I am so conflicted with this team. It's a long season and I don't want to overreact. I didn't watch either of the last two games fully, so I can't have a very strong opinion of went wrong. I can say without a doubt I expected the team to be better than 2-2. With every game that goes by I like Zac less as an offensive play caller. It also always seems like the team can never put together a complete game. Whether it's the offense not finishing drives with TDs, or the defense not getting that one must stop, or the ST making a mistake, or the overall depth of the team not being good enough, or the there being confusion on a specific route - it's always something. Always some excuse for not winning. Very frustrating as a fan. I am a fan only, always will be. The one thing I do feel strongly about is that if this team doesn't make the playoffs and win at least one playoff game, I do think they should move on to a new head coach.

3 hours ago, FatNate said:

I am so conflicted with this team. It's a long season and I don't want to overreact. I didn't watch either of the last two games fully, so I can't have a very strong opinion of went wrong. I can say without a doubt I expected the team to be better than 2-2. With every game that goes by I like Zac less as an offensive play caller. It also always seems like the team can never put together a complete game. Whether it's the offense not finishing drives with TDs, or the defense not getting that one must stop, or the ST making a mistake, or the overall depth of the team not being good enough, or the there being confusion on a specific route - it's always something. Always some excuse for not winning. Very frustrating as a fan. I am a fan only, always will be. The one thing I do feel strongly about is that if this team doesn't make the playoffs and win at least one playoff game, I do think they should move on to a new head coach.

The biggest issue with Taylor as a playcaller, and this has always been the case. Is that nothing ever comes easy in this offense, as they never really scheme anyone up. Never really create any openings where a receiver has the ability to run after the catch. Its all reliant on receivers having to win on their routes every time, and Burrow having to perfectly place the ball. As there really is little room for error, and if Burrow is even just a little off on a throw then usually will be an interception. Its very rare where you see Taylor have a plays or plays that end up setting up another play for success.

That is why its truly funny hearing some people act like the Bengals should move on from Burrow. The way this offensive scheme is, nothing really comes easy and forces Burrow to have to play perfect. Very few QB's would be able to consistently do that in this offense as is. If this team fails to do anything this year, the change doesn't have to happen at QB. It has to happen at Head Coach and play caller.

Burrow is trash just like the Bengals.

From Lance McAlister on Facebook

Cincinnati Bengals: PFF season rank by position

Offense:

Joe Burrow (T-7th QB)

Chase Brown (10th RB)

Samaje Perine (46th RB)

Tee Higgins (3rd WR)

Ja’Marr Chase (17th WR)

Dohnte Meyers (58th WR)

Mike Gesicki (34thTE)

Ted Karras (21st C)

Dylan Fairchild (51st G)

Dalton Risner (11th G)

Amarius Mims (46th T)

Orlando Brown Jr. (55th T)

Defense:

Boye Mafe (22nd DE)

Cedric Johnson (24th DE)

Cashius Howell (101st DE)

Myles Murphy (107th DE)

Dexter Lawerence (2nd DT)

T.J. Slaton (110th DT)

Jonathan Allen (88th DT)

Barrett Carter (20th LB)

Demetrius Knight Jr. (59th LB)

Dax Hill (77th CB)

DJ Turner (54th CB)

Bryan Cook (59th S)

Jordan Battle (82nd S)

Kris Jenkins (54th DL)

Jack Kiser linebacker was added to the roster Boozeman went IR.

Tanner Hudson out for the season.

30 minutes ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

Tanner Hudson out for the season.

Hate that for him but we are deep at the tight end position.

From Lance:

A developing narrative as the Cincinnati Bengals have hit the bye is: “Rexax. They’ll be fine. They’ll figure it out. They always get better as the season goes.”

The Bengals don’t get my patience and understanding. They haven’t earned it.

They haven’t been good enough. I need more from this team.

The expectation wasn’t 3-2. Anyone saying that is either lying, wasn’t paying attention to the offseason, or both.

Too often they’ve looked clunky on offense. They’ve missed tackles. Failed to cover the tight end and set the edge. Special teams haven’t been special enough. And they’ve lacked discipline.

The answer at the bye can’t be, “they’ll be fine, they’ll figure it out.”

How has that gone in the past? I figured out they missed the playoffs last season, the year before that, and the year before that.

A narrative that requires turning the clock back to 2022 to support it has no legs.

Why do Zac’s teams always need time to figure it out? The core has been around for how many years?

