Is this year different?

If you have ever spent time following Cincinnati sports you understand our annual routine.

Every fall we convince ourselves that this year is different, that this is finally the year of the Bengals! Deep down we know that we will ultimately be disappointed. However, the hope keeps us coming back.

Most seasons, parity in the NFL keeps the Bengals in contention until Christmas as they finish around 9-7 and possibly squeak into one of the last playoff spots. After losing in the first round, Cincinnati turns its attention to college basketball.

It’s much of the same with UC and Xavier. They help get us through the long, cold winter nights and provide excitement into March. Then Opening Day arrives and World Series chants echo through the Queen City.

As the dog days of summer come to an end and the Cardinals take the NL Central, we start over and the city begins to believe again that this is the year of the Bengals!

So as the first leaves begin to fall we must ask ourselves: “Is 2014 different?” “Could this be our year?”

Before we proclaim the Queen City the King of the NFL, let’s take a look at this year’s team.

The 2014 Bengals appear to be the top dog in the AFC North heading into the regular season. However, if the Bengals want to take the next step and earn their first playoff win since 1990 they will have to rely on the $100 million dollar arm of Andy Dalton. Andy is currently 0-3 in playoff appearances and his stats in those games are horrendous. Dalton has thrown only 1 touchdown and 6 interceptions in his short post season career.

For Dalton, consistency is the biggest issue. “Good Andy” puts up numbers comparable to some of the best QB’s in the league. When Dalton is on his game, the Bengals can beat any team in the NFL. Unfortunately for Bengals fans, they are just as familiar with “Bad Andy.” This is the Dalton that goes 23 for 42 with 0 TD’s and an interception in a loss to the Browns. This is the Andy that has historically shown up when the lights shine brightest. In order for the Bengals to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2014, they will need to see far more “Good Andy”… especially in the post season.

Mike Brown and company have given Dalton so many weapons that it would be nearly impossible for Andy to not be successful in 2014. A.J Green is one of the league’s best receivers and Geovanni Bernard is knocking on the door to top back territory. Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert have many similarities to the Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez combo that lit up defenses in New England (well except for the off field issues). The Bengals present a matchup nightmare for opponents and could produce huge numbers with some consistency at the quarterback position.

The big offensive concern for Bengals fans is the center position. Rookie Russell Bodine will be filling big shoes after the retirement of Kyle Cook. Bodine was manhandled in the preseason by Arizona nose tackle Dan Williams which is not a good omen for the season. Given Dalton’s struggles vs. the pass rush, it will be important for Bodine to improve quickly.

Fortunately for Cincinnati fans, the Bengals defense alone is good enough to lead the Bengals into the playoffs. They have the best defense in the AFC North and maybe in the NFL. Last year, the defense was dominant despite missing Geno Atkins and Taylor Mays for a majority of the season. This year a healthy Cincinnati defense will cause many sleepless nights for opposing offensive coordinators.

So is this the year of the Bengals?

I wouldn’t be a true Cincinnatian if I didn’t take the bait. Let’s get excited Bengals nation. It is time to buy into the hype once again. The Bengals have put together one of the best teams in the NFL and I am going to enjoy the ride. This is our year!

I will probably have my heart broken once again in January.. But by then it is time for college basketball anyways..

WHO DEY!

 

This is the first ever publication of Nick Bachus, and a damn fine one at that.  Nick is a true Cincinnatian and West Sider in every sense of the word.  In fact, he is probably more West Side than attending a Friday night football game taking place in the Price Hill Chili parking lot.  Look for more posts from Nick touching on the Bengals and many more topics on www.griftkrehnbrink.com.

Ahhhh.  The best time of year is finally back upon us.  Where we wake up early on Saturday mornings because we want to.  Where day-drinking is considered “ok” no matter what your age.   And where girls become famous just for being hot in a crowd.  Yes, it is college football season once more, and I for one find myself very excited for this season in particular.

Quick sidebar, it is total BS that no dude has ever been “discovered” at a sporting event.  I eagerly  await the day a male sports personality gets his start from just being in the stands looking hott. “So how did you pull that gig?” “I wore this sick polo with tight bright shorts that would make even the frattiest fratstar rethink his Chubbies collection.”

 

Good Things are New Things

Two initially fantastic things about this year.  (1) No talk about a decade straight of dominance from the SEC, and (2) the creation of the SEC Network.  The first thing is great because finally for a season we can separate Nick Saban from Jesus Christ, and #2 is even better because the rest of the country doesn’t have to watch the SEC suckfest every Saturday night on regular channels anymore.  Not getting the SEC network as part of my cable package was the first time I have ever thanked my provider, even though it came in the same message as a $50 “technician” fee.

 

This Should Be Fun

But seriously, the parody present at the beginning of this season across the nation and in all major/minor conferences hasn’t existed since Dubya was in his first term as POTUS and Matt Leinart didn’t have to ask to go back to college; he was frickin’ there.

