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Marvin Lewis and team show no urgency


cincyhokie

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/2...for-the-taking

Marvin Lewis was talking to his team in a calm, measured tone. Every now and then, the door to the Cincinnati Bengals' locker room popped open and Lewis' voice spilled into the hallway outside. How did he sound? He sounded bored.

The Bengals had just lost 24-17 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, blowing a double-digit lead at home to an aging, aching division opponent. The Steelers won this game because they wanted it.

The Bengals lost because they didn't.

A week earlier, Lewis had made the most astute comment of his bland public-speaking career, deciding after the Bengals' loss last week at hapless Cleveland that "We're almost too nice. We need more of a killer instinct. We need to play nasty." Well, good news: Sunday night was in that ballpark. You know how nasty can mean "revolting" or "unpleasant" or "ghastly"? The Bengals were nasty. After taking a 14-3 lead, they stuck a stamp on this game, this exclusive Sunday night platform on national television, and mailed it in.

Pittsburgh scored 21 of the last 24 points. It was the Steelers who were running reverses and double reverses and flanker passes. It was the Steelers who were blitzing and hitting and pooch-punting. It was the Steelers who were down two starting offensive linemen and were still ripping open holes in the Cincinnati defense. It was the Steelers who were down their top two running backs, too, and got 122 yards from third-stringer Jonathan Dwyer.

It was the Bengals who looked bored, a reflection of their dispassionate coach who was droning on and on to his team afterward like a college professor droning on about botany -- although what Marvin Lewis could possibly lecture his team on, I have no idea.

How to give away two timeouts in the second half of a game that was clearly going down to the final minutes? Lewis made it look easy Sunday night, challenging two catches by the Steelers, losing both challenges and the timeouts that went with it. That's why there was no drama in the final minutes, with the Steelers easily running out the clock against a Cincinnati team with no timeouts left. With two minutes left in a seven-point game, Paul Brown Stadium was almost empty. These are Bengals fans, remember. They've seen this game before. They know how it ends.

Marvin Lewis? He doesn't seem to know a whole lot -- or if he does, he's keeping that knowledge to himself. And that's me being as charitable as I can. Here, judge for yourself: Lewis was asked after the game why A.J. Green, who entered the weekend leading the NFL in receiving yards, was targeted only three times in the first 3½ quarters and managed one catch for eight yards on the game.

Said Lewis: "I can't sit here and tell you what was happening."

Ah.

Lewis was asked why No. 2 receiver Andrew Hawkins caught only two passes for 17 yards. Why talented tight end Jermaine Gresham had three catches for 19 yards against a Steelers defense missing safety Troy Polamalu.

Lewis knew how to answer that one.

"We'll have to wait," Lewis said, "and see the tape."

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My favorite part of the article.

"Pittsburgh scored 21 of the last 24 points. It was the Steelers who were running reverses and double reverses and flanker passes. It was the Steelers who were blitzing and hitting and pooch-punting. It was the Steelers who were down two starting offensive linemen and were still ripping open holes in the Cincinnati defense. It was the Steelers who were down their top two running backs, too, and got 122 yards from third-stringer Jonathan Dwyer.

It was the Bengals who looked bored, a reflection of their dispassionate coach who was droning on and on to his team afterward like a college professor droning on about botany -- although what Marvin Lewis could possibly lecture his team on, I have no idea."

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I can answer the question on Gresham. Workout monster w/ all of the measurables but cannot handle competition on the field, consistently whines about tight coverage, makes a living on reputation earned playing against smaller and slower players in college, low football IQ, avoids contact.

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In regards to Gresham, wasn't he suppose to one of those "fast" guys who was suppose to be a matchup nightmare running the seam ?? Where the hell did THAT guy go ?? The only time you see Gresham picking up YAC is when there is simply no one around him. He looks slow, lathargic, and generally lazy out there on the field.

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Does Gresham line up outside ad much anymore? I remember last year was lineing up outside like a WR, and caught a few TDs like that.

