Bengals Vs Falcons

[volcom69]

This, from Marvin today about the troubles on D, caught my eye:

“I talked to the coaches about it this morning and I talked to the defensive players about it,” Lewis said. "I pointed it out to them where things are different, and things that they did very well last year. They were ahead of the curve and were proactive on some things that went beyond us coaching every step and every move. They understood and took the initiative to get themselves in the right leverages and the right spots.”

That's what I'm talking about. Proactivity. Going beyond. Taking initiative. Last year's team didn't wait for Lewis & Co. to show up and draw them pretty little pictures of what was wrong; they stepped up and fixed things themselves. In other words, last year they were that rare sight in Cincinnati football, professional athletes (emphasis on professional). This year, not so much.

Its the same players, so they all of sudden this year became stupid. This makes no sense what so ever, i do agree that right now there is no team defense. So now they are waiting for somebody to tell them what to do, isnt the same defense as last year, same plays. Things dont make sense, i think they should say the defense is just not as good as we thought they were.

[kingwilly]

Just re-watched the game last night on NFL network.

Chad is amazingly unreliable.

Dropped a wr screen, dropped the 2-pt conversion, and generally played like a little b1tch.

If they are so worried about Simpson making mistakes, is there any more egregious mistake than dropping the ball?

Also, Palmer cost them two scores on very bad passes.

Overall, the D just does not tackle well. Dhani, Ndukwe, Rivers, Geathers, Rey, all had very ugly whiffs. How do you whiff so bad?

One more drop by Chad and they need to sit him down. He just does not catch like he used to. Give Simpson a chance, especially when you are down 24-3 or thereabouts.

[jjakq27]

Just re-watched the game last night on NFL network.

Chad is amazingly unreliable.

Dropped a wr screen, dropped the 2-pt conversion, and generally played like a little b1tch.

If they are so worried about Simpson making mistakes, is there any more egregious mistake than dropping the ball?

One more drop by Chad and they need to sit him down. He just does not catch like he used to. Give Simpson a chance, especially when you are down 24-3 or thereabouts.

Chad needs to work with JPalmer and develop a new app called iCatch. He's already making millions off of his iDrop app.

[COB]

I blame Mike Brown for Chad's crappy play. Chad was very open and honest about himself, his game, his commitment. He quite clearly let everyone know that he has other things he wants to do more than practice and play football. And a 3 second look at a calendar will let anyone know that his skills are diminished due to age and neglect. Yet you, Mike Brown, still chose to build an offense around him and his hand picked dynamic douchebag duo partner? It's pretty simple. Chad is a human Lumina.

[HairOnFire]

Overall, the D just does not tackle well. Dhani, Ndukwe, Rivers, Geathers, Rey, all had very ugly whiffs. How do you whiff so bad?

More specifically, how do you wiff so badly just one season after leading the NFL in fewest missed tackles?

Frankly, we can all bark about the coaching AND the players equally because both have been lacking. But I can't help remembering Lewis's preseason warning about the biggest threat to this team being overconfidence, an undeserved sense of accomplishment, and an overall loss of focus. And Zimmer's post Patriot game comments about mishandling his defensive veterans during the preseason are almost as telling.

"It's your football team. Take ownership of it." ---Marvin Lewis, Hardnocks

[jjakq27]

"It's your football team. Take ownership of it." ---Marvin Lewis, Hardnocks

"Reach down inside and be a fkn pro!"

Sad part is, this speech is timeless.

/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knXuiqdvZ4E

[ArmyBengal]

The look on Coles' face is a good one in that video...

[jjakq27]

The look on Coles' face is a good one in that video...

That's a "clean-up on Aisle 2" look.

[Stripes]

Yet we all know Marvin has no fire and doesn't care about winning.

[jjakq27]

......Zimmer's post Patriot game comments about mishandling his defensive veterans during the preseason are almost as telling.

That right there really bothers me. I have seen it too many times with this franchise. The inability to sustain or handle their success the next year. It happened in 1989 and 1991 with Sam and indirectly cost him his job. Coslet in 1997 after their 7-2 run when he took over for Dave Shula in midseason. LeBeau took over for Coslet and had some success in 2001 and the team turned in their worst record (2-14) in franchise history.

Now Marvin's club has laid an egg much like they did in 2006 after making the playoffs. I think they whole mentality of being the underdogs or a group of castoffs last year has been lost on this club. They have forgotten where they came from. You would think they would have been more motivated after all of the talk about the Ravens and Steelers this spring. But maybe the talking heads were right this time.

[COB]

"It's your football team. Take ownership of it." ---Marvin Lewis, Hardnocks

"Reach down inside and be a fkn pro!"

Sad part is, this speech is timeless.

/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knXuiqdvZ4E

Makes me sad to see Cheech in there. RIP 15.