Andrew Whitworth

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(12-22-2016, 08:55 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: They do have SOME strengths...stability, talent evaluation, consistency.  Your assessment of their performance this year is dead on, but one year ago, they had the #2 scoring defense in the NFL.  They had a potent offense whenever AJ and Eifert were on the field together.  

Don't get me wrong, there are things that make me want to stick pins in my Marvin Lewis doll (lack of a 2 minute drill despite 14 years as coach, inability to adapt the game plan during a game, overly conservative) but I have come to the conclusion that there is simply no way that they will let Marv go for one bad year after five good ones.  If he has another similar season next year, I think he is gone.  As much as I feel Zampese was a large part of their failure, he will be granted a second chance as well.  They never give up on rookies after one year and Zamp was, essentially, a rookie as a coordinator. 

So, my hope is that they can make a few fixes and get right back in the hunt next year.  If it doesn't work NEXT year, he's gone.  If it does work next year, then the Bengals are right back in the hunt.  I don't see any one team that is unstoppable and I think at full strength, the Bengals could beat almost any team at any place.  

It killed me to watch Nugent and Ogbuehi struggle as they did this season, but I never saw Dalton quit.  I never saw him get happy feet and become a David Carr or David Klingler...even after getting the ever-loving shit beat out of him the first two weeks.  

My optimism is fueled by the likes of Eifert, AJ, Boyd, Gio all being together next year with (hopefully) a young burner in Core emerging.  The defense needs one key piece on the line (RDE) and I would bet my bile duct that is our first pick.  They also have Hardison and Billings coming back, as well as WJIII.  Dre Kirkpatrick improved to the point that he was probably our best player in the secondary.  Josh Shaw is getting a lot of valuable experience, as is Dennard.  Heck, even Alex Erickson has turned out to be one of the top KO return men in the NFL.

I am incredibly frustrated by the weaknesses of this team, but I still see a ton of positives that will keep me going.  

Not a damn thing wrong with that brother.

Here's where I am.  The last few drafts haven't produced much, so I'm beginning to wonder about the talent evaluation aspect.  For starters, we let the backbone of the secondary of that vaunted defense walk over pennies, and rolled with Williams.  Between he an Iloka, we have no ball hawk in the secondary.  It was bad judgment to let Nelson leave, and I said as much when it happened.  So far, he's sealed two Raiders victories with INTs, and has two other picks.  How many does the Iloka/Williams combo have?  One more.

I was never keen on Zampese as a QB coach, now he's running the offense, enough said there.

Yes, I'm as pleased as anyone with Andy's grit.....but then again, I always have been.  I knew it would take a few years for him to reach his potential.

My main thing is, Marv will still be here, and with him, I don't think we'll ever win the big one, maybe not even a playoff game.  I've seen enough, too bad Son of Paul apparently hasn't.  Don't even get me started on Piano Man.....