I hope we get T.O. as well, I actually think we may end up with two good ones.

 

How much is T.O. to blame for his numbers last year? The Bills had 10 loses, 11 if Indy would have played their regular starters. Do you think if T.O. was on a winning team that his numbers would have been up?

 

Last year T.O. had 10 catches for 25 years or more, the Bengals as a team had only 12. He had 5 catches that went 40 + yards, the Bengals as a team also had 5.

 

The Bills QB's got sacked 46 times last year, Carson was only sacked 26 times, I am sure those sacks had something to do with T.O.'s numbers.

 

Those who get on Chad and all don't want to see how many times he was double teamed, add someone like T.O. and D's can't focus on Chad.

 

I think it would be a fun season with T.O. and Chad on the same team.

If the Bengals can land Owens and have him and Chad on the same page with their QB, they could go 12-4 next season. Say what you want about T.O. but if you can channel his passion for the game appropriately, he is one of the best ever.

Lol, that's true....with the schedule they have next year its doubtful they make it back to the playoffs....at least it could be an entertaining implosion.

 

I think the playoffs are well with in reach if Pittsburgh's QB is charged w/ a crime.

Sign TO and Marshall then we can be on sportscenter daily!!! Who cares what it's for, any press is good press right?

I don't want to skew the thread, but I think that the issue with the passing game last season had less to do with the receivers and more to do with some poor decisions from time to time from the QB. While I think that T.O. would definitely be an upgrade on the edge, if there isn't some improvement from Carson, it may not matter much, IMO.

I don't want to skew the thread, but I think that the issue with the passing game last season had less to do with the receivers and more to do with some poor decisions from time to time from the QB. While I think that T.O. would definitely be an upgrade on the edge, if there isn't some improvement from Carson, it may not matter much, IMO.

 

Your one of the few who thinks that. Yes Palmer did miss some passes last year. However he didn't have much to work with. Marvin Lewis a guy who seems like he says the same stuff all the time, has even said multiple times that the receivers have to do a better job getting separation, and that they weren't able to do that well at all last year. Bob Bratkowski has even said that, and now you see them even trying to improve that by getting different receivers in here. So it very much had to do with the receivers, because besides Chad they didn't get open much. Not to mention did you see any receivers besides Chad actually make a tough catch for Palmer? If you look around the league at these top QB's they don't make perfect throws all the time. They actually get a lot of help from their receivers, who make great catches. Wayne does it all the time for Manning, all the Saints receivers made very tough catches for Brees all the time, and same with Favre's receivers. Unless Palmer made a perfect pass, the ball was not caught and even then it was dropped a lot. On some of Palmers high throws, no receivers ever catch it for him. Receivers for the other teams do though, and so that high throw doesn't go notice by other receivers.

 

Can Palmer play better yes he can, and he does deserve some of the blame. However the receivers is definitely the main reason for it, and also doesn't help that the offensive coordinator is TERRIBLE.

Your one of the few who thinks that. Yes Palmer did miss some passes last year. However he didn't have much to work with. Marvin Lewis a guy who seems like he says the same stuff all the time, has even said multiple times that the receivers have to do a better job getting separation, and that they weren't able to do that well at all last year. Bob Bratkowski has even said that, and now you see them even trying to improve that by getting different receivers in here. So it very much had to do with the receivers, because besides Chad they didn't get open much. Not to mention did you see any receivers besides Chad actually make a tough catch for Palmer? If you look around the league at these top QB's they don't make perfect throws all the time. They actually get a lot of help from their receivers, who make great catches. Wayne does it all the time for Manning, all the Saints receivers made very tough catches for Brees all the time, and same with Favre's receivers. Unless Palmer made a perfect pass, the ball was not caught and even then it was dropped a lot. On some of Palmers high throws, no receivers ever catch it for him. Receivers for the other teams do though, and so that high throw doesn't go notice by other receivers.

 

Can Palmer play better yes he can, and he does deserve some of the blame. However the receivers is definitely the main reason for it, and also doesn't help that the offensive coordinator is TERRIBLE.

 

Actually, he's one of a very large percentage of people that think that. I think you're the one in the minority that thinks Palmer wasn't part of the problem.

I completely agree with HT. Even if we don't make the playoffs, this season will be too much fun. Think about every single receiving TD we'll be on the edge of our seats seeing what will happen next. Hilarious harmless fines that come from touchdown celebrations will be priceless. T.O. is a character and I don't care how much drama he brings, it would be fun.

