06-25-2021, 08:34 PM
(06-23-2021, 02:37 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: Although I like what Zac and Duke have done from a roster standpoint, specifically the types of players they have added through free agency and the draft, and moving on from the old guard...at some point it has to show up on the field and produce winning results.
This team now has a potential (talent wise) top 10 QB, RB and WR corps, an elite S, a much improved D-line and an O-line, that while still not great, should be a lot better than last year. If they can stay relatively healthy (which has been an issue) there are no excuses this season.
It's on Zac to get wins out of this roster, and not just more than last year...but enough to produce a winning season. If you look at coaches who have started with 5 or less wins in each of their first 2 years since 2000, zero ever produced a winning year and only 18% survived a 3rd season and none made it past a 4th. Those are the odds Zac and the Bengals facing right now.
Can Zac do what no other coach with his record has been able to over the last 20 years? I think he can and I think he will. I think he breaks that trend and I really feel like the Bengals will win 10 games this season. When you look at the culture he is creating, the types of personalities he's added and the overall chemistry I see this team having as the season plays out...I think it's going to be a fun year.
I've had plenty of issues with Zac over the course of his first 2 seasons...like hiring Turner, not firing Lou, and his questionable play calling at times and I've often thought that doesn't exactly match his accomplishments...but with all that being said, I also think there are things to be positive and hopeful about like the guys his bring in, the fact that players are seemingly still on board with his plan, the approach in free agency, not being afraid to part ways with guys like Geno, Dunlap, Bernard, etc. I think he's making the right moves in most instances. Now it's time for those moves to pay off on the field...and I honestly think we'll see that this season.
Great post Holic, I feel the same. I think we make the Playoffs this year and win a game in the Playoffs.
I think the light comes on for Zac and the roster turnover is finally accomplished to make this team a contender.
We will see, the first 2 years have had lots of head scratchers under the man. But he is young and the team has been hit hard
by injuries and the trenches sucked. We now have new players in the trenches and new coaches coaching them up. Hard to win
games as a HC in the NFL when your trenches on both sides of the ball and the coaches coaching them have been so bad.
(06-23-2021, 03:29 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: One of the things Zac has going for him that Shula never really did, is that players seem to like and respect him, and are buying into what he's selling...even though the results haven't been there on the field yet.
We'll see how things play out, but I think that's important and gives Zac a much better shot than Shula ever had.
Another great point. The players have bought in under Zac unlike Shula...
