learn a little bit more about your team before the game on Sunday, and I was wondering if you guys could fill me in. What are you expecting to see on Sunday? Good luck in advance, and let's hope for a minimal number of injuries. Also, if anyone wants a Bengals fan's opinion of his team, I'm happy to provide.

By the way, how's Tony Pike doing? I heard he was close to not making the cut, which is a shame... I'm a UC grad and loved seeing that kid lead our Bearcats to two Big East titles, and I hope he gets the chance to prove he can get it done in the NFL.

If you guys don't score 40 on us, you should be ashamed.

If we score more than 7 on the Bengals, you should be ashamed.

All there is to it.

[WhoDeyBengals]

If you guys don't score 40 on us, you should be ashamed.

If we score more than 7 on the Bengals, you should be ashamed.

All there is to it.

That bad, huh? Wow. I mean, I'm glad we're catching you on a down year, but still, that sucks. Even if we win, we lose!

[Snake]

That bad, huh? Wow. I mean, I'm glad we're catching you on a down year, but still, that sucks. Even if we win, we lose!

Think Bengals before Lewis and thats were we are....

[SCP]

That bad, huh? Wow. I mean, I'm glad we're catching you on a down year, but still, that sucks. Even if we win, we lose!

Yes, it's that bad IMO. Our o-line is not anywhere near where they were last year. No #2 receiver. QB situation in disarray. Our defense can't seem to get off the field on 3rd downs. Secondary play is pathetic.

[WhoDeyBengals]

Think Bengals before Lewis and thats were we are....

Dayyum. OK, I remember those days, and the best way to get through them is to remember that life is still worth living for. I am so sorry if that's the case, though. How thin is the ice for Fox?

Yes, it's that bad IMO. Our o-line is not anywhere near where they were last year. No #2 receiver. QB situation in disarray. Our defense can't seem to get off the field on 3rd downs. Secondary play is pathetic.

Keep the faith. Take it from a fan of a historically crappy team, the NFL is really about parity and it will eventually get better. :sifone:

[Lout]

Seeing the spread for our game is only +3, I think this could be a trap game because the oddsmakers want everyone to bet the Bengals.. so maybe they know something that "we" don't. It could be closer than we all realize. Or maybe that's just me holding out hope that Clausen will actually move our offense.