02-01-2016, 01:01 PM
(02-01-2016, 01:41 AM)Nately120 Wrote: I feel like the "blame for 2010" got shuffled around until it became clear a number of people wouldn't return in 2011 and then they sort of became "the problems" by default. It was originally Benson, Chad, TO, Marvin Lewis, Mike Brown (of course), and Carson...but Carson was sort of gaining favor by putting up some bizarrely good games with Simpson and Caldwell when Chad and TO were out.
Then when Marvin and Benson were sticking around more of the blame went to the guys who weren't coming back. Anyways, I don't think there is any reason TO should hang his head for 2010, but that's just me.
I'd say it's accurate that blame was shuffled around, but the whispers were much louder for TO than any of those other players. I guess it was partly because he was the only big addition to that 2009 squad that won the division. Expectations were high and results were disastrous. And of course...TO had that cancer reputation. It sounded right, but it didn't match reality. TO has always been a fantastic route runner so he wasn't causing all those INT's, and he wasn't in Cincy long enough to become a cancer. It took multiple seasons in SF, Philly and Dallas before TO became toxic.
As for those bizarrely good games without Chad/TO, Carson had an ok game against the Browns, he shredded the Chargers like he always does (if only they were an AFCN team) and he threw 2 picks and put up 7 points on the Ravens. People put too much stock into what amounted to be 1 great game against a team Carson always plays well against.
Ultimately, it was multiple things that led to a 4-12 record. The defense dropped off (from 4th in yards to 15th), Benson had a terrible season (3.5 ypc) and the offense turned it over 34 times (23 from Palmer, 5 from Benson).
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
