Can anybody tell me why?

[*bfine32*]

(10-07-2024, 10:07 PM)matmaven Wrote: Burrow checked out of a first down pass so that means he doesn't want to throw the ball on 2nd or 3rd down?  A first down pass play BTW from a 3 TE tight formation.  Talk about bizarro world.

Taylor played not to lose.  He deserves every single bit of criticism he is getting.  The team is 1-4 and headed absolutely nowhere.

Of course, that's not what I said.

How is trying a game-winning FG playing "not to lose"? You know if you miss the other team is basically already in FG range. Wouldn't playing not to lose have us punting and trying to pin them deep?

I'm sure you and many others who are mad think he deserves all the criticism he's getting. There is no problem with our offense or our playcalling. 

[Brownshoe]

(10-07-2024, 10:20 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Of course, that's not what I said.

How is trying a game-winning FG playing "not to lose"? You know if you miss the other team is basically already in FG range. Wouldn't playing not to lose have us punting and trying to pin them deep?

I'm sure you and many others who are mad think he deserves all the criticism he's getting. There is no problem with our offense or our playcalling. 

Rofl, no. Playing not to lose is not trying to go for a first down. Meaning, trying to avoid a sack or INT. Playing to win would be going a bit more aggressive, just like Tee Higgins said we should have done (is Taylor losing the locker room?  ). Punting there would be playing to lose.

[Destro]

(10-07-2024, 09:28 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Why is reality SO HARD for folks to understand?

It has been brought up numerous times that Zac called a pass play on the first down in OT, JB checked out of it, because HE wanted to run.

OK, let's pretend that never happened so we can continue to hate on Zac. "Well why the hell didn't Zac call a pass on the next 2 plays? "

IDK maybe his QB had already indicated he's more comfortable running in that situation because he's already checked out of a pass.

So why not call plays resigned to run if the QB is more comfortable with running and if the QB sees something to want him to check out of a pass, HE can do it.

We're in Bizarro world this team just scored 38 points against one of the best Defenses in the NFL and the board is littered with armchair QBs questioning the play calling. 

Same as you making 3 total downs out of him checking to a run on a single play. How can you not understand one play does not equal 3 plays. The QB who threw for almost 400 yards and has Chase one on one is more comfortable running the ball? He is Joe Burrow, but let us even say that is correct. If he decides the plays, the playcallers can just keep their hands in their pockets and he can do what he wants. Or, ike the old mic'd up moment of Parcells telling Phil Simms, "let me call the damn plays." Or you pull the O on third down and make the try if you thought you had enough. It was done the way it was and they walked away with yet another big L. Call it Monday Morning QB if you like, but the story plays over and over again. 

People putting on the cape for a coach is the weird thing going on. 

[*bfine32*]

(10-07-2024, 10:41 PM)Destro Wrote: Same as you making 3 total downs out of him checking to a run on a single play. How can you not understand one play does not equal 3 plays. The QB who threw for almost 400 yards and has Chase one on one is more comfortable running the ball? He is Joe Burrow, but let us even say that is correct. If he decides the plays, the playcallers can just keep their hands in their pockets and he can do what he wants. Or, ike the old mic'd up moment of Parcells telling Phil Simms, "let me call the damn plays." Or you pull the O on third down and make the try if you thought you had enough. It was done the way it was and they walked away with yet another big L. Call it Monday Morning QB if you like, but the story plays over and over again. 

People putting on the cape for a coach is the weird thing going on. 

I get it. You've been all about "fire Zac" before we went to 2 consecutive AFC title games and 1 Superbowl. 

You're going to look for any glimmer to assert you were right. But you weren't then and you aren't now.

Lots to be mad about, but playcalling this year is not one of them. Obviously, he gives JB the option to checkout of a play if he doesn't like what he sees. 

There's no "putting on the cape" for a HC who called a game where we scored 38 points against Baltimore. 

Trying to blame yesterday's loss on Zac's playcalling is just as stupid as blaming it on JB's INT. Both had a great game. 

[Destro]

I have always said Zac was not as good as made out to be. So bad we got Burrow for a number of games then got Chase and got to the Super Bowl. I have also been objective. I have been in the GDT where people have said things against Taylor and I would say "I'm as anti-Zac as anyone, but that's not his fault." This "glimmer" has been widely panned across multiple spheres, from this board when it was happening, all night shows, all morning, and they trashed it on the Monday Night Countdown Show on ESPN this evening. I'm don't agree with the calls at the end. I am in the majority. I don't care about hurt feelings of those who think Taylor needs a safe space due to what happened before.

