(12-18-2023, 03:10 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I don't intend this to be a negative thread. I just wanted to bring up a couple of things and I thought we could put positive or negative things we've noticed.

But a common criticism I have had of Zac is his situational football. I think trick plays and short yardage gimmick plays fall under that umbrella. Taylor deserves a ton of credit for the team rallying around Browning and has silenced many of the doubters myself included. But these last few games while great we still have bad situational football. I keep hoping we will improve in this regard but it doesn't seem to be happening. The trick plays against Jax were bad and they've been talked about. But again in this game we come up with another bad trick play that could've cost us the game. Maybe like all plays you can say if it works your a genius if it doesn't your dumb. But the trick play came at the end of a solid 1st drive in a time when most teams have scripted plays on a 3rd and 1 when the offense had been moving effectively. I mean the list goes on and on why that was not a good time to run a play like that. Another play I didn't like was the tush push. I felt not only were we running well but it was not a play we should be trying in a time when we absolutely need it. Luckily Mixon bailed us out. But I think that tends to happen with failed situational football if you win it doesn't matter and if you lose there were more reasons for the loss. It's just something I think we need to address in the future as so many games come down to a field goal.

I missed the 1st 3 qtrs live and have since rewatched the game and I do want to say that it was probably one of the most exciting 4th qtrs I've seen in what feels like a while. But I also feel like we didn't scheme this game as much for Browning as we did in the 2 other games. Again the coaches deserve a ton of credit but in this game I think it was the players that really bailed us out.

(12-18-2023, 03:15 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Even I hated the Tanner Hudson pass on third and 1

(12-18-2023, 03:20 PM)PhilHos Wrote: I disagree about the trick play this past Sunday. Tanner Hudson is a former QB, it's 3rd and short so the defense is probably expecting a run or the QB throwing after faking a run. Credit to the Vikings defense for not being sucked in and sticking with the receivers. To me, this is no different than calling a play action pass that sees the receivers blanketed and Browning having to run out of bounds and lose yardage.

So yeah, it sucked that it didn't work, but I don't think it warrants any extra criticism aside from the mindset that we should've just run the ball.

(12-18-2023, 04:03 PM)BengalFanInNJ Wrote: The run defense has me greatly concerned, especially with Reader out.

(12-18-2023, 03:10 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: I don't intend this to be a negative thread. I just wanted to bring up a couple of things and I thought we could put positive or negative things we've noticed.

But a common criticism I have had of Zac is his situational football. I think trick plays and short yardage gimmick plays fall under that umbrella. Taylor deserves a ton of credit for the team rallying around Browning and has silenced many of the doubters myself included. But these last few games while great we still have bad situational football. I keep hoping we will improve in this regard but it doesn't seem to be happening. The trick plays against Jax were bad and they've been talked about. But again in this game we come up with another bad trick play that could've cost us the game. Maybe like all plays you can say if it works your a genius if it doesn't your dumb. But the trick play came at the end of a solid 1st drive in a time when most teams have scripted plays on a 3rd and 1 when the offense had been moving effectively. I mean the list goes on and on why that was not a good time to run a play like that. Another play I didn't like was the tush push. I felt not only were we running well but it was not a play we should be trying in a time when we absolutely need it. Luckily Mixon bailed us out. But I think that tends to happen with failed situational football if you win it doesn't matter and if you lose there were more reasons for the loss. It's just something I think we need to address in the future as so many games come down to a field goal.

I missed the 1st 3 qtrs live and have since rewatched the game and I do want to say that it was probably one of the most exciting 4th qtrs I've seen in what feels like a while. But I also feel like we didn't scheme this game as much for Browning as we did in the 2 other games. Again the coaches deserve a ton of credit but in this game I think it was the players that really bailed us out.

(12-18-2023, 04:03 PM)BengalFanInNJ Wrote: The run defense has me greatly concerned, especially with Reader out.

(12-18-2023, 03:15 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Even I hated the Tanner Hudson pass on third and 1

(12-18-2023, 05:49 PM)Graphicguy Wrote: Not worried about anything other than the attribute this football team has.  No matter how many points they're down, no matter who they're playing, not matter where they're playing, no matter who can't play, they still believe and find a way to win.

That's all I'm worried about.

(12-18-2023, 06:10 PM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: Agree with this. The good teams find a way, and we've done so despite pretty enormous setbacks this season. At 5-6 it would've been easy for guys to not believe in Browning and just start cashing payday money, but they're clearly playing hard and keeping in this dogfight. Much as I hate the Steelers and Ravens, something I've always thought is to their credit is how much both franchises are always there fighting to be competitive. We're seeing that a lot more from the Bengals now too which is great.

(12-18-2023, 06:33 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I was reading a post by I believe Wyche’s Warriors. Someone was bemoaning Taylor and what would happen to him if he got fired. The poster acted like nobody would hire him as an OC. Wyche said he’d be hired the second he was fired as a head coach to bring the culture he’s established here. The locker room is as dynamic as you’ll find. Duke sure had a hand but Zac was architect how they drafted. He said I want video of them interacting with teammates. He was driver in drafting team captains and people of high character like Ted Karras and CTB, and many others.

(12-18-2023, 05:28 PM)Wyche Wrote: They might have gotten caught out thinking themselves against Minny with its stout run defense. Otherwise, I thought it was a good enough game. There were two Tee Higgins drops that changed the course a little bit, and that bad INT. The first Higgins drop was the first play of the game. It's a big gainer, and maybe a tuddy if he makes someone miss. That's a big momentum gainer out of the gate. The other one would've at least set up 3 points. The interception obviously killed a drive. 

That all being said, the two guys with the critical errors early, ultimately won the game for them. Mentally tough players are key. This team doesn't panic, and it doesn't quit. With, or without QB9. There's a lot to be said for that quality.

(12-18-2023, 05:47 PM)Browns Town Bengal Wrote: Assuming we continue to generate decent offense, the part that scares me is the defense.  This will never be confused with a championship type defense.  Once again, backup QB's starting TE's and backup RB's continue to have their way with us.  And I cant help but get the feeling that this offense will just sputter again for a chunk of the remaining games.

(12-18-2023, 07:16 PM)TheCincinnatiKid Wrote: Absolutely. I don't think Zac is perfect, but he's largely pretty damn good, and whether you love the playcalling or not he's clearly established a really good culture here. It's night and day from Marvin's teams.