09-26-2016, 01:33 AM
The loyalty shown to by this organization, and by a good amount of the fanbase, to Marvin Lewis is something that may indeed bite them. Big time. I think it will be more and more evident as time goes on.
Am I saying he is terrible coach? No, I am not. Am I saying that we would have been guaranteed greater success had we moved on? No, I would not make that argument. There are no guarantees with any coaching change. Do I think the keeping him was the worst possible move? No, I don't think so. Contrary to popular belief (Fred Toast types), some who feel, or felt it is, or was, time to move aren't coming to that conclusion based upon making change just for the sake of change. But I do wonder, now that we move further and further along in this 14 year experiment if some are finally realizes why so many argued for other options.
I guess first let's just get to the elephant in the room. A one, Mr. Mike Zimmer. A coach the vast majority of this fanbase loved, a coach many of his player's adored, and a DC that certainly earned a HC opportunity. Here he was, his resume begging for a chance. A chance that many felt came later than it should. Here he sat, leading our defenses to multiple top 10 finishes. A organization that hadn't seen a real defensive success in the better part of two decades. We had one coach had earned a shot somewhere, and we have another coach who had 12 years to accomplish something greater than a Wild Card round birth, and had failed. Obviously we all know what we chose.
The question is, did we make a mistake? Zimmer is currently sitting at 3-0, after having lost both his starting QB and the games best RB. Basically his entire offensive identity. And can anyone name 4 starters on that D without looking it up? He's 3-0, coming off an 11-5 season in year 2. By all accounts he is a no-nonsense guy. I have to wonder if a Mike Zimmer coach team would have behaved as Marvin's did at the end of last year's playoff loss?
How many of Marvin's biggest supporters still think today that not rewarding Mike Zimmer with a job he earned was that right move? Would you make that trade now?
And of course Jay left, and Hue left. And Marvin stayed. Marvin always stays.
-He stayed in 2008, after yet another disappointing year when John Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens. He's won a Superbowl, and been to 3, count them, 3 AFC Championships.
-He stayed in 2009, after a 4-12 season that would have saw any other team fire him, when Rex Ryan was hired by the Jets. He proceeded to immediately go to back to back AFC Championships.
-He stayed in 2010, after year 7, and another first round exit, when Pete Carrol was hired by the Seahwaks. He went on to win a Superbowl, go to back to back Superbowls, and has made further than Marvin has in the playoffs EVER, in 5 of his 6 seasons.
-He stayed in 2011, after going 4-12 again when John Fox was hired by the Broncos. He went to a Superbowl, and in all 4 seasons there made it to at least the divisional round of the playoffs. Again, Marvin hasn't been there once. Jim Harbaugh was hired by the 49'ers this same offseason. He proceeded to go the NFC Championship in year 1, to the Superbowl in year 2, and again to the NFC Championship again in year 3. Ron Rivera, coming off a Superbowl appearance was also hired this year.
Rather than keep typing resumes, here's a list of some other notable coaches hired since 2012: Andy Reid, Bruce Arians, Mike Zimmer, Gary Kubiak (Just won a ring in year 1)...
I just listed 10 guys, in about 5 minutes of research. Look at all of the names that come and go, look at all of the successes made by making a change.
And here Marvin sits. Year 14. Not one single playoff win. Not one. Forget Superbowls, or Conference Championship. The guy hasn't even made it the divisional round. IN 13 YEARS!!!! 13!!!!
But hey, maybe Mike just like working with what he knows. He's familiar with Marvin and that counts for something. Of course he was familiar with Mike Zimmer too and we let him walk. He was familiar with Hue Jackson too, and apparently we offered some deal that he could coach the team in 2027 or something (who does that, btw?).
Many of you love Marvin and are adamant about not making a change. I hope your patience pays off for everybody this year, yet I suspect it won't. But maybe by year 20 you'll realize that those of us who called for Zimmer to get the job weren't so irrational after all. Maybe by then you'll realize that there are actually other (better) options. Or maybe you won't?