The loss of that game was had mostly to do with everything with the defense in the past number of years, culminating with what we have now. A lot of blame goes around for that. To say that the play calling, after we lucked into getting the ball, with the chance to win was suspect, is absolutely fair. To run back two seasons to say put stripes on someone's arm, yet ignore that someone else who also earned "i was there" ribbons is suspect. Stats are cute, but last I checked, they don't help with playoff seeding.

[RunKijanaRun]

I’ll never forgive Lac’s buffoonery Sunday.

Never thought he was a brilliant tactician.

He’s average headed on a beeline to Dave ShulaVille

[007BengalsFan]

(10-07-2024, 01:47 PM)PhilHos Wrote: This. Zac felt comfortable in McPherson hitting the game winning FG. I, like most everyone, would've preferred more aggression there, but I understand what Zac was doing and don't think he was "scared" or 'coaching not to lose'. 

McPherson was 7/12 (58%) on field goals of 50+ yards last season and is 3/4 this season 75%.  A 50+ yard field goal is certainly not guaranteed

If McPherson misses the field goal, it should have been obvious to everyone we were going to lose the game by giving Baltimore the ball near midfield with the way our defense was struggling and with Justin Tucker waiting on the sideline.  That's bad coaching not understanding the situation.  Zac's playing not to lose is part of the reason we lost the game.

[*bfine32*]

(10-08-2024, 12:05 AM)007BengalsFan Wrote: McPherson was 7/12 (58%) on field goals of 50+ yards last season and is 3/4 this season 75%.  A 50+ yard field goal is certainly not guaranteed

If McPherson misses the field goal, it should have been obvious to everyone we were going to lose the game by giving Baltimore the ball near midfield with the way our defense was struggling and with Justin Tucker waiting on the sideline.  That's bad coaching not understanding the situation.  Zac's playing not to lose is part of the reason we lost the game.

Did you just talk about how trying a FG and missing meant we were obviously going to lose, then assert we tried said FG as part of "playing not to lose?"



And did you also add the FG Zac missed at that moment to make him 3 of 4 for the year? Why not say he was perfect at 50+ this year?

[007BengalsFan]

(10-08-2024, 12:12 AM)bfine32 Wrote: Did you just talk about how trying a FG and missing meant we were obviously going to lose, then assert we tried said FG as part of "playing not to lose?"



And did you also add the FG Zac missed at that moment to make him 3 of 4 for the year? Why not say he was perfect at 50+ this year?

Well he is no longer perfect is he?  You cant assume because he made his first 3 kicks at 50+ he is going to make the 4th and he didnt.   Yes Zac was playing not to lose.  It should have been obvious to everyone we lose the game if the kick isnt good but I dont think Zac realized that.  Like a kid that gets scared and wont move when they know they should, Zac froze.  He is not head coach material.

[Sled21]

(10-08-2024, 12:29 AM)007BengalsFan Wrote: Well he is no longer perfect is he?  You cant assume because he made his first 3 kicks at 50+ he is going to make the 4th and he didnt.   Yes Zac was playing not to lose.  It should have been obvious to everyone we lose the game if the kick isnt good but I dont think Zac realized that.  Like a kid that gets scared and wont move when they know they should, Zac froze.  He is not head coach material.

No, Zac trusted our kicker to make the same kick he makes consistently. If the punter didn't screw up the hold, we would have won. There's not a doubt in my mind Money would have split the uprights.

[reuben.ahmed]

I'm OK with the 3 runs, why do we focus so much on Zac and the offense when the defense is the one that lost us the game? Sure, they may have put us in positions to win it, but we were up MULTIPLE TIMES by 10 points in the 4th quarter. We lost the game, how?

We can't keep asking the offense to make 2 mistakes a game while the defense makes only 2 good plays.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(10-07-2024, 05:30 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: 520 yards

I'm not sure this D could beat a good High School Team ?

Brutal man .....all year long it's been brutal.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(10-07-2024, 05:50 PM)bfine32 Wrote: I'm just spitballing here, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say if we would have dropped back and took a sack, got a holding call, threw an INT the SAME folks asking why now would be asking why then.

