Big game in regards to Marvin

[walzav29]

I'm a Marvin supporter. I'm not sure what I'll think if he loses this game. In 05. Palmer got his knee blew out, so I just thought thats why we lost. In 09. That was real bad. It didn't make sense to me, because it was a rookie qb. I wasn't sure if it was Palmer or Lewis. Now here we are. The Bengals are going against a rookie qb. The Bengals have been to the playoffs before so they have the experience. Zimmer nopw has tape on Yates. I don't know. If they lose this game? What will it take?

[Globetrotter]

I was thinking about it this morning. I think clearly because of the Rookie QB and the big changes this year Marvin stays, however he has proven he can get to this point. A couple more years of here and no further and I might start calling for his head.

[HoosierCat]

I'm a Marvin supporter. I'm not sure what I'll think if he loses this game.

Probably the same thing many of us will think: is Lewis the coach who can get the Bengals to the next level?

It's been the question for some time. No one can argue that Lewis hasn't done an amazing job turning this franchise around compared to the 90s. But while he's gotten the Bengals to a .500-ish team that can take a shot at the playoffs every couple years (versus a .250-ish team that occasionally dreamed of .500), the Marvin-era Bengals just can't win when it counts.

The classic example is 2006, when they just needed one win in the last three games, and couldn't get it. This year has featured two biggest-games-evah...and both were losses.

I have no idea what the problem is, but it would be nice to break the ice with a win Saturday. I can't say I'm expecting it, though.

[walzav29]

I agree. It could be a Tony Dungy type situation. Where he turned the Bucs around, but couldn't get them to the Super Bowl. He did take the Colts to the Super Bowl, but I credit Manning. I'm hoping Marvin is learning and tweaking. I guess we'll know Sunday.

[COB]

Marvin is unique. He can take a moribund franchise and turn it around in a very short time. He can take a franchise in decline and reverse the slide quickly.

But as has been noted, he can't seem to take a good team to the next level, the level where you win playoff games and threaten to win conference championships and super bowls.

And what I find really odd is that second skill, going from good to great, is a skill a lot of coaches have. I believe there are a lot of guys who can do it. But the first skill, out of the basement to relevance? It is very difficult to find that coach. Teams try over and over and can't find that guy, and those teams stay in the basement. The Cleveland Browns come to mind. The St. Louis Rams.

So what to do? Fire the guy we know can keep us relevant, and take a chance on a coach who will either guide us to an AFC title game or an inexorable plunge back into the abyss?

Or keep Marvin and try to supplement the existing framework with things (players, coaches, scouting) we think will enable him to become a big-game coach?

I'm for the latter. Marvin has my support because I just don't trust anyone else out there to keep us from devolving back into the grease-fueled dumpster fire we all enjoyed for 13 years before he got here.

[walzav29]

But it could have been the chemistry on the past teams. Palmer had the enthusiasm of a church organist and Chad's actions were well documented. The character of this team is supposed to be better. You really find out about a player in the playoffs. Dalton seems so laid back. Can't wait to find out!

[HoosierCat]

So what to do? Fire the guy we know can keep us relevant, and take a chance on a coach who will either guide us to an AFC title game or an inexorable plunge back into the abyss?

Or keep Marvin and try to supplement the existing framework with things (players, coaches, scouting) we think will enable him to become a big-game coach?

I agree that the second option is preferable. The problem is that the organization has historically not shown any willingness to do things like add coaches, scouts or, of course, a GM. Now, maybe Lippencott's departure signals a change in the works, and if so, mad props to the FO.

But absent that, yeah, at some point you have to go with option one and take a leap of faith.

[UK Bengal]

I hope they are grooming gruden as his replacement because I think he might be able to make that next step

[walzav29]

I hope they are grooming gruden as his replacement because I think he might be able to make that next step

Rumor is he's going to Jacksonville

[UK Bengal]

Total rumor rubbish Walter none of the coaches have been approached and local media says nothing it won't be until we have won the superbowl afterwards they can talk

[volcom69]

The problem with a Marvin Lewis team in big games is they always come so close, but make the stupid mistakes that they cant make. A turnover here, or a stupid penalty there, now i dont know if thats coaching or on the players, but of course Marvin is going to take the heat. I know i for one am tired of getting so close, and they cant finish it out, so i hope that turns around this weekend. If he wins all will be forgotten, and it will also prove to the team that they can win these big games.

[combatbengal]

ok first off, the season is over and these two QB's are no longer rookies! There is no reason why we should lose this game! None! We just need to play four quaters of football!! Who dey

[kingwilly]

Marvin is unique. He can take a moribund franchise and turn it around in a very short time. He can take a franchise in decline and reverse the slide quickly.

But as has been noted, he can't seem to take a good team to the next level, the level where you win playoff games and threaten to win conference championships and super bowls.

And what I find really odd is that second skill, going from good to great, is a skill a lot of coaches have. I believe there are a lot of guys who can do it. But the first skill, out of the basement to relevance? It is very difficult to find that coach. Teams try over and over and can't find that guy, and those teams stay in the basement. The Cleveland Browns come to mind. The St. Louis Rams.

So what to do? Fire the guy we know can keep us relevant, and take a chance on a coach who will either guide us to an AFC title game or an inexorable plunge back into the abyss?

