WhoDeyRevolution

AFC North Preview (Unabridged Version)

As mini-camps start and rosters start to take form, we here at WhoDeyRevolution are taking our first stab at predicting the division. I am listing the teams in order of where I think they will finish this year—and yes, you’ll have to scroll down for a bit to find the Bengals.

The AFC North should be extremely competitive this year, in part because I see all four teams losing a lot of non-conference games. This year, the AFC North matches up with the tough NFC East division, including a solid Eagles team, playoff contending Washington Redskins, pre-season Super Bowl pick Dallas Cowboys, and oh yeah, the defending Super Bowl champion NY Giants. The schedule this year for all four teams means that, in terms of strength of schedule (based on 2007 finish), the Steelers have the hardest schedule in football, the Ravens are at #5, and the Browns and Bengals are tied with the seventh hardest schedule.

Given the tough slate of opponents, the intra-division battles should be even more intense. Overall, I don’t think any team in our division will win more than 11 games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team won the division at 10-6 or even 9-7. I give the nod to the Steelers, who have dominated in division play. The Browns—much like the Bengals—remain a wild card, but I don’t see either one overcoming glaring problems on defense. In the end, I think Marvin Lewis is right that smash-mouth football rules this division. We saw it last year when the Steelers completely controlled the tempo of both games our by pounding the ball. I think with the addition of Rashard Mendenhall, it will be more of the same.

Click here to read the preview (warning, it is very long).

Thinking Inside the Box

Things going on over on the offensive side of the ball... We've got a franchised player who isn't even slated to start this year in "project" Stacy Andrews... We've got a star WR who doesn't want to be here in Chad Johnson... And we've got a mess in the backfield, where we don't even know who the starting RB is going to be. But enough about them already. I want to talk about defense.

When you look at our front 7, or the "box", not a lot is recognizable.  Justin Smith jumped on the first offer he received faster than Drew Carey can slam a 5 dollar foot-long. We lost Landon Johnson, the team's leading tackler, in free agency to Carolina. Caleb Miller decided that he wanted to pursue his other passion and left for the seminary. 

We've got some new faces in there including LB Keith Rivers, DE Antwan Odom, DT Pat Sims, DT Jason Shirley, in addition to some obscure RFAs.  These four new guys all have the potential to have a big impact on the performance of this defense.  But this will all hinge on the play of the interior D-Line.  For anything to work this year, we need BIG play from our bigmen.  It is time for Peko, Thornton, Myers, and the new kids to step it up and start wreaking havoc.  If they can do this it will allow the rest of the defense to do what they do, and that is play fast, hit hard, and make plays. 

Speaking of playing fast, lets take a look at the linebacking corps.  This was perhaps the most unsettled area of the Bengals team last year.  Plagued by injuries and shoddy play, and even playing one game with safety Chinedum Ndukwe in a linebacking spot, this position was the poster child of the Bengals reign of futility.  However things are looking up this year.  We've picked up Keith Rivers with the #9 pick in the draft as someone who can play all 3 positions very well.  Odell Thurman, a catalyst of the AFC North Championship team in 2005, has returned and is looking to make an big impact.  And several other younger players are going to look to make their mark, including Eric Henderson and Darryl Blackstock.

Here is how I see the starting lineup taking shape for the season opener:

DE- Geathers and Odom

DT- Peko and Thornton  (Sims, Shirley as backups)

OLB - Odell Thurman

MLB - Keith Rivers

OLB - Tough call, either Dhani Jones or Rashad Jeanty

It doesn't look like an all-star cast, but I do think if the chemistry is right this group could have a strong season.  But like I said, it ALL depends on the young DTs Sims and Shirley stepping in right away, and strong play from Peko and Thornton.  We will have to wait and see.  Let's hope that Mike Clown got it right, and this Sims kid is the real deal.

I've Got An Itch On My Odom Sack

Odom definitely made a name for himself as a Tennessee Titan last year, ringing in 8 sacks and also getting 14 quarterback hits (third in the league.)  Does this mean that he is the next Lawrence Taylor???
Let's review...

