Is 3-12-1 that much better than 2-13-1?

[Sled21]

(12-24-2020, 10:41 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Theres a phenomenon in sports where good offensive players go down...and the defense play better.

Except for when it's our offensive guys, then injuries are no excuse for poor play.

[THE PISTONS]

(12-26-2020, 12:32 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Except for when it's our offensive guys, then injuries are no excuse for poor play.

Legit EVERY TEAM has injuries.

Look at our running game last year. Yeah Jonah and Boling were out. People wanted to use that excuse that no one could run with our line. But, half way through the year, the Bengals changed blocking schemes...and could run and ran really well.

This year we have Jonah back. Added Spain. Added XSF. And...CAN'T RUN THE BALL.

Blaming injuries is the losers lament. We need coaches who can own the situation and fix things!

The Packers won the SB with about 9-10 starters out one year. Good coaching can overcome injuries.

Bad coaching uses that as an excuse to win 2 and 3.5 games.

IF you need EVERYONE healthy to win 5-6 games...that's a major problem.

[*bengalfan74*]

(12-24-2020, 11:03 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: You are correct on both points.  We are not one player away, and it won't matter who is on the roster if the coaching staff can't get them together and organized.

However to the first point;  Although this team needs a few great players, building from the fundamental positions on either side of the line of scrimmage is where we most sorely need a "star", more than anywhere else.  We have a star QB, RB, future star WR.  On defense we have a star S and a star NT (who only got to play 5 games before injury).  The OL needs a bonafide star player.  When healthy, Jonah looked "adequate" to do the job, but in no way NFL "star" quality.

Agree

This team has to get A LOT better in the trenches first and foremost. And if I had to bet, my money would be on Zac coming back no matter the final win/loss record.

And finally us beating the Steelers did nothing for my trust in ZT and Co. being the answer to our Super Bowl prayers.

[Joelist]

Let's be honest, the Stealers were awful. Ben threw one pick and really if our defenders could catch should have had three more. Their defense repeatedly got caught out of position (like on Finley's TD run). Our OL did okay in protection but Finley's limitations meant that the offense was plodding at best. With Burrow we probably hang a 50 burger on them the way they played.