12-28-2016, 08:15 PM
Sorry all – with the holiday and all this news and non-news, it’s been a bit busy:
Everything is always just so much easier when the team is winning...
Always.
there is a behind the scenes story there I would love to read if they are ever willing to talk to you.
Yeah, Carson kind of feels it’s old news but he hasn’t really gone there – and many of tried when the Bengals played the Cardinals last year. Mike Brown doesn’t like to dwell on the past, so he won’t say much – it’s definitely something Marvin and Carson will have to truly expound on for the details.
I would just love to see reporters (i understand it is your job and you do not want to lose it) start hammering on ML and MB on their 14 yr and 26 yr of failures.
Here’s the thing: what exactly are they going to say? Trust me, they are trying to win. They try in their fashion, which may or may not suit those who follow the club. Honestly, the simple answer to the Steelers question (they’ve had good success against Baltimore in the Dalton era) and against winning teams could be pretty simple – they’re just not better than those squads. Now, I will agree that in seven playoff games in 11 years you would think they would even luck into one win, and perhaps there is something to be said about not being good enough to win one of those games. But I also know you could explain away a few of those playoff losses quite legitimately. There are legitimate questions to ask about the coaching and preparation for those games. But you can’t really ask “Hey, why do you suck?” and they’re not going to say “Here are all the reasons why we suck.”
And, I’m one of those guys who thinks that at some point, the players need to make the plays to win the game. Yes, the coaches do get blame and justifiably so, but Adam Jones is right all day – coaches coach, players play. They are the ones who physically affect things.
Does management care at all about fan base opinions on Marvin?
Not that I’m aware of.
When will Marvin be held accountable?
By being fired? Not this year.
The way Ogbuehi played this year I really don't see us doing anything but re-signing Whit. So that's going to be $7-9M. We could also draft a LT to be our 4th tackle next year. Ogbuehi is anything but a sure thing and Paul Alexander's opinion doesn't carry much weight any more.
Totally fair.
After watching this team's lack of pass rush on Sunday and for most of the season, it continues to stick in my craw that this team just can't bring itself to spend first round selections on d-linemen. Corner after corner after ineffective, 3-year plan corner, and the same old guys on the d-line.
Is there any insight you can give us into this team's odd philosophy on never drafting pass rushers interior d-linemen in round 1?
No idea to be honest, since this will be my third draft. One could argue they haven’t had that kind of grade on a defensive end at No. 21 and 24. This year, I think it’s a good chance they look in that direction in the top 10.
Is there any indication that the Bengals will be moving on from certain players after this year? IE: Maualuga, Peko.
I haven’t had those conversations yet – honestly teams only like to speak about the next season when the current one is concluded. That’s fair. However, in my opinion, there is a good chance of that.
We already know that coaches aren't going to get fired. But is there any chance that Zampese could get demoted back to QB coach? Or do you think he's stuck as the OC for another year?
No demotions will happen. And I do think he will get a second season as OC to work out the issues they’ve had this year. I’ll always leave open the possibility of change because no one can predict the future, but I am reasonably confident in that thought.
This is just a personal one, but what has been your personal favorite memory this year while covering the Bengals? Could be a sotry, and interview, a game moment, anything.
Thanks for this question! The year has been a lot of fun, starting with training with Kevin Zeitler and then doing the first real profile of Andy that’s been done, and being the first to go to his home to do it. In season those things are obviously more difficult to pull off, but generally this is a very good group of coaches and players just to be around. It’s a trying season no doubt, and it’s been tougher on a week to week basis because losing gets to everyone. Traveling up to Pittsburgh for a day was interesting as well, and a first.
Everything is always just so much easier when the team is winning...
Always.
there is a behind the scenes story there I would love to read if they are ever willing to talk to you.
Yeah, Carson kind of feels it’s old news but he hasn’t really gone there – and many of tried when the Bengals played the Cardinals last year. Mike Brown doesn’t like to dwell on the past, so he won’t say much – it’s definitely something Marvin and Carson will have to truly expound on for the details.
I would just love to see reporters (i understand it is your job and you do not want to lose it) start hammering on ML and MB on their 14 yr and 26 yr of failures.
Here’s the thing: what exactly are they going to say? Trust me, they are trying to win. They try in their fashion, which may or may not suit those who follow the club. Honestly, the simple answer to the Steelers question (they’ve had good success against Baltimore in the Dalton era) and against winning teams could be pretty simple – they’re just not better than those squads. Now, I will agree that in seven playoff games in 11 years you would think they would even luck into one win, and perhaps there is something to be said about not being good enough to win one of those games. But I also know you could explain away a few of those playoff losses quite legitimately. There are legitimate questions to ask about the coaching and preparation for those games. But you can’t really ask “Hey, why do you suck?” and they’re not going to say “Here are all the reasons why we suck.”
And, I’m one of those guys who thinks that at some point, the players need to make the plays to win the game. Yes, the coaches do get blame and justifiably so, but Adam Jones is right all day – coaches coach, players play. They are the ones who physically affect things.
Does management care at all about fan base opinions on Marvin?
Not that I’m aware of.
When will Marvin be held accountable?
By being fired? Not this year.
The way Ogbuehi played this year I really don't see us doing anything but re-signing Whit. So that's going to be $7-9M. We could also draft a LT to be our 4th tackle next year. Ogbuehi is anything but a sure thing and Paul Alexander's opinion doesn't carry much weight any more.
Totally fair.
After watching this team's lack of pass rush on Sunday and for most of the season, it continues to stick in my craw that this team just can't bring itself to spend first round selections on d-linemen. Corner after corner after ineffective, 3-year plan corner, and the same old guys on the d-line.
Is there any insight you can give us into this team's odd philosophy on never drafting pass rushers interior d-linemen in round 1?
No idea to be honest, since this will be my third draft. One could argue they haven’t had that kind of grade on a defensive end at No. 21 and 24. This year, I think it’s a good chance they look in that direction in the top 10.
Is there any indication that the Bengals will be moving on from certain players after this year? IE: Maualuga, Peko.
I haven’t had those conversations yet – honestly teams only like to speak about the next season when the current one is concluded. That’s fair. However, in my opinion, there is a good chance of that.
We already know that coaches aren't going to get fired. But is there any chance that Zampese could get demoted back to QB coach? Or do you think he's stuck as the OC for another year?
No demotions will happen. And I do think he will get a second season as OC to work out the issues they’ve had this year. I’ll always leave open the possibility of change because no one can predict the future, but I am reasonably confident in that thought.
This is just a personal one, but what has been your personal favorite memory this year while covering the Bengals? Could be a sotry, and interview, a game moment, anything.
Thanks for this question! The year has been a lot of fun, starting with training with Kevin Zeitler and then doing the first real profile of Andy that’s been done, and being the first to go to his home to do it. In season those things are obviously more difficult to pull off, but generally this is a very good group of coaches and players just to be around. It’s a trying season no doubt, and it’s been tougher on a week to week basis because losing gets to everyone. Traveling up to Pittsburgh for a day was interesting as well, and a first.
Beat writer for Cincinnati.com & The Enquirer. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Periscope.