Antwan is obviously a good talent and will hopefully contribute more than Justin Smith did in his years as a Bengal.  But there are couple things that should be pointed out: I know of at least 2 sacks that came in garbage time against the Colts when Jim Sorgi was at the helm. Another thing that must be pointed out is that he played right next to Albert Haynesworth, one of the best defensive tackles in the game right now.  What significance does this have?  Haynesworth's size and talent required the opposing linemen to double team him on almost every play, most often times leaving Odom with one blocker to beat. 

This only means one thing.  Odom's numbers will take a big hit if the Bengals don't spring for a serious upgrade at defensive tackle.  Two botched attempt at picking up a DT earlier this off-season show that Mikey Brown is at least aware of this gaping hole, and that he wants to fix it.  With Shaun "Porkchop" Rogers in Cleveland, and Dewayne Robertson being labeled as damaged goods, we only have one place left to turn... the 2008 NFL Draft.

If you have been religiously reading Who Dey Revolution for the past couple weeks (which is like every person in Cincinnati) you are not a stranger to the name Glenn Dorsey.  There is a good chance that this guy will fall to the #9 pick given the injury concerns surrounding him.  If he does, it is a no brainer for the Bengals to pick him up.  This guy has the size and the talent (a la Albert Haynesworth) to demand attention in the middle, which would give Geathers and Odom more opportunities to get to the QB.  And as evidenced by all when the Giants won the Superbowl, getting to the QB can do wonders for any defense.

So you basically only have 1 choice: click here and post a comment to JOIN THE WHO DEY REVOLUTION to show Mikey and company that you want a SUPERBOWL.

(Mike's reaction when a reporter told him how many Bengals fans signed the Who Dey Revolution Manifesto.)

What the Stacy Andrews Tag Says About the Bengals

In a matter of a few hours, I’ve managed to make a complete 180 on my opinion of the Stacy Andrews franchise tag.  I admit it—at first I thought this was a savvy move, locking up a proven backup and providing a little insurance should one of our lineman go down.  And maybe it will pan out this way—no question we’ve lost some key lineman to injury over the last two years, with Big Willie, Levi Jones, and Richie “We Should Have Treated You Better” Braham.

But, what the Stacy Andrews franchise tag is, at its core, is yet another statement by this franchise that they have given up.  Thrown in the towel.  They are waiving their arms in the air and running around as if the sky is falling.

Instead of using the nearly $8 Million being offered to (wasted on) Stacy Andrews to sign a free agent, we’re going with what we know.  And what we know is that Stacy Andrews has started only 17 games in 4 years—hardly worth the $441 K he’ll be making per game (according to Geoff Hobson of bengals.com). 

Now, the party line says that “free agency never solves any problems—you just end up paying a guy too much.”  Really?  Tell that to the Patriots.  And yeah, the Bengals may not have the cache, winning records, Super Bowls, coaching, front office…uh, where was I?  Oh yeah, the Bengals aren’t the Pats and may not get superstars at bargain rates, but they have money to spend this free agency period.  In fact, at $31.45 Million under the cap, the Bengals rank 7th in the NFL in terms of most money to spend.

And how about this: trading Chad Johnson would cost us $8 Million in dead cap money.  But there have been dozens of reports—even on NFL Network—that teams such as the Redskins are interested in trading for Chad.  And one NFL front office man even stated that Chad would probably be worth a 1st Round plus a second or third round pick. 

So, instead of paying $8 Million for a BACKUP tackle, why not GROW SOME BALLS and try to do a little wheeling and dealing?  Either way, you’re out $8 Million.  And while you can argue that Chad is one of the top 3 WR’s in the league, you can’t tell me after his whining all off-season that you wouldn’t be curious to see what we could get with two 1st round picks and possibly two 2nd Round picks.  The Bengals don't seem too curious--they're too busy trying not to screw it all up...again.

So, while I admit I made full 180 on my earlier sentiments—and no doubt my friends will give me shit—maybe it’s time the Bengals finally did a full 180 on their front office moves.  If not, it’s high time we all give THEM shit!!!

Who Dey, Steve