Oh yeah, great job today, Marvin. You did enough clapping and yelled "Let's go" just enough times. The perfect amount even. Really looking forward to seeing how well we do come the postseason.
Am I saying he is terrible coach? No, I am not. Am I saying that we would have been guaranteed greater success had we moved on? No, I would not make that argument. There are no guarantees with any coaching change. Do I think the keeping him was the worst possible move? No, I don't think so. Contrary to popular belief (Fred Toast types), some who feel, or felt it is, or was, time to move aren't coming to that conclusion based upon making change just for the sake of change. But I do wonder, now that we move further and further along in this 14 year experiment if some are finally realizes why so many argued for other options.
I guess first let's just get to the elephant in the room. A one, Mr. Mike Zimmer. A coach the vast majority of this fanbase loved, a coach many of his player's adored, and a DC that certainly earned a HC opportunity. Here he was, his resume begging for a chance. A chance that many felt came later than it should. Here he sat, leading our defenses to multiple top 10 finishes. A organization that hadn't seen a real defensive success in the better part of two decades. We had one coach had earned a shot somewhere, and we have another coach who had 12 years to accomplish something greater than a Wild Card round birth, and had failed. Obviously we all know what we chose.
The question is, did we make a mistake? Zimmer is currently sitting at 3-0, after having lost both his starting QB and the games best RB. Basically his entire offensive identity. And can anyone name 4 starters on that D without looking it up? He's 3-0, coming off an 11-5 season in year 2. By all accounts he is a no-nonsense guy. I have to wonder if a Mike Zimmer coach team would have behaved as Marvin's did at the end of last year's playoff loss?
How many of Marvin's biggest supporters still think today that not rewarding Mike Zimmer with a job he earned was that right move? Would you make that trade now?
And of course Jay left, and Hue left. And Marvin stayed. Marvin always stays.
-He stayed in 2008, after yet another disappointing year when John Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens. He's won a Superbowl, and been to 3, count them, 3 AFC Championships.
-He stayed in 2009, after a 4-12 season that would have saw any other team fire him, when Rex Ryan was hired by the Jets. He proceeded to immediately go to back to back AFC Championships.
-He stayed in 2010, after year 7, and another first round exit, when Pete Carrol was hired by the Seahwaks. He went on to win a Superbowl, go to back to back Superbowls, and has made further than Marvin has in the playoffs EVER, in 5 of his 6 seasons.
-He stayed in 2011, after going 4-12 again when John Fox was hired by the Broncos. He went to a Superbowl, and in all 4 seasons there made it to at least the divisional round of the playoffs. Again, Marvin hasn't been there once. Jim Harbaugh was hired by the 49'ers this same offseason. He proceeded to go the NFC Championship in year 1, to the Superbowl in year 2, and again to the NFC Championship again in year 3. Ron Rivera, coming off a Superbowl appearance was also hired this year.
Rather than keep typing resumes, here's a list of some other notable coaches hired since 2012: Andy Reid, Bruce Arians, Mike Zimmer, Gary Kubiak (Just won a ring in year 1)...
I just listed 10 guys, in about 5 minutes of research. Look at all of the names that come and go, look at all of the successes made by making a change.
And here Marvin sits. Year 14. Not one single playoff win. Not one. Forget Superbowls, or Conference Championship. The guy hasn't even made it the divisional round. IN 13 YEARS!!!! 13!!!!
But hey, maybe Mike just like working with what he knows. He's familiar with Marvin and that counts for something. Of course he was familiar with Mike Zimmer too and we let him walk. He was familiar with Hue Jackson too, and apparently we offered some deal that he could coach the team in 2027 or something (who does that, btw?).
Many of you love Marvin and are adamant about not making a change. I hope your patience pays off for everybody this year, yet I suspect it won't. But maybe by year 20 you'll realize that those of us who called for Zimmer to get the job weren't so irrational after all. Maybe by then you'll realize that there are actually other (better) options. Or maybe you won't?
Oh yeah, great job today, Marvin. You did enough clapping and yelled "Let's go" just enough times. The perfect amount even. Really looking forward to seeing how well we do come the postseason.
