Love Marvin, but 1 thing concerns me.

[walzav29]

I just don't like how bad the Bengal's perform in big games. Last week was bad, but the loss to Cleveland at home in his 1st year sticks out more to me. It could be a mind set, and that falls on Marv. A game like the Monday nighter last year, and the KC game were big wins but there was really a "nothing to lose" atmosphere. Until they perform on all cylinders when something is on the line, I will watch these important games with an uneasy stomach. Flip side is that they should feel like major underdogs with a 7-8 point spread at home against the Colts.

Another example was the loss to the Cardinals that 1st year, the Ravens, and Rams also.

[HoosierCat]

IMHO Marvin's tenure has been marked by a tendency to play up or down to the level of the competition; the Steelers game was actually one of the rare games in which they played poorly vs. a good opponent. Look at the KC game 2 years ago, for example, or the second Baltimore and Pats games from last year. Conversely, it's been against teams like Arizona and Cleveland where they have looked their worst.

I suspct some of the way the Pitt game turned out can be chalked up to the implications of success. Part of the reason we were reasonably successful against good teams was that no one had really gotten it through their heads that the bengals were better. I woudn't say we were sneaking up on people, but it's tough for a good team to get "up" to play a poor team (or one perceived to be poor) sometimes.

Everybody's up for us now, tho. So the bengals have to step it up a notch.

[walzav29]

That's what I think is being overlooked this year. They have beaten the teams that they were supposed to beat. I thought the road wins against the Browns, Bears, and Titans showed huge progress. To make the next move they have to beat the tougher teams when it is a 50/50 proposition.

[HoosierCat]

That's what I think is being overlooked this year. They have beaten the teams that they were supposed to beat. I thought the road wins against the Browns, Bears, and Titans showed huge progress.

I agree. Like I said a couple months back in my "can we beat sucky teams?" thread, the problem the last couple years hasn't been beating the good teams, it's been consistently racking up W's against the bad ones. The last two years combined, the Bengals have gone just one game over .500 vs. teams that ended up 6-10 or worse. This year they're 5-0 vs. the league's lesser lights.

[Kirkendall]

More on that:

The Bengals are 6-11 against teams with a winning record since 2003.

The Bengals are 15-7 against teams with a losing record (or at .500) since 2003.

(However, make note that the records in 2003 and 2004 are based on final records; not the record when the Bengals meet the team)

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

And what was our winning record against winning teams PRIOR to 2003? hell, vs. ALL teams.....

I'd call this remarkable success in such a short time. You don't change a team from a decade or more of losing to winners overnight.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

But in the NFL these days turnaround times are much shorter and they all draft and sign players from the same talent pools...I think that is what disgusted fans for so long because we went 14 years straight without a single winning record - it's really, really hard to do that.

That said Marvin still hasn't produced a winning record yet technically, and it's reasonable to give him 2-3 years before doing so.

I'm happy with what he's done like everyone else - but am not ready to crown him king yet or paint him as some sort of miracle worker.

Bengals' fans simply just aren't used to competency around here.

[benglsdrumr]

"The Bengals have only beaten teams that suck and can't win the big game. I'm not convinced that they are for real." - Dumbass Pansy

Now what Dumbass Pansy fails to realize is that we used to be the team that sucked and whoever faced us was basically guaranteed a win. It's no longer like that. Steeler fans were ecstatic that they beat us cuz they think they proved that we suck and cant win against teams that are good. I dont know how everyone forgot when we beat the ravens in their house last year. Teams are entitled to have a couple of bad weeks. Not everything will go right every single week. Coincidentally, we've had our bad weeks against good teams (although i dont think the loss in jacksonville was a bad week cuz we came back and almost won). It comes down to common sense from the coaches. On offense, don't pass to Rudi cuz he ain't Perry. On defense, teams will run it down our throats so we gotta be aggressive against the run more so than the pass. IMO, our front 4 need to play with a sh*tload of aggression, especially Justin, who in my opinion, is on the verge of being a bust.

[Kirkendall]

And what was our winning record against winning teams PRIOR to 2003? hell, vs. ALL teams.....

I'd call this remarkable success in such a short time. You don't change a team from a decade or more of losing to winners overnight.

0 for ______ (write number here)

[walshfan]

We all can see improvement each season since Marvin has been at the helm....

He's overhauling the whole team...

Next year I suspect we'll see different defensive linemen or at least one that will upgrade the unit....

With the quickness of our small linebackers and the speed he's gathering at DE I just wonder if the next step is to get a big ole DT and go to a 3-4 defense.. seems the pieces are being put in place for that transition.. I believe Thornton and Robinson would be decent DE's in a 3-4 .. Or possibly Robinson and Smith combo with Thornton in the rotation.. I thnk a linebacking unit of Pollack Johnson Thurman and Simmons would be allright with Webster and Miller rotating if they're healthy and productive enough...

[BengalszoneBilly]

We all can see improvement each season since Marvin has been at the helm....

He's overhauling the whole team...

Next year I suspect we'll see different defensive linemen or at least one that will upgrade the unit....

With the quickness of our small linebackers and the speed he's gathering at DE I just wonder if the next step is to get a big ole DT and go to a 3-4 defense.. seems the pieces are being put in place for that transition.. I believe Thornton and Robinson would be decent DE's in a 3-4 .. Or possibly Robinson and Smith combo with Thornton in the rotation.. I thnk a linebacking unit of Pollack Johnson Thurman and Simmons would be allright with Webster and Miller rotating if they're healthy and productive enough...

We BETTER see some different defensive linemen!

[bengalbutch]

I think it's just a progession, like Indy went through for a few years, getting better each year. I believe we are a very good team, and will only get better. I think not only will Marvin get us into the elite teams, but we will stay there, year after year.