Paul Daugherty: The Mourning After

Monday, September 17, 2007

The Mourning After

I understand the knee-jerk anger from fans. Fire Marvin! Fire Bresnahan! Much use of the word "suck.'' But really...

This is a .500 or slightly better club, with a 1st-place offense and a 4th-place D. Still. The only way this defense reaches average is to show up every week with the same face it showed against the Ravens.

Did you really think the Bengals would excel playing 1 rookie corner, 1 second-year guy and the indifferent D. O'Neal? B. Edwards and K. Winslow undressed them. What might R. Moss, W. Welker etc. do?

The game against McNair & Co. was fool's gold. McNair played poorly at the end of last year, and carried it over. Pressuring him was like blitzing a 3-legged chair.

It's a shame to squander the primes of Palmer, TJ, Chad and Rudi with such a small-time D. It's like recruiting the best center in the country and never getting him a point guard.

As was written here in August, why would anyone look at the '07 roster and believe it was an upgrade from '06?

Anyone else tired of post-game post mortems filled with phrases like "mental errors'' and "coverage breakdowns''? Anyone besides the heathen media weary of M. Lewis' smug, condescension? Ask him what happened with the D, he answers "that's our business.'' Well, OK. All you season-ticket-holding true believers out there, why the D doesnt work is not your concern. You/we couldnt hope to understand it, anyway.

All that said, what's most worrisome is the Bengals lingering lack of maturity. Nice win last Monday. Get over yourselves. You'd think if any team would understand the consequences of believing your press, it'd be this one. Apparently not. Not sure who to blame for that.

52 Comments:

at 8:09 AM

Anonymous said...

Paul, you don't have to post this comment, because it's really just an atta boy for the good article on Brian Kelly yesterday. I may not always agree with your stance, but you call it like you see it, and sometimes it goes my way. You write so well, it's a treat when I agree with you on top of it.

I was never much of a Z hater or supporter r.e. the Huggs fiasco, but she ought to get a little credit for the BK hire (and, eventually, the Cronin hire as well), or at least for not micromanaging Thomas in his hires. I chuckle at some folks who look for any reason to blast her but avoid giving her (in my mind, deserved) credit. If football was blowing up they'd be crucifying her for the BK hire, but when UC succeeds she had nothing to do with it. We UC fans sure can be a little schizophrenic. But winning sure is fun.

at 8:36 AM

Anonymous said...

Just ask the Bearcat football team... they play offense, defense and special teams!
Still Cincinnati's only team that exceeds expectations!
Give up 51 points to the Clowns???
Shameful!

at 8:53 AM

Anonymous said...

PD, totally agree. What a shame we are wasting the the talents of our star players. How often does a qb like Palmer come along? It always seems to be one thing or another with this team, defense, special teams, etc. I love Marvin, but I do get tired of "Marvinspeak" If it weren't required by the league, would he even hold apress conf. at all?

at 9:00 AM

Anonymous said...

I almost feel guilty in the pleasure of hearing the Bengals implode after everyone one thought "yeah this team might be the one".

I gave up on them back around '98 for the simple reason of the man who runs the show. There as not been a Brown family member who could build a team since Paul passed. Someone somewhere has got to make these people see the light and either change your philosphy or sell the team. It must be very difficult or maybe they are too stubborn to admit they are wrong.

What i feel sorry for are the fans who pour their heart an soul into the team and all they recieve in return is heartbreak and heartburn. I hope for the fans sake it gets better.

at 9:02 AM

Anonymous said...

If you thought yesterday was bad, wait till Brady and Bellicheat come to town. I don't think Carson & co. can put up 40+ against the Pats.

at 9:32 AM

Anonymous said...

Paul,
I agree totally with your comments and can only add that the special team issue will continue to rear it's ugly head all season. One could argue that the downdraft in talent on special teams(due to cost cutting ) could be the nail in the coffin for playoff hopes this year.

at 9:54 AM

Anonymous said...

have you ever played football..or been a bengals fan?

at 10:00 AM

Paul Daugherty said...

