I think we all just got our reality check.

[Enigmatic Evil]

This happens EVERY off-season. Like the dutiful fans we are, we pump ourselves up for the oncoming year by whatever means we need to and then our hopes are dashed violently. The Chicken Littles come out in force, everyone starts calling for Macbethian results and it ranges anywhere between annoying and hilarious.

This was a reality check for Pat Shurmur. Did you guys watch his presser? The stress was heavy on his face, I don't expect this to remain. Either Shurmur, or the teams current level of play... Something will give eventually when Holmgren's hand picked successor bites the bullet. This could get uglier before it gets better.

This was a reality check for Jauron, I think he might have realized he needs PERSONNEL to run these plays he's written up, our lack of depth is going to burn us bad at some point but hopefulyl he changes up what he needs to do.

This was a reality check for Colt McCoy, I hope he sees that he is going to have to be a difference maker on this team because when he made throws (he made, and missed his share) our offense looked good. When he looked bad, the entire offense looked bad. His lack of experience showed just as the lack of experience showed with the rest of this team.

This was a reality check for all of us. I think back to the pre-season predictions. I said that the Bengals would be in the basement of the AFC North unless OUR TEAM said otherwise. Yesterday we made our opening statement, and it was at times horrific to watch.

That was really some of the most undisciplined football I have EVER seen, on BOTH sides of the ball. Penalties that were entirely preventable killed us. SEVEN OR EIGHT in the first QUARTER ALONE!. Those penalties were the difference between First and 10 and First and 15 that killed us on a lot of those opening drives. That kind of football will not stand. I will not abide by that either, and I know none of you will either. HOPEFULLY the coaching staff will not abide, either.

We've got a beaten up offensive line. The lack of depth on the right side has not been addressed for TWO ENTIRE OFFSEASONS and it's coming back to bite us in the ass once again. Our offensive line looked terrible at times and at best mediocre. Heckert needs to address this pronto because we cannot endure 15 more weeks of Colt McCoy running around like a chicken with his head cut off and mediocre pass penetration for the new Hillis/Hardesty corps.

I also think we need to assert ourselves with the running game more next week. We ran the ball, what? 10-15 times tops?

We can't pin the anemic offensive production on the WR corps. Not when the pass rush is eating Colt McCoy's for lunch and he's spending more time making sure he's not run over than he is reading and interpreting the coverage gaps. The WR corps isn't going to make or break an offense when the QB is running for his life.

This isn't the end of the world, it's fucking week one. Yeah, it sucks losing a game we all wanted to win and we all better brace ourselves for a repeat performance next week against the Colts. Shurmur's got a lot of work to do and I hope he's woken up, had his cup of coffee and is going to get these boys in gear. Hopefully they hit the film room hard, they hit the field hard and play hard.

It was an ugly loss, but we move on. It's all we can do. I'm bracing myself for more of this before it gets better.

[nickers]

Im not trying to make excuses but,the penalties I think are attributed to having no OTA's and training camp. these are things you normally would work on. Im not ready to panic yet,or really at all...Im not expecting playoffs. I remember around draft time wanting O-lineman and My feelings came to fruition,unfortunately. We better get some line help and NOW!. I dont care if theyre road grader types. If we have to run the ball to protect Colt. Im all for it at this point.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Enigmatic Evil

That was really some of the most undisciplined football I have EVER seen, on BOTH sides of the ball. Penalties that were entirely preventable killed us. SEVEN OR EIGHT in the first QUARTER ALONE!. Those penalties were the difference between First and 10 and First and 15 that killed us on a lot of those opening drives. That kind of football will not stand. I will not abide by that either, and I know none of you will either. HOPEFULLY the coaching staff will not abide, either.

Your post is right on. I especially agree with this part I quoted. Of course, everybody knows that if this were one of the better teams, this game would have been out of reach probably about halftime, maybe even after the first quarter.

We all expected us to win the game because they had a rookie qb, and they are the bungles, but they showed us why we play the games. They were the better team.

[hiwaygal]

My reality check bounced...

[Riceloft]

It took until the lockout ended for me to get excited about the season. After game one my excitement is back near rock bottom.

Its going to be another long one....

[NW Ohio Brownie]

No question the penalties were ridiculous. I don't think the argument can be made about lack of reps or time because the Browns never lined up in an illegal formation or had to call a timeout because someone lined up wrong.

Nope, chalk that one up to a flat-out lack of discipline and concentration. Draw your own conclusions as to what's changed from last year.

Two other things were alarming to me, however. One I hope will be rectified and the other is a done deal and we will have to put up with it.

First, Shurmur's play-calling yesterday within the 5-yard line sucked. He threw the ball TWICE on 2nd down inside the 5 instead of trying to pound Hillis. Once, maybe. But TWICE? With a guy who had 11 TDs rushing last year? And the second time he did this he threw a fade to Moore, and then called for a fade to Cribbs on 3rd down. To Cribbs? Why not Little or Moore again? When the Browns had to settle for a field goal at 14-13, that's where they gave Cincy a chance. We have 1 red zone receiving threat and that's Moore. I'll take my chances with Hillis behind Thomas, thank you very much.

Second, and this one continues to irritate me more and more, Heckert made an absolutely stupid decision to not retain Lawrence Vickers. Are you guys watching Marecic out there? He is absolutely clueless as a lead blocker. He doesn't hit the hole hard at all and he doesn't have any feel for whom to block. Watch the end around play to Cribbs. Instead of taking out the guy (who tripped JC up) right in front of him, he inexplicably peeled back and got in front of someone that JC had already run by. Vickers helped Houston just blow up Indy's front seven yesterday (go check out their RB stats -- they'll floor you). This will stunt our running game all year, not having Vickers leading the way. It might explain why Shurmur DIDN'T run the ball inside the 5 more often.

Obviously not a good start. I expect them to play with a sense of urgency next week at Indy. If they don't, then that is called a trend not an aberration.

[plumcrazy73]

It wasone game, and a different kind of off season, anyone who thought we were going 16-0 just got their reality check. Me I am not passing judgement just yet. (Granted I did not see the game)

[Sez.EJ]

Sorry, but I was realistic 10 weeks ago.. I knew it would be difficult out of the gate with only 6 weeks to get a young team with no depth ready to play.. Teams with new coaches went 1-4 so far this week.. It is a huge disadvantage when you have teams with GM, Coaching staffs, systems that have been in place for years.. We probably have 40 % of the offense installed at this point.. 6 weeks... that's a tough nut to crack when you bringing in all new systems with an extremely youthful team.. We had a great chance to win this game and should have.. I don't seee the penalties coming next week like this.. I expect a new punter by next week too.. it will look better as the season progresses.. No major injuries yesterday was good too.. The league took a lot of injuries yesterday.

[Jax Dawg]

If Holmgren didn't like what he saw last year I wonder what Holmgren was saying up in the owner's box yesterday...

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Jax Dawg

If Holmgren didn't like what he saw last year I wonder what Holmgren was saying up in the owner's box yesterday...

lol

[Crow]

Originally Posted by Jax Dawg

If Holmgren didn't like what he saw last year I wonder what Holmgren was saying up in the owner's box yesterday...

I actually found visual evidence of what happened yesterday in the owner's box yesterday, but it's quite graphic.

NSFW/NSFP (Not Safe For Pansies, R-Rated Content: http://filesmelt.com/dl/Nopr44444.gif )

[Enigmatic Evil]

Crow, for better or worse. That image doesn't work. I was hoping to see what it was but if ignorance is bliss I am willing to pass :P