If that's the case, they may as well send him packing now and get an early start on the future. With the competition in the AFC and all the holes Cincy needs to fill and questions they need to answer, I'd say they've got some pretty long odds to make the playoffs.

 

Of course, with the right moves, things could change, but as of now, what they've got and what they might draft won't be enough, IMO.

 

Look at the teams that are clearly ahead of Cincy right now...

 

New England, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, San Diego, and Denver

 

Then, I'd rate them below Buffalo, Tennessee, Houston, Baltimore and Kansas City. Although, those are much closer.

 

The point is...they've got a lot of work to do and a lot of ground to make up to get back in playoff contention in the AFC.

 

They only have to win the games on their schedule; they don't play most of these teams, so how good they are doesn't matter.

 

I'll give you NE, Indy, Pitt, & SD, but Pitt is suspect on their OL, especially after losing Faneca.

I'm not sold on Cleveland or Derek Anderson, and their secondary is weaker now.

Denver, Tennesse, Baltimore- are you kidding me????

Buffalo has gotten better, but they are no juggernaut. KC is average at best.

 

You're just showing your animosity toward the Bengals now without any objectivity; some of these teams are laughable.

If they don't make the playoffs this year he has to go. No way should he be giving one more year after this if we fail to make the playoffs again.

 

Too general of a statement; what if Carson and TJ go down in the first game???

 

If their offense gets back on track, and their defense shows marked improvement, like top 16, he will be retained.

They only have to win the games on their schedule; they don't play most of these teams, so how good they are doesn't matter.

 

I'll give you NE, Indy, Pitt, & SD, but Pitt is suspect on their OL, especially after losing Faneca.

I'm not sold on Cleveland or Derek Anderson, and their secondary is weaker now.

Denver, Tennesse, Baltimore- are you kidding me????

Buffalo has gotten better, but they are no juggernaut. KC is average at best.

 

You're just showing your animosity toward the Bengals now without any objectivity; some of these teams are laughable.

 

I'm definitely not joking about Tennessee. Call me crazy, but I'll take a 10-6 playoff team with a good defense over a 7-9 team that's constantly got some turmoil going on and has no defense.

They only have to win the games on their schedule; they don't play most of these teams, so how good they are doesn't matter.

 

I'll give you NE, Indy, Pitt, & SD, but Pitt is suspect on their OL, especially after losing Faneca.

I'm not sold on Cleveland or Derek Anderson, and their secondary is weaker now.

Denver, Tennesse, Baltimore- are you kidding me????

Buffalo has gotten better, but they are no juggernaut. KC is average at best.

 

You're just showing your animosity toward the Bengals now without any objectivity; some of these teams are laughable.

 

 

New England, Indy, Pittsburgh, San Diego are all much farther along than Cincinnati.

 

As is Cleveland. Derek Anderson is a solid QB, with a great receiving core now.

 

Tennessee is much better also, as is Denver.

 

Baltimore, stinks. Buffalo and Cincy are close, as is KC.

Let's take a look at the Bengals schedule...

 

Divisional Games

 

Baltimore - The Ravens offense is abysmal, but their defense remains formidable when healthy. Considering that Cincy is the opposite, I'd say this could easily be a home and home split. (1-1)

 

Cleveland - Pretty similar to Cincy in that they have a high powered offense and a suspect defense. However, unlike Cincy, they appear to be moving in the right direction and they've made some key additions in the off-season, improving their team more. But, I'll give you another home and home split. (2-2)

 

Pittsburgh - I think the Steelers are also ahead of Cincy, but I agree that they've taken some hits on the O-line. However, they're a far better defensive team, and the offense still has the potential to be good. But, yet again, I'll allow for another split. (3-3)

 

 

Home Games

 

Jacksonville - Loss. (3-4)

 

Tennessee - Could go either way, but I'll give Cincy the nod at home, especially considering they beat the Titans handily there last year. (4-4)

