Shout out for Zac Taylor

[Soonerpeace]

(01-05-2025, 03:09 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: A positive thread and I will start by giving Zac and co props by keeping the team involved and ending the season on a 5 game win streak. There are alot of positives with Zac and I'm fine with him back. But ultimately I still think he's bad at situational football and will cost us games at times with his poor decision making. Which that's a question if that will hold us back from winning a superbowl. Did he cost us games this year? I'd point to the 1st Ravens game going 3 straight runs in overtime committing to a 50+ field goal attempt. Most disappointing thing about that situation to me was him not taking ownership and saying they did call a pass and Burrow checked out of it. Only to see it was a pass where only Chase was in and he had a corner with safety over the top on him.

What situational football decisions were questionable ?

[Nepa]

(01-05-2025, 03:23 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Zac’s not the problem. Lou is not the problem. They are missing on too many players in the draft and free agency. Myles Murphy and Dax Hill first rounders  and little impact. The front office blew it with Chase as he’s gonna cost a lot more as will Trey. But you long timers I’m not telling you anything. Zac has the locker room and star players. Lou does too. I’ve been wrong Mike Brown is still running things that involve money & players.

But getting much better starts is paramount next year. Zac is to blame there.

I agree with each point here: Zac not the problem (other than poor starts to the season), poor drafting, lousy front office that because they didn't extend Chase is going to end up costing the team a lot more.

I remember under Marvin Lewis, posters complaining about his poor clock management and half-time adjustments and inability to win in the playoffs. Complaining about the head coach comes with the territory. Heck, Dan Campbell of the Lions had to move out of his home to an undisclosed location due to the fans getting upset with him and coming to his house and bothering his family.

But I've been very pleased with Zac.  I also don't understand this mantra of some that he needs to give up play calling. No one is perfect, but he adapted an offense that fits Burrow and Burrow likes and which puts up a lot of points.

[*michaelsean*]

0-2 and 1-3 and it’s a pattern. Those games count just as much and Zac has shit the bed time and again to start the season.

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 04:07 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: I think there are some valid complaints here. The aforementioned Ravens game in OT, the San Fran game from a few years ago. Those are situations where you keep the ball in the hands of your elite QB and let him work for you IMO. I understand what he is doing, I think, when it comes to minimizing risk. The coaches have a high opinion of Evan and are just minimizing the risk to give Evan his shot. Obviously it didn't work out in those instances, but that is the thought process by my eyes.

The Broncos game, as another example. A 33 yard FG is a high probability make. I love the decision to do it on third down rather than fourth. He ran the ball a couple times when they got close and minimized the risk of something like a sack/pick. Cade York didn't convert it, but I have no issue with that decision. 

You make good points on the field goals but it is more than that with the situational football. I remember a play a couple of years ago where we did a shuffle pass to Stanley Morgan for a 2 point try or touchdown to tie. It failed and not only did we take the ball out of Burrows hands essentially but after the game Morgan said he had never run the play as it was supposed to be Boyd and he left with injury. Then his short yardage situations like bringing Chase in the backfield last week and then handing brown the ball after bringing all the attention to the back field. I know these are random examples but I need to keep a log as it has been consistent just not being able to read the room type errors from Zac.

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 04:21 PM)michaelsean Wrote: 0-2 and 1-3 and it’s a pattern. Those games count just as much and Zac has shit the bed time and again to start the season.

Yes. I think its a matter of a little more preseason work for the offense and making the run game a point of emphasis to start the season. Need to lessen the burden on Joe early. Atleast as far as the offense is concerned the defense is a different animal.

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 04:09 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: What situational football decisions were questionable ?

Watch the games. Not trying to be a jerk but Taylor potentionally loses 3-5 games or puts them at risk of being lost a year by bone headed decisions he makes. It's just something we have to accept about him as he doesn't appear to be getting any better. But I do think he comes up with good route concepts and Burrow is good at reading and delivering the ball. 

[Nicomo Cosca]

(01-05-2025, 07:01 PM)NUGDUKWE Wrote: Watch the games. Not trying to be a jerk but Taylor potentionally loses 3-5 games or puts them at risk of being lost a year by bone headed decisions he makes. It's just something we have to accept about him as he doesn't appear to be getting any better. But I do think he comes up with good route concepts and Burrow is good at reading and delivering the ball. 

So basically he should have stuck with being a QB coach or even a passing game coordinator.

[Nicomo Cosca]

Having a triple crown WR, plus the sacks leader (not to mention Burrow 1st in yards & TD’s), and STILL not making the playoffs in a format with an extra wild card is quite an indictment of the HC. Every coach in the league would kill to have all that.

