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Bengals: Offseason To-Do List

10. January 2010  - Published by Jimmy Dinsmore
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Many fans, myself included, are frustrated with how the Bengals season ended. They were lackluster and boring and quite mediocre, after a 5 game streak of tough and impressive football in the middle part of the schedule. However, putting it in perspective, how many fans would've been fine with 10 wins when the season began? They went from a 4-win team to a 10-win team. Am I making excuses? No. I am merely saying that the foundation is in place for a solid team. The Bengals are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, especially on the defensive side. And, all fans would have to agree that the future of the Bengals defense looks bright.

So here's my list of things Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis need to address.

1.) Resign Mike Zimmer. The Bengals defensive coordinator has not been renewed and is a hot commodity. He has left his mark on this young defense and it's time to make him richer for it. In fact, why not make him the heir apparent when Marvin's contract is expired.

2.) Find a new offensive coordinator. The problems this team suffered, especially down the stretch came from an absolute lack of creative playcalling and a stagnant offense. This isn't solely on Bob Bratkowski's shoulders, but since you can't fire the entire offense, you gotta make Brat the sacrificial lamb. Bring in someone who's younger, but appreciates the way we play ball in the AFC North.

3.) Draft Mardy Gilyard. The Bearcat WR brings two things to this team that they desperately need. He brings another receiving option opposite Chad Ochocinco. And he also bring electicity to the special teams. Gilyard would be available in the late first round, where the Bengals are drafting.

4.) Resign Tank Johnson. Between Domata Peko and Tank Johnson, the Bengals interior d-linemen helped improve the Bengals run defense. Johnson is a good fit for this team and seems to really like living here.

5.) Resign Roy Williams. The hard-hitting safety got injured early in the season, but when he played, the team was much better. Plus, Williams probably would be cheap and would provide nice depth in the defensive backfield.

6.) Sign a veteran WR with Super Bowl experience who can play the TJ Houshmanzadeh/Wes Welker role. The Bengals lack a possession receiver and boy did they feel it. Lavernues Coles was not that guy and should be allowed to find employment elsewhere. I'm not suggesting either of these guys, but a Marvin Harrison or Torry Holt-type of guy is what this team needs.

7.) Sign a new placekicker. Shayne Graham has not made a clutch kick in what seems like years. And he was unable to make deep kickoffs into the end zone, which hurt the special teams. It's time to find a veteran kicker or address it in the draft.

8.) Draft a young QB "project" in the draft. Carson Palmer has hit a wall. It's either an injury issue, a playcalling (i.e. Brat's fault) issue or a sudden loss of talent. Whatever the case, Palmer has to turn it around if this team is going to proceed forward. And, because he'll turn 30, it's time to see if there's a project-type QB available in this draft. It's a fairly weak QB class, and the Bengals lack the scouting department, but it's something to consider.

9.) No contract issues with any players or drafted players. The Andre Smith issue hurt his progression and development as a player. Whoever is drafted, they must be signed, sealed and delivered in time for training camp.

10.) Consider going back to the no huddle. How many times did we hear Chad or Carson say they couldn't get their timing down. In year's past when the Bengals offense was clicking, they would switch gears into no huddle. I watched every play this season and can't recall a single series where the no huddle was employed. This mostly goes back to my problems with Bratkowski, but Marvin Lewis is the coach, he could realize and address this.

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Comments

Wesley Reed
Wesley Reed
1/11/2010 3:46:58 AM #
To Whom It May Concern:

  I write this letter today out of concern for our organization.  Yesterday’s loss was devastating for the entire Bengal family.  Decisions regarding the best possible future for this organization need to be made quickly and with great haste.  Though a 10-6 record is successful, we have many needs to be addressed in order to make us a deep playoff contender like we all want. As a regular member of the Bengal message board, here are some things that we have identified as problems that need to be addressed:

  First and most importantly, Mr. Bob Bratkowski, our Offensive Coordinator, has consistently failed all season and should be considered marginal at best. This organization has been plagued unoriginal play calling that has ended our offense into the category of predictable.  Sadly, when the fan-base can consistently predict his plays, the other team can as well.

     Bratkowski seem to have also lost the creative aspect to do the job effectively. When controlling the line of scrimmage, why can we not run a gadget play once in a while utilizing players such as B.Scott in places such as slot receiver?  Why can we not put some creativity into our plays like the old Steeler OC Whisenhunt who ran the ball, but used gadgets, the TE, possession receivers, and roll outs to keep the defense off balance?  We have everything but a good tight end to run that offense right now. Sam Wyche would have used B.Scott the way he used Icky Woods and James Brooks with dump-off passes out of the backfield. We need someone back in here with the Bill Walsh mentality of keeping ball control and a good mix of a running and passing to keep the chains moving.  We need quick hitting offensive on slant routes to our WR’s to keep them free from the cornerbacks.  Also, we need to get back to bringing the no-huddle offense and play action passing as well.  Again, this is something Sam Wyche brought to our team that we have not seen in a very long time outside of the last several minutes of games where we are behind in the 4th quarter.  Good football starts with good coaching, and for the following needs to be effective; the first need has to be addressed.

  Secondly, the identity of our team has changed in the past several years.  We have morphed into a running/ defensive team rather than an offensive powerhouse that we were in 05.  This is directly the reason, I believe, we are the AFCN Champions. This philosophy has been brought by way of Coach Mike Zimmer, who needs to be retained at all cost in efforts of building a well-rounded team.  Also needing to be retained is Cedric Benson. During our 1-playoff game, he had a career day and ran for 169 yards in 21 attempts, to include 1 TD.  With the new identity of this team and in efforts to make this a more well rounded offense, this young man needs to have a new contract.  

   Front office, I hope changes are made in this organization.  Our offense needs a breath of fresh air from its current OC.  We have some very talented players that want to bring success to this family and organization.  Several of these players I have directly mentioned and demanded action to resign.  We also have some coaching issues that demand immediate attention as well.  Bengal nation, as I am sure does the Front Office, wants to ensure our success for the future.  If we continue down the same road offensively that we are now, we will again be laughed at.  If we do not attend to our needs, our future success will be filled with many more seasons of frustration.  Lets make these changes and show that we are a team that does demand respect and are coming to take the Lombardi Trophy to Cincinnati.  

Sincerely,
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