Zac looked like he was done

[MileHighGrowler]

(12-14-2020, 04:56 PM)wildcatnku24 Wrote: We absolutely have not built a bad product for over a decade.  A decade ago, we were JUST ABOUT to launch a run into the playoffs yearly... That was nothing to shake a stick at. 

Believe it or not, there are sometimes when making crazy decisions can lead you to being called an innovator, trailblazer, etc.  It appears based on our abysmal record the last couple years that perhaps it wasn't the right call, but I wouldn't fault them for totally turning the norm upside down.  If we are afraid to fail because of change, we never will change.  I'd also say, if you're gonna fail, fail fast.  That allows us to pivot quicker.  Zac has indeed failed fast.  Should he be shown the door, it'd be hard for anyone, even the biggest zac homer (me) to defend.  I wouldn't even try.  I get it.  But I wouldn't say let's not ever do something radical again.  It can lead to great things, and it absolutely shows me that we're trying to think different.

There are many who would love a "proven" HC to come in and replace Zac.  I think the only benefit that comes from the prior experience is the connections to help hire great coordinators.  But you're not going to find a HC who's been super successful just randomly leaving his team and coming here (or anywhere else).  These guys are available for jobs for a reason.  

So I agreed when it was ML's time to go that the Bengals should bring in a young guy.  They tried Zac.  I had no issue with his lack of success as an OC in the past because he was going to be a HC.  Of course we all know how it actually went in the end.  But still, I have no problem with them trying it out.  You never know who the next great one is going to be without giving some people a chance.  High risk, high reward.  That's how most of us viewed the hire.  

I think the experiment needs to end after this season, though.  Because the window for these young guys will close in a few years.  They need to make moves now.  It's time to go a different direction.  And sometimes it take a couple of tries to get it right.  That's just life.  I just don't want them to sit here and do nothing and hope it magically changes.  If that's how this goes, the fans will lose their minds and next year's FA is going to be a joke.