Keeping Bill Lazor Is A Mistake

[*ochocincos*]

(01-03-2018, 07:46 PM)wolfkaosaun Wrote: Many people view him as a much bigger upgrade to that of Ken Zampese. And while in 2017 they actually scored TDs under Lazor rather than Zampese, Lazor still isn't a good coach.

These stats are from Josh Kirkendall, using numbers and references from Pro Football Reference



And here are the rushing yards and where they rank in the Bengals 50 year franchise



Under Bill Lazor, the offense didn't score a TD in the second half in 5 games.

They ranked 31st in the NFL in points in the second half with only 7.

Sure. There were positives in the run game and in the final two games. But let's not forget how terrible they were against the Bears and Vikings two weeks prior. Or how they couldn't score more than 3 points against Pittsburgh in the 2nd half.

Bill Lazor is not a good coordinator. Even with other teams.
With the Dolphins in 2015, his offense ranked 28th in points in the 2nd half.

Resigning him is not a good move.

I just looked up something else to go along with this...The 2014 and 2015 Miami Dolphins offense.

2014:
11th ranked offense. This was a run-focused offense with Lamar Miller rushing for 1099 yards and 8 TDs with 38 receptions for 275 receiving yards and another TD.
The receiving corps comprised of Mike Wallace, Jarvis Landry, Charles Clay, Brian Hartline, and Rishard Matthews. No receiver topped 1000 yards, but Wallace, Landry, and Clay each had over 600 yards. Tannehill passed for a 66% completion percentage for 4000+ yards with 27 TDs and 12 INTs.

2015:
27th ranked offense that was 30th in 3rd down conversion percentage. This offense was slightly more balanced with Miller having just 872 rush yards and 8 TDs while adding 47 receptions for 397 yards and 2 more TDs. Tannehill passed for 61% completion percentage for 4200+ yards with 24 TDs and again 12 INTs. Wallace and Clay were gone and in their place Landry had 1100+ yards, Matthews 600+, and Jordan Cameron, Kenny Stills, and DeVante Parker combined for 1300+ yards between the three of them.

I think the 2015 Dolphins offense closely mimics the 2017 Bengals. Really low ranking, no 1000-yard rusher, QB was efficient though, and the yardage for receivers is spread out beyond the WR1. Only rather than a third receiver being in the top of the rec yard charts, the Bengals had a pass-catching RB in Bernard.

Also, the 2014 OL had three first rounders (Branden Albert, Mike Pouncey, JuWuan James) and two second rounders (Satele, Colledge). 2015 had a downgrade on OL with Dallas Thomas (former 3rd rounder), Billy Turner (3rd rounder), and Jason Fox (former Lions 4th rounder) replacing Colledge, Satele, and James.

I think if the Bengals are to succeed with Lazor, they need to really focus on improvement in the run game and use that to set up the pass. Also, beef up that OL with better players. But from looking back at the 2014 Dolphin stats and rankings, there might just be more hope than before. At least for me.