Cincinnati fans still waiting. Still waiting for one of the local teams to win a playoff game, or even make it to the playoffs in back to back seasons.
After the Bengals gave up a seventeen point lead against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, fans start looking for major changes.
The Vikings fire head coach Brad Childress after an amazing season last year. This single event has me believing that Marvin Lewis' job is not safe.
No one has job security in Cincinnati, because it's not a single coach or player that is the issue with the team. The Bengals are losing as a team. The story of this season is close but not close enough. Whether it's penalties, turnovers, or people not doing their job all of it has affected this team.
A lot of fans think that both Lewis and quarterback Carson Palmer could be gone, but I just can't see Mike Brown kicking Palmer out the door. It would be a reckless move on his part. I know fans are mad at the mistakes Palmer is making, but he's still better than half of the starting quarterbacks in the league.
The Bengals need to look for a quarterback in this years draft. Not a player that they want to start next season, but someone who can be mentored by Palmer in running the offense. Palmer was so successful early in his career because Jon Kitna mentored him and showed him the ropes before he started.
A similar story is Phillip Rivers in San Diego. Rivers sat behind Drew Brees before he took over the starting job for the Chargers, and now he is a better quarterback for it.
Carson Palmer is not the biggest issue with this team, but a move like this could get the fans on board long enough to see if he is the leader of the team. The Bengals desperately need a back up quarterback regardless if they need a starter and I have been saying that for the past three years.
With a high first round draft pick you could get the best quarterback in the draft, but I have a feeling you will not see Batman and Robin on this team next season. The Bengals need to look for new down the field play makers for this team, and new players are the best way to do it.
Both Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens have had issues with the team so far this season and at times has affected their play. If Chad leaves then Owens will leave as well and that means Palmer no longer has the weapons he needs.
If there is not a great receiver worth a high first round draft pick, then the Bengals should trade back in the draft so they can get the guy they need.
Another issue that has troubled me with the team is how lackadaisical the defense has been playing. They have been banged up, but no position is hurt worse than the safeties. With Roy Williams and Cris Crocker out the Bengals have looked at times lost. This is a need that needs to be addressed this off season more so then a quarterback.
When you look at Pittsburgh's defense who makes them the top defense? It's Troy Polamalu because he is everywhere. Without Polamalu this defense is not as affective and can't function as properly.
I like the safety out of Ohio State Hines. Watching him run around making plays makes me wish that the Bengals had a guy like this. Last season the Bengals defense was smash mouth. This season they're just soft. They need someone physical that allows the rest of the team to be physical, and Hines is the type of player that could do that.
There is more issues such as the offensive line and special teams that will need to be looked at, but we don't even know who will remain in Cincinnati next season.
The number one change that needs to be made above all is the offensive coordinator. Bratkowski is not an affective coordinator and his play calling makes fans sick. He calls the plays that are so in affective, not Marvin Lewis. He's the one that Owens was talking about “not listening” to his suggestions. He's the genius calling three straight running plays.
The last presidential election was all about change, and I see change on the horizon for Cincinnati. The question is who, what, and when. Right now the team we have needs to fight for some respect. No one wants to watch their team give up a major lead to lose by double digits, and fans will quit watching.
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