THE COACH MUST STAY!!!

[Kirkendall]

How many yards did they get? Was the o-line doing crap to open holes?

That's not the point Joisey. This team is not good enough to keep the ball in the air right now. Too many teams are defending our pass right now, hence why the team has struggled to move the ball. It needs to keep the ball on the ground more -- even if we don't get tons of glamerous yards -- so the defenses don't start putting 8 into coverage like they’ve been doing. We do nothing to wear down the defensive fronts and allow Carson to sit in the pocket. Defending against the rush wears down the defensive line much more than just pass rushing.

That's my point! Let's see: run not working. OK, switch to pass because you have dependable receivers, right? It's supposed to be one of the few strengths of the team, right? Carson delivers the ball on target -- and the receiver drops it! How the hell is that Brat's fault? Looking back on it, I was wrong to be upset by the lack of runs in the second half. Brat's call was right on. Carson could deliver the ball and the Cleveland secondary couldn't stop those plays. Unfortunately, our own butterfingered receivers could.

The Bengals are 28th in the NFL on rushing attempts. Of the top ten teams in terms of rushing attempts, only three teams have losing records; and three have only one loss. The funny thing is the Bengals have a 4.0 yards per rushing attempts, Baltimore is the only team in our division that's better. It's also better than Jax, Cleveland, Pittsbugh, Houston, and Detroit -- teams that have a .500 record or better. Per pass attempt, it's 5.38 per yards. If we're dropping all the time, why do we continue to pass and not integrate rushing more?

So I'm not sure how the run isn't working when we're 19th in the league per average. If that's a result of passes dropped, which is only being discusses after Cleveland, or the defense knowing we're going to pass is the eye of the beholder.

Because they're the only corners he has? Because James and O'Neal had played pretty well this year so far? Heck, James had 2 picks already in the game?

He did have 2 picks, and the first one was awesome. But how many times have we discussed James ability to get burnt more than his picking ability. Then again, it's not the strength of our team, so I just assumed the defensive coordinator knew that. Silly me.

As for the blitzing, pick your poison: do we allow them to complete a pass knowing our guys are lucky to make a tackle, or do we try to prevent the pass in the first place, even though we're lucky to get pressure?

Yea, you're right about that one.

How is it Brat & Frazier's fault that they don't have the horses? How would replacing either or both of them make the players any better?

A lot of their philosophy has us at 1-4 so far. I'm not suggesting they be fired, but there definitely needs to be a change in philosophy. I'm not one to suggest what should be changed; I'm a fan, not a professional consultant. But what they are doing now isn't working out. We're 1-4, something needs to change.

repeat: Brat's game plan would have worked fine if his wideouts would catch the freaking ball, and don't try to tell me that was an unreasonable expectation. And Frazier's scheme seemed to hold its own on about 66 out of 70 Cleveland snaps. It's the players, not the plan.

If the players are dropping the ball, why don't we run the ball a little more? WE didn't even try to wear the defense down. We saw that Rudi was gaining 3.6 yards per carry -- which is above league average -- panicked and put the ball in the air; all in the while we were close to tying the game until later in the 4th quarter. We declared that our first year starting QB, with drops all day is good enough to keep putting the ball in the air.

I thought you said elsewhere you didn't want to fire Marvin Lewis. He called that formation on that play personally! Go read it for yourself on bengals.com.

I don't want Marvin fired. But I'm not complaining about the Bengals game-plan from just Cleveland, am I? I've been doing it since last year. Or did you forget that?

I got the feeling we're going to disagree no matter what we say.

[Kirkendall]

BTW - I'm more or less going against Brat, not so much Frazier. I will agree the talent on the defensive side is truly sad. Lack of tackling, bad coverage, and absolutely zero defensive line movement -- except backwards.

There are times when our defense is put in a position to fail, such as single coverage, but I'll side with you more on this one that the personnel are more to be the problem.

[BengalszoneBilly]

How would replacing either or both of them make the players any better?

That's what defines a good coach. I mean every player in the NFL has some level of talent or they wouldn't have made it this far. A good coach will take those players to the next level.

And let me clarify...I'm not for firing both coaches. Just one. Frazier. What is his "claim to fame" as a coach anyway? I mean Brat has University of Miami, and working under Erickson, but Fraziers resume' looks pretty sparse, and he sure as hell ain't beefing it up since he's been in Cincy.

IMHO, For the Bengals to EVER have a respectable "D", he must go! Marvins friend or not. And as far as Brat, if he keeps up his crap too much longer, same goes for him!

My job wouldn't put up with my lack of production for as long, why should they be any different? Many of the fans of Cincinnati always seem to "coddle" chumps like these for too long, and give them the benefit of the doubt. Screw that. If you're talkin' the talk, you damn sure better be walkin' the walk! Could you imagine the reaction from the fans in Philly if this was happening to the Eagles!?! We're p***y cats compared to them!

[Bobcat Bengal]

Could you imagine the reaction from the fans in Philly if this was happening to the Eagles!?! We're p***y cats compared to them!

The whole league is p***y compared to Eagles fans.

[27atwater]

Off the subject BUT, I think Bills fans are rougher than Philly. Been to Philly a few times and they are judgemental and BOO a lot, but they aren't quite as abd as advertised.

Ive never been toi a Bills game where I saw less than 5 fights. (security wears bright green jackets so ya can't miss 'em swarming to random sections of the crowd). I've been to 3 Jets games @ Buf and 2 Fins games there...No less than 10 fights EACH.

[jditty47]

u havent been to a raider game then. bills and eagle fans are pu**ies compared to those f**kin nutjobs.

[bengalsfan33]

Why would we want to fire Lewis...

He improved tis team a whole lot last year, and he isn't developing all the players yet. You gotta give him about a year or two to make this team better, and he is already off to a good start wit how they played last year. The only reason they not playing good right now, is because the defense is playing horribly, and our QB is still adjusting to the pressure and getting used to playing on the next level. Just give us a year or two, and we should be in way better shape.

[Kirkendall]

This topic needs to be closed. It's getting a little old. No one has suggested the firing.