[HarleyDog]

A lot of our losses, I feel, are because of ZT. I can totally get onboard with this thread, as long as he learns from his mistakes. So far, he has seemed stubborn to do so. I like ZT, I really do. However, he's got to get out of his own way.

[Brownshoe]

The only thing I'll shout out to Lac Taylor is "bye" when he's shown the door (which I don't think he'll get fired unfortunately)

[t3r3e3]

(01-05-2025, 07:18 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Having a triple crown WR, plus the sacks leader (not to mention Burrow 1st in yards & TD’s), and STILL not making the playoffs in a format with an extra wild card is quite an indictment of the HC. Every coach in the league would kill to have all that.

I’d argue it’s more the front office, but Mike, Katie, Troy, Mike Jr., and Duke aren’t going to fire themselves. The front office is the biggest impediment to team success. That said, Zac’s notorious slow starts and absolute reliance on shotgun hurt as well. On the surface the Bengals are nowhere near as creative offensively as the Reid/McVay/McDaniel/Johnson-led offenses. At some point the coach is the coach. I don’t care if Burrow wants 5 guys in the route on every play, with a dogshit line you have to protect your QB situationally better.

[NUGDUKWE]

(01-05-2025, 07:13 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: So basically he should have stuck with being a QB coach or even a passing game coordinator.

Well he does more than that. The things I'm complaining about may be partially corrected by an analytics adviser or something to that extent. I would imagine they have that but maybe it needs overhauled. Again Zacs comments after the first Ravens game seemed like he was deflecting so doesn't give me much optimism that he is self evaluating and the fact it's remained a problem points to that as well. The team does do a good job self evaluating and changing tendencies that cause issues but one has to wonder if Burrow is involved or others it's unknown to us.

Again he does several things I like as a coach.

[ERIC1]

(01-05-2025, 03:20 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Zac is not perfect, but his players believe in him and play hard for him.

Actually...they dont play hard for him half a season...and I like Zac

[ERIC1]

(01-05-2025, 07:18 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: A lot of our losses, I feel, are because of ZT. I can totally get onboard with this thread, as long as he learns from his mistakes. So far, he has seemed stubborn to do so. I like ZT, I really do. However, he's got to get out of his own way.

100%

[Nicomo Cosca]

Zac is “fine.” He’s the Andy Dalton of HC’s. Good-ish, middle of the pack type guy that can win a lot of games is everything breaks right.

Unfortunately this organization asks a lot more than most out of their HC. They need to capture lightning in a bottle at both QB and HC. We already have one half of that. Taylor’s seat needs to be straight up on fire going into next season. Missing the playoffs 2 years in a row is unacceptable. As are the slow starts. They CAN NOT waste Burrow’s prime holding onto a coach too long. It would be one of the biggest what ifs in franchise history.

[Bronxbengal]

Taylor is an average coach and that is being very generous. This team would had made the playoffs if he prepared the team better against the Patriots. Two years in a row we didn’t make the playoffs and you all want a coronation for him as king! Complacency and accepting mediocrity is not acceptable. He needs to be held accountable. I would love to see him go, but he will be here for years.

[HarleyDog]

(01-05-2025, 07:33 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Zac is “fine.” He’s the Andy Dalton of HC’s. Good, middle of the pack type guy that can win a lot of games is everything breaks right.

Unfortunately this organization asks a lot more than most out of their HC. They need to capture lightning in a bottle at both QB and HC. We already have one half of that. Taylor’s seat needs to be straight up on fire going into next season. Missing the playoffs 2 years in a row unacceptable. As are the slow starts. They CAN NOT waste Burrow’s prime holding onto a coach too long. It would be one of the biggest what ifs in franchise history.

That a very good point. Burrow takes more hits than anyone. He won't last forever.

[Brownshoe]

(01-05-2025, 07:18 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Having a triple crown WR, plus the sacks leader (not to mention Burrow 1st in yards & TD’s), and STILL not making the playoffs in a format with an extra wild card is quite an indictment of the HC. Every coach in the league would kill to have all that.

This x100 people defend Lac like he's their daddy

[PCB Bengal Fan]

Shout out to Zac for not having the team ready for a month into the regular season. Thanks for making the playoffs.......oh wait. I'll give props to the guys who actually got us to 9 wins, thanks Joe & Uno. U guys shoud demand trades to get the f!ck out Cincy before it's too late.

[125250]

I knew there would be people excited about the meaningless wins at the end of the year. Just got us some more status quo for next year. Awesome!