11-12-2021, 05:19 PM
It's possible for a good coach to go 6-25-1 and a bad coach to go 16-16. The NFL introduces so much variation into any single game, let alone season, that these raw comparisons are just about meaningless. I would prefer more descriptive metrics than just "who won more games", though even those are close to impossible to do anything with. The implication here is that assessing NFL coaching is a fool's errand, but I frankly believe that's more often true than it isn't. I don't blame people or front offices for trying to do it, but I don't take it very seriously. There's too much contextual noise.
2002 Bengals were 18th in offense and 17th in defense (2-14, LeBeau)
2003 Bengals were 13th in offense and 28th in defense (8-8, Lewis)
2004 Bengals were 18th in offense and 19th in defense (8-8, Lewis)
2005 Bengals were 6th in offense and 28th in defense (11-5, Lewis)
2018 Bengals were 26th in offense and 32nd in defense (6-10, Lewis)
2019 Bengals were 26th in offense and 29th in defense (2-14, Taylor)
2020 Bengals were 29th in offense and 26th in defense (4-11-1, Taylor)
2021 Bengals are 14th in offense and 18th in defense (5-4, Taylor)
That may suggest Lewis inherited a better "talent" situation than Taylor, but also a team more cultured toward failure. Taylor inherited an underperforming team with a better culture. Follow the progression and it looks like Taylor's third year is similar to Marvin's second year, so he can be accused of moving slower. But that's also silly to judge before this season ends.
2002 Bengals were 18th in offense and 17th in defense (2-14, LeBeau)
2003 Bengals were 13th in offense and 28th in defense (8-8, Lewis)
2004 Bengals were 18th in offense and 19th in defense (8-8, Lewis)
2005 Bengals were 6th in offense and 28th in defense (11-5, Lewis)
2018 Bengals were 26th in offense and 32nd in defense (6-10, Lewis)
2019 Bengals were 26th in offense and 29th in defense (2-14, Taylor)
2020 Bengals were 29th in offense and 26th in defense (4-11-1, Taylor)
2021 Bengals are 14th in offense and 18th in defense (5-4, Taylor)
That may suggest Lewis inherited a better "talent" situation than Taylor, but also a team more cultured toward failure. Taylor inherited an underperforming team with a better culture. Follow the progression and it looks like Taylor's third year is similar to Marvin's second year, so he can be accused of moving slower. But that's also silly to judge before this season ends.
