Eagles week.

[cincygrad]

Higgins now listed as questionable for Sunday. Not good for an offense that has been much better with him in the game. If he can't go, I certainly hope we see more snaps for Burton. Hell, you can even talk me into some snaps for Charlie Jones. I don't need a Trent Irwin heavy game when we need to score 30.

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[Cincyfan78]

Higgins now listed as questionable for Sunday. Not good for an offense that has been much better with him in the game. If he can't go, I certainly hope we see more snaps for Burton. Hell, you can even talk me into some snaps for Charlie Jones. I don't need a Trent Irwin heavy game when we need to score 30.

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Would be a good game for Burton/Jones...DB's are young, IIRC - so, would be a good time as any if you were going to have Higgins limited or out....rather have him, obviously - but it is what it is at this point.

I mean - Higgins has a concerning injury history at this point....he's dinged up....a lot.

 

[cincygrad]

Would be a good game for Burton/Jones...DB's are young, IIRC - so, would be a good time as any if you were going to have Higgins limited or out....rather have him, obviously - but it is what it is at this point.

I mean - Higgins has a concerning injury history at this point....he's dinged up....a lot.

Yeah.... To me, this justifies the decision to not re-sign him for top money. He hasn't been reliable and it's hard to imagine it getting better if he hasn't corrected it yet. It's tough because I love his game and I think he adds a lot to the team. And I don't think we have his replacement yet. But, his money will probably need to be invested into the D if we're ever going to make another run.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Yeah.... To me, this justifies the decision to not re-sign him for top money. He hasn't been reliable and it's hard to imagine it getting better if he hasn't corrected it yet. It's tough because I love his game and I think he adds a lot to the team. And I don't think we have his replacement yet. But, his money will probably need to be invested into the D if we're ever going to make another run.

Agreed.

At some point, the Bengals are going to have to spend on defense...specifically edge. I do like Jenkins and McKinley with Rankins and then Hill - if the 2 rookies can continue to take steps, I do think that is a nice rotation. But they have got to start getting pressure from other areas outside of Trey...just have to. I did like that I saw Trey lineup on the opposite side last Sunday - I do think they need to move him around some - like Garrett - and try to find some ways to create better mismatches.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Brown Jr and Stone both cleared to go.

Eagles down a few guys...Goeddert, Bektari, and a DT...

 

[cincygrad]

I think I've been a bigger Zac Taylor apologist than many of you.... But, I've had enough of him. He does a nice job with the early scripts at times, but his feel for situational play calling is awful. Burrow's ability to convert 3rd downs really masked a lot of bad offensive approach today. The short yardage sequence - TO, 3rd and 1 bad run, 4th down pass to flat to Chase - was disastrous. Really stars with that blown timeout due to the coaches not being prepared.

Also, McPherson is not good..... 54 seems long, but it's not a tough kick on a beautiful day with no wind. It seems like everytime we lose a home game it starts with Mac missing a field goal. That would have been a 10 point game against a team playing without 2 linemen.

 

[BKBroiler9000]

I’ll be the same broken record I’ve been all year. This team needs new leadership.

Zac Taylor is 40-50-1 as an NFL head coach. He makes the same mistakes week after week after week after week. He’s an abysmal playcaller and in game manager. Everybody in the stadium knew that backwards screen to Chase was coming. Any microcosm of success this team has had the last 5 years is in spite of this bum. I don’t care how good his culture is and how cool he is to fans. Zac Taylor is a shitty head coach. Period.

It’s past time to fire Lou Anarumo as well. They’ve tried everything personnel wise with this defense. They still suck. No rush. Can’t tackle. DBs let receivers run right by them in coverage. They played two terrible offenses and thought things had turned around. They haven’t.

The only hope the Bengals have for salvaging the Joe Burrow era is to make a change on the headset. We all know that won’t happen.

 

[DanBengalfan]

yea... he reminds me of the clueless football video gamers who always picked the same plays when they got in trouble. back in the day, they were so easy to beat and never learned because they just weren't smart enough to figure it out.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I've said for near 3+ years now - I do think Taylor is a fine HC. I do think he connects with players and has that ability to lead.

He's a TERRIBLE, AWEFUL, Play-caller. He needs to give up the offense. He has no feel for situational play-calling, his schemes are the worst - basic, and has no ability to scheme any kind of run game/blocking or keep things moving. Has no clue how to balance an offense, and year after year - we have to listen to him lament bad calls that are the same bad calls he makes in those situations, in those same games, every year. How many more times do we have to listen to him lament a 4th down call on a play that goes sideways, behind the line of scrimmage, or a "power" run with an OL that has no business playing "power" football...