Or keep Marvin and try to supplement the existing framework with things (players, coaches, scouting) we think will enable him to become a big-game coach?

I'm for the latter. Marvin has my support because I just don't trust anyone else out there to keep us from devolving back into the grease-fueled dumpster fire we all enjoyed for 13 years before he got here.

This is like the difference between an Emergency Room Doc and a Specialist. The ER Doc can keep you from dying today but not cure your cancer long-term.

I have called for ML's many times. In fact, I'm not sure how much of this season's success can be attributed to him. No OTA's, no mini-camp, less training camp... Seems the less HE coaches, the better they do.

I do expect a win Saturday. Too many things going for the Bengals, too many issues on the Texans. Comes down to the QB's. Dalton is better. Has better weapons and has had more NFL starts and experience. Yates will be rookie meat.

[cincyhokie]

This is like the difference between an Emergency Room Doc and a Specialist. The ER Doc can keep you from dying today but not cure your cancer long-term.

I have called for ML's many times. In fact, I'm not sure how much of this season's success can be attributed to him. No OTA's, no mini-camp, less training camp... Seems the less HE coaches, the better they do.

I do expect a win Saturday. Too many things going for the Bengals, too many issues on the Texans. Comes down to the QB's. Dalton is better. Has better weapons and has had more NFL starts and experience. Yates will be rookie meat.

The x-factor might be the health of Andre Johnson. If he's healthy, I'll take the passing options of him, Owen Daniels, and Foster over AJ Green and company. Yates SHOULD be rookie meat. The Bengals had better be proactive in taking control of this game, if they let Yates hang around, I don't like the Bengals chances.

[UK Bengal]

Grrrrrr I take that back its all over nfl.com gruden interested in Jacksonville HC position

[cincy9275]

So far Marvin has proved he just can't win any big must have game. I think what we have seen in past seasons and what went on this season. That's it! that is as good as it gets with Marvin. for what ever reason Marvin's teams just can't seem to take that next step. really disappointing!

[volcom69]

So far Marvin has proved he just can't win any big must have game. I think what we have seen in past seasons and what went on this season. That's it! that is as good as it gets with Marvin. for what ever reason Marvin's teams just can't seem to take that next step. really disappointing!

Yep now we just wait for his contract extention, im sure it will come next week. AHHHH this freaking sucks

[Horsemen]

I said it since 2007 and i'll continue to say it: Marvin Lewis is a homeless vagrants Marty Schottenheimer, he can get your team to .500 and occasionally higher but he's not going to get you deep into the post season. This is what you get with Lewis, a winning season every few years followed by an ass kicking in the playoffs.

The wait and see's, the excuses, the "one more years", it's all over at this point. He has a young, highly talented team without the distractions and he got beat by 21 points put up via a rookie 3rd string QB and a team nervous as hell being in their first playoff game EVER. There are no more wait and see's, he's been here for 9 seasons now and we have seen all we need to see, he's NOT going to morph into Chuck Noll. Marvin Lewis NEEDS to go. He's the biggest liability holding this team back and for our growth, Dalton's growth and every other young players growth a change at HC needs to be made.

HOWEVER we all know Mike Brown and we know that Lewis won't be going anywhere. Come tomorrow morning he will still have a job. Come the start of the season he will still have a job. He will probably be extended on his contract yet again. Gruden might be gone, by some chance Zimmer might be gone but Lewis will remain.

[jjakq27]

Marvin is a good builder and administrator but has a mediocre record as a coach don't know if it's circumstances or dumb luck or just something else that is lacking. I do believe he needs to move up to a front office position soon.

[Horsemen]

He's never done F.O. work before and has a long history of playing inferior talent so his pets get to play, the last place Lewis needs to be is in our Front Office, ESPECIALLY now that Katie has it running smoothly.

[jjakq27]

I have a suspicion that a lot of the internal changes since 2003 are because of Marvin.

[kingwilly]

I have a suspicion that a lot of the internal changes since 2003 are because of Marvin.

...and those have been important changes. Key changes.

However, his coaching ability on gameday is a FAIL of galactic proportions. f**king Fail.

Time for a game coach. Marvin can act as Football Operations/GM. Enough of his flailing about like a newborn foal on a frozen pond.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I have a suspicion that a lot of the internal changes since 2003 are because of Marvin.

...and those have been important changes. Key changes.

However, his coaching ability on gameday is a FAIL of galactic proportions. f**king Fail.

Time for a game coach. Marvin can act as Football Operations/GM. Enough of his flailing about like a newborn foal on a frozen pond.

I completely agree with this.

I like his talent evaluation abilities and general knowledge of successful operating models around the league, I just think he has limited ability to decide how money is spent and, more so in the past, who is drafted on day one.

He reminds me of Lebeau, should be a career DC architect, not a HC.

With Lippincott gone, I can only hope this sort of change is made. Just spare me with Gruden being a head coach at this stage, silliness, his offense is not the reason they went to the playoffs this year at all. Bratkowski's offense out-ranked and produced his at this point. The Bengals' offense this year was very mediocre, at best, they benefited from a really weak AFC and a defense that was top 5 the first half of the season.

[Horsemen]

Marvin can act as Football Operations/GM.

Well he'd certainly be acting as he is unqualified for the position.