What Do the Bengals Need to Make a Deep Run in the Playoffs?

[Science Friction]

I am a big Bengals' fan and have been since the seventies .I don't follow the ins and outs of the offseason or preseason very much. I would like to ask those of you who do to tell me how this team shapes up. How do the offensive and defensive lines look? How's the depth? Has Dalton showed improvement since last season? What are big holes(weaknesses) if any? Which players seem to be geared up and ready to have big seasons? Is Eifert back and looking strong? What about Vontaze? Will he be ready to make an impact again? I know we are still handicapped by Marvin but do we have enough to overcome his inadequacies and play for the conference championship? What has to happen to make it possible?

 

I know the schedule is pretty tough as it always seems to be. What are the chances that this is the year it all comes together?

[futurecoach]

In my opinion it comes down to two things. One staying mainly healthy and not as many key injuries as last year. Then the other thing is the play of Dalton. Even though I want mcccarron they aren't making that change. So as I said the last three years it comes down to the play of Dalton.

[theguru]

Health + Decent Dalton = Success

[Hellbird]

To make a deep playoff run?

They need a new coach and QB.

 

I don't see them making the playoffs this year.

[mcpapa]

When Mike and Mike did their AFC North review the other day, they said that the over/under on the Bengals was 8.5 games.

[Bengal Maniac]

THe offensive line is above average and the defensive line is average, but is much better when Geno plays well. Eifert is poised to do well, however, injuries are a concern with him. Burfict may never be the same and won't be available until after the Bengals first 6 games at the minimum due to PUP list assignment.

 

Linebackers appear to be the biggest weakness, without Burfict they have no real thumper. They are not deep at LB at all.

 

This is a playoff team, but injuries determine a team like the Bengals fate. AS was said, if they have limited injuries, they should be good. AD needs help, he cannot do it alone, but is good enough to get them far in the playoffs.

[futurecoach]

THe offensive line is above average and the defensive line is average, but is much better when Geno plays well. Eifert is poised to do well, however, injuries are a concern with him. Burfict may never be the same and won't be available until after the Bengals first 6 games at the minimum due to PUP list assignment.

 

Linebackers appear to be the biggest weakness, without Burfict they have no real thumper. They are not deep at LB at all.

 

This is a playoff team, but injuries determine a team like the Bengals fate. AS was said, if they have limited injuries, they should be good. AD needs help, he cannot do it alone, but is good enough to get them far in the playoffs.

 

AD has been blessed with a top 10 defense three out of his four years in the League. He has been blessed with a pro bowl receiver (who does need to step up in big games too), he was blessed last year with the number 6 rushing offense. He has had the things around him for the majority of his time here in Cincy. The one consistent thing we do know though is in big games if your QB fails to show up, usually your whole team looks bad. Defense looks bad because always on the field because of three and outs, short fields, or turnovers. Offense looks bad because your QB stares down receivers and is not accurate in big games. In big games momentum is huge and we have a QB who kills that momentum in big games. Dalton has stuff around him, but at the end of the day if a team wants to do well in the playoffs their QB has to make plays when it matters. That is honestly the big difference between he and Wilson. Wilson's overall skill set is similar to Dalton, except he is a little more athletic. However at the end of the day Wilson can make a throw or a play when it matters most, which is why the Seahawks win playoff games and make deep runs. While our QB can't be counted on to do that.

[Bengal Maniac]

AD has been blessed with a top 10 defense three out of his four years in the League. He has been blessed with a pro bowl receiver (who does need to step up in big games too), he was blessed last year with the number 6 rushing offense. He has had the things around him for the majority of his time here in Cincy. The one consistent thing we do know though is in big games if your QB fails to show up, usually your whole team looks bad. Defense looks bad because always on the field because of three and outs, short fields, or turnovers. Offense looks bad because your QB stares down receivers and is not accurate in big games. In big games momentum is huge and we have a QB who kills that momentum in big games. Dalton has stuff around him, but at the end of the day if a team wants to do well in the playoffs their QB has to make plays when it matters. That is honestly the big difference between he and Wilson. Wilson's overall skill set is similar to Dalton, except he is a little more athletic. However at the end of the day Wilson can make a throw or a play when it matters most, which is why the Seahawks win playoff games and make deep runs. While our QB can't be counted on to do that.

