01-07-2019, 03:29 PM
(01-07-2019, 02:53 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That is a common misconception about the "dark" years. Many perceived the Bengals to be a shitty team, full of shitty players. Anyone who was a fan during those years realizes that couldn't be further from the truth. The fact is the Bengals team had plenty of talent, the problem was the coaching and management.
Things really started to change with the hiring of Tobin. Marvin started off with Palmer, Kitna, Dillon, Rudi, Chad, Housh, Willie, Levi, Braham, Justin Smith, Brian Simmons, Warrick, etc. Not to mention Mike made a pretty unprecedented Free Agency splurge in Marv's first year, bringing in John Thornton, Kevin Hardy, Duane Clemons, Tory James, Reggie Kelly, etc.
I'm not saying Marv should get no credit, but I wonder if he gets too much. Tobin really had the roster loaded with good young players. The 2-14 season at PBS really seemed to grab Mike's attention. Enough to where he looked at some great external coaching candidates, and splurged in free agency on some pretty good players.
ALL of these things contributed to the turnaround. Yet some only give credit to Marv, as if he arrived like some savior. He walked into unquestionably the best situation of any Bengals coach since the Super Bowl years. Does anyone think Denny Green or Tom Coughlin wouldn't have won with that roster? A franchise QB right off rip? Fantastic receivers, RB and o-line? An owner willing to spend to fix the defense?
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
