01-11-2019, 03:08 PM
(01-11-2019, 02:05 PM)McC Wrote: I'm curious why this is in JN. The heroic golden boy who suffered on all our behalf has not been a Bengal for eight years.
The rule is this:
Threads about current players = ok
Threads about former players on different teams = not ok
Threads about former players who are retired = ok (think Palmer, Blake, Munoz, Esiason)
Someone says something relevant to the Bengals = ok
(01-11-2019, 02:48 PM)fredtoast Wrote: He never did that.
He just acknowledged that any Bengal coach (including Marvin) would be handicapped by playing for the Bengals.
Which kinda lets Marv off the hook. Just a bit. How handicapped was Marvin in 2003-2006 and 2009-2015? You have to acknowledge both sides or you (Carson) come off as being bitter or having an agenda. Yes, Mike could've done more to address the o-line and defense in 2007-2008 and 2016-2018.
But you also should be willing to admit that despite any scouting dept deficiencies, they still managed to put great teams on the field in the years I mentioned. How much of that was Marv and how much was Tobin? If it was mostly Tobin, it's hard to claim a huge handicap for our coaches (Marvin). Basically, how is a small scouting department a hindrance to the HC if Tobin is still cranking out solid drafts?
Yes, the scouting department needs to be expanded. We all know this. But you can't claim something handicapped the HC if he really didn't feel the effects thanks to Tobin doing a great job overall.
The only handicap I think Marv truly felt, was Mike's reluctance to use free agency. Particularly when we had a glaring weakness (think o-line) and we wound up missing the playoffs thanks to that weakness. Other than that, I think Marv had some great rosters to work with.
The small scouting dept knock was just Carson taking the low hanging fruit to throw a shot at Mike over an old grudge (which was more about free agency from everything I've read).
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
