10-23-2017, 10:58 PM
(10-23-2017, 09:26 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Here we are, fresh off of another crushing loss to our biggest rivals. Yes, Marvin is walking out of pressers, there are team only meetings going on, players are starting to publicly complain about opportunities, etc. It is already that time of the year, when everyone starts getting frustrated, questioning why they believed in this team, yet again..
I likely don't need to remind anyone that I predicted in the preseason that we were likely looking at a 3-13 type of team this year. (because many of you blasted me for it) Folks clamored about how John Ross was going to "take the top off of defenses", and set the NFL on fire with his blazing speed. I think he's played one down this season. However, I may have been a bit rash in that prediction. We're actually looking more like a 5-6 win team these days. Just well enough to not get one of the sure bets in the draft, but poor enough to be in what I call "draft purgatory". Draft purgatory is that zone where the absolute top picks are gone, and it's too early to spend the pick on a second round talent that fits your need.
Draft purgatory aside, many fans are disappointed, yet again. They chose to buy into the hype that the Brown family was selling, again. Sure, there are going to be the eternal optimists that are just waiting for this team to turn the corner, and all will be gravy after.. Well, this team can't run the ball, can't stop the run, and is increasingly looking vulnerable to efficient passers. I don't see any magical corners turning this season.
Who do we blame? Sure, Marvin is an easy target, he's the Head Coach after all. However personally, I feel like Marvin is doing the very best that he can, with what he has to work with. So, the only fault I can lay on him is for continuing to play the role of Head Coach.
The real blame is where it's been since 1991, our owner, Mr. Mike Brown. His "methods" have made it so that a team that had 3 likely HOFers (Whit, Atkins, Dunlap) are all likely to finish their careers without having challenged for, let alone competed in a Championship game. In my opinion, the Bengals organization is a fantastic bureaucracy. They do very well at perpetuating their existence, and growing their accumulative wealth. But to what end? They're never going to be the richest on any list. Why not invest in a Championship? Then they would at least have a legacy tribute to Paul Brown completed.
I got blasted too for saying we had lost a lot of quality players in free agency and entered rebuilding. There are some fans that think our model is being copied. Shakes my head.
