1. Having a competent QB is the obvious, nothing else to say here. No sloppy play whatsoever. I do think we have that with our Q in regards of potential. 2. Most teams have ELITE playmakers. How many do they have? It depends. While Corey Davis is solid, he’s not elite. Elijah Moore is a nice piece, but he needs to stay healthy. Really think we need a big time wideout like a Calvin Ridley or possibly draft one of the top prospects this year. Just look at what Jamar Chase is doing. 3. All playoff teams have good TE play. Maybe it’s not the centerpiece of their O but when corners truly lock down come playoff time, the TE is arguably the most important offensive piece. They are difference makers. Draft McBride in round 2 if he’s the guy. 4. Haven’t noticed safety’s at all these last two weeks. Kyle Hamilton is a stud but he’s not the move imo at 4. 5. similar to having a good Q as a pre-requisite. This game is won in the trenches. More OL and DL will be needed. If we need to over reach for Ojabo, Karalfits etc. we should if Thibs and Hutch are gone. JFM and Carl Lawson won’t get it done.
You got me thinking about the elite playmakers for the 8 teams playing this weekend; only 2 of the elite 8 playmakers (1 from each team) were picked in the 1st round. Chase is special but I don’t believe any of the other 7 had a 1st yr noticeably better than Moore’s.
Yet none of them scored over 20 pts, just let’s me know D and running the ball still wins in the playoffs. Jimmy G played one of the worst first Half of Football I’ve ever seen and they found a way to win.
The best part of the OPP was the last part. OL and D. I am 100% into building from the trenches out. You can't get the ball to a playmaker if the QB is on his ass. Burrow was lucky yesterday to survive and to win. Tannehill is awful so he made more mistakes than the lack of good OL play cost the Bengals. The Cin OL was beyond awful yesterday. Could have been a much worse outcome for Cin if JB got hurt like it looked like he was going to, on many of the 9 sacks against him yesterday. I'll tell you one thing, that Cincy OL better get it's act together if they expect to be competitive next week regardless of who they play. Hoping JD holds true to his word of building the OL and DL/pass rush first!
Last week both the Bucs and Bills safety got a pick in the end zone. Yesterday the Bengals safety got a pick the first play of the game and the Packers safety got pick in the red zone. I agree 4 is too high for Hamilton but safeties are out there making game changing plays.
Entire football years go by and the principles of how to win in the playoffs remain the same. It will never change. But I think the most important thing about building a winning team is to build a balanced roster.
Our last two playoff runs were aided by a defense that made plays. Whether it was Leonhard getting an INT deep in Chargers territory, Rhodes strip sacking Rivers on the drive after we took the lead, or getting coverage sacks on Brady, they showed up when it mattered during the wins. While offense wins in the regular season, defense matters in the playoffs. It would be nice to have the game wrecking pass rusher we've lacked since Abraham was traded. Of course, reaching the playoffs requires competent QB play, so Zach needs to step up in year 2. Sanchez wasn't good, but he did just enough his first two years. I think we'd all prefer better than that.
With as much issues as we've had creating turnovers, you'd think more people would be into the idea. We had what? 7 picks this year? 10 the year before. That's putrid. Practically every time I've seen Hall get beat over the top, it's because of the safety help (or lack thereof). It's a much bigger problem than we're giving it credit for. 4 might be high for a safety but Hamilton won't be there at 10. He's gotta be in consideration if Thib, Hutch, and Neal are gone
The things that I have noticed is: 1. The Bengals O line sucks ass 2. The Bengals have beyond legit play makers. 3 phenomenal wide outs, 1 great running back. 3. Simmons was a monster for the Titans. When the hell is Q Williams gonna be that type of player? I love how they picked up Zach Cunningham. Why on earth did we not put in a claim for him? I absolutely love D Foreman, I wanted him to be a Jet since he was drafted. AJ Brown, we definitely need a wide out like him. Enter T Burkes at 10 in this year's draft. 4. I would honestly do whatever it takes to sign Davante Adam's. They hell with trading assets for Calvin Ridley. Adam's catches everything that comes within his reach. 5. Kenny Clark, when is Q Williams gonna even play like him? 6. When AJ Dillion went down, it changed the entire Packer's game plan.
Bottom line is JD needs to start hitting on some late round or mid round players. We can easily get a starting RG in round 3/4. Also, we need to spend money now. It’s never a guarantee a FA will come here but we need to get aggressive with ZW contract as a rookie. Finally, Becton has to stay healthy.
Sanchez is a perfect example of what Saleh told Zach "the team is here to lift you up not the other way around". Sanchez is not the reason we were in the playoffs. The 09 & 10 seasons I would have rather had Zach as my QB than Sanchez.
Unfortunately, in both runs, it was also the defense that failed us. We need more playmakers period. Whether that’s at center, safety, linebacker, receiver or whatever.
Players like Nathan Shephered, Ashtyn, Mims, Zuniga can’t even get on the field and if they do, they don’t contribute at all. We need to have another draft like we had last year. That’s how teams are truly built. We can go and trade for a vet as needed, that’s easy. Getting talent is key.
I have said that over and over. Couldn’t agree more. Cincinnati, was lucky to win the game due to an awful OL. SF offense, conversely, with no QB play for about 80 minutes, was kept in the game by a superior D.
On the topic of safety, in WC Weekend alone I think the Poyer and Hyde were highly impactful for the Bills, and both Winfield and White had huge games for the Buccaneers. Jessie Bates has been a stud in the playoffs so far for the Bengals as well.
So where were Jamal and Maye for us? I get it but spending a premier pick on safety doesn’t do much if you can’t get to the QB
Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye were playing on a team with Sam Darnold at QB among many other piss poor performers. Would you say CB is not important because Patrick Surtain plays on a team with Drew Lock? Or would you say Edge Rusher is not important because Brian Burns plays with Darnold? Or OT not important because Penei Sewell plays with Jared Goff? Or WR not important because Jaylen Waddle plus with Tua?
I jumped to the end of this thread (so I apologize if this has been posted earlier). Bucs cut Le'veon Bell ahead of today's game to make room for the return of Fournette, who's recovered from a bad hammy. Bu By Bell!
So I think the Bills are a good example as to why safeties are so important. The strength of the team is the two studs they have back there. But it also speaks to how it’s easier to find them in free agency than one would think. They are somewhat the exception to the rule in being All Pro level performers, but they are both on their second and third teams respectively. And were found in FA on moderate contracts.
I don't think this is the right takeaway. The teams that make the playoffs are, almost without exception, the teams that pass the ball most effectively. Top 5 teams in passing YPG: Bucs Chiefs Chargers Cowboys Rams Top 5 teams in running YPG: Eagles Colts Ravens Browns Titans Which group contains the better teams overall?