Lou is cooked. He needs to go. The last 2 weeks are clearly more because of how bad those teams were than any improvement the defense made. Lou's biggest saving grace for his defenses of old were turnovers, especially in the Red Zone - but they've always struggled with yards and points when they didn't get lucky enough to turn teams over.

If I were in charge - I'm sitting down with Taylor today and telling him 2 things:
1 - Lou is fired. Call Robert Saleh and see if he's interested in coming in as a defacto-DC for the rest of this year and I'd hire him as the full-time DC into next year. Let him get a head start this year with these guys so he can evaluate what is needed for his defense.
2 - Taylor is giving up the offense - or he's fired. No one gets less out of more. I've said it for 3+ years now. Even with Higgins hurt, you have Burrow, a solid OL, Chase, Gesicki, All, Brown - it's not like the offense lacks weapons. The Eagles secondary has been brutal all season and shut down that offense in the 2nd half as if they new every play that was coming. The scheme is so basic and unimaginative - it has to be completley overhauled. If Taylor refuses to relenquish play-calling duties - I think him for his time, and success here - and move on. There will be no shortage of HIGH caliber head-coaches that will want to work with Burrow and Chase going forward.

 

[redskinsfan1963]

sorry to see cincy shit the bed again.

 

[alf8478]

I've said for near 3+ years now - I do think Taylor is a fine HC. I do think he connects with players and has that ability to lead.

He's a TERRIBLE, AWEFUL, Play-caller. He needs to give up the offense. He has no feel for situational play-calling, his schemes are the worst - basic, and has no ability to scheme any kind of run game/blocking or keep things moving. Has no clue how to balance an offense, and year after year - we have to listen to him lament bad calls that are the same bad calls he makes in those situations, in those same games, every year. How many more times do we have to listen to him lament a 4th down call on a play that goes sideways, behind the line of scrimmage, or a "power" run with an OL that has no business playing "power" football...

Lou is cooked. He needs to go. The last 2 weeks are clearly more because of how bad those teams were than any improvement the defense made. Lou's biggest saving grace for his defenses of old were turnovers, especially in the Red Zone - but they've always struggled with yards and points when they didn't get lucky enough to turn teams over.

If I were in charge - I'm sitting down with Taylor today and telling him 2 things:
1 - Lou is fired. Call Robert Saleh and see if he's interested in coming in as a defacto-DC for the rest of this year and I'd hire him as the full-time DC into next year. Let him get a head start this year with these guys so he can evaluate what is needed for his defense.
2 - Taylor is giving up the offense - or he's fired. No one gets less out of more. I've said it for 3+ years now. Even with Higgins hurt, you have Burrow, a solid OL, Chase, Gesicki, All, Brown - it's not like the offense lacks weapons. The Eagles secondary has been brutal all season and shut down that offense in the 2nd half as if they new every play that was coming. The scheme is so basic and unimaginative - it has to be completley overhauled. If Taylor refuses to relenquish play-calling duties - I think him for his time, and success here - and move on. There will be no shortage of HIGH caliber head-coaches that will want to work with Burrow and Chase going forward.

1-Robert Saleh was hired by the Packers.
2-If Taylor is let go after this season, the next coach will be Mike McCarthy.

 

[Cincyfan78]

1-Robert Saleh was hired by the Packers.
2-If Taylor is let go after this season, the next coach will be Mike McCarthy.

Saleh is filling in as an advisor - but I think if a chance to take a DC role would open right now, he'd listen. I'd have done exactly what the Packers did with Saleh the second I heard he was released. Bring him in as an outside voice with designs on helping the DC really be able to dive into more of what the current players can/can't do - and scheme-wise, maybe bring new ideas to the table.

2 - Doubtful. Have to remember that Katie and Troy picked Zach. They liked that he was young, offensive minded, and more towards the trend of the current NFL. If Taylor is fired - they will likely go in a similar direction - especially with Burrow/Chase on this offense. Though, no doubt, whomever it would be would have to show some kind of connection for a DC - because over the past few years - that has been the Achilles heel for this team (other than Burrow's health).