And it is a different kind of parody.  Instead of debating if Alabama or Auburn is going to win it all,  all 5 major conferences have teams that look like contenders. And of course I have to mention that this is the first year of the touted College Football Playoff, which on the surface looks like added competition to the landscape.  As skeptical as I am about the new format, it is really the perfect year to add another layer to break through with such a deep and even field (minus Florida State).

Let’s take a look around the country at the battles for the major conference crowns:

In the BIG, a Braxton-less Ohio State, still the front runner with a deep defensive line and a stable of running backs, is going to have to contend with an extremely talented Michigan State squad returning a monster backfield in Connor Cook and Jeremy Langford and an always stout defense.  Oh, and Wisconsin might have the best running back in the country and potential Heisman front-runner in Melvin Gordon and a schedule that excludes both the Buckeyes and the Spartans.  The Badgers are also penciling in Tanner Mcevoy, a converted safety, as QB1 who last played the panty dropper spot at Arizona Western College (Go Matadors) almost two years ago.  Everyone is looking forward to the OSU-MSU matchup in East Lansing November 8, but keep in mind Wisconsin has an undoubtedly soft schedule after its opener with LSU that includes only one ranked team (Nebraska at home) and ends it season with doormats Iowa and Minnesota.  As a bonus, you need to watch the Penn State-Ohio State game in this the first year of the Coach James Franklin era.  With what the Buckeyes did to the Nittany Lions last year in Columbus, look for a heated slugfest in Happy Valley when these teams meet in late October.

Across the country in the Pac 12, you could make a legitimate argument for the top four to five teams (Arizona State with an outside shot) to take home the conference crown, or to lose 3 games or more.  UCLA has Brett Hundley, a stalwart on Heisman lists everywhere, and linebacker/goal line RB Myles Jack – both seen as top 20 picks next year, but has questions about the depth on both lines.  Oregon has uber-talented Marcus Mariota back for his senior season and the speed to outrun just about anyone, but the Ducks still have not proven they can win a tough, physical, grind-it-out kind of game (look at Arizona and Stanford games last year).  Stanford shows the ability to replace cogs in an unstoppable machine every year, but will have to rely on the unproven arm of Kevin Hogan with last year’s horse Tyler Gaffney off to the NFL.  And USC finally is rid of the Lane Kiffin disease, and although they have had some recent bonehead moments, cough Josh Shaw, they should are sporting a much deeper roster to compliment its first line talent.  All of these teams sans UCLA play 5 conference road games, so there will be ample chances for the front runner to slip up.  Also, don’t expect an unbelievable year from Washington, but I think they will be the class of the conference in 5 years if they can keep Chris Petersen at coach (first year from Boise State).  Guy can clearly coach, and with greater resources to work with, watch out for the Huskies in the years to come.

Down in the deep south, where GPA comes in as the third most important acronym to YPC and TFL, there are over half a dozen teams with a chance to come out of Atlanta as the SEC champion.  Alabama is, per usual, the most talented team in the country, but they are breaking in a new, albeit talented, quarterback in FSU transfer Jake Coker and showed some real lack of discipline down the stretch last year.  LSU is right next to Alabama talent-wise and even brought in what looks to be the best freshman running back since Adrian Peterson in Leonard Fournette.  But the Tigers lost Zach Mettenberger and his righetous face lettuce to graduation, and no clear starter has emerged at the QB spot between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris.  My gut told me this was South Carolina‘s year, but after getting Gamecock slapped by Texas A&M, there will be plenty of questions for Slippery Steve going forwards about his defense (I know his nickname is the Ole Ball Coach, but I like Slippery Steve more).  On the other side, it’s clear A&M is going to score points this year even without Johnny JamBoogie, but we’re still waiting to see what is easier to get by, the Aggies secondary or Ukranian border officials (and I thought that joke was funny a week ago).  Also, keep an eye on the Georgia Dawgs and Todd Gurley.  If they can beat Clemson Saturday (which I think they will), they will play South Carolina next week, which is a game with a much different look after Thursday night.  Then the schedule is relatively easy until a showdown with Auburn November 15.  I’m on the Auburn-is-overrated train this year, but if the Tigers are legit,  it will be interesting to see the atmosphere for that game given what happened last year with the “Immaculate Deflection”.

In the heartland of America, the Big 12 (I guess 10 teams = 12 there?), is looking like a two-team race between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Baylor Bears.  Oklahoma finally looked like a top talent team with Trevor Knight at quarterback against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, but we’re all skeptical if a Bob Stoops team can keep it all together for an entire season, something that has not happened since 2000.  Baylor still has Bryce Petty slingin’ darts and a legit wide receiving corps, but if they play defense like they did last year, expect the same result. On the east coast the ACC however, represents the only major conference with absolutely no parody.  Florida State is good.  Like real good.  Clemson will be somewhat solid as usual, and I hate to throw my hat in with every other sane person in America, but I just don’t see this FSU team losing on its way to the first College Football Playoff.  And they have tight-end Nick O’Leary, grandson of Jack Nicholson.  If you don’t think the ‘Noles are the unanimous favorite to repeat as Nati Champs, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!”

