QuizGuy66
Footballguy
Well, today is as good as any to get this started. Actually intended to do this about three or four weeks ago but got sidetracked.
This will initially be short and I'll fill it in more later.
Mike "Stuck With Me" Brown has piloted yet another successful campaign and once again we look to the future. He's my glob of thoughts about the various positions.
GM - Never gonna get one at least until Mike Brown makes Death Pool players everywhere happy.
HC - While it's easy to criticism him, Marvin Lewis has been a beacon of light and wildly successful, especially when compared to what preceded him. 2 playoff appearances. This is an accomplishment that will never be equaled again in the Mike Brown era. There is a lot to criticize though - probably 8 of the top 10 dumbest replay challenges in the last 8 years have been perpetrated by him. (The pain of last year's botched challenges in the playoffs persists.) The in-game adjustments have been completely lacking as notable players have said. There has been insufficient accountability for mental mistakes on the part of players it seems (with one notable awful exception in Andre Smith's last game where he got pulled out of a game after a sack. He'd been playing strong and finally looked like the guy Marvin thought he was drafting. Dennis Roland promptly came in and did the matador thing and got Carson crushed). A mental here or there is gonna happen and is generally on the player. When it happens persistently and is part of a larger pattern you must look to the coaches. The one thing I will say, however, is that this team has played all year no matter how bad it has gotten. It's been death by a thousand cuts piling on mistakes with injuries. There hasn't been that one game where it all imploded at once like happened in Wade Phillips' last game in Dallas. Marvin will be a great coordinator somewhere next year unless by some miracle he's back. But this has all the earmarks of a mutual divorce.
OC - Brat is awful - he's like the Mike Brown of coordinators. I can sit on my bar stool and call out play after that he's gonna run and if someone with my basic football acumen can do this it just shows what easy pickings we are for the opposition week after week. We have all this talent and are still ranked 34th in offense somehow. Probably will be our next head coach and given a lifetime contract..
DC - Zimmer is an interesting case. He really brought things to a whole new level last year and it would be unfair to say that he's above responsibility for this year's debacle. That said, they've had injury after injury and the defense has probably performed at a higher level than you could expect with who they have in now. Still, there have been a lot of breakdowns this year and his stock has to have taken some hit around the league. All in all, he's very likely the next head coach and he's got a makeup that makes me think it'd actually be a good move (provided we get a capable DC to replace him - certainly no sure thing at all). He's the most likely internal candidate to bring actual discipline and accountability to this team. He's the one guy on the staff that I'd hate to see go.
ST - They seem to have improved over the course of the year, actually. We are getting much better in the return game of late.
QB - It just kills me and pretty much breaks my heart to see what has happened to Palmer. Having it happen to an Akili or a Klingler is one thing - those guys were just awful picks but with Carson it's different. With a real OC it'd be nice to see what would happen but there's a very strong chance he won't be back (though if the Bengals offer renegotiation to stay as starter he'd actually be very wise to listen as those $ are not out there on the open market for him). I am in the minority in that I think he can get back to the level that he was before the injuries took their toll if he got with a team with a better line (or at least one he had more confidence in) and with receivers that worked better with him and ran better routes. This is NOT to excuse the times he has unwisely forced balls and tried to do things that he may have been able to get away with before. His struggles are similar to those that more heralded QBs have had of late in that regard. I'd put the odds of him coming back at about 1/4 or so - a lot depends on where our draft pick is, whether he might be willing to mentor a young QB as Kitna did with him back in the day) and the randomness that is Mike Brown's loyalty to certain people. There are a number of destinations where I think he could start, given an OC that looks at his problems as fixable (and I think that will be the case). Arizona, Minnesota, maybe Tennessee come immediately to mind. The problem there is no replacement. Baby Bro probably isn't really a legit #2. Lefoveur (sp?) is a project guy and a #3 in the near term. This team doesn't do the bold move thing (like trading for a Kolb). If they are somehow #1 and staring at Luck I guess that's a way they could go. Somehow I think they get enamored with Cam Newton instead and decide to ruin him regardless of where they pick.
RB - Benson's contract is up and it's doubtful he'll be back. I'd like to see what Scott could do with more reps and Leonard really is great in his role and I hope he sticks around. A bruising short-yardage guy taking a smaller load would be a good change of pace for Scott (the opposite of how they do it now). I don't think Ced is quite done but I also don't think he'll be a true bell-cow elsewhere or anything like that. Would like to see what Pressley can really do at FB. Jeremi Johnson was fat but perhaps his blocking was underrated in terms of last year's success.
WR - This could be, probably will be an area of revolutionary change. The criticism by Owens today probably doesn't help him stay (and he's actually indicated a willingness to do so fairly recently). His route-running has left something to be desired to say the least. He'll be offered enough somewhere else to go it seems so probably not a concern going forward. Ocho is a team option. Assuming Brown is in "blow it up" mode he'd likely go but for all we know Mike sees some twisted loyalty there as well as a guy who's generally been a fan favorite. Probably 40% or so he ends up staying. The thing is, the cupboard isn't bare behind them so turning over the team in this area may not be quite so painful. Shipley has been fun to watch this year and is a great young player who will excel in the #2 role I think. Caldwell's receiving has regressed, it is true, but I've noticed that he's been on the field a lot as a run blocker (in fact his presence seems to tip off running plays - thanks Brat) so he's working hard and I haven't given up all hope on him yet. Clearly they need to address it more in the draft if the top 2 go but there's at least something there. Oh and Jerome Simpson has to be on track for some sort of record for most games deactivated right?
