(08-27-2015, 11:04 AM)Vas Deferens Wrote: But raggedy is such a dog-gone good leader! Shucks Solomon.

(08-27-2015, 10:55 AM)Bengalholic Wrote: Solomon shares his thoughts on the Tampa game, the teams attitude, and whether there should be concern...

"It was clear to me that one team was more focused than the other," Wilcots said when I asked him about the game on Tuesday at The NFL on CBS Media Day. "Lovie, where his team is at right now, coming into a preseason game, they've got everything to prove. That was reminiscent of a Lovie Smith defense, wasn't it? Pressure the quarterback, cover 2 on the backend, and they intercept all tips and overthrows."

"I saw a Bengals team kind of feeling like, hey, we’re accomplished, you know who we are," Wilcots said. "If they don’t understand that no one cares that they’ve been to the playoffs four straight years, they’re going to go on opening day and lose in Oakland. I’m telling you right now. Because Oakland is one of those teams like Tampa, that’s got a lot to prove. Jack Del Rio is going to have those guys ready to play."

"I’m really concerned, because for me, preseason game or no, if you’re the number one group you gotta be ready to play and they clearly weren't ready to play," Wilcots said. "And if you go back to that last game in the playoffs against Indy, they weren't ready to play. Now, I'm watching this game and I see the same lethargic attitude and it concerns me and I'm not saying that’s what we're going to get in the regular season. I’m saying after seeing that, I'm concerned, and if it’s not addressed, then it becomes a reality."

"Winning is a habit, I don't care if it's the preseason, I don't care if it's checkers," Wilcots said. "That's just what I believe. It’s just being a competitor and setting the standard for how to perform anywhere, anytime and that’s how winning becomes a habit. And so does losing, unfortunately. They should be concerned, they really should be. And the only way to stop it, is to be concerned."

[b]CincyJungle[/b]

(08-27-2015, 11:51 AM)Wyche Wrote: This is what I took from the game too.....lack of any energy...bad effort.  Lack of focus and sloppy play is one thing in the preseason, no effort is another.

(08-27-2015, 01:07 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Whether you agree or not with the specifics of what Wilcots is saying (as far as the preseason game)...I think his overall concerns about this team's attitude and approach are somewhat warranted.

In general, a preseason game, in and of itself, isn't overly important...win, lose, look good or look bad. However, if you're a team that has just set an NFL record with 4 consecutive clunkers in the post-season and who tends to crap your pants on the national stage on a consistent basis...you would think that the coaches and players would have put a little extra emphasis on performing well...at least with the 1st team. Even if you're out of rhythm or not executing well...you shouldn't be letting a 'lesser' team physically push you around and constantly beat you at the point of attack. That was my biggest issue with the game.

It would be one thing if a mistake riddled, uninspired and ill-prepared performance were an anomaly to this team. However, we know that whenever the lights are shining the brightest...that's exactly what we get in about 2 of every 3 primetime games and every playoff game.

They have to find a way for the 'big stage' performances to get addressed and fixed this year. I'm not saying they have to win every one of them...but I do want to see them be prepared, fired up and ultra-competitive in each one. I honestly don't think that's too much to expect.

(08-27-2015, 01:57 PM)xavierdude Wrote: yes..that MNF preseason game  was the "big Stage"    :snark:

I was referring to the 'big stage' failings during the regular season/playoffs under Marvin, which is probably why I talked about 2/3rds of primetime games and the playoffs.  

(08-27-2015, 01:40 PM)GodFather Wrote: This is a thread throughout Marvin Lewis' entire career in Cincinnati. The players and OC/DC have all changed and the one constant is Marvin. How maddening has it been to watch them in the regular season play one game like a Super Bowl champ only to turnaround and look like the most unprepared team you've ever seen? This isn't going to change. If it was, things would've been different years ago.

(08-27-2015, 01:40 PM)GodFather Wrote: This is a thread throughout Marvin Lewis' entire career in Cincinnati. The players and OC/DC have all changed and the one constant is Marvin. How maddening has it been to watch them in the regular season play one game like a Super Bowl champ only to turnaround and look like the most unprepared team you've ever seen? This isn't going to change. If it was, things would've been different years ago.