Not that I've seen this year, though I easily could have missed a snap or 10. When he does go out it always seems to be either a short sideline pass that he has no chance to advance before going out of bounds, or they send him up the seam, which given the two-deep safety coverage everyone plays against us because of Green means he's running right into the teeth of the coverage.

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I can answer the question on Gresham. Workout monster w/ all of the measurables but cannot handle competition on the field, consistently whines about tight coverage, makes a living on reputation earned playing against smaller and slower players in college, low football IQ, avoids contact.

yep.

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I can answer the question on Gresham. Workout monster w/ all of the measurables but cannot handle competition on the field, consistently whines about tight coverage, makes a living on reputation earned playing against smaller and slower players in college, low football IQ, avoids contact.

yep.

God, he's right. It's depressing.

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Relative to other tight ends, Gresham puts up good #s and people seem to forget that. No, he's not Jimmy Graham or Gronkowski, but not many are.

The problem with Gresham is his tendency to completely disappear, but I have to wonder how much gameplanning plays a part in that. I'm not saying let the guy off the hook, but I also don't feel like he's on a team that is doing all they can to maximize his potential.

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Relative to other tight ends, Gresham puts up good #s and people seem to forget that. No, he's not Jimmy Graham or Gronkowski, but not many are.

The problem with Gresham is his tendency to completely disappear, but I have to wonder how much gameplanning plays a part in that. I'm not saying let the guy off the hook, but I also don't feel like he's on a team that is doing all they can to maximize his potential.

One other wrinkle to add is the question of whether defenses have figured out the "big TE mismatch" thing.* Last year was a banner year for TEs, with both Pope Gronkowski I and Graham breaking 1,300 yards. This year there's just one TE, Gonzalez, on pace to break even 1,000 yards. Last season the top 5 TEs racked up 5,634 yards. This season, the top 5 are on pace for 4,710. (And amidst this Gresham is on pace to increase his output versus last season by 150 or so yards.)

* note: said defenses do not include Cincinnati's, which is prohibited by league rule from defending the TE.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Nice article.

Cathartic.

Reading the site this morning has helped. Even though I predicted 6-10 and saw this coming, hasn't made it any easier to take as it has unfolded.

I remember arguing with Hair in 2007 how I wanted Marvin gone. So I guess I am 5 years on this train. It is a depressing train.

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Nice article.

Cathartic.

Reading the site this morning has helped. Even though I predicted 6-10 and saw this coming, hasn't made it any easier to take as it has unfolded.

I remember arguing with Hair in 2007 how I wanted Marvin gone. So I guess I am 5 years on this train. It is a depressing train.

I think alot of people wanted him gone after 2006. How can this guy coach a good team one year, only to lose them the next year? The team should be improving, instead because of poor coaching they are getting worse! This team needs something new, I don't know who, but it's been obvious that Marvin is not the guy to take them to the next level!

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Marvin will be here next year, losing to the same old bad teams. However he will go 8-8, and be givin another exention, and it just keeps rolling on. All i know is im getting tired of it, im so tired of every Sunday watching a team that has no clue! Im about ready for football season to be over, or least for this team to stop playing on Sundays! I used to enjoy watching this team, even when they would lose, but with Marvin still here, whats the point i know they will never stand a chance!

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Still would like to know which teams the Bengals are suppose to beat in order to go 8-8.

Better yet, tell me which teams they will beat to win 3 more the rest of the season ??

Not this year I'm talking next year! They will win 4-5 games this year. Come back next year go 8-8, and Marvin will get his extention. I'm just saying we are stuck with this fool!

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I can answer the question on Gresham. Workout monster w/ all of the measurables but cannot handle competition on the field, consistently whines about tight coverage, makes a living on reputation earned playing against smaller and slower players in college, low football IQ, avoids contact.

Story of the Bengals, time after time after time. I used this example before several times n the past, usually regarding the linebackers. Example: Bengals are hot for an answer at MLB, sitting in front of them is Odell Thurman and Lofa Tatupu. One has "upside" and IF reached could be as good as Ray Lewis. The other has less upside but his downside is in the range of Junior Seau. We choose the "upside" player, which fails. 2008, still needing LB's we have in front of s Keith Rivers a soft as f**k layer with "upside" once again. We pick him. Right after the Pats decide to humiliate us again, move up in the draft and grab Jerod Mayo, a guy with less upside but also alot less downside. Rivers sucks balls, Mayo continues to perform at an extremely high level.