Outside of the big boys, there are  a handful of really good teams outside of the limelight, and they are all in one “little” conference.  In the American you have the Cincinnati (look for a full preview next week), UCF, Houston, and East Carolina who return most of their talent.  All Bearcat bias aside (look for a full preview next week) I really like an East Carolina Pirates team who has games against South Carolina and Virginia Tech early on to make a statement for the AAC on a national level.  I think UCF, even without Blake Bortles and Storm Johnson from last year’s team, goes into Dublin and beats Penn State for a second straight year.  And of course, the Bearcats, led by “The Riverboat Gambler” (look for a full preview next week) and touted QB/traveler/rambling man Gunner Kiel, have great road exposure shots against Miami (FL) and the Buckeyes early in the year.  But don’t even get me started on UC’s double bye to begin the year (look for a full preview next week).

Looking ahead to the awesome weekend that awaits us.

This Weekend’s Best Matchups

Penn State vs. UCF (Dublin, Ireland, 830 AM Saturday)

Why you should watch:  Just for the fact that these two teams are playing in Ireland.  I never knew the Golden Knights had such an alum footing in Dublin, but you learn something new every day.  This game does, however, give us all an excuse to get up early and enjoy ourselves before the usual noon start.  I am taking UCF to be the Nittany Lions for the second year in a row.

Georgia vs. Clemson (at Georgia, 530 PM Saturday)

Why you should watch: This game was epic last year, and although both quarterbacks are gone from last year’s teams,  the replacements (Cole Stoudt for Clemson and Hutson Mason) have showed positive signs in backup duties over the past few years.   Plus you get to see Todd Gurley, who is anything but feminine.  The addition of Defensive Coordinator Jeremy Pruitt in Athens, GA coming over from Florida State should have the Dawgs actually fielding a competent defense for the first time in years.  I like Georgia to win by double digits at home, with Gurley running for over 150, and the UGA defense being able to contain a Clemson offense with no replacement for Sammy Watkins.

Wisconsin vs. LSU (Houston, 9 PM Saturday)

Why you should watch:  The ground games in this matchup are ridiculous.  Melvin Gordon, as mentioned previously mentioned, is a hoss, and everyone should be excited to see the talents of freshman Leonard Fournette for the Tigers.  But this game will be won by the team that can get it done in the trenches.  I like Wisconsin to win a close and low-scoring game behind its offensive line,  but would also be happy with a Wisconsin loss, knowing there is a certain Badger fan in Cincinnati fan who will read this.

Florida State vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas, 8 PM Saturday)

Why you should watch:  Just to see how Florida State is somehow better now than they were when they hoisted the final National Championship crystal ball.  Oklahoma State is going to put up points behind QB JW Walsh and a strong running game, but look for Jameis Winston to start off his second Heisman campaign by hanging a half-benjamin on the Poke defense.

Other Notables

Ohio State vs. Navy (Baltimore, Noon Saturday)

Why you should watch:  Navy’s sicckkkkkk new uniforms.  Under Armour killing the accessory game with these bad boys.  Also, see what life is like for the Buckeyes A.Braxton with the first collegiate snaps of JT Barret.

West Virginia vs. Alabama (Atlanta, 330 PM Saturday)

Why you should watch:  If you’re a Cincinnati fan, it’s been nice to watch WVU’s demise to irrelevance since they left the Old Big East for the treasures of the Big 12.  If you’re anybody else, it still has to be a little funny right?  I am looking forward to the middle of the second quarter, when the Morgantown faithful start heading for the gates and turn the streets of Atlanta into the land of John Denver.

SMU at Baylor (Waco, 730 PM Sunday)

Why you should watch:  SMU is better than a lot of people give them credit for, and I really hope they get the upset over the Bears. Following a late score, Eric Dickerson and Craig James emerge from the tunnel in a light blue 1982 Chevy Camaro with matching “Pony Express” lower back tats (sorry its’s late), and Tonya Harding RGIII’s other knee before riding off into the sunset.

Some other happenings…

Other Very Important Information

Radio 

If you have even more time to waste, check out my first ever internet radio appearance on my buddy Bob Long’s show at  www.BobLongSports.com here.  Forgive the initial stutters and occasional lack of factual knowledge, as I was a tad nervous for my debut.

Coming Soon

Well, I hope you enjoyed your first trip to the website.  Chances are if you made it this far, you’re either bored at work or my Mom, but thanks anyways.  Keep tuning in for more content to come your way.