Cardinals: This years version of the Bengals?

[slanidrac16]

Like many of you, I like to envision what this upcoming season might be like. So many positive changes makes me believe that things are on an upswing.
However, year after year optimism turned into harsh reality as we watched our beloved Cardinals and hopes turn to smoke.
So I asked myself, what would be an acceptable season. I came to the conclusion that a season much like last years Bengals might be realistic.
We do have many things in common with last years Bengals.
First, a new head coach. Green inherits a team much like Lewis did last year. A team with a losing attitude and history. In 2002, the Bengals went 2-14. They allowed over 400 pts, losing games of 30-3, 35-7, 52-31, and 34-7. They scored a measly 283 pts. We have an edge here because Dennis Green has been a head coach before, where as Marvin Lewis was a rookie.

At the QB position, they chose to start Kitna who MOST fans refuse to believe he could do the job. We have McCown.
At WR, they had Chad Johnson and a disappointing Peter Warwick.
At RB, they had Dillon and , at that time, a bunch of nobodys behind him.
There are more, but by now , you get the point.

In 2003 they lost their first 3 games, losing to Denver, Oakland and Pittsburgh. They then went on to win 7 of thheir next nine games including victories over Baltimore, Seattle and Kansas City. Had they won their last game vs Cleveland, the Bengals would have been in the playoffs.

This is the kind of season I would like to expect this year. A marked improvement, a team that can beat any team on any given day, and in the playoff hunt going into week 16 or 17. If you get the time ,go to the Bengals website and click on 2002 regular season stats. They are very similar to what we endured last year.

I don't think this is being unrealistic. Do you?

 

[azdad1978]

With Dennis Green at the helm and better coaching and Preparing the team on away games, our team might surprise people this year.

 

[jerryp]

I don't want to be compared to the Bengals until we see that last year was a fluke because in all honesty I can see Baltimore getting stronger, Pittsbugh bouncing back and the Bengals being the same old Bengals.

Also, if we really were being compared to the Bengals, there would be stuff on SportsCenter all the time about how Green is going to change the organization just like there was a Marvin Lewis story every other day.

Maybe those types of stories will be more forthcoming once we get closer to the season but right now we are getting nowhere near as much attention for getting Denny to run our team. Maybe because Lewis was a first time head coach and Denny isn't but I think wheather you've been a head coach before or not turning this franachise or the Bengals around is a major feat.

Hopefully, Denny gets the recognition he deserves after we have improved. And there is no doubt in my mind we will improve under DG. I just don't want to be called "this years Bengals" because we have no idea how good they are over the long term.

Maybe the Bengals were last years '98 Cardinals, and now it's time to fade back to mediocrity.

 

[ajcardfan]

Sorry, but I just can't be with you on this one. The Bengals missed the playoffs last year. I hope we're more like last year's Cowboys.

 

[az jam]

It will be interesting to watch as many don't feel that the Bengals had a good draft. They were reaching for players instead of taking the BPA. They also are going with Charson Palmer at qb and putting Kitna on the bench.

I think the Cards will really do fine but the first three games will be tough. (@St. Louis, vs New England & @Atlanta). It would be great to win one of these games.

 

[azdad1978]

It will be interesting to watch as many don't feel that the Bengals had a good draft. They were reaching for players instead of taking the BPA. They also are going with Charson Palmer at qb and putting Kitna on the bench.

I think the Cards will really do fine but the first three games will be tough. (@St. Louis, vs New England & @Atlanta). It would be great to win one of these games.

Dude its Carson Palmer

 

[Red Air Force]

At this point, I think would call an 8-8 season "acceptable", but I do think that we have more "potential" to do better, than the Bengals did last season.

I think they got everything out of Kitna that they could have hoped for. He is a decent QB, but I see his celing as no more than 8 or 9 wins in any given season. Josh can probably do as well as Kitna, but I think he has the capability to take a team further than Kitna does. That's why I agree with Lewis's descision to go with Palmer this year. Not because they are paying him as a #1 pick, but because simply has more upside than Kitna ever will

Secondly, we have a better coach. Based on footbal strategy alone , Coach Green is good for 2-3 wins all by himself, much like a Parcells, Billick, or Belechick.

So while I think we have the capability to do at LEAST as well as the bengals did last year, we have more potential to better than the Bengals did last year. That being said, my expectation for the upcoming season is 8-8, but I wouldn't put is past them to outpace that by some measure.

 

[BigRedMO]

The Bengals were a pleasant surprise for their fans. However that result was not predictable by a sound analysis of the facts prior to the season. I do not believe it is possible to predict rise of a perenial doormat. For a doormat to rise there must be positive and unexpected results from guys who have not produced before. It takes production form everybody not just the new guys to turn around a team.

