WhoDeyRevolution

2008 vs. 2007 Personnel Comparison: Defensive Backs

Despite leading the league in turnovers during Marvin Lewis' tenure as head coach, any casual fan of the Bengals will tell you that our secondary has given up far too many big plays over that time frame, and that we were largely getting by with sub-par talent (Kevin Kaesveharn, Ifani Ohalete, an aging Tory James) for a long time.  However, the Bengals have invested heavily in the secondary, including two of the last three 1st round picks in the Draft, as well as 2006 4th rounder Marvin White and surprising 7th rounder Chinedum Ndukwe. 

While there will be no personnel changes at the starting corner positions, the Bengals will start at least one new safety (and eventually, probably two) in place of the departed Madieu Williams.  Although young, the secondary is probably the most talented position group in the Bengals' defense, so their attitude, commitment, and playmaking skills will go a long way in determining how this unit performs.  As always, we'll start with a review of personnel.

AFC North Preview (Unabridged Version)

As mini-camps start and rosters start to take form, we here at WhoDeyRevolution are taking our first stab at predicting the division. I am listing the teams in order of where I think they will finish this year—and yes, you’ll have to scroll down for a bit to find the Bengals.

The AFC North should be extremely competitive this year, in part because I see all four teams losing a lot of non-conference games. This year, the AFC North matches up with the tough NFC East division, including a solid Eagles team, playoff contending Washington Redskins, pre-season Super Bowl pick Dallas Cowboys, and oh yeah, the defending Super Bowl champion NY Giants. The schedule this year for all four teams means that, in terms of strength of schedule (based on 2007 finish), the Steelers have the hardest schedule in football, the Ravens are at #5, and the Browns and Bengals are tied with the seventh hardest schedule.

Given the tough slate of opponents, the intra-division battles should be even more intense. Overall, I don’t think any team in our division will win more than 11 games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team won the division at 10-6 or even 9-7. I give the nod to the Steelers, who have dominated in division play. The Browns—much like the Bengals—remain a wild card, but I don’t see either one overcoming glaring problems on defense. In the end, I think Marvin Lewis is right that smash-mouth football rules this division. We saw it last year when the Steelers completely controlled the tempo of both games our by pounding the ball. I think with the addition of Rashard Mendenhall, it will be more of the same.

Click here to read the preview (warning, it is very long).

Marvin's Future in Cincinnati

I continue to be amazed by national pundits writing that Marvin is on the hot seat if the Bengals don't make the post-season in 2008 (or at least finish above .500 and just miss the playoffs).

Consider the head coaches under Mike Brown. Sam Wyche coached one more season after Paul Brown died in 1991, then on Christmas Eve 1991 he was either fired or he resigned (depending on who you ask). This was one year removed from an AFC Central title and a divisional playoff loss to the Raiders. Brown then hired Dave Shula, who won his first two games in 1992 (would have been 3-0 if Brett Favre was never born), then proceeded to finish 5-11, 3-13, and 3-13. A late surge in 1995 gave the Bengals a 7-9 record, but a 1-6 start in 1996 and a 19-52 career record for Shula FINALLY forced Brown to fire him and promote Bruce "Juice" Coslet. Coslet tried to shake things up, but it's hard to shake things up when you are placed in shackles by Bengals management. In 2000, Coslet had enough and quit after game 2. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was promoted, and while respected by the players, they ran roughshod over him and he was let go after the disaster that was 2002. If the stadium was sold out, I can guarantee you LeBeau would still be the head coach. But, the fact that maybe 5,000 people were in the stands for that final victory over the Saints in 2002...and more importantly club seats and luxury boxes were bare...not generating money that the Bengals do not have to share with the rest of the NFL....was the reason for the change.

Now we come to Marvin Lewis. Who checks in with a career record of 42-38. If the Bengals achieve their perfect season again in 2008 (8-8)...and if the past is the best predictor of the future...why would anyone think that Marvin is in danger of getting fired after the season? Even if the Bengals go 4-12, Dave Shula amassed FOUR YEARS of losing records and he still made it seven games into the 1996 season. Bengals management is not going to fire Lewis with years and millions left on his contract.

Here's my take on Marvin Lewis. I think he is a good motivator, I think he has a lot of respect in the NFL community, I think he is a solid NFL coach, I think his game-management (including time-management) skills need a lot of work, and I think he is insanely frustrated that Bengals management tie his hands from making personnel decisions. While you hear Colts players talking about how they don't want to let Coach Dungy down...you never hear those soundbites from Bengals players. I think this has less to do with Marvin and more to do with the Bengals waiting until Chris Henry's fifth (or was it sixth) strike to release him and deciding to reward Chad with a big contract after his meltdown in the playoffs. Players know they can take advantage of Marvin and the team...and not have to face the consequences of being cut or disciplined.

It's my opinion that at some point...and it could even be after this season...Marvin Lewis will quit. If everything stays status quo with the Bengals...no GM, no increase in scouting...no public commitment to win...Marvin just has too much pride to continue to coach this sinking ship.

Marvin quitting is the ONLY way he will not coach the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009.

The Turning Point

We all knew that something happened during the halftime of the 2005 playoff game against the Steelers.  But nobody knew the details or extremity of what took place when Chad Johnson cracked Marvin Lewis in the face with a right hook, shattered the training room glass window, and proceeded to put wide receivers coach Hue Jackson into a Full Nelson.  Okay maybe it wasn't a Full Nelson.. Perhaps a Half Nelson.  But that is besides the point.

Was this the same Chad Johnson who had captured the hearts and imaginations of billions of Bengals fans across the globe? The same Chad Johnson who's antics have been called light hearted and funny?  "Oh no, he is nothing like Terrell Owens... His antics are always tongue in cheek."  We've all heard that excuse.  Correct me if I am wrong but I don't recall ever hearing of T.O. going Latrell Sprewell on The Tuna, or punching Andy Reid in the grill.  He is WORSE than T.O...

This occurrence at the half time of the playoff game marks a turning point in Bengaldom.  A point in time where Marvin lost control of his team.  Any other respectable coach in the NFL would have benched and traded a player who committed such a heinous act.  Instead Chad was allowed to finish the game (pouting the whole time) and remain a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.  Now this is pure speculation, but I would guess that Marvin wanted Chad gone the day after that playoff game, but his hands were probably tied by Mike Brown for the same reason that they did not try to trade Chad this year (because they would have taken a cap hit.) 

What kind of message does this send to the rest of the team?  It's a message that says to go ahead and miss that workout. A message that says that I don't have to respect what coach is saying.  A message that says I can drive home after polishing off a bottle of Ketel One.  They all know that no matter what they do, they will always have a job. 

Now I would like to say that I still think Marvin can be a good coach in the NFL.  Maybe he can do this with the Bengals, but maybe he cannot.  Marvin ruled with an iron fist at one point (cutting Reggie Myles for fighting with another player.) Maybe he can get back to that level of respect.  But I will tell you one thing...  It is going to be pretty damn hard for Marvin to do it without full control over personnel.  And this is one thing Mike Brown wont give up to Marvin.  So I only have one thing to say to Marvin... GOOD LUCK, AND MAY THE POWER OF WYCHE BE WITH YOU.