 

Philadelphia - Another game that could go either way. If McNabb is healthy, I expect the Eagles to be better than 2007. I'm giving Philly the nod in this one because... (4-5)

 

Washington - ...the Redskins is another game that could go either way and it's highly optimistic to think Cincy will win them all. I'm giving them the nod over the 'Skins, so I counted Philly as a loss. (5-5)

 

Kansas City - I'll give the Bengals the W here, but the Chiefs won't be a pushover either if they can get some solid play on the o-line. A solid o-line with a back like LJ could give the Bengals soft run D big problems. (6-5)

 

 

Road Games

 

Houston - The Texans are on their way up. The offense is coming along and the defense is making big strides. This will be a tough game to win on the road, IMO. I'll be generous and give them a W here, even though I honestly don't think they'll win this one. (7-5)

 

Indianapolis, Dallas & NYGiants - Do I need to elaborate? (7-8)

 

NY Jets - Not a gimme, but they should win this one. (8-8)

 

 

I tried to split the difference on games that could go either way, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt on a few and came up with 8-8. Supposing it all clicks and they catch some good breaks and they can go 4-2 in the division and win all the home games besides Jacksonville...that's just 10-6...and that's being pretty optimistic, IMO. Because things generally don't click perfectly for the Bengals.

 

I think .500 is optimistic with the schedule they play.

I'm definitely not joking about Tennessee. Call me crazy, but I'll take a 10-6 playoff team with a good defense over a 7-9 team that's constantly got some turmoil going on and has no defense.

 

Cincy drilled them last season.

 

What turmoil?????? Oh, you mean the turmoil perpetuated by the underachieving Cincinnati media; if you're talking about the arrests, that hasn't happened in over a year now and is old news. Chad's mouth was after the season; nothing during the season; he does need to catch the ball though and not run out of bounds on 4th down.

 

No defense? I disagree; their LB's will enter the year healthy and with another playmaker, their secondary is young and talented and only going to get better; Odom will help the pass rush.

 

I totally agree that Peko needs help; Thornton and Myers are average at best.

 

Losing Toeina infuriates me; not playing the young guys is a criticism I have of Marvin Lewis and it cost them a good young DT; he made 2 great plays(more than the others had done all season) the week he was signed by Chicago on MNF.

 

DC Mike Zimmer will make a difference.

 

Tennesse has a poor throwing QB with no WR's and average RB's; they need much more help than Algae Crumpler.

New England, Indy, Pittsburgh, San Diego are all much farther along than Cincinnati.

 

As is Cleveland. Derek Anderson is a solid QB, with a great receiving core now.

 

Tennessee is much better also, as is Denver.

 

Baltimore, stinks. Buffalo and Cincy are close, as is KC.

 

Pittsburgh is farther along, but not much farther; they have lost Faneca to an already suspect OL.

 

We'll just have to see with Cleveland and Anderson; I'm not sold.

 

How is Denver better; they are Cincinnat West; they haven't been in the playoffs in 2 seasons and can't stop the run; their RB's are average if Henry isn't healthy and Brandon Marshall is their only WR; Scheffler is a nice TE, but they need more help.

That's right; they signed Boss Bailey.....lookout SD.

 

How is Tennessee much better? They lose 2 DE's and sign Crumpler????????

 

Buffalo is making some nice moves, Stroud and Mitchell; KC is going with Brody Croyles.....come on.....

Too general of a statement; what if Carson and TJ go down in the first game???

If their offense gets back on track, and their defense shows marked improvement, like top 16, he will be retained.

 

:eek:Why would you even say that...

Let's take a look at the Bengals schedule...

