Trying to Do Too Much

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Who Dey Revolution Manifesto

Preamble
IN THIS TIME of perpetual Cincinnati Bengals incompetence and futility, with zero playoff wins in the nineteen seasons since the WhoDeyRevolution Godfather, Paul Brown, passed away in 1991 and handed the team to his fortunate son, the Despot, Mike Brown;

Introduction

WE, the members of the Who Dey Revolution, in our fervent dedication to the Cincinnati Bengals and fanatical desire to transform our hometown team into perpetual Super Bowl contenders, call for a popular revolution of fans to demand comprehensive reform to the managerial decisions and approach of Cincinnati Bengals ownership, management, staff and players, and hereby call for the adoption of the following Who Dey Revolution Manifesto:

Manifesto Demands

THAT the Mike Brown, Katie Blackburn, Marvin Lewis, along with every other member of the Bengals management, staff and personnel, state publicly to all Bengals fans, “I will do everything in my power to help the Cincinnati Bengals win a Super Bowl;”

THAT Mike Brown will hire a general manager, drastically expand the scouting department and relinquish all control of player personnel;

THAT all training, rehabilitation and medical facilities are considered best-in-class compared to other NFL teams;

THAT the management fill the team only with players who fit the system, both mentally and physically, and are not reluctant to makes changes to player personnel when needed, regardless of cost or loyalty concerns;

THAT offensive and defensive line depth is considered the top priority for all player personnel decisions;

THAT all decisions made by ownership, management, staff and players, both on and off the field, are judged only by this criterion: “Does this help the Cincinnati Bengals win a Super Bowl?”

October 08, 2008

"We just had a few guys trying to do too much..."

Ever hear that quote from Marvin Lewis during a Monday press conference? Try after nearly every game over the past five-plus seasons as Bengals Head Coach.

Truth be told, 31 other teams have issues with a player trying to be a hero and go outside their responsibilities to make a big play. But, no other team has it happen again, and again, and again (without that mistake being corrected) more than the Bengals.

While in Dallas for the game, I saw one play that reminded me of Marvin's weekly quote...and after going back through the DVR, it's clear that it was a case of someone trying to do too much. Let's break this sucker down (touchdown begins at 0:24).

Setting the scene: 4th and 4 for the Cowboys on the Bengals 33 with 6:09 left in the first quarter. 3-0 Cowboys at the time.

On the play, you can see Felix Jones eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. Now, knowing what Jones's strengths are, you can probably guess if he is getting the ball, it's going to be outside (NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT HE WAS AN ENTIRE EIGHT YARDS BEHIND THE LINE).

Jonathan Joseph was the left corner on the play, and instead of playing his responsibility and staying outside to force Jones back inside, he cuts back and tries to make a highlight reel play four yards in the backfield. Marvin White, Robert Geathers (among others) were back inside waiting to stop Jones well short of the first down, ending the Cowboys drive.

I don't fault Joseph's effort on this play, but this team needs to play sound defense and stop trying to win the game on one play. The players need to know that the other will do their job and be in the right spot, especially on possession-changing plays like 4th down in your own territory.

Did this particular play lose the game for the Bengals? No, but you can see why this team is 0-5 and is now seven games under .500 since 2005. Stupid, fundamental (some might say selfish) mental mistakes that linger from play to play, game to game, and season to season.

Posted by Jason Buck on October 08, 2008 at 12:08 AM in Game Day | Permalink

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Don't forget Corey Lynch's ridiculous angle of pursuit.

Posted by: Who Dey NYC | October 08, 2008 at 09:46 AM

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Bengals Futility - By The Numbers

20 - Years since the Bengals have won a playoff game

0 - Total number of playoff wins in Mike Brown's tenure as owner

.359 - Bengals regular season winning percentage since Mike Brown took over as owner (115-206-1 in 20 seasons)

29-34-1 - Record since 2005 playoff game vs Steelers

6 - Seasons the Bengals have lost their first six games since 1991. No other team has more than two.

0 - Teams North of Cincinnati without an indoor practice facility

10 - Players arrested in a 14 month span from 2005-2006

32 - Mike Brown's ranking, out of 32, of the "Best Owners in the NFL" by Michael Silver of Sports Illustrated in 2007

458,000,000 - Amount, in dollars, that Hamilton County Taxpayers paid to build PBS

2032 - Year that Hamilton County will have finally paid off its debt on the stadium deal

3 - Total number of non-clerical employees employed in the Bengals scouting department, lowest in the league

747,000,000 - Amount, in dollars, paid in free agency by the Bengals from 1994 - 2005, second worst of all 28 teams in existence for the duration, behind only Arizona

118 – Ranking, out of 118 professional teams, of the “Worst Franchises” in professional sports, as ranked by ESPN the Magazine in 2003.

97 – Ranking, out of 98 general managers in all four major sports with three or more years of experience, of Mike Brown’s performance as a GM, as ranked by Forbes in 2007.

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October 08, 2008