(10-28-2020, 04:08 PM)Sled21 Wrote:  Many aspects of this team are vastly improved, and the fact that we are consistently in the game shows it.

(10-28-2020, 03:25 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: to step back and press the reset button?

I don't know. Just sit back for a minute, let your negative emotions and the losing record go for just a bit and let me know how you feel about where this thing is going. 

Take a few minutes and get back to me. 

(10-28-2020, 03:52 PM)bengaloo Wrote: I'm willing to be patient for now. ZT hasnt always impressed me, but despite the record, I think we are moving in the right direction right now. This team needed rebuilt when he took over, and it was more than a one offseason thing, especially with players like Dunlap and Atkins not playing as well as we all hoped. Those guys are getting old though, and this is the NFL. Shelf life.

Joe Burrow believes in ZT, and I think he knows what he's talking about. We have been within a play or 2 from having a pretty good record right now, and considering the injuries and falloff in play by players like Dunlap and Atkins, losing Waynes, etc. I think we are better off to be patient and see how this pans out.

(10-28-2020, 04:15 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: They are indeed showing improvement.  The offense is developing quite nicely, they are putting points on the board.  The defense, despite all of the injuries and recent controversy, has kept the team in all but one game so far.

You might want to only point out what is wrong with the team, but I see a team that is just a few plays going their way from having a winning record.

(10-28-2020, 03:25 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: to step back and press the reset button?

I'm an impatient person when there is something i want or something that's on the way to me. I've been a Bengals fan since 1978, so i've been through the gamut of emotions with this team. Even with all my whinings squealings, through the end of the Dalton and Marv era, through the early Zac era, i still get the feeling (mostly lately) that things could turn around--given a little...wait for it--patience. 

There it is, the word no one wants to hear or utter. 

What i'm saying it just this; take a minute to look over what the team has done since the beginning of last year and throw out the results for now, while trying hard to do it objectively. You may need to grab a cup of coffee and sit back for a minute. Maybe just clear your head and convince yourself you can do this...whatever it takes. 

The early returns of the Zac era aren't promising, when you look at he bottom line results but i think there are some things to look at and think, maybe, just maybe, the Bengals could be heading in the right direction, with some recent mis-steps along the way (dealing with players). 

I don't know. Just sit back for a minute, let your negative emotions and the losing record go for just a bit and let me know how you feel about where this thing is going. 

Seriously. I don't need to see snap reactions to this about how they suck, it's going nowhere, etc etc. 

Take a few minutes and get back to me. 

(10-28-2020, 03:45 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I would have patience if we were showing any improvement at all, but we are not. Zac has had 2 full drafts and 2 offseasons and we are still much worse than when he got here.

(10-28-2020, 05:36 PM)fredtoast Wrote: There is not a single aspect of the team that is "vastly" improved since 2018.  Our win and our tie were against two of the worst teams in the league (combined 3-10-1).  The Chargers have only won one other game since playing us.  Both our offense and defense are ranked in the 20's.

(10-28-2020, 10:19 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: The offense has absolutely improved. Do you remember last season? We scored less than 20 points 11 times. ELEVEN TIMES. This offense is capable of putting up 30 points on a consistent basis (something we only did twice all last year). There’s a reason we’ve stopped seeing pleas for ZT to give up the play calling in every single thread.

(10-28-2020, 05:17 PM)leonardfan40 Wrote: That’s where I’m at too. Although I don’t say it often because it’s not worth the arguments. I think he needed (and still needs) to bring in a proven DC. After that I think things are trending in the right direction even if some of these losses are extremely painful to watch.

(10-29-2020, 08:45 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I'm not even going to say I'm calling for Lou to be replaced. (and neither is this board when the defense plays well and the offense doesn't.... it just depends on what week it is) I mean, c'mon, let's look at what he's working with. We all hear injuries are not an excuse, but sometimes they just devastate a team. We haven't had Waynes at all, we lost Alexander for awhile, Reader is gone for they year, Geno is still hurt, Carlos was just taking up space, we lost Wrenn, Topou, Glasgow.... basically we are playing a Dline made up of 3rd and 4th stringers, and they are ALL pretty much playing above their pedigrees. Linebacker play with the rookies is much better than it has been in the past. And for the most part I think the DB's have played well. We are still getting run on, yes, but the fixes that were brought in to address that are not available right now. Still, when I watch this defense play, it feels better than it has in years past, and as the rookies mature, it will continue to improve.

Now, that said, I AM ready for Zac to cut Turner loose and hire a different line coach. 

(10-29-2020, 10:16 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Really? Because watching Mayfield go on a ridiculous 21/21 streak or whatever it was last game looked as bad as ever to me. Idc how many injuries you’re dealing with. That’s just flat out embarrassing, and Lou had absolutely no answer for it.

(10-29-2020, 01:06 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: That’s absolutely right. When a defense does not pressure the quarterback and has loose coverage on the back end the opposing offense will play throw and catch all day.  I am with Urban Meyer here. He claims good pass defense is 80% pass rush and 20% coverage by the secondary.