09-11-2021, 04:28 PM
What I love:
Danielle Hunter vs. Bengals’ OTs: Riley Reiff is probably better than average, but he hasn’t played RT in 4 years. Jonah Williams is promising but due mostly to injury, he’s only played in 10 games in two years. Both have 33-inch arms.
Thielen and JJ vs. Bengals DBs: At safety, Jessie Bates is an All Pro. But the cupboard is bare at corner. The Bengals best corner, William Jackson, is now in Washington. Trae Waynes is also out. Thielen and JJ should get plenty of separation.
Others: Dalvin vs. Bengals LBs. Zimmer vs. Taylor. Our IDL vs. Bengals IOL
What scares me:
DJ Reader vs. Bradbury: Bengals have finished near the bottom in run defense the last two years. They spent the offseason improving that by adding DJ Reader and Larry Ogunjobi to their interior DL. Reader, at 6-3, 360, is a massive human and exactly the kind of nose tackle that Bradbury struggles with.
Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Boyd vs. Vikings secondary: Before he tore his ACL, Burrow was having a very good season. Word out of Cinci is that he’s looked uneven in camp. Also pretty well known that Chase hasn’t been able to catch anything. But I expect this group to have some success against us. The Vikings secondary should be more than up to the challenge, but if this new group struggles at all to gel early on, miscommunication and players out of position could lead to points for the Bengals.
Others: Trey Hendrickson vs. Rashod Hill
Score: Vikings 27 Bengals 13
Danielle Hunter vs. Bengals’ OTs: Riley Reiff is probably better than average, but he hasn’t played RT in 4 years. Jonah Williams is promising but due mostly to injury, he’s only played in 10 games in two years. Both have 33-inch arms.
Thielen and JJ vs. Bengals DBs: At safety, Jessie Bates is an All Pro. But the cupboard is bare at corner. The Bengals best corner, William Jackson, is now in Washington. Trae Waynes is also out. Thielen and JJ should get plenty of separation.
Others: Dalvin vs. Bengals LBs. Zimmer vs. Taylor. Our IDL vs. Bengals IOL
What scares me:
DJ Reader vs. Bradbury: Bengals have finished near the bottom in run defense the last two years. They spent the offseason improving that by adding DJ Reader and Larry Ogunjobi to their interior DL. Reader, at 6-3, 360, is a massive human and exactly the kind of nose tackle that Bradbury struggles with.
Burrow, Chase, Higgins and Boyd vs. Vikings secondary: Before he tore his ACL, Burrow was having a very good season. Word out of Cinci is that he’s looked uneven in camp. Also pretty well known that Chase hasn’t been able to catch anything. But I expect this group to have some success against us. The Vikings secondary should be more than up to the challenge, but if this new group struggles at all to gel early on, miscommunication and players out of position could lead to points for the Bengals.
Others: Trey Hendrickson vs. Rashod Hill
Score: Vikings 27 Bengals 13
