Post by 77bengal on Sept 6, 2018 15:13:36 GMT -5
I'm very excited about the 2018 Bengals and it's not all about wins and losses. But before discussing what I like on another thread, lets take a quick look at what I don't like and/or the teams weaknesses.
The team is still hampered to varying degrees by Mike Brown, Marvin Lewis, RG and RT. If these 'four problems' were to be remedied, these Bengals would have a good shot at winning it all.
Lets take a look at Brown first. Brown is improving as an owner. He's allowing his coaches to have more say into who stays and who goes. Retaining Lewis was/is a mistake on several fronts which are listed below.
Lewis' most glaring weakness is his his lack of discipline and I don't see this changing. Other weaknesses would be his desire to play/start over the hill veterans over younger and better players. Starting DE Michael Johnson over DE Kevin Willis is one such mistake. I don't have a problem with MJ being kept on the roster, but he should only be used as a back-up at both DE and DT. This would not only improve the team, but it would also benefit Johnson as well by keeping him fresh.
Right guard and right tackle are the two remaining problems. Why these two positions weren't strengthened (unless you count Booby Hart) during the off-season is beyond me. If these positions aren't improved upon soon, the team is going to lose games that they should've won. However, there is hope in the form of Christian Westerman and Bobby Hart. Westerman had a very solid preseason, but he's not starting because Lewis doesn't like his attitude. That's crazy. Why risk the heath of your starting QB, hamper the running game and hurt the entire teams moral just because you don't like a players attitude. This from a coach that had no problem with starting Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict despite their well documented 'attitudes'. Bobby Hart's career hasn't gotten off to a stellar start, but keep in mind that he's only 23 years old and has quite a bit of experience. I think OL Coach Frank Pollard is going to improve Hart's play which would be huge for this team. How much is the real question.
The team is still hampered to varying degrees by Mike Brown, Marvin Lewis, RG and RT. If these 'four problems' were to be remedied, these Bengals would have a good shot at winning it all.
Lets take a look at Brown first. Brown is improving as an owner. He's allowing his coaches to have more say into who stays and who goes. Retaining Lewis was/is a mistake on several fronts which are listed below.
Lewis' most glaring weakness is his his lack of discipline and I don't see this changing. Other weaknesses would be his desire to play/start over the hill veterans over younger and better players. Starting DE Michael Johnson over DE Kevin Willis is one such mistake. I don't have a problem with MJ being kept on the roster, but he should only be used as a back-up at both DE and DT. This would not only improve the team, but it would also benefit Johnson as well by keeping him fresh.
Right guard and right tackle are the two remaining problems. Why these two positions weren't strengthened (unless you count Booby Hart) during the off-season is beyond me. If these positions aren't improved upon soon, the team is going to lose games that they should've won. However, there is hope in the form of Christian Westerman and Bobby Hart. Westerman had a very solid preseason, but he's not starting because Lewis doesn't like his attitude. That's crazy. Why risk the heath of your starting QB, hamper the running game and hurt the entire teams moral just because you don't like a players attitude. This from a coach that had no problem with starting Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict despite their well documented 'attitudes'. Bobby Hart's career hasn't gotten off to a stellar start, but keep in mind that he's only 23 years old and has quite a bit of experience. I think OL Coach Frank Pollard is going to improve Hart's play which would be huge for this team. How much is the real question.