Your one of the few who thinks that. Yes Palmer did miss some passes last year. However he didn't have much to work with. Marvin Lewis a guy who seems like he says the same stuff all the time, has even said multiple times that the receivers have to do a better job getting separation, and that they weren't able to do that well at all last year. Bob Bratkowski has even said that, and now you see them even trying to improve that by getting different receivers in here. So it very much had to do with the receivers, because besides Chad they didn't get open much. Not to mention did you see any receivers besides Chad actually make a tough catch for Palmer? If you look around the league at these top QB's they don't make perfect throws all the time. They actually get a lot of help from their receivers, who make great catches. Wayne does it all the time for Manning, all the Saints receivers made very tough catches for Brees all the time, and same with Favre's receivers. Unless Palmer made a perfect pass, the ball was not caught and even then it was dropped a lot. On some of Palmers high throws, no receivers ever catch it for him. Receivers for the other teams do though, and so that high throw doesn't go notice by other receivers.

 

Can Palmer play better yes he can, and he does deserve some of the blame. However the receivers is definitely the main reason for it, and also doesn't help that the offensive coordinator is TERRIBLE.

I'm not saying that Palmer was awful. My point is that there were so many routes he made poor throws on, it didn't matter who was on the receiving end. With the upgrade in the run game, the fact that he wasn't sacked that much, it's not like he was running for his life or that opposing teams were dropping 8 in coverage. He played below what his standards have become. Many in this forum blamed Carson for a myriad of things. You were part of those discussions so either you were oblivious to those posts or you've got off season bliss. He couldn't consistently make the sideline routes. So, without getting too off track, I'll end with this,,,I don't care who the Bengals bring in, if Carson doesn't have a better year delivering the football, Jerry Rice in his prime wouldn't help.

Actually, he's one of a very large percentage of people that think that. I think you're the one in the minority that thinks Palmer wasn't part of the problem.

 

Yep. Palmer has some issues. Missing open guys is one of them. I'm hoping part of his issues are he didn't trust anyone except Chad. If they get him a few more targets I'm hoping he comes back around. I don't count on it though.

That would be fine if you were actually getting TO instead of The Artist Formerly Known as TO. Mason at this point is every bit as good a receiver and a much better person in the clubhouse. Look at their numbers the last few years.

 

Lets be honest, who exactly was throwing the ball to TO last year?

 

Here is TOs stats from the last 4 years:

 

YEAR TEAM G REC YDS AVG LNG TD FD FUM LOST

2006 DAL 16 85 1180 13.9 56 13 62 0 0

2007 DAL 15 81 1355 16.7 52 15 69 0 0

2008 DAL 16 69 1052 15.2 75 10 38 1 1

2009 BUF 16 55 829 15.1 98 5 33 1 0

 

Here is Mason's:

 

YEAR TEAM G REC YDS AVG LNG TD FD FUM LOST

2006 BAL 16 68 750 11.0 38 2 45 1 0

2007 BAL 16 103 1087 10.6 79 5 60 1 1

2008 BAL 16 80 1037 13.0 54 5 60 2 1

2009 BAL 16 73 1028 14.1 72 7 55 0 0

 

I'd still give the edge to TO despite last years numbers where they had a shaky QB at best, at the helm of the offense.

^ I'd be interested in dropped passes. I thought TO struggled in that category.

I'm not saying that Palmer was awful. My point is that there were so many routes he made poor throws on, it didn't matter who was on the receiving end. With the upgrade in the run game, the fact that he wasn't sacked that much, it's not like he was running for his life or that opposing teams were dropping 8 in coverage. He played below what his standards have become. Many in this forum blamed Carson for a myriad of things. You were part of those discussions so either you were oblivious to those posts or you've got off season bliss. He couldn't consistently make the sideline routes. So, without getting too off track, I'll end with this,,,I don't care who the Bengals bring in, if Carson doesn't have a better year delivering the football, Jerry Rice in his prime wouldn't help.

 

He's still not stepping into and following through on all of his throws, and as a result his passes are either sailing or they have no zip. When he does (which was a rarity last year), he still can make all the throws with the best of them. IMO, he hasn't completely gotten over that mental hump after the hit to the knee.

^ I'd be interested in dropped passes. I thought TO struggled in that category.

 

We all know thats been an issue with TO but I think his overall production overshadows that drawback IMO. If he was able to hold onto some of those balls, his stats would be unreal...

I have been against T.O. since he came into the league but I would take him for one year. He actually behaved last year on an awful Bills team. But most of all, the Bengals are a running team now and he is one of the best blocking WR's in the league. You get long runs by having receivers that can block and I do think he has enough in the tank for a few deep routes a game. It would be nice to limit the drops though.