Hey, 954... never played the game... not paid to be a fan... ever been voted to political office? No? Then how could you possibly vote for president?

at 10:08 AM

Anonymous said...

Paul, reading you criticizing someone for "smug condescenison" is the absolute epitome of pot/kettle/black.

at 10:58 AM

Anonymous said...

Would like to second 9:00 AM's opinion of the handling of the Team by the Brown family lawyers.

Unfortunately, they've become fabulously rich (at our expense) & don't really have any reason to change anything.

at 11:08 AM

Paul Daugherty said...

Hey, Tom... then I shoulda been a football coach, I spoze... how's that book sellin' for ya?

at 11:40 AM

Anonymous said...

Paul,

Why do you apparently take so much pleasure from belittling your readers? It makes me want to stop reading your otherwise fantastic blog.

at 11:49 AM

Anonymous said...

Regarding the Bengals D...do you think more of the problem lies with talent/scouting or defensive coaching and schemes? If its the latter, why does Marvin continue to place trust in Bresnahan? It seems like most coordinators stay in the box during games - do you think coaching from the sidelines keeps him from seeing patterns and such? It never seems like they make adjustments mid-game.

at 11:54 AM

Anonymous said...

How many times last season did we say that the opposing QB had a career game against the Bengals? Get used to it 'cause it's going to happen a lot this year too.

at 12:16 PM

Anonymous said...

Paul is 100% right on the money, and thank heaven this situation is publicly being called out for what it is. We are one Carson or Chad or Rudi or TJ injury away from being right back where we were with Dave Shula and 2-14. The only question is, this time around, how long will Mike Brown wait and how awful will he let this get. Marvin Lewis is not an NFL caliber head coach and this is going to be a long, painful season.

Signed,
A Bengal fan and season ticket holder

at 12:18 PM

Paul Daugherty said...

hey, 1140: I give as good as I get..and thanks for the compliment...

Justin: I'm not smart enough to tell you about coaching/adjustments/game plans etc... having watched these Bengals for awhile, and knowing a little about human nature, my opinion is, they're not mature enough, still, to handle success...have always admired the Steelers businesslike approach, the confidence they bring to every game..they slammed the browns in week 1, then slammed buffalo yesterday, b/c their approach doesnt change... i do think the bengals defense has average talent, but something intangible is missing, and I dont know if that's on bresnahan... regardless, when d. anderson plays like d. marino, it's not just the coach's doing... thanks...

at 1:52 PM

Anonymous said...

Paul, what I pick up in your column is that this is a known, ongoing, i.e. annual, problem that the defensive genius of Marvin Lewis has not addressed properly since his arrival in Cincy. Did we really believe in hiring this defensive guru our defense at this stage would be in as bad or worse shape as upon his arrival? And Bresnahan's record at Oakland was at best unclear and at worst suspicious. At Cincy, he seems to combine the worst of Oakland's pass and run defenses. After a few years in charge at Cincy for Marvin, picking and developing his people, we should have something working and a defensive coordinator creating some progress.

at 2:09 PM

Anonymous said...

Paul, I totally agree with you. Why is it that every year the Bengals can make some no-name, fresh-off-the-taxi-squad quarterback look like Johnny Unitas? 51-45? Sounds like a Cleveland Thunderbolts/Cincinnati Rockers Arena League game.

at 2:23 PM

Anonymous said...

Listening to Marvin's press conference right now and his usual smug, condescending "I'm not going to explain what went wrong, you wouldn't undertand...we'll practice better this week and work on our assignments" answers make you so mad that want to smash your radio. This from a head coach who has never won a playoff game and has never had a winning season. Un freaking believable.

at 3:11 PM

Anonymous said...

