Was this THE YEAR never to be seen again? Or do the Bengals still have enough talent to take the next step?

 

On one hand:

 

1. Secondary is old and injured

2. QB is not what an elite team needs

3. Coordinators moving on

4. .500 Head Coach still here

5. Fan support probably lacking next year

 

But on the other hand:

 

1. Have an elite WR

2. Have an elite LB

3. QB has led team to playoffs first 3 years

4. Injured players return next year

5. Willing to pay players and give long term contracts

 

So where do they go from here?

It sounds like the Bengals are going to lose Zimmer, but they arguably upgraded with their offensive coordinator.

 

They're solid on both the offensive & defensive line. They'll likely lose Michael Johnson, but Dunlap & a healthy Atkins return.

 

What is the status of Leon Hall? The Bengals could use some help in the defensive backfield, especially if they lose Johnson to FA. An effective D-line can mask a leaky defensive backfield. Adam Jones, Terence Newman & Leon Hall are all getting old. Kirkpatrick will be back, but they need another DB.

 

I think they'll be good again next year. The window isn't closing, the coaching staff is just changing. If anything, quite a few of their players are only going to get better.

I don't think the window is closed but they blew a great opportunity this season. The NFL is a crazy animal, just ask Atlanta or Washington fans if they thought they would tank it this year.

It'll be interesting to see if Gillberry or Margus Hunt can replace Michael Johnson on the D-line...

Was their window ever open?

I believe it is still open. They have to address the CB's, can't have too many, and OL due to age and talent. But AD cannot win it be himself, he needs a top 5 defense and protection.

Was their window ever open?

 

More like unlocked.

I've felt their window was from last year through next year. Knowing how the Bengals franchise is operated they have a very small window for success and the window is deffinatly shutting.

 

I will say this also. They have already screwed up by keeping Marvin. 11 years and still not a winning record, that is pathetic, while all the other teams in the league continue to do away with their coaches WITH A WINNING RECORD and move on to new coaches. I'm talking teams that have been to the Super Bowl also and winning records already realize they hit an impasse and need to get over the hump. teams like Arizona who fires a coach in Whisenhunt who had a winning record in his 5 years there including a SB appearance. The Bengals? haha, they keep their trash while they have a guy they can't afford to lose in Mike Zimmer about to go elsewhere for a HC job because the Bengals won't do the right thing and hire him as their HC. If the Bengals lose Zimmer then once again they take giant leaps backwards after crawling to make strides.

 

Yes their window is closing because they don't know how to take advantage of an upswing when they have one.

.....

 

Reds' window: closing / closed.

 

Bengals' window: not closing.

 

My two cents.

Was their window ever open?

 

Beat me to it. :thumb:

I suffered through the 2000's as producer for the Bengals Radio Network with the low point of doing Love Boat Trivia on air during the 2-14 season. I have never re-gained the confidence in what they have done. Marvin is a master of clock mis-management, Dalton is not the answer.

 

Over the past couple of years, coordinators stayed instead of jumping ship. Now Gruden gone (actually glad of that) and Zimmer apparently getting the Vikings gig (He should be the Bengals head coach). What are they seeing now that they didn't before.

 

Something smells along the river and it's not the toxic water about to enter the area.

I don't think the window is closed but they blew a great opportunity this season. The NFL is a crazy animal, just ask Atlanta or Washington fans if they thought they would tank it this year.

 

I don't think they blew an opportunity. I don't think they are good enough yet. As I watched the playoffs this weekend, I thought all those teams look better than the Bengals.

The sad thing is as far as the Bengals history and expectations, their window is wide open....shoot it's a gaping hole in the wall, no window in it at all, just a square cut in the side of the house!

 

The reality is, when compared to the rest of the NFL, their window is shut but unlocked....but still shut.

Over the past couple of years, coordinators stayed instead of jumping ship. Now Gruden gone (actually glad of that) and Zimmer apparently getting the Vikings gig (He should be the Bengals head coach). What are they seeing now that they didn't before.

 

The coordinators stayed because they didn't get better jobs. Zimmer would have been gone any one of the past 3 years if someone had offered him a head coaching job. Gruden would have been gone last year if offered. What they are seeing this year is offers for better jobs.

It sounds like the Bengals are going to lose Zimmer, but they arguably upgraded with their offensive coordinator.

 

They're solid on both the offensive & defensive line. They'll likely lose Michael Johnson, but Dunlap & a healthy Atkins return.

 

What is the status of Leon Hall? The Bengals could use some help in the defensive backfield, especially if they lose Johnson to FA. An effective D-line can mask a leaky defensive backfield. Adam Jones, Terence Newman & Leon Hall are all getting old. Kirkpatrick will be back, but they need another DB.

 

I think they'll be good again next year. The window isn't closing, the coaching staff is just changing. If anything, quite a few of their players are only going to get better.

 

I can't imagine that a 30 year old corner coming back from Achille's repair is going to be anywhere near the level of what this team needs.