TE - Jermaine Gresham has been great and a difference maker at the position. It'd be really nice to see what a real OC could do with a piece like him. Kelly's getting up there in years but is a solid veteran. It'd be nice if Coffman actually got to do something before the season to ends to see if he's worth anything at all. Having two receiving TE threats would be a nice dimension to have (see New England). There are other areas of more crushing need.
OL - Whitworth has really ended up being an amazing steadying presence at LT. The fact that we actually have him locked up a while is great. Sometimes these guys can be made into a position and you don't have to automatically get a top draft pick to fill that spot. Speaking of which - the Andre injury was just devastating as the kid really finally was showing glimpses of what he could be and that he actually was getting it. Still a ridiculous pick at the time, for sure. It will be telling if he approaches this 2nd foot rehab any difference than his first. Of course the Bengals medical staff all seem to have the last name Kevorkian so that's a concern. Still fear that he's basically going to be Bill Walton without the short-term success. Interior line is a huge concern. Cook is still of course infinitely better than the human turnstile that was Eric Ghiaciuc but that's not good enough - we really should address this position in the first three rounds. LG is a disaster for us and also is a crying need. No matter who the QB we'll get nowhere until that's addressed. The rest of the guys we have are pieces and projects.
I'll do the defense in a bit, but it start with two words: pass rush.
Who Dey! <img src="http://static.footballguys.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/kicksrock4.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="kicksrock4.gif" />
-QG
This will initially be short and I'll fill it in more later.
Mike "Stuck With Me" Brown has piloted yet another successful campaign and once again we look to the future. He's my glob of thoughts about the various positions.
GM - Never gonna get one at least until Mike Brown makes Death Pool players everywhere happy.
HC - While it's easy to criticism him, Marvin Lewis has been a beacon of light and wildly successful, especially when compared to what preceded him. 2 playoff appearances. This is an accomplishment that will never be equaled again in the Mike Brown era. There is a lot to criticize though - probably 8 of the top 10 dumbest replay challenges in the last 8 years have been perpetrated by him. (The pain of last year's botched challenges in the playoffs persists.) The in-game adjustments have been completely lacking as notable players have said. There has been insufficient accountability for mental mistakes on the part of players it seems (with one notable awful exception in Andre Smith's last game where he got pulled out of a game after a sack. He'd been playing strong and finally looked like the guy Marvin thought he was drafting. Dennis Roland promptly came in and did the matador thing and got Carson crushed). A mental here or there is gonna happen and is generally on the player. When it happens persistently and is part of a larger pattern you must look to the coaches. The one thing I will say, however, is that this team has played all year no matter how bad it has gotten. It's been death by a thousand cuts piling on mistakes with injuries. There hasn't been that one game where it all imploded at once like happened in Wade Phillips' last game in Dallas. Marvin will be a great coordinator somewhere next year unless by some miracle he's back. But this has all the earmarks of a mutual divorce.
OC - Brat is awful - he's like the Mike Brown of coordinators. I can sit on my bar stool and call out play after that he's gonna run and if someone with my basic football acumen can do this it just shows what easy pickings we are for the opposition week after week. We have all this talent and are still ranked 34th in offense somehow. Probably will be our next head coach and given a lifetime contract..
DC - Zimmer is an interesting case. He really brought things to a whole new level last year and it would be unfair to say that he's above responsibility for this year's debacle. That said, they've had injury after injury and the defense has probably performed at a higher level than you could expect with who they have in now. Still, there have been a lot of breakdowns this year and his stock has to have taken some hit around the league. All in all, he's very likely the next head coach and he's got a makeup that makes me think it'd actually be a good move (provided we get a capable DC to replace him - certainly no sure thing at all). He's the most likely internal candidate to bring actual discipline and accountability to this team. He's the one guy on the staff that I'd hate to see go.
ST - They seem to have improved over the course of the year, actually. We are getting much better in the return game of late.
QB - It just kills me and pretty much breaks my heart to see what has happened to Palmer. Having it happen to an Akili or a Klingler is one thing - those guys were just awful picks but with Carson it's different. With a real OC it'd be nice to see what would happen but there's a very strong chance he won't be back (though if the Bengals offer renegotiation to stay as starter he'd actually be very wise to listen as those $ are not out there on the open market for him). I am in the minority in that I think he can get back to the level that he was before the injuries took their toll if he got with a team with a better line (or at least one he had more confidence in) and with receivers that worked better with him and ran better routes. This is NOT to excuse the times he has unwisely forced balls and tried to do things that he may have been able to get away with before. His struggles are similar to those that more heralded QBs have had of late in that regard. I'd put the odds of him coming back at about 1/4 or so - a lot depends on where our draft pick is, whether he might be willing to mentor a young QB as Kitna did with him back in the day) and the randomness that is Mike Brown's loyalty to certain people. There are a number of destinations where I think he could start, given an OC that looks at his problems as fixable (and I think that will be the case). Arizona, Minnesota, maybe Tennessee come immediately to mind. The problem there is no replacement. Baby Bro probably isn't really a legit #2. Lefoveur (sp?) is a project guy and a #3 in the near term. This team doesn't do the bold move thing (like trading for a Kolb). If they are somehow #1 and staring at Luck I guess that's a way they could go. Somehow I think they get enamored with Cam Newton instead and decide to ruin him regardless of where they pick.
