I can't put the front office anywhere near the top of the list - they have managed to bring enough talent to Cincinnati to make the playoffs 5 straight years.

 

Unless you lay the retention of Marvin Lewis at their feet.

1. Marvin Lewis

2. Offensive Coordinator

3. Offensive Line

4. Defensive Backs

5. Front Office

6. Injuries

7. Special Teams

8. Defensive Coordinator

1. Offensive Line

2. Special Teams

3. Marvin Lewis

4. Defensive Line

5. Offensive Coordinator

6. Defensive Coordinator

7. Injuries

8. Andy Dalton

9. Front Office

10. Other (Age)

 

Pretty much how I see it. I might flip 6 and 7, but that's just picking at nits.

I blame the voters of Hamilton County.

1. Marvin Lewis

2. Offensive Line

3. Special Teams

4. Offensive Coordinator

5. Defensive Line

6. Front Office

7. Other (defensive backs)

8. Defensive Coordinator

9. Injuries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Andy Dalton

If you want to look at each game on an individual basis, there's plenty of blame to pass around. And often times it changes from game to game. There's no way anyone would say this team should be undefeated at this time. I know what they said at the beginning of the year as far as strength of schedule, but things are a whole lot different now (see Dallas Cowboys). Still there are several games that could've gone the other way, and at least had the Bengals competing for the division title...Pittsburgh, Washington, Giants, Buffalo, and Baltimore.

 

In those games (in no particular order) I think you can look at the following:

Special teams

Defensive backs (both in coverage and open field tackling)

Missing players (due to injury or suspension)

Offensive line (can't establish the run or pass protect)

 

So, if they had corrected these, would they have won all five of these games? Maybe, maybe not. But, say you take the win instead of the tie against Washington and just split the other four...that'd put them at 6-5 right now, right in the middle of the hunt for the division.

I remember watching and interview with Andy Reid a while back and they asked him why he let players go a year or two before it appears they should. He said that when he looks at them in practice and their butts start sagging, it is time to release or trade them. He was serious!

 

I think the Bengals have too many sagging butts.

I remember watching and interview with Andy Reid a while back and they asked him why he let players go a year or two before it appears they should. He said that when he looks at them in practice and their butts start sagging, it is time to release or trade them. He was serious!

 

I think the Bengals have too many sagging butts.

Like Andy's

#1 should be for the fans. They keep going to the games filling the stadium and believing in Marvin.

Like Andy's

 

Dalton or Reid?

#1 should be for the fans. They keep going to the games filling the stadium and believing in Marvin.

 

What I do with my $$ is my business. Again, this is off topic.

What I do with my $$ is my business. Again, this is off topic.

 

If fans quit supporting them changes will be made.

If fans quit supporting them changes will be made.

I know your point, however, that isn't going to happen with many of the core fans and why should it? 5 straight playoff seasons after years of futility was very good and exciting. This season has been awful, however, it is the first bad one in quite a while. The Bengals would make $$ even if no fans showed up. The NFL is socialism as its finest.

If fans quit supporting them changes will be made.

Sorry we're not all fair weather fans like you. This is my team and I will choose whether or not I spend my money on my tickets or not. Being a fan of a team is much more than the wins and losses. It's about being part of the larger community and supporting the team that represents the community through thick and thin. You won't ever understand that.

1. The players

2. The front office, for signing the current players.