(11-07-2017, 04:37 PM)jagherd Wrote: (11-06-2017, 07:46 PM)D6 Wrote: The Bengals got another huge break, after getting one yesterday by Brad Allen and his crew. They don't look like a playoff team. But w/o A.J. Green, there's chances of beating a good opportunity are slim at best.
^ You're right D6. The Bengals aren't even close to being a playoff caliber team. Following them as I have for many decades, the past couple years have been enough to test even the most loyal of Bengals followers (starting with the late game antics that cost them a playoff victory for the first time in over 20 years against their most hated rival,, geez).
Marvin Lewis doesn't have near the control and discipline of his team as a coach like Marrone has. It definitely shows in their play and character.
The fact that Cincy kept Lewis and let coaches like Zimmer, Gruden, and Hue Jackson go elsewhere was maddening.
They had a superb roster from 2013 to about 2015, but couldn't take advantage of it and let MANY of those key players go:
Whitworth
Zeitler
Sanu
Marvin Jones
Nelson
Mauluga
(and I'm sure I'm forgetting more).
Now, their O-line is in shambles (they're terrible), their WRs opposite Green are a joke, their defense is getting older and play completely undisciplined.
Dalton is also terrible when he doesn't have protection.
It's a mess.
If they finish with another abysmal season just like last year, it has to be time for Marvin Lewis to go and restart the whole thing over again (similar to what Jax has done).
Jax looks to have done things right, especially on the defensive side and the new coaching and atmosphere.
The Bengals aren't even close to that.
jagherd, as much as anything in the 2017 NFL season, the value of Andrew Whitworth has been on display, even at his advanced football age.
The LA Rams are having a turnaround season in large part because of the play Whitworth has given them at LT. The player that was the Rams LT for the most part the last few seasons, Greg Robinson, struggled with the Lions after having a good opening game vs. Chandler Jones and Arizona overall. Robinson was released yesterday, to help make room for Tackles Taylor Decker ( PUP ) and Corey Robinson ( I.R. ). The Bengals have not effectively replaced Whitworth at this time. Combined with the FA loss of Kevin Zeitler, the Bengals O-Line doesn't remind practically anyone of the unit that was one of the best in the NFL not that long ago.
One other player they lost is DT Domata Peko, now with the Broncos. From the standpoint of run Defense, that's a major loss. This was on display in Jacksonville last Sunday, despite the Jaguars not having their top RB active for the game.