 

[alf8478]

Saleh is filling in as an advisor - but I think if a chance to take a DC role would open right now, he'd listen. I'd have done exactly what the Packers did with Saleh the second I heard he was released. Bring him in as an outside voice with designs on helping the DC really be able to dive into more of what the current players can/can't do - and scheme-wise, maybe bring new ideas to the table.

2 - Doubtful. Have to remember that Katie and Troy picked Zach. They liked that he was young, offensive minded, and more towards the trend of the current NFL. If Taylor is fired - they will likely go in a similar direction - especially with Burrow/Chase on this offense. Though, no doubt, whomever it would be would have to show some kind of connection for a DC - because over the past few years - that has been the Achilles heel for this team (other than Burrow's health).

1. I can't imagine why he would want to come here and take over a shitty defense on the fly when he can stay in Green Bay who is in a much better position to win, and all the while sticking it to Rodgers while in Green Bay.

2. Zac Taylor was the best they could get. No up and coming young first time head coach is going to go near the bengals with the way ownership runs things.......with the exception possibly of Joe Brady.
The next coach will definitely be a re-tread, someone like McCarthy or Frank Reich. **McCarthy is the perfect option, he's used to having Jerry meddle.

**-this is not what I want at all, but the way I see things playing out.

 

[Cincyfan78]

1. I can't imagine why he would want to come here and take over a shitty defense on the fly when he can stay in Green Bay who is in a much better position to win, and all the while sticking it to Rodgers while in Green Bay.

2. Zac Taylor was the best they could get. No up and coming young first time head coach is going to go near the bengals with the way ownership runs things.......with the exception possibly of Joe Brady.
The next coach will definitely be a re-tread, someone like McCarthy or Frank Reich. **McCarthy is the perfect option, he's used to having Jerry meddle.

**-this is not what I want at all, but the way I see things playing out.

Well, he's in GB because he's close friends with the HC. Not saying he would have come here - but saying I would have 100% picked up the phone and made a call. But that's neither here nor there. A DC spot will open, and he won't be in GB next year. Could it be Cincinnati? No clue - but it won't be in GB. He's only in an advisor role....I'm sure he wants to get back to coaching, and likely would want another crack at Head Coach.

2. I can't remember how it played out - but the hire of Taylor was thought to be a good one. He comes from the McVay tree and that was highly thought of at the time. We'll disagree on how the next hire goes. I think too many people still think that Brown is the one running things. This hasn't been true since 2018/2019. Katie and Troy are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Bengals and that includes the hiring/firing of coaches. Don't think for a moment that they won't enlist Burrow on the coaching search. The next guy will be offensive minded, and be a guy that will connect with Burrow - or he won't be coaching the Bengals. That doesn't scream re-tread in any way shape or form. This isn't 1994 anymore...or 1996....They got a great hire in Marvin, even if he did over-stay in those last few years, and initially the Taylor era had worked out - but much like Marvin before him (and maybe to draw a parallel) Dusty Baker of the Reds - they've taken the team as far as they can go - and to get to the next level - it will require someone different.

The season has gone off the rails, and Taylor is staring at a very hot seat, IMO - and I think Fans are very upset - with reason to be - but I don't think there's any reason to be myopic about the process at all. Relatively speaking the Bengals have done very well on their last 2 hires that has spanned from 2003 - 2024.....even as this season has teetered on the brink since week 1....

 

[cincygrad]

1. I can't imagine why he would want to come here and take over a shitty defense on the fly when he can stay in Green Bay who is in a much better position to win, and all the while sticking it to Rodgers while in Green Bay.

2. Zac Taylor was the best they could get. No up and coming young first time head coach is going to go near the bengals with the way ownership runs things.......with the exception possibly of Joe Brady.
The next coach will definitely be a re-tread, someone like McCarthy or Frank Reich. **McCarthy is the perfect option, he's used to having Jerry meddle.

**-this is not what I want at all, but the way I see things playing out.

The best re-tread for this team would be Mike Vrabel. Maybe his Ohio roots would sway something for Cincinnati - Howerver, he'll also be one of the top names on the market and we're not going to give him the stuff other teams might. But, to me he would be the type of guy that could build a tougher culture while letting someone else run the offense.

Of course, this is all moot.... We aren't firing Taylor. The only thing I could possibly see leading us to firing Taylor is if we thought it would help with stadium negotiations. They were sitting right where they needed to be two years ago - Burrow led the fanbase into an all-time high for satisfaction. Now, I think most fans see the franchise as the same ole Bengals with 3 good players and a couple of lucky runs.

