(09-05-2019, 05:19 PM)McC Wrote: Be organized, tough mentally and physically and disciplined.  Make your opponent beat you because you don't beat yourself.  Master those things and anything is possible.

(09-05-2019, 05:26 PM)grampahol Wrote:  How's the coffee by the way? 

(09-05-2019, 04:53 PM)GodFather Wrote: This is going to be an exciting season this year regardless of the outcome to see how Zac molds this team into his vision. My question for you now that pre season is over and week one for the Bengals is a few days away, What is your elastic expectations from what you've seen so far and has transpired?

Mine is simply watching ZT mold this team into what his vision is to win a Super Bowl. I don't think this team is even at playoff caliber yet, because of missing pieces and new coaches, schemes  etc. I also don't think this team is far away from becoming a playoff team and a threat. Obviously the offensive line is a mess and that is one of the most important pieces to success. Will be great not to see the same old same old that we've seen with Marvin Lewis and outcome.

Looking forward to a fresh start!

(09-05-2019, 06:38 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: What would my expectations be if ML was coaching this team?

Playoffs or bust.

Why should ZT be given a pass to lose with same guys ML had for most part in 2018? I was upset when we faltered last year, will be upset again if ZT fails.

If he is a great hire, he should win immediately, no honeymoon period.

(09-05-2019, 06:48 PM)PhilHos Wrote: I'm not going to call for ZT's firing if we don't make the playoffs this year, but the end goal of EVERY season should be to win the Super Bowl. Nothing less.

(09-05-2019, 06:18 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: I second all you said with emphasis on disciplined. It will be nice to see them cut down on penalties and stupid mistakes.
We finished in the top 10 for most penalized team. So we need to change that.

And I went with watch ZT mold the team.
I suspect about an .500 team this year. The OL needs help, and LBs still a problem.

(09-05-2019, 07:12 PM)McC Wrote: I absolutely agree.  And .500 is still a far cry from fighting for the first pick in the draft like the media seems to think.

There are definitely still holes.  Probably not a playoff team this year.  But yeah, create a new culture, a new way to play to get the needle pointing up so when the holes get filled, then you'll be a contender.

(09-05-2019, 07:22 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: The Dolphins were 7-9 in 2018 ( 1 game under .500) and now are full rebuild mode with their new head coach.

Would they have been better off (not tank) in 2018 to be 5-11 or 4-12 to get the much better draft picks? I would say they set the rebuild nack a year as 2018 was a complete waste for their organization's long term future of winning anything.

My point is why think a team hovering .500 is heading in right direction. I understand it will all be on how they play and get results, close games, blowout games and such, but ML took a bad team and improved 6 games in year one. I ma not saying 6 games, buy not expect real progress from ZT in first year. 

By all account, many in here feel ML was a horrible football coach, so ZT should look like a star if he truly is all he has been hyped up to be.

(09-05-2019, 07:27 PM)McC Wrote: I don't think people really thought that ML was horrible at all.  More like he was spent, worn out, beaten down, with a healthy dose of having fallen behind much of the rest of the league.

(09-05-2019, 07:27 PM)McC Wrote: I don't think people really thought that ML was horrible at all.  More like he was spent, worn out, beaten down, with a healthy dose of having fallen behind much of the rest of the league.

(09-05-2019, 07:40 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: Pretty much. I think he was coaching when he didn't want to coach anymore. As far as the poll, I think this team has the capability to go 10-6. But I voted to see an improvement. We have a new playbook with new coaches, so their work is definitely cut out for them to achieve my prediction. I won't judge ZT too harshly on the outcome of this season unless it's just god awful because back to my previous thought, if ML didn't want to be here and achieved 6 wins last year, then I would expect nothing less of ZT this year with mostly the same players.

I guess we will see, but I feel very strongly about these guys this year. I think when the year is over, we will look back and actually have a reason to be excited for the next year, or, we could just win it all this year. I would be ok with that.