Let me see if I can get it right:

Fire Zac immediately, we were already in FG range and Brown was averaging about 4 yards/carry. Feed Chase 3 times, get it closer, on the hash Mac wants, and kick the FG. Hell the conditions were perfect for a FG, Turner had just hit a 56 yarder.


How'd I do? 

I'd say you nailed it.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(10-08-2024, 08:41 AM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: I'm OK with the 3 runs, why do we focus so much on Zac and the offense when the defense is the one that lost us the game? Sure, they may have put us in positions to win it, but we were up MULTIPLE TIMES by 10 points in the 4th quarter. We lost the game, how?

We can't keep asking the offense to make 2 mistakes a game while the defense makes only 2 good plays.

Exactly Reuben.... exactly. There's even a post defending Lou in the fire Zac thread. It's wild in here ....lol. 

[Nicomo Cosca]

[Nepa]

(10-07-2024, 01:51 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Yup. I just can't imagine not trusting Peyton Manning or Tom Brady to get you closer and just taking the ball out of their hands. Let alone if they were red-hot.

Reminds me of the Peyton Manning-Tom Brady game where Belichick decided to go for it on 4th and 2 from the Patriots own 28-yard game with a 6-point lead and 2 minutes left in the game. I watched that game on TV. It was an instant classic. The Patriots did not want to put the ball back in Manning's hands. But the Patriots ended up just short, and Belichick was crucified for that decision at the time.   But now being considered probably the greatest coach in NFL history,  and Brady the greatest QB, I imagine fans look back at it now as a gutsy move and probably the right call.

Just reminiscing. 

[Bengalitis]

(10-07-2024, 12:52 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Why did we decide lets just kick a 50+ yard FG to try and win it?

We ran three offensive plays after we recovered the fumble at the Ravens 37 and got all the way down to the 35  

We ran all 3 plays from heavy sets. And not a single pass despite JB having an outstanding day!! On the 1st play the Ravens have 9 defenders in the box. Everyone of them crashes to the LOS at the snap. J. Chase has a very soft coverage.

A half second after the snap there's a wiidddddeeeeee open middle of the field. If Chase runs a quick slant and it was a play action fake to Brown it's probably a TD. At a minimum a good gain. Of course JB would have to throw quickly.

I just can't understand why you have Joe Burrow for crying out friggin loud! And the coaches say screw that, put the Lamborghini away, lets get out the Honda civic and just get a couple yards a try a long FG.

And this isn't the first time ZT and Co. have been guilty of this. ML 2.0

Zac being both the HC and OC is the biggest shooting in the foot he does. With Chase, Teggings and BUrrow and we get this? This is is the last season theyll be together... we should be 4-1 but here we are..............I want Marvin back.

[RunKijanaRun]

No one would question why a coach wouldn’t try to improve field position from where they were when we took possession.

No one in his right mind parks the bus and just settles for a 50+ yard field goal. Especially on a day in which the offense was setting records.

No “fanz woulda been hella pissed if we git sacked er fumbull lol.” That’s ludicrous.

Time was no factor. There was no reason not to try to move into better field position. I have never seen a coach do what he did Sunday.

Yeah, the defense is reprehensible and that is a much bigger issue. It also makes that decision even more dunderheaded.

Have to expect some of the “coaches can do no wrong” crowd to defend this nonsense, but everyone outside of Cincinnati and Baltimore was lampooning the decision. It was malpractice and indefensible. Period.

[*bengalfan74*]

(10-08-2024, 08:41 AM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: I'm OK with the 3 runs, why do we focus so much on Zac and the offense when the defense is the one that lost us the game? Sure, they may have put us in positions to win it, but we were up MULTIPLE TIMES by 10 points in the 4th quarter. We lost the game, how?

We can't keep asking the offense to make 2 mistakes a game while the defense makes only 2 good plays.

I 100% agree the defense is and most likely will continue to be our downfall this season.

[*PhilHos*]

(10-08-2024, 08:41 AM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: I'm OK with the 3 runs, why do we focus so much on Zac and the offense when the defense is the one that lost us the game? Sure, they may have put us in positions to win it, but we were up MULTIPLE TIMES by 10 points in the 4th quarter. We lost the game, how?

We can't keep asking the offense to make 2 mistakes a game while the defense makes only 2 good plays.

THANK YOU, reuben. I just don't get how I've seen so much criticism of Zac Taylor - some of it is warranted, sure - and yet so little towards Lou and the defense. It's embarrassing, really.