RB - Benson's contract is up and it's doubtful he'll be back. I'd like to see what Scott could do with more reps and Leonard really is great in his role and I hope he sticks around. A bruising short-yardage guy taking a smaller load would be a good change of pace for Scott (the opposite of how they do it now). I don't think Ced is quite done but I also don't think he'll be a true bell-cow elsewhere or anything like that. Would like to see what Pressley can really do at FB. Jeremi Johnson was fat but perhaps his blocking was underrated in terms of last year's success.
WR - This could be, probably will be an area of revolutionary change. The criticism by Owens today probably doesn't help him stay (and he's actually indicated a willingness to do so fairly recently). His route-running has left something to be desired to say the least. He'll be offered enough somewhere else to go it seems so probably not a concern going forward. Ocho is a team option. Assuming Brown is in "blow it up" mode he'd likely go but for all we know Mike sees some twisted loyalty there as well as a guy who's generally been a fan favorite. Probably 40% or so he ends up staying. The thing is, the cupboard isn't bare behind them so turning over the team in this area may not be quite so painful. Shipley has been fun to watch this year and is a great young player who will excel in the #2 role I think. Caldwell's receiving has regressed, it is true, but I've noticed that he's been on the field a lot as a run blocker (in fact his presence seems to tip off running plays - thanks Brat) so he's working hard and I haven't given up all hope on him yet. Clearly they need to address it more in the draft if the top 2 go but there's at least something there. Oh and Jerome Simpson has to be on track for some sort of record for most games deactivated right?
TE - Jermaine Gresham has been great and a difference maker at the position. It'd be really nice to see what a real OC could do with a piece like him. Kelly's getting up there in years but is a solid veteran. It'd be nice if Coffman actually got to do something before the season to ends to see if he's worth anything at all. Having two receiving TE threats would be a nice dimension to have (see New England). There are other areas of more crushing need.
OL - Whitworth has really ended up being an amazing steadying presence at LT. The fact that we actually have him locked up a while is great. Sometimes these guys can be made into a position and you don't have to automatically get a top draft pick to fill that spot. Speaking of which - the Andre injury was just devastating as the kid really finally was showing glimpses of what he could be and that he actually was getting it. Still a ridiculous pick at the time, for sure. It will be telling if he approaches this 2nd foot rehab any difference than his first. Of course the Bengals medical staff all seem to have the last name Kevorkian so that's a concern. Still fear that he's basically going to be Bill Walton without the short-term success. Interior line is a huge concern. Cook is still of course infinitely better than the human turnstile that was Eric Ghiaciuc but that's not good enough - we really should address this position in the first three rounds. LG is a disaster for us and also is a crying need. No matter who the QB we'll get nowhere until that's addressed. The rest of the guys we have are pieces and projects.
I'll do the defense in a bit, but it start with two words: pass rush.
Who Dey! <img src="http://static.footballguys.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/kicksrock4.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
" border="0" alt="kicksrock4.gif" />-QG
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It's possible that we've quit blitzing for a couple of reasons:1) Early in the season we would just get absolutely killed on screen passes. Of course Dunlap and Atkins also weren't as involved either. Hard to be aggressive when it leads to big gains so often.2) I think the injuries, especially in the secondary, has led to us playing more straight-up as well. On balance the secondary play has been pretty good given the sheer number of injuries but less has been demanded of them as well.Still, I definitely think Zimmer's stock is down a little bit after this year, at least to the extent that we shouldn't worry about losing him like we were after last season.-QG
Or a brain transplant.-QG
I still think D-line is the most likely scenario. The top of the draft more often has special guys in that category. Our OL needs help at at least 3 of the positions (and if Andre is never healthy it really is 4) but they all interior line. Nobody drafts a OG or C early in round 1. Just never happens. The top of round 2 (or even top of round 3) is a prime spot for this spot I think. Safety again is a spot that almost never is seen at the very top of the draft (Berry was definitely an exception last year).I'd rather they not draft a kicker, then again Huber was a draft pick and I think he's been pretty good by-and-large. QB will definitely be a matter of intrigue. This again is likely a function of the new HC and perhaps 
a new OC.-QG
joereedy - "Lewis has resigned with #bengals. News conference at 4:30 p.m." @AdamSchefter - "Negotiation play by play: Marvin Lewis headed back in to meet Mike Brown. Cooler heads may prevail here. Both sides want to work it out."Reedy's tweet came before Schefter's.
