AFCN Positional Rankings

[feltdizz]

Are we just going to ignore Cooper Rush at #4

[WindyCitySteel]

I agree that Tomlin should cut him.

But if you don't see the throughline from Smith to Patterson, or really just to Smith's pee-wee soccer style of load management then I think you're kind of blind.

Tomlin certainly deserves responsibility for hiring him though.

And it is insane that Patterson is still on the roster. He's a return specialist that was pretty close to being the worst returner in the league last year.

And he was **** talking the team after the Rats game saying the real problem was that he didn't get enough touches.

Patterson got less than 10% of the offensive snaps and 5% of the touches (44/854). He’d get zero of both of he was fired, but he’s a Tomlin Grinder and like Heyward and Switzer before him, he’ll get a hat every week.

[NorthCoast]

Patterson got less than 10% of the offensive snaps and 5% of the touches (44/854). He’d get zero of both of he was fired, but he’s a Tomlin Grinder and like Heyward and Switzer before him, he’ll get a hat every week.

It's not only the snaps, it's the roster spot that is being taken up by an also-ran instead of a potential riser.

[Flasteel]

Did i miss the OLB & DE rankings?

That's what I'm saying. Weird to only have one ILB, DT, receiver, or CB, yet a FS and SS listed, as well as both guard and tackle spots. However, no DE, OLB, or P at all, kind of renders this list poorly thought out - regardless if one agrees with any of the positional rankings or not. I also believe Hamilton is a FS far more than a box safety. Other than that, I wouldn't argue too much against any of these rankings besides maybe putting Chase Brown above Warren. Alexander, with his injury history and being in a new system is also likely too high on this list, in my opinion.

[NorthCoast]

That's what I'm saying. Weird to only have one ILB, DT, receiver, or CB, yet a FS and SS listed, as well as both guard and tackle spots. However, no DE, OLB, or P at all, kind of renders this list poorly thought out - regardless if one agrees with any of the positional rankings or not. I also believe Hamilton is a FS far more than a box safety. Other than that, I wouldn't argue too much against any of these rankings besides maybe putting Chase Brown above Warren. Alexander, with his injury history and being in a new system is also likely too high on this list, in my opinion.

LOL. See post #9.

[Mr.wizard]

Are we just going to ignore Cooper Rush at #4

Lol I saw that too, figured it was just a typo.

[Eich]

I agree that Burrow is the better pure passer. But what gets him in trouble is general lack of escapability. If the Bengals ever manage to get a decent OL together Burrow could become the first 6000 yard passer.

Agree. I'm anti-Bungle but I enjoy watching Burrow play. He's an elite passer.

[NorthCoast]

Looking around the AFCN preseason games I will say that the Steelers are in the best shape if their starting QB goes down.

CLE: S Sanders/D Gabriel - take your pick. They shouldn't be scaring the PIT defense considering their lack of experience.
BAL: C Rush - very pedestrian preseason stats against future Uber drivers and their offense is so dependent on LJ that any other QB will cause a huge dropoff
CIN: D Ridder - somewhat respectable outing vs Eagles. Preseason gm2 tonight vs WAS should give us another look.
PIT: M Rudolph - has averaged the best QB rating of the AFCN backups, and that is without their WR1 and TE1 or 2 on the field

Also reading where fans of CIN and BAL are concerned with their OLs. CIN has guard problems on both sides. BAL's RG in particular is having a terrible preseason. Between Harmon, Black, Benton, and Heyward the Steelers defense should be able to wreak havoc this year.

Here's a writeup on Bengals OL:

“Rookie fifth-round pick Jalen Rivers has run at tackle with the second team. Jaxson Kirkland kicked out to tackle one day. Ford played there last year, but the staff is hoping to gain an extended look at him playing guard this summer. On top of concern regarding rookie third-round pick Dylan Fairchild, currently the leader in the clubhouse to start at left guard, the cast of question marks lacking experience, floating behind the starting tackles, is startling. If the Bengals had to play Cleveland this Sunday without Mims, they couldn’t tell you who would hold down the starting spot.”

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Looking around the AFCN preseason games I will say that the Steelers are in the best shape if their starting QB goes down.

CLE: S Sanders/D Gabriel - take your pick. They shouldn't be scaring the PIT defense considering their lack of experience.
BAL: C Rush - very pedestrian preseason stats against future Uber drivers and their offense is so dependent on LJ that any other QB will cause a huge dropoff
CIN: D Ridder - somewhat respectable outing vs Eagles. Preseason gm2 tonight vs WAS should give us another look.
PIT: M Rudolph - has averaged the best QB rating of the AFCN backups, and that is without their WR1 and TE1 or 2 on the field

Also reading where fans of CIN and BAL are concerned with their OLs. CIN has guard problems on both sides. BAL's RG in particular is having a terrible preseason. Between Harmon, Black, Benton, and Heyward the Steelers defense should be able to wreak havoc this year.

Here's a writeup on Bengals OL:

“Rookie fifth-round pick Jalen Rivers has run at tackle with the second team. Jaxson Kirkland kicked out to tackle one day. Ford played there last year, but the staff is hoping to gain an extended look at him playing guard this summer. On top of concern regarding rookie third-round pick Dylan Fairchild, currently the leader in the clubhouse to start at left guard, the cast of question marks lacking experience, floating behind the starting tackles, is startling. If the Bengals had to play Cleveland this Sunday without Mims, they couldn’t tell you who would hold down the starting spot.”

There is a few common themes pre-season in the AFCN every year.

1) Consensus is the Ravens to win the North, and barring injury they are the best team so that's a good prediction.
2) Consensus is the Browns suck and will finish fourth and that is usually right.

However the other two are where people usually get it wrong.

Every year the Bengals are a great team and this is the year they might make it far behind that high powered O. They had a brief run but always seems to have OL issues and defensive problems. This year the OL looks like garbage once again and a suspect D is without their best player who they are now trying to trade. How can anyone see this team as a legitimate contender?

This is the year that the streak that the media and Tomlin haters love to talk about - and then say it's finally coming to an end. Predict whatever you want but we've seen good and bad Steelers teams since 2018 and since then, only once was the record not between .500 and 10-7. I say mark it in pen that this team finishes either 9-8 or 10-7 and in second place and you're 90% likely to be correct on one or both of those.