My 1966 GTO is in better shape than the bengals "defense".
I saw the bengals trying to head tackle Lewis because they
were afraid his churning legs might hurt them ,so if you
are afraid to tackle him the right way then get out of
pro ball and go play flag football.This "defense" couldnt
stop a good college teams offense , MARVIN you "MUST"
fire Breshnahan "the so called defense head coach" ,
and you Marvin take over the job, forget about our offense
it is fine , we need a defense and defense "WINS" championships.
We gave a man 40 mill dollars to ride the bench, just great,
why didnt you spend the 40 mill, and get some good defensive
players, this is making me sick ,I live in BROWNS COUNTRY
and have been a Bengals fan since the birth of the Bengals,
Paul is rolling over and over in his grave watching this
embarrassing defense play football, also Marvin "PLEASE"
tell Chad to knock off those dumb a++ showboat antics after
a TD, then run to the sidelines and laugh about them , like
he was laughing today , he is a great player so why cant he
act like it, also to see them laughing and carrying on the
sidelines , well it isnt so funny now because the Bengals
lost the game , and why dont we BLITZ alot it sure cant hurt
us and a guy who was here sometime ago ,ahhhhh I believe his
name is Dick LeBeau sure builds a fine defense in Pittsburg and
it looks like a Chineese Fire Drill drives the offenses crazy
sorry this was so long but I could add so much more,WAKE UP
MARVIN OR YOU WILL BE FIRED!!!!!!

at 3:27 PM

Anonymous said...

Maybe Marvin wouldn't be so condescending to the Bengals press corps if the Bengals press corps asked questions with just a sliver of competency behind them...to hear Chic Ludwig and others fumble and bumble their way through press conferences, as if they're Oliver Twist asking for another bowl of porridge, is almost as painful as watching the Bengals defense itself...

It is astonishing that the press corps has all night, morning and afternoon to prepare and the best they can do is "hey coach, Bill Cowher said this" or "Mark Schlereth said that" or to hear Chic Ludwig lecture defensive/special teams technique to the defensive coordinator of 2000 Baltimore Ravens...I mean, you've got to be kidding me...

Obvious questions for Marvin today:

1. After four-plus years at the helm, how disappointed are you that some areas of your team, specifically defense, have not improved and, in many respects, regressed?

2. Are you concerned that the 2005 draft class, in which the top three picks are out (or nearly out) of the league, may have set the club back at least a few years, especially on defense?

3. Are you concerned that despite investing two first-round picks on your defensive secondary in the past two seasons, that your defensive secondary has, perhaps, never been worse?

4. Do you feel that the front office has committed so much to the offense (almost a quarter-billion to Rudi, TJ, Chad, Willie, Levi and Carson) that it is impossible to improve the defense year-to-year in any meaningful way?

at 4:07 PM

Anonymous said...

Paul, I believe Marvin is drinking the Brown family kool-aid. Why wouldn't he? He's got a pretty cushy gig, doesn't he? He's WELL compensated, well respected (for now), and absolutely LOVED by the Brown family. What is the incentive for the Bengals to win? They sell out, make loads of money off the stadium, and the win next year mentality keeps everyone coming back to the trough for more. We've been conditioned to accept mediocrity. To me, this is 1995 all over again. We're still being held hostage by a dirt-bag owner. If Brown wanted to break the bank for a year or two, and make a LEGITIMATE Super Bowl run while his studs are still in their prime, he could. We all know it because we see other organizations do it. What is the consequence to doing that? A down year or two due to cap space? Give me a freaking break. I admit, I was duped by Monday nights performance, but the Bengals are EXPOSED now, and in more ways than one. You called it in the spring, this is the same team that lost the final 3 games last year. And while I'm at it, I love Palmer. But ENOUGH with the elite QB status people automatically give him. He broke a few Bengals records, sure. But tell yourself that when he habitually sails passes high on a game deciding drive. Too much TALK regarding this team, not enough RESULTS.

at 4:26 PM

Anonymous said...

Must the "you haven't played the game so you don't understand" guy always check in?

The Bengals defense is and has been lousy for all of Marvin's turn as coach.

The kick return coverage team is awful. In two games, the Ravens and Browns started many drives at midfield or closer. Tough for even the best defenses to play like in that situation.

And yes, the offense is great, but Carson and Co. need to help the defense and try to control the clock a bit. Keeping the defense off the field might be the best move the offense can make. It also wouldn't hurt if Mr. Lewis understood how to use timeouts.

at 6:19 PM

Anonymous said...