 

Never thought I'd see the day where you and HB are on the same page LOL

[Hellbird]

THe offensive line is above average and the defensive line is average, but is much better when Geno plays well. Eifert is poised to do well, however, injuries are a concern with him. Burfict may never be the same and won't be available until after the Bengals first 6 games at the minimum due to PUP list assignment.

 

Linebackers appear to be the biggest weakness, without Burfict they have no real thumper. They are not deep at LB at all.

 

This is a playoff team, but injuries determine a team like the Bengals fate. AS was said, if they have limited injuries, they should be good. AD needs help, he cannot do it alone, but is good enough to get them far in the playoffs.

How can you say that? He has only proved the opposite. AD is the reason they haven't gone deep in the playoffs.

[Bengal Maniac]

How can you say that? He has only proved the opposite. AD is the reason they haven't gone deep in the playoffs.

 

I put the San Diego game on him. The rest the team was awful. I think he gives us the best chance of a rookie or McCarron.

[frankdracman23]

Bengals need "Good Fortune".

 

By that I mean they need to be healthy and have the teams they meet in the playoffs be missing some key players.

 

Bengals with all their offensive weapons and a healthy defense (including Vontez) would be great for the Bengals and it would help if the opposing teams were not as fortunate.

 

That is not wishing ill will on them......but that is the way the playoffs work sometimes. One team limps in and then is eliminated.

[futurecoach]

I put the San Diego game on him. The rest the team was awful. I think he gives us the best chance of a rookie or McCarron.

 

The second Houston game can also fall on him. As I have said many times to win in the playoffs your QB has to step up and make plays or throws when it matters most. He had that opportunity at the end of that game, and failed! Which is why someone like Russell Wilson with a similar skill set wins playoff games, and why Dalton doesn't. Wilson can make the play when they need it, and Dalton fails time and time again. Shoot even the first Houston playoff game, they had a chance. They were playing against Houston's third team QB. While the defense didn't play well either, the offense didn't help them out at all. Going three and outs, and Dalton just being flat out terrible stopped any chance of the offense being good. The same with the Sand Diego game. The only game that you can truly say that it wouldn't have mattered how Dalton played, that the outcome would have been the same is last years Colts game. That game I don't put on him.

[futurecoach]

Never thought I'd see the day where you and HB are on the same page LOL

 

How can you say that? He has only proved the opposite. AD is the reason they haven't gone deep in the playoffs.

 

Quite honestly I think me and Hellbird agree on more things than we ever admitted. For awhile I think we just disagreed to disagree. The main reason why we got into things, was when he may have over exaggerated some things by saying the Bengals are horrible, etc. lol. As I did with Mal on here just a month ago, I will argue it when people say they are horrible, because they are not. However if people want to say they don't think they can get over the hump in the playoffs, then I really can't disagree with that because that is more of a realistic viewpoint than just saying they suck lol.

[Lizard Momma]

Get a new owner, new head coach, and new QB, for starters.

[futurecoach]

Get a new owner, new head coach, and new QB, for starters.

 

The owner has sucked for the majority of years he has been here. However honestly the way they have ran the team the last five years has been very good. The only things he probably has got wrong during these years is not moving on from Lewis. Getting a new owner doesn't mean things get better. Especially depending on if that owner knows what he is doing. Then hiring a GM doesn't automatically mean better things either. Many teams have gms who don't do well at all. The Bengals have found a formula to build a good team finally. So honestly new ownership or new GM may not be a good thing. Keep with current model and make a few more adjustments like with the coach If they fail again.