Ditto '09. After drafting a lazy assed RT in the top 10(due to "upside") we're entering round 2. A MLB falls within 3 picks of us with less upside yet whose downside is in the range of a James Farrior type player. In other words at worse you're getting a Farrior caliber player. Also dropping at the same time is an undisciplined alcoholic with "upside" who "could be the next Ray Lewis if things pan out." Instead of moving up we stand pat and draft the "upside" guy in Maualuga. The Rams grabbed the first guy, Laurinaitis. Once again Maualuga bombs, Laurinaitis ends up a top MLB in the NFL.

Gresham is no different. Anyone who knew anything knew he was the 3rd best TE in the draft. He was a guy with? UPSIDE. Ahead of him was Gronkowski, a guy whose ceiling was Jason Witten and whose floor was Jeremy Shockey and Aaron Hernandez. Gronk fell in the draft due to a back injury and Hernandez failed a drug test. We blow our wad on Mr. Upside again and Bill Belichick decides to humiliate us again and grabs BOTH of the guys who were universally ranked higher than Gresham. Result? Gresham bombs, go figure and Gronk ends up reaching his "limited" upside as does Hernandez.

THAT is our biggest Achilles heel. Especially since Marvin has been here. We don't draft flat out good football players who may not end up superstars but even if they don't they will still be above average players. We get stiffies and chase after Athletes who possibly, sorta, maybe, MIGHT turn into these huge marquee players but if they don't they'll bomb, no inbetween with 'em and WHEN they don't we end up screwed. Very rarely do we draft football players who might end up elite. J. Joseph, A.J. Greene and Geno Atkins are the only three I can think of recently. Justin Smith counts, although we let him walk because Marvy Marv said he sucked and had to hook his buddies Geathers and Thornton up with huge contracts.

Re the OP: As I said in another thread, Marv is existing. No, there isn't any urgency nor a give a s**t within Lewis. He tried making his escape last year, noone wanted him. He's stuck here, he doesn't want to be here(can't blame him) and he no longer cares. He's collecting a paycheck until something else comes along. As I understand it his contract is up after 2014. Marv doesn't care about the now, he cares about trying to get something set up so he can hit middle of the road in '13, playoffs in '14 and he likely just hopes to win a playoff game in '14 so he can try F.A. again and land a job elsewhere. IF h even cares at all about THAT. He really does come off resigned to finishing out his career here.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Everytime I watch Herm Edwards take on a discussion on ESPN, I wish Marvin Lewis had his desire and flare. He is able to communicate well and instill feeling into what he says. I would take Herm Edwards as the next coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in a heartbeat.

Well his record as a coach is equally crappy with the exception of actually winning 2 playoff games.

Not sure how much of his desire and flare produce winning teams, as it only happened 4 times in his 8 years as coach.

Can't say as I would be any more excited...

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Everytime I watch Herm Edwards take on a discussion on ESPN, I wish Marvin Lewis had his desire and flare. He is able to communicate well and instill feeling into what he says. I would take Herm Edwards as the next coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in a heartbeat.

Well his record as a coach is equally crappy with the exception of actually winning 2 playoff games.

Not sure how much of his desire and flare produce winning teams, as it only happened 4 times in his 8 years as coach.

Can't say as I would be any more excited...

2 playoff wins is more than zero playoff wins. He was coaching in New York and Kansas City had 4 winning teams? With Starting quarterbacks like Vinny Testeverde at age 40, Chad Pennington, Quincy Carter, Brooks Bollinger, a concussed Trent Green, and Damon Huard.

Marvin Lewis has zero playoff victories, three winning seasons in 10 years with the Bengals, despite having several high round draft picks, two Pro Bowl quarterbacks, and very little flack from the media.

Let Herm Edwards coach this team and things would get done that Marvin w2ould never step up and do.

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