The following pretty much says what we need to know about Marvin Lewis' plans for the team: 4 defensive picks out of the top 7 selections.

I do wish MLewis would simply admit that the D is a work in progress. It is a pro team dependent on fans. "No comment" isn't helpful. At a minimum, give fans something to cling to.

1 18 (18) Leon Hall CB Michigan
2 17 (49) Kenny Irons RB Auburn
4 15 (114) Marvin White S TCU
5 14 (151) Jeff Rowe QB Nevada
6 13 (187) Simi Toeaina DT Oregon
7 20 (230) Dan Santucci G Notre Dame
7* 43 (253) Chinedum Ndukwe S Notre Dame

at 6:21 PM

Chad Yoshikawa said...

Can someone explain why the Bengals "miss the gaps" so much on defense, and why it seems to cost us so much? I'm sure other teams miss their gaps, too, but it doesn't result in the defensive debacle like Sunday.

at 6:42 PM

JerBear said...

Paul I agree for the most part with you.

But when I think of the guys who can't handle the success I think of the offensive guys, such as Chad and TJ. They seem to be overly confident. Cocky basically.

You really don't seem to hear much out of the defensive guys throughout the week.

I still wonder about Chad Johnson. I like him like everyone else, but I still don't think he is the type of player you can count on to lead your franchise into the playoffs every year.

I feel like we are unworthy to have Carson Palmer in Cincinnati.

Wouldn't it be funny if Carson Palmer makes a run at the TD passes record (49 I believe) on a losing team, or non playoff team?!

at 7:49 PM

Anonymous said...

"smug condescension" is SPOT ON! Why is this guy above criticism?

Marvin Lewis has NOT, NOT, NOT been a GREAT football coach. He was an above average assistant. The D he coordinated in Baltimore is as good now as it was when he left. The Lewis that matters in Baltimore is RAY...NOT Marvin.

This guy has proven NOTHING to me.

This town needs a PROVEN NFL winner.

Where is Marty Schottenheimer? He'll win in the playoffs eventually because he is a WINNING NFL coach.

at 8:52 PM

Fred Bell said...

Bravo to the poster who laments those who write "you haven't played the game so you don't understand." To further the thought: you don't have to be a chicken to recognize an egg. It really isn't hard to see that there is a problem and attempt to identify and resolve it. It is, evidently, hard to get those in charge to listen to and take seriously the opinions of the media and paying customers who also have a vested interest in the success of the team.

While on the topic of suitable questions to ask Marvin Lewis at a press conference, how about any/all of these:

1) Why is it you consistency fail to make sufficient and necessary adjustments at halftime when opposing coaches routinely do so to counter what the Bengals are doing?

2) Why do you have so much trouble managing time outs and the game clock? (Using two of three first-half timeouts early in the first quarter? Geez ...)

3) At what point are the players who continue to make mental and physical mistakes actually held accountable for their shortcomings and either benched or released? Why are these players not replaced by other, more competent, perhaps also more motivated performers when and where they can be had?

4) What do you have to say to an increasing number of hard-working, cash-strapped ticket holders (who can make other choices on how to spend their disposable income) who simply want honest answers as to when they will see a legitimately competitive football team on the field week in and week out, with both sides of the ball actually playing well at the same time, rather than hearing the same tired cliches about playing harder and smarter, and moving forward?

Please, somebody in a position to do so, push Marvin and Co. to give us refrshingly honest answers to legitimate questions and not keep snowballing everyone with the same old empty rhetoric, as if we're too stupid to see for ourselves that it is meaningless.

at 8:53 PM

Anonymous said...

The Browns & Marvin got it made - why change anything?
Milk your heritage & reputation for all it's worth!
Wasn't Ray Lewis at Baltimore when Marvin was declared a defensive genius?

at 11:04 PM

Anonymous said...

http://www.firechuckbresnahan.com Chuck needs to be fired now. If the Bengals are still 8-8 or below then Marvin's stay should be over as well. This is uncalled for with the offense that we have.

at 7:39 AM

Anonymous said...

