01-18-2020, 04:30 PM
(01-18-2020, 12:23 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Good stuff there.
I almost hesitate to take the time to make this post because i'm already sure it's going to mostly fall on deaf ears, or will just be looked over due to already set opinions (either way) that aren't likely to change, no matter what...
I've said before that a QB can make a huge difference on a losing team. There's a post around here somewhere about all of the things in his control and how one guys decisions could produce a completely different outcome, over the decisions that were made by the current QB. Better decisions, better ball placement, be pocket awareness, etc.
If you take the Bengals record this past year and look at all the games lost by a touchdown or less, it's so easy to conclude that if a better QB makes a couple diffferent decisions, or is able to place the ball better, the team is automatically that many games better by changing a player at one single position. With that being said, even if you replaced the QB and won all those games, you're still looking at a .500 team.
When you don't draft the right players, use free agency and create a system that fits your players talents, you have to work that much harder just to play winning football, let along make the playoffs and compete for a championship. That's where the blow back comes from in the video you posted, from the many talking heads out there. You're trying to compete while keeping yourself at a competitive disadvantage.
This past season, Dalton wasn't getting the job done so the team decided to try Ryan Finley. That obviously didn't work, so all the Dalton fans that are still hanging on came out and proclaimed "i told you so" (among other things...w/e). That doesn't mean Joe Burrow, or any other 1st round talent QB can't come in here and improve the team. The thing is, he may improve the team but that improvement is only going to be proportionate to how much the FO invests in free agency and how well they do in the draft, as well as implementing a scheme that works with the players you have.
It's a 3 fold scenario. Burrow will improve the team to an extent. Then it's up to the FO to build a team and put in a scheme that works. For the life of me, i can't understand why that's not easy to see, from fans or the front office. The worst part is, up to right now, the front office doesn't seem to be able to see this, or they're just not able to do it. Or even worse, they're not willing to make the investment to do it.
Aaaaaaand with that last paragraph, i've just thrown a damper on next season and they haven't even started training camp yet. Thanks Rick...
Or maybe i should be thanking Mike Brown for creating this whole mindset and solidifying it with almost 30 seasons of failure, shortcomings, hope and coming up just short.
Lot of great points Rfaulk. The problem for me is I will always be a Bengal fan and I have to hope that eventually good things
happen to us instead of these bad breaks that happen anytime we are about to take that leap into being one of the best teams.
We need to go out and go over the top for Joe Burrow, need to put the players around him to succeed and hope that Zac Taylor
grows as a coach as well as Lou and the other coaches. Van Pelt is coming back and he is a good QB coach, this should help out
Burrow. I was afraid of losing Van Pelt.
In the end I agree with Bucky and Marcellus though. The hopelessness just doesn't fly to me. Any team can win the Superbowl
any year as we have seen. We have talent and in the end Mike Brown needs to just stay out of decision making clearly as
Schlereth alluded to cause I remember that very time in Hard Knocks when Mikey said that about moving the DE to TE.
Crazy shit to say instead of just going out and getting a TE. Would be funny to see Mikey watch that segment lol
