Now is the Season of Our Discontent

[BZBot]

Face it, the 2005 Bengals offense is not going to come in and rescue the 2006 season. Someone needs to take control of this team and tell every player to quit trying to coach through the media.

Source: http://www.bengalszone.com/article.php?sid=478

[HairOnFire]

Solid points. My only complaint came when reading the speculation that the players now griping in the media might actually be voicing subtle complaints towards Carson Palmer rather than the coaching staff.

To me it isn't a case of those being involved in the passing attack complaining that they coaches don't trust them one week, only to be followed a week later by complaints of players involved in the running game making the same plea that they should be trusted. No, the argument from both factions of players is centered on a lack of trust in the same unit, and it isn't the quarterback position.

Simply put, the coaching staff is showing a prolonged and well deserved lack of faith in the offensive line, and that units shortcomings have dictated, right or wrong, that depending on the opponent being faced the Bengals choose to abandon either their deep passing or their power running games for nearly a month. The offensive balance, the thing that made last seasons offense so explosive, suffers dramatically because the playcalling is unbalanced.