I'm just a retard that spends almost 4 grand a year on season tickets. I'm surprised they pay me at work with my elementary education. I am ready for Marvin to get fired, just like Tubby (they are very similar in personality and mediocrity) I want Mike Tomlin,Bill Cowher, or Lovie Smith. Lovie has had less time in Chicago and produced better teams with no absolutely no QB. Carson would have 3 superbowl rings if he played there...Also, did anyone catch the maturity of the PATS Sunday night. That is how an NFL team should act. Tom Brady calling out his lineman because he had to use a TO when up by 21 in the 3rd quarter. I'm tired of watching amateur crybabies like Chad and TJ who are actually older than I am.

at 8:04 AM

Anonymous said...

These press conferences are definately frustrating. It's as if Marvin is afraid he's going to end up on one of those Coors Light commercials if he says anything interesting.

I think just as fans got tired enough of the legal problems in the league to make the commish take a stand, they are also going to get tired of the attitude of the Marvin's and the Bellichecks that this is their game not ours, and they are doing us a favor by letting us look through the knothole and watch while they play.

at 8:07 AM

Anonymous said...

To those who spend their hard earned cash on an inferior product year after year: you deserve what you are witnessing.Quit your whining.No one is holding a gun to your head.When the owner refuses to construct an NFL caliber scouting dept. and hire a real G.M.,nothing will change.In short, M.B. takes the cheap way out in all things essential to having a true pro outfit.Myself I'm back to fishing on Sunday.

at 10:11 AM

Anonymous said...

The middle linebacker is the quarterback of the defense. In the '90s, the Bengals couldn't find a quarterback. Now they are having trouble keeping a middle linebacker. This defense is very young (see Lonnie Wheeler's blog entry for 9/13). Young = inconsistent. There will be days like this, but keep everyone together for awhile and they will grow and mature as a group, like the offense has done.

at 10:22 AM

Anonymous said...

Play properly the defense that’s called and D.A. doesn’t mess with like you’re a third teamer. Blah blah blah, I don’t understand much,” says Paul Daugherty. Stick to writing articles about golf because you apparently don’t get football or think you are above it. Or maybe you were even offended by Coach Lewis’s comments.

. A 6th grade football player could tell you if you play perfect defense you will win the game, if you make mistakes you will lose the game, is that so hard for the media to understand. The players make mistakes because they are human. Football players are human too or did you forget to read your own book about Chad, I am sure it covered the various human aspects of Chad and not just football. John Thornton can’t spell it out any clearer for you. When the pressure is on people make mental errors. The Bengals rose to the occasion against the Ravens but folded against the Browns. Each is only a game and a season it does not make. But apparently “ I don’t understand” is a sufficient answer for Paul and his readers. That’s why I try not to read Paul’s articles because he truly doesn’t understand anything except for golf, I’ll give him golf, but I don’t like golf and the feeling seems like Paul doesn’t really like football or he would take the time to understand.

The Legend Killa

at 11:05 AM

Anonymous said...

Back to fishing on Sunday and posting on a blog discussing the Bengals on Tuesday. Right.

at 11:29 AM

Anonymous said...

Story idea: Todays column, only taken to the next level. As the face of the franchise, Marvin Lewis is having trouble effectively communicating to the fans and to the media. But WHY is this the case? Why is he so defensive discussing accountability and execution with his team? Face of the franchise can be a double edged sword. He wants his cake and eat it to in this regard. His condescending, holier than thou, smarter than you attitude is starting to rub media and fans the wrong way. At what point in time does the free pass he’s been given (by all), get revoked? We are in YEAR 5 and he's barely above .500 in his tenure, with 1 playoff appearance and zero wins. As I stated in my post yesterday, it appears the Brown family is starting to rub off on him. No accountability starts at the head of the organization and trickles down. Why should we expect accountability from players, when the coach has none? Why should we expect accountability from the coach, when the owner has none? If the Bengals keep up the shenanigans, won't you be forced to address this issue? I understand a win quiets this kind of talk down. But the reality is that the Bengals are 1-4 in their last 5 games, and 0 for forever in games where it truly matters.

at 1:08 PM

Anonymous said...

