Four consecutive years

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(10-16-2017, 06:21 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I think some people just choose to live in willful ignorance. I just can't believe anyone is dumb enough to look at all the facts and still actually believe in the "Bengals way". They just want to be happy and excited about the team, so they choose to shut out the negative facts and hype unproven draft picks as if we're one big "hit" away.

I can't hate these people for feeling that way. It's how they choose to be a fan. It can be frustrating when they refuse to listen to reason though.   

That said, even homers have their moments of frustration where they'll admit that there's major issues with this franchise, but a week later they're usually back to rainbows and unicorns.

The Front office have made their share of mistakes but I just disagree with some of the unrealistic FA expectations and things like if the first round draft doesn't play their first season its a failure by the front office. As for the team I think Mike Brown, Marvin Lewis, and Duke Tobin have really built a solid competitive football team in the Andy Dalton Era. 

During this time the defense has been the most consistent part averaging in the top of the league. Even though we can argue who is the best player on defense Geno or Burfict its the secondary thats really held the unit together. Starting with Mike Zimmer and his veterans: Leon Hall, Reggie Nelson, Terrance Newman, Adam Jones, and Chris Crocker. They drafted and developed and impressive amount of young defensive backs Dre Kirkpatrick, George Iloka, Shawn Williams, Chris Lewis-Harris, Darqueze Dennard, Josh Shaw, and William Jackson III.

The ugly thing about the defense is the wasted amount of draft picks on players in the front 7 that didnt develop during that same time frame: Devon Still, Brandon Thompson, Dontay Moch, Sean Porter, Margus Hunt, Marcus Hardison, Will Clarke, Paul Dawson. They tried to address the front 7 its just never worked out. PG did get a new defensive line coach and we have seen a change in the attitude toward the lineman.

The offense has been up and down mostly due to injuries. Im gonna pass over any Andy Dalton discussion and just say Andy has been and is their choice at QB day one since he was drafted and played most of his career without injury. The offensive line and the inline TE were a veteran group which was good for Dalton early but they also had some injuries there like Andre Smith and Kyle cook. They drafted well on offense early in Dalton's career: AJ Green, Clint Boiling, Kevin Zeitler, Mohammed Sanu, Marvin Jones, Giovani Bernard. Then there's what could have been with Tyler Eifert was he a bad pick? Because the injuries maybe but you also have to think of the flashes of greatness he did show. 

After picking Eifert and Jay Gruden leaving the offensive drafting went downhill: Jeremy Hill, Cedric Ogbeuhi, Russell Bodine, Jake Fisher, Tyler Kroft, Tyler Boyd, Cody Core. No one can say that the staff didnt see the need for Offensive Tackles because they did draft two with high picks. The issue is that those tackles havent worked out...so far (got to have a little hope I am a fan lol). I also think they should have brought in any interior offensive lineman (Draft or FA) over Winston the last what 3 years hes been here? to compete with Bodine and maybe back up Zeitler when he left.

Even if this season is 6-10 or 8-8 I still think this is a well put together football team with a bright future going into the off season.










No matter who the head coach is....lol.