Rotoworld - Bengals want Russell Bodine back

[t3r3e3]

(02-08-2018, 01:37 AM)fredtoast Wrote: And the exact same things apply to both regular season and playoff games, correct?

That is what gets me.  People claim that there is some special secret that applies to winning in the post season but does not exist during the regular season.  I just don't see that.

Some even claim that Marvin only wins during the regular season because other coaches don't try as hard.  This makes no sense because all the best teams want to win as many regular season games as possible.

You are absolutely correct. Winning is winning. The same principles apply in the regular season and post season. Teams that prep and execute to put themselves in the optimal position to succeed generally succeed the most, especially over the long term. It’s why the Pats have won the most over the last 20 years, and other teams like the Steelers are always in the thick of it. Teams that do not maximize roster construction, depth, strategy, and game planning generally do not climb to the top of the heap. The Playoffs magnify the prep and execution because the best teams are playing each other, and there is no game next week if you lose.

The reasons the Bengals do not compete for Lombardis are several. They do not maximize roster building via both the draft and FA, and do not display the drive to tweak the roster without regard for player feelings. They sign guys to team friendly contracts and keep the players for the length of the contract. Rarely does the underperforming player not see his entire contract here. While shrewd from an owner financial standpoint, it precludes the team from cutting underperformers and churning the roster to find better talent. The FO and coaching staff also displays strategy deficiencies game execution(esp. the dreaded 2nd half), and they cannot overcome injuries and win games.

The roster has glaring deficiencies each year. The team usually decides not to address the deficiencies via FA in a meaningful way, preferring to use the draft and signing a few lower tier bargains. Some years it’s weak LB’s, weak D-line, and safeties. This year it was a weak o-line. Those deficiencies are preyed upon by the good teams, especially in the Playoffs.