Or...you could just write about this year's Bearcats. Cincinnati rocks!

at 1:58 PM

Anonymous said...

I think I asked late last season if Lewis had gone as far as he was going to go at 8-8. I still stand by that comment, I'm not sure he's head coach material(Neither is Romeo Crennell).

Why is it so hard to state the blazingly obvious..... we stunk up the joint boys! Marvin is as good as any politician at dodging questions, he rarely gives a straight answer.

I'm off to other things this fall too, I'm not going to waste a Sunday afternoon watching this pap anymore.

If you think the Enquirer staff is being to hard on the Bengals, read the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Baltimore Sun or Pittsburgh Tribune after a loss.

And Killa, Mikey Boy has some seat licenses and season tickets to sell you if you really believe the defence had a brain fart.

Character Counts
Warren County

at 2:32 PM

ucbearcatfan said...

Somebody please tell Marvin you don't have to be a genius to see there is a problem when..

1. The opposing receiver has time to catch a pass, trim his nails, read a book, go to the bathroom, etc. and still be able to roll into the end zone for a TD.

2. A stocky running back with average speed runs right past the defensive line and leaves your defensive backs in the dust on his way to a 60 yard TD run.

3. Your return teams let the opposing team start past their own 40 yard line (or worse) every time.

4. Your defense once again makes a no-name QB look like a hall of famer.

at 2:52 PM

Anonymous said...

I just listened to Marvin's news conference from yesterday. One thing really stood out to me: Why did Marvin laugh so much? Is that a nervous condition or does he really think all of thosequestions were silly and comical?

Members of the media would ask a specific question, and he would respond with a laugh or chuckle, typically followed a jab back at the person asking the question ("we could explain it to you but you wouldn't understand").

CNNSI power rankings (for what they're worth) had the Browns DEAD LAST, and the Bengals 9th - before Sunday's game. How do you let arguably the worst team ring up 50+ points on you? And if you do let that happen, how do you then laugh at questions in the press conference as if we were talking about a pre-season game or an insignificant event?

I guess I was expecting something with some more anger/passion/resolve - acknowledgement that the defensive game was a complete fiasco, and it would not happen again, etc. Show me some emotion that is somewhere between a Dennis Green post-game meltdown, and a Cowher scowl at least!

at 5:42 PM

Unknown said...

Paul,

Marvin is right, it is none of our business as fans why the team gave up 51 pts nor would we understand if he gave us a true answer, nor would the media. Just because one is good at Madden does not make one a field general or armchair head coach. As far as the media, 99.9% of the time they are idiots, especially with the questions that were asked.

As far as season ticket holders deserving to know game plans in advance or being involved in player , coach, or personnel decisions, we shouldn't have any say. I say this as a Reds season ticket holder and one who attended a season ticket luncheon where one fan made a clown out of himself by trying to tell Wayne Krivsky and Pete Makanin that Adam Dunn needed to play 1B as well as Ken Griffey Jr. That is why Marvin is right when he says its his business. Same with injuries, under HIPPA it really is legally none of our business what the injuries are to players.

at 7:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Nothings going to change while you'all are buying tickets - vent all you want.
Marvin'll get fired 3 years down the road & Mikey will find another fellow Dartmouth grad (Dave Shula anyone?) at below market price.
PDaug, have you checked your press credentials lately? Keep up the good work.

at 7:05 PM

Anonymous said...

2:52 Marvin laughs because he has "Charlie Weis disease" > when you've made a complete fool of yourself, make a joke so we know it doesn't bother you.
Ha-ha!

at 7:06 PM

Anonymous said...

Is it too much to ask for Marvin to have a Dennis Green style "blow up" after something like this? For god's sake, show some emotion once in a while. As a loyal fan and season ticket holder, I would at least get the idea that something might change.

at 8:10 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey 7:39am guy.. please don't use the word "retard"! Please tell your children not to use it, either. It's a slur, just like the other hateful words that should go unspoken, and using it demonstrates an appalling lack of sensitivity and imagination on your part. I wish I could banish that stupid word from the English language so that my wonderful son (who happens to have Down syndrome) would never have to hear it again. Sorry. I'm stepping down off my soapbox now.
Oh, and Marvin Lewis needs a reality check. Plenty of coaches have ridden a wave of popularity for a few years, only to have the crowds turn on them after lackluster seasons. Bengals fans are diehard, yes, but their loyalty will only go so far.

at 8:37 PM

Anonymous said...