3-2 includes a never-should-have-happened loss to the Steelers, and a home loss to Jacksonville. Division. Home field. Two more DNA issues with Zac’s teams.

You can’t win a Super Bowl in the first five weeks. But you sure can make it more difficult to do so. Those games play a role in deciding the AFC North, and in deciding home field for an AFC title game.

3-2 means they’re chasing wins they should have already banked.

The Bengals sure as heck didn’t go all in during the off-season to ‘figure it out’ as the season goes and make the playoffs. This season was always about a Super Bowl.

That’s where Joe Burrow set his expectations. Now or never, he said. Best Bengals team he’s been on, he said. Comparisons to his 2019 national championship LSU team.

Zac knows. FOX sideline reporter Jen Hale reported he "tore into his squad" at halftime.

Joe knows. He was ticked, and reportedly addressed the team afterwards.

They aren’t settling for a false narrative of hope and patience.

You shouldn’t either. Need more. Demand more.

Lance has it figured out, why hasn't the fans? let's boycott Paycor Stadium and the TV for a Sunday afternoon and see what happens.

4 minutes ago, 4 Quarters said:

Lance has it figured out, why hasn't the fans? let's boycott Paycor Stadium and the TV for a Sunday afternoon and see what happens.

No way on a boycott!

Who Dey!!

18 hours ago, theguru said:

From Lance:

A developing narrative as the Cincinnati Bengals have hit the bye is: “Rexax. They’ll be fine. They’ll figure it out. They always get better as the season goes.”

The Bengals don’t get my patience and understanding. They haven’t earned it.

They haven’t been good enough. I need more from this team.

The expectation wasn’t 3-2. Anyone saying that is either lying, wasn’t paying attention to the offseason, or both.

Too often they’ve looked clunky on offense. They’ve missed tackles. Failed to cover the tight end and set the edge. Special teams haven’t been special enough. And they’ve lacked discipline.

The answer at the bye can’t be, “they’ll be fine, they’ll figure it out.”

How has that gone in the past? I figured out they missed the playoffs last season, the year before that, and the year before that.

A narrative that requires turning the clock back to 2022 to support it has no legs.

Why do Zac’s teams always need time to figure it out? The core has been around for how many years?

3-2 includes a never-should-have-happened loss to the Steelers, and a home loss to Jacksonville. Division. Home field. Two more DNA issues with Zac’s teams.

You can’t win a Super Bowl in the first five weeks. But you sure can make it more difficult to do so. Those games play a role in deciding the AFC North, and in deciding home field for an AFC title game.

3-2 means they’re chasing wins they should have already banked.

The Bengals sure as heck didn’t go all in during the off-season to ‘figure it out’ as the season goes and make the playoffs. This season was always about a Super Bowl.

That’s where Joe Burrow set his expectations. Now or never, he said. Best Bengals team he’s been on, he said. Comparisons to his 2019 national championship LSU team.

Zac knows. FOX sideline reporter Jen Hale reported he "tore into his squad" at halftime.

Joe knows. He was ticked, and reportedly addressed the team afterwards.

They aren’t settling for a false narrative of hope and patience.

You shouldn’t either. Need more. Demand more.

I wish I could like this quote more than one time.

1 hour ago, UKato91 said:

I wish I could like this quote more than one time.

I mean, you can..

From Lance, he is a local treasure.

PFF season rank by position

Offense:
Joe Burrow (6th QB)
Chase Brown (23rd RB)
Samaje Perine (28th RB)
Tee Higgins (6th WR)
Ja’Marr Chase (17th WR)
Dohnte Meyers (58th WR)
Mike Gesicki (35th TE)
Erik All (69th TE)
Drew Sample (72nd TE)
Ted Karras (20th C)
Dylan Fairchild (47th G)
Dalton Risner (8th G)
Amarius Mims (48th T)
Orlando Brown Jr. (53rd T)

Defense:
Boye Mafe (12th DE)
Cedric Johnson (24th DE)
Cashius Howell (105th DE)
Myles Murphy (104th DE)
Dexter Lawerence (3rd DT)
T.J. Slaton (112th DT)
Jonathan Allen (93rd DT)
Barrett Carter (32nd LB)
Demetrius Knight Jr. (49th LB)
Dax Hill (71st CB)
DJ Turner (43rd CB)
Bryan Cook (71st S)
Jordan Battle (67th S)
Kris Jenkins (58th DL)
DJ Ivey (66th CB)

Those numbers paint a somewhat negative picture to me.