If you are over-optimistic and guess each year this is the year the team will turn it around you will eventually be correct. Howerver you will miss a lot prior to the turn around and result in destroying your credibility. You will get the reputation of a homer. Which if you want to be a homer that is fine. I just dont want to be sucked down the road of unrealistic expectations. I have been there many a time. It sucks. In 1985 CBS Sports predicted the St. Louis Cardinals to get to the Super Bowl. That was a major disappointment.

 

[Red Dawn]

I dont want the Cards to be last years Bengals, I want them to be last years Pats.

17 ^

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Sorry, but I just can't be with you on this one. The Bengals missed the playoffs last year. I hope we're more like last year's Cowboys.

I agree with that one. Hopefully this offense will com out and surprise people like the Rams did, when Warner came out and terrorized the Nfl with there trio of WR's in Bruce, Holt and Hakim. Hopefully McCown can terrorize like that with Boldin, Fitz, Johnson and Jones.

 

[vikesfan]

The Bengals had more talent then the Cards.
The Cowboys had more talent then the Cards.

I am not saying it can't happen. I am just saying both teams had a few better players then the Cards had.

 

[HookemCards]

The Bengals had more talent then the Cards.
The Cowboys had more talent then the Cards.

I am not saying it can't happen. I am just saying both teams had a few better players then the Cards had.

Says who????? You've probably watched one Card game in your life (and they won) and you are constantly saying they have the least amount of talent in the NFL. I don't think they are the most talented, but I'm not completely convinced they are the least talented either. I will say however that they have been the least motivated and developed team in the league by far. If DG is as good as you say, and we all hope he is, that will change.

 

[vikesfan]

Says who????? You've probably watched one Card game in your life (and they won) and you are constantly saying they have the least amount of talent in the NFL. I don't think they are the most talented, but I'm not completely convinced they are the least talented either. I will say however that they have been the least motivated and developed team in the league by far. If DG is as good as you say, and we all hope he is, that will change.

Well I am not going to breakdown the rosters player by player of the 3 teams. It's close with the Bengals the Cowboys had a good defense and Parcells kept the def. coord. on there.

Ultimately, coaching can make a difference. But you need talented players too. And a bit of luck. Don't get me wrong I think the Cards are on their way, but next year might be a year too soon. Or maybe not. Believe me there a very very few things in this world I would rather see then the Cards being competitive, respectable and in contention for the playoffs.

We'll see this time of the year anything is possible anyone have CAR in the SB last year? If the Cards do get beat next year the other team is going to have to go through hell to do it.

 

[azdad1978]

I agree with both Hookem and VF. We are talented team but also young. We still need to sign a couple of FA and draft playmakers. Watching the offense today at Fanfest, we might have to be in a shootout to win games, but thats only my opinion.

 

[CaliCards]

I agree with that one. Hopefully this offense will com out and surprise people like the Rams did, when Warner came out and terrorized the Nfl with there trio of WR's in Bruce, Holt and Hakim. Hopefully McCown can terrorize like that with Boldin, Fitz, Johnson and Jones.

I think the Cards can. But it also depends on the OC and the type of plays he calls to capatilize on the collective tallents of Boldin, Fitz, Jonson and Jones.

 

[vikesfan]

If the Cards can get into shootouts its progress given their offensive scoring stats from last year. It's one step at a time.

The OC was with DG in MIN so he will run the DG offense.

Once the team can put up points then you can address stoping the other team from scoring.
There will be some nice defensive players in the draft next year and FA. Hopefully the Cards won't have to be taking QB or RB.

 

[ThunderCard]

The Bengals were a pleasant surprise for their fans. However that result was not predictable by a sound analysis of the facts prior to the season. I do not believe it is possible to predict rise of a perenial doormat. For a doormat to rise there must be positive and unexpected results from guys who have not produced before. It takes production form everybody not just the new guys to turn around a team.

If you are over-optimistic and guess each year this is the year the team will turn it around you will eventually be correct. Howerver you will miss a lot prior to the turn around and result in destroying your credibility. You will get the reputation of a homer. Which if you want to be a homer that is fine. I just dont want to be sucked down the road of unrealistic expectations. I have been there many a time. It sucks. In 1985 CBS Sports predicted the St. Louis Cardinals to get to the Super Bowl. That was a major disappointment.

I agree with Big red Jane. It is going to take more than 1 year to correct a decade of bad decisions. I am very optomistic though and love the fact we are finally headed in the right direction. I just hope poeple are not down on Denny if he goes 6-10. With the schedule being so demanding and to many young players with a question mark secondary all we have is hope.