Marvin Lewis is an average coach at best. That, plus the fact that the Bengals defense is also average at best, and you have a consistently average 8-8 caliber team. He doesn't help himself by how he talks down to the media and fans.

Also, winning in the NFL is partly attitude and the Bengals haven't done what it takes to build that attitude over the years.

Thanks, Paul, for continuing to tell it like it is. I typically enjoy and agree with most of your columns.

at 4:18 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey, did anyone have the "same old bengals" feeling on Sunday. This franchise has always had a knack for making nobody QB's look like Joe Montana. Paul, do you have enough leaves in your yard to consider raking leaves instead of watching the game?

at 8:01 PM

Anonymous said...

Good read Paul. I really liked the article you did maybe 4 years ago about the kid who moved into an Elder family due to tough circumstances with his Mother and living condition. Hope that kid does all right.
A question for you, does it seem to0 obvious that, since Marvin has been here, the D can play OK one game and then usaully bad the next. His teams are generally fundamentally not sound at tackling. See Kevin Hardy, and Brian Simmons. 3 out of the last 4 years his teams have blown great opportunities to go to the playoffs, including being 8-5 twice and losing the last 3 games.

Regarding wasting the offensive talent you are right on. Some fans talk about injuries but if you look at other teams they always have startes out and sometimes often. As well anyone who was excited about the Ravens game....The Ravens had 6! turnovers and they really did tie the game at the end. Bad offensive pass interference call against the Ravens. If the opposition turns the ball over 6 times you should beat em by 17 or more.
For the guy who asked Paul if he ever played the game that is a lame point.....Marvin never played in the NFL either.

at 11:10 AM

Anonymous said...

Actually, the Bendals defense is not "average," as some like to say. "Averave" means middle of the pack, neither good nor bad, and is pretty much synonomous with "mediochre." Actually, this Bengals defense would only need to be "average" or "mediochre" for the Bengals to win, with the offense we have. The true adjectives to describe this defense would be "poor," "bad," or "well below average." They have a long way to go to be "average" or "mediochre."

at 9:20 AM

Anonymous said...

To 8:09 AM:

?????? What does this comment have to do with a story about the Bengals decaying defense? Is this Nancy's husband posting? Are you that desperate for positive coverage that you have to go to blogs in a paper whose president sits on the UC BOT? I'm very confused.

BTW--not to continue this off-topic rant, but have you noticed that the Health Alliance exploded under Z's watch (because of the awful performance of Ms. Henney--who resigned 2 weeks ago). I'd also like you to check UC's balance sheet...over 1.6 billion (with a "b") in the red. All other construction has been halted, and the south end of Clifton along Taft and McMillan has been demolished for no good reason--that pile of rubble should be named "Mt. Zimpher" in honor of her fiscal short-sightedness.

Sure--we've got a huge freshman class...but that's a nationwide trend. I'm also pleased that she has upped the "snob appeal" of UC, but personally, I always thought public education was for "the public". No--I'm not ripping her for "any reason" I'm ripping her for some very good reasons.

She also has yet to apologize to the pre-Zimpher alumni for her poorly considered comments regarding their degrees--but that's to be expected with her arrogance at such a high level.

Later!--

at 11:56 AM

Anonymous said...

Paul, you hit the nail squarely on the head. This is an 8-8 or 7-9 team at best. Too many mental lapses, blown coverages, etc to be considered a serious challenger. Marvin is exactly what MB wanted. He got the Bengals back to .500, which gets the stagium sold out and fan interest rekindled. They will be 1-3 after this Mondays' game and then head into a portion of their schedule where they can get back to even. That will quiet most of the critics and give false hope to the fans who believe they are a contender.

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Monday, September 17, 2007

The Mourning After

52 Comments: