Strafford

As most of us seem to have picked the Bengals as one of our three teams, I'll just do an injury report on our secondary. It isn't good. Hall our best corner hasn't practiced all week and is very doubtful, Nelson our fs and second best secondary player is in the same boat. Newman our second corner has a sore knee, but should play. Jones our third corner is carrying an abdominal strain, that he also carried into the last game, so he should also play. Kirkpatrick our disappointing first rounder from 2012 is also still probably out with a hamstring, how can a corner not know how to backpedal, but I digress Brandon Ghee who has been out with a concussion from the preseason will probably come into the team, but he hasn't played a regular season game for a long time. We had to sign Chris Crocker a safety who can play slot corner to a short term deal again. We have one hell of a banged up secondary and against a team that put up 34 points against us last season at their house with Branden Weeden under centre...ouch. Just to confirm I am a teapot and yes there is a touch of panic in my post.

That must have been hard to watch mate. You have seen more of Bradford, but I'll just make a few observations after watching the replay of the game last night and most of last weeks game. I didn't watch either last quarter. If you can't run the ball your offence is predictable and if you can't stop the run then your defence becomes uncertain, which then opens up the passing game. To me they are your two main problems and I don't think they are down to Bradford, although they do impact on his ability to do his job. Bradford does miss some throws and take a few sacks he shouldn't, but he has been under a fair bit of pressure. Your tightends aren't very good blockers and neither are your backs. For some reason your o- line is struggling with four and even three man rushes. That makes it tough for a qb, as he also starts to feel pressure when there isn't any. Bradford actually makes some pretty tough throws, perhaps your oc needs to help get his confidence up with a few easier throws, screens etc, although the poor blocking of your tightends does make that tough. Cook is a great talent, but he was known for his poor blocking and tendency to run wrong routes. To me that indicates a bloke not willing to work hard enough to improve his game. I feel sorry for yourbacks the holes just aren't there. Jackson was a loss as I imagine he was a better blocker and receiving threat. As was Amendola, although injury prone. Young Austin isn't getting any help as his main strength is yac, but you need a few blocks at times to spring your impact guy. I reckon you need a blocking tightend and running back help, although it might be too late for Bradford as his confidence might be shot. Hopefully not. Perhaps a more creative oc would also help. Just a few thoughts

Best of luck Gorgoroth...go Rams. Not that I'm bitter about the 80's...at all

Ware and co really gave Bradford very little time in the first half especially and your run game never really got going. Possibly a tactical error by your guys sagging off the run a bit to cover Bryant, Witten and Austin, which allowed Murray to go off. Romo didn't audible as much as he usually does to get out of run plays which also helped the Cowboy run game. I was actually very impressed by the Boys and I hate to admit that

Freeman to the Vikings Cowboy? Schiano creating waves down in Glazer land.

Is it just me or did the Cowboys look really good against your guys Gorgoroth?

Watched your game against the Browns the other night on Gamepass Cowboy, just to check out the Browns, still can't believe you guys lost. You guys looked to have worked Hoyer out after he seemed to take the Vikings by surprise early and then he comes up with that last drive. Gordon looked a beast for the Browns. He is a gifted player, but is one more strike away from a year ban and I'm not sure he studies the paybook as he should.

Colts Bengals Seahawks Would have gone Ravens, but Pantaloons beat me to it vive le difference. I had to go Bengals, but without thinking it was a dead cert. They beat us at their house when we were heavy favourites last season, our secondary is banged up, it is a conference game and we all know strange things happen in those, and the Browns despite all the press to the contrary do have some good players especially on defence. As you can tell I am full of confidence Years of Bengals losing games they should win has imprinted on my pysche. Whodey???

Wooohooo. I only start one behind in the tipping comp Methinks it is tougher than it sounds though....

That divisional record from last year was remarkable given the oppostion mate and it does give you some hope despite the poor start.