 

[DanBengalfan]

the zac taylor hiring is just a repeat of the dave shula hiring. it worked out a little better because joe burrow is much better than David klingler.

 

[BKBroiler9000]

Of course the fans are pissed. They want to raise season ticket prices and ask for tax payer money for yet another new stadium. While sporting a 0-4 home record to boot. It’s a joke.

This is the same ol’ Bengals. They nickel and dimed a Super Bowl defense into a league worst unit in order to roll cap space over to do….nothing.

The FO is just as much to blame as Lou Anarumo. They let key players from the 2021-22 team walk for cheap replacements from the draft. And whiffed on damn near every single pick. 4 premium picks on the secondary. All whiffs. Hill did show some promise at corner this year but is now hurt. 1st round pick on a DE who dropped because he sucks at rushing the passer. The Ossai and Zach Carter picks. There might be some hope for the Jenkins/Jackson DT picks. But it’s not nearly enough.

This team needed to invest in a legit edge or interior rusher in FA. For the last 3 offseasons. And did absolutely nothing. And will continue to do nothing at the deadline. They have 36 year old Lawrence fucking Guy out there on key downs. That shows you how serious this franchise is.

The Brown family are who they are. Poverty ownership that will never ever get it. We all know this.

The only hope the Bengals have in the future is clean house with the coaching staff. They have to go get a Ben Johnson or someone similar to pair with Burrow. That’s the only way this thing works with the way this organization is run.

This is Katie and Troy’s test this offseason. Can they truly watch this thing fall apart. Watch fan apathy reach 90’s levels after each embarrassing home loss. Watch Joe Burrow wither away into irrelevancy. And hope to garner taxpayer support for a new stadium.

If Taylor and Lou are retained, this team will never win another playoff game.

 

[cincygrad]

Of course the fans are pissed. They want to raise season ticket prices and ask for tax payer money for yet another new stadium. While sporting a 0-4 home record to boot. It’s a joke.

This is the same ol’ Bengals. They nickel and dimed a Super Bowl defense into a league worst unit in order to roll cap space over to do….nothing.

The FO is just as much to blame as Lou Anarumo. They let key players from the 2021-22 team walk for cheap replacements from the draft. And whiffed on damn near every single pick. 4 premium picks on the secondary. All whiffs. Hill did show some promise at corner this year but is now hurt. 1st round pick on a DE who dropped because he sucks at rushing the passer. The Ossai and Zach Carter picks. There might be some hope for the Jenkins/Jackson DT picks. But it’s not nearly enough.

This team needed to invest in a legit edge or interior rusher in FA. For the last 3 offseasons. And did absolutely nothing. And will continue to do nothing at the deadline. They have 36 year old Lawrence fucking Guy out there on key downs. That shows you how serious this franchise is.

The Brown family are who they are. Poverty ownership that will never ever get it. We all know this.

The only hope the Bengals have in the future is clean house with the coaching staff. They have to go get a Ben Johnson or someone similar to pair with Burrow. That’s the only way this thing works with the way this organization is run.

This is Katie and Troy’s test this offseason. Can they truly watch this thing fall apart. Watch fan apathy reach 90’s levels after each embarrassing home loss. Watch Joe Burrow wither away into irrelevancy. And hope to garner taxpayer support for a new stadium.

If Taylor and Lou are retained, this team will never win another playoff game.

This has been the same story as the other times the Bengals have had success - It's not sustainable because they don't do a good enough job identifying and developing talent. Similar to the early Carson Palmer years in that you can see some decay in the talent and you can see the schemes getting old and exposed. In those years it was most obvious on offense - The line got old and injured and wasn't effectively replaced so Palmer started to get hit too often and Brat's offense grew stale. I'd say this is similar to the current team's D - They nailed FA for two years, built a contending D and then had no idea how to sustain it. It's not clear to me that Lou or any of the coaches can develop talent at all.

The offense has never really changed - For 3 or 4 years it has felt like a unit that might one day put it together and be the top offense in the league. They never get there because they are limited by coaching and play-calling. For a while I think we all figured it was just offensive line issues... And there is still work to be done there. But, watching all these other games on Sundays it's pretty clear to me that most teams struggle on the offensive line. There isn't enough depth in the league and nobody is healthy for 17 weeks. The good offensive coaches can easily scheme around an injury or two and still remain efficient. Hell - Look at what Philly did to us on Sunday.