 

Divisional Games

 

Baltimore - The Ravens offense is abysmal, but their defense remains formidable when healthy. Considering that Cincy is the opposite, I'd say this could easily be a home and home split. (1-1)

 

Cleveland - Pretty similar to Cincy in that they have a high powered offense and a suspect defense. However, unlike Cincy, they appear to be moving in the right direction and they've made some key additions in the off-season, improving their team more. But, I'll give you another home and home split. (2-2)

 

Pittsburgh - I think the Steelers are also ahead of Cincy, but I agree that they've taken some hits on the O-line. However, they're a far better defensive team, and the offense still has the potential to be good. But, yet again, I'll allow for another split. (3-3)

 

 

Home Games

 

Jacksonville - Loss. (3-4)

 

Tennessee - Could go either way, but I'll give Cincy the nod at home, especially considering they beat the Titans handily there last year. (4-4)

 

Philadelphia - Another game that could go either way. If McNabb is healthy, I expect the Eagles to be better than 2007. I'm giving Philly the nod in this one because... (4-5)

 

Washington - ...the Redskins is another game that could go either way and it's highly optimistic to think Cincy will win them all. I'm giving them the nod over the 'Skins, so I counted Philly as a loss. (5-5)

 

Kansas City - I'll give the Bengals the W here, but the Chiefs won't be a pushover either if they can get some solid play on the o-line. A solid o-line with a back like LJ could give the Bengals soft run D big problems. (6-5)

 

 

Road Games

 

Houston - The Texans are on their way up. The offense is coming along and the defense is making big strides. This will be a tough game to win on the road, IMO. I'll be generous and give them a W here, even though I honestly don't think they'll win this one. (7-5)

 

Indianapolis, Dallas & NYGiants - Do I need to elaborate? (7-8)

 

NY Jets - Not a gimme, but they should win this one. (8-8)

 

 

I tried to split the difference on games that could go either way, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt on a few and came up with 8-8. Supposing it all clicks and they catch some good breaks and they can go 4-2 in the division and win all the home games besides Jacksonville...that's just 10-6...and that's being pretty optimistic, IMO. Because things generally don't click perfectly for the Bengals.

 

I think .500 is optimistic with the schedule they play.

 

No question they need to at least go 7-1 at home and split on the road; if they get back to playing like '05 with some confidence, they can split on the road.

 

At Pittsburgh, which they have done often under Marvin, at Cleveland, at Baltimore, at Houston, and at NY Jets are all winnable.

 

Indy, Dallas, & the Giants are all very difficult, but that is why they play the games.

Pittsburgh is farther along, but not much farther; they have lost Faneca to an already suspect OL.

 

We'll just have to see with Cleveland and Anderson; I'm not sold.

 

How is Denver better; they are Cincinnat West; they haven't been in the playoffs in 2 seasons and can't stop the run; their RB's are average if Henry isn't healthy and Brandon Marshall is their only WR; Scheffler is a nice TE, but they need more help.

That's right; they signed Boss Bailey.....lookout SD.

 

How is Tennessee much better? They lose 2 DE's and sign Crumpler????????

 

Buffalo is making some nice moves, Stroud and Mitchell; KC is going with Brody Croyles.....come on.....

 

Pittsburgh might have a suspect pass blocking O-line, but they can run block.

 

Cleveland will be fine IMO. They have a solid core around Anderson.

 

Denver is a franchise that knows how to win. I can't say the same for Cincinnati.

 

How is Tennessee better? They're a playoff team. Of course they're in better shape than a 7-9 team. Crumpler really improves Tennessee's offense.

 

Honestly, what has Cincinnati done to improve during this off-season? They lost Smith, and replaced him with Odom. Not that big of an improvement, if one at all. The Cincy defense needs work IMO.

:eek:Why would you even say that...

 

Because he made a cut and dry statement that if the Bengals don't make the playoffs, Marvin must go; very few things in life are that black and white.

Comparing Tennessee and Cincy...the Bengals have the advantage at QB and WR. After that, the Titans have the advantage, or are at worst even, everywhere else. Plus, I'd definitely take the Titans management and coaching...