I must say I don't share your sentiment about a Cleveland team winning I am shocked to see you guys lose to them. I might have to brace for us to be upset by them as conference games are such a toss up. Big Ben is beat up. His style of play has led to him absorbing a lot of punishment over the years. RG3 is looking a bit like Palmer when he came back for the Bengals, after his knee injury, a little bit gun shy and the footwork is a bit out. The skins mortgaged the farm to get him and the neglect is showing in other areas of their team. I'm pleased to be 2-1 but we do have some real issues with ball security. A couple of Dalton's interceptions trying to find AJ were very similar and his passing over the middle has been scary. We have two very good tight ends, but he has been throwing high and wide at times to them in traffic. That is pick city. At other times Dalton has looked great with a number of long sustained drives for scores. Box of chocolates with the Bengals this season so far.

I'm not a big forum or social media guy, although I do binge every now and again I intended to post a few weeks back, but didn't get around to it...just being slack on my part. Tipping comp sounds fun, although there is no way I would have picked the winners of many of these games. I was a bit worried about our pass coverage against you guys as we do have some real weaknesses at strong safety and with our linebackers in passing situations, as well as some injury concerns, but we were in fact gashed in the run. We have had two really sloppy games with turnovers, against your guys and the Bears. We really need to tighten up, but a wins a win.

You picked it mate, it probably was the best game of the round. One of the craziest games I have ever seen. Shame I couldn't watch it live. Although I'm not sure my heart or frustration levels could have taken it

The Pack now seem to have a lot of depth at running back Macca. Starks and Franklin have had big games and Lacy was solid before injury, but will be very good.

Wild game against the Pack. Lucky to win in the end, but great comeback by the Bengals after looking dead and buried. Whodey!!!

The fates are fickle I preferred the Bengals helmet when watching my first game of NFL in the 81 superbowl. My only Demon supporting relative, everyone else was a Blue, took me to the G to see my first live game and got me into the rooms after the game. After that I was hooked. Yes...well I certainly learned about Joe Cool...sob

The recruiters will have to earn their money with this draft. Not that I'm an expert, but I'm seeing more Farren Ray's and Ryce Palmer's with some of the top mids, rather than Judd's or Ablett's. As others have mentioned the guy from SA does have a bit of Goddard about him, but having a look at him in the midfield would have been preferable. Unlike a certain other bloke we took who was around the same height he does seem very willing to go in when it is his turn. He does seem to have leadership and elite footskills.

I fear for the Tiger-cats now. Teams I choose seem doomed...doomed I say, cue dramatic music and thunder, possibly some creepy laughter. In the 70's I had the choice between the Dees and Blues...chose Dees. 80's choice between Niners and Bengals chose Bengals. My NBL team went bust after not making the playoffs once. Man united is my shining light, but I didn't have a choice in that one, as my grandfather was a Red Devil nutter...lots of baby photos with me in United kit... Not pretty lol When I choose I could be a jinx. I apologise to my fellow Dees Only four weeks whooohoooo.

In my view even with the help of the mids it is still too tall to hold the ball in mate. You would also have the problem of these guys leading into eachothers space and flying against eachother, it would be really tough to make that unit function effectively. It would probably help if Clark could ruck, but the pounding his foot would cop in the harder centre areas at central bounces would be a huge risk.

In my view it was a bad mix. I believe all three guys share some of the blame. That is Don, CS and Neeld. McLardy increasingly came across as a reactive demon supporter rather than clear headed thinker, CS seemed to be kingdom building and he would have had to have been a saint not to hold a grudge against those who nearly cost him his job, and Neeld.... Well what can you say, his master plan couldn't survive contact with the enemy. Between them too much punishment of the playing group and not enough selling the vision.

Thanks Redleg.

Mike Brown our owner/GM couldn't resist laying the boots into the Pats by saying we passed up Gronk due to injury concerns and Hernandez due to character isues. He had copped a bit of flak because we took Gresham over those two guys. Considering the guys we have taken under Brown over the years those character issues must have been huge at that time lol

It was pretty expensive. I had to buy everything. Not sure I got value for money

I played a bit myself, but I wasn't very good due to numbers I played both ways as a lineman. I was always giving up penalties on the offensive side, just never got the hang of not dragging people down with my hands lol

Go you tiger cats....did we win?