Monday Morning Links and Notes

Should be considered, I’d assume.

Is that someone will show up, for sure. Especially when training camp kicks off. We could always re-sign Ratliff. ;-)

Lewis has brought a team that was simply abysmal to the level of mediocrity. Whether that is fulfilling expectations or not-probably not, since fans expect championships and its has been a long drought in Cincinnati. Personally, I think Lewis inherited a team that much worse shape than the our won-loss records indicated. I have scrolled through some of those rosters and it is honestly stunning how bad they were. He wasn’t starting from scratch, he was starting from a deep whole. I tend to be on the “blame the front office” bandwagon largely because I think the Bengals do a horrible job of identifiying, developing, and keeping talent. It has nothing to do with being stingy (if anything, the Bengals could be more stingy-or at least less sentimental), it is just poor personnel management.

If I recall correctly, the buzz about hiring Marvin Lewis was that he was a defensive coach and would help turn the Bengals into a strong defensive squad, and it was implied, if not explicitly stated, that he would have more control over player personnel than previous coaches. How true the latter point is, I have no idea. I have wondered since it seems like the Bengals have much more payroll locked up on offense than on defense (never done the math here, but it seems to be the case) which is a very typical “Mike Brown” formula. If you can’t win, at least keep it high scoring. I guess I am still willing to give Marvin the benefit of the doubt.

June 2, 2008! All I can think of is; why is Chad still a Bengal? Why, oh, why?

Caldwell can return punts like Chatman never could. Though I guess that could depend on where he ends up in the receivers rotation- i.e., if his role there is too vital you might not want to risk him returning. In that case, what about Dede Dorsey as a punt returner to augment a perhaps diminished role in the backfield with the return of Perry?

Assuming Chad is gone, we don’t re-sign TJ for big bucks because he isn’t now, nor can he ever be a number one receiver- he’s just not fast/explosive enough- which is what you gotta have for that kind of money.

Just on the numbers, say where our D ranked last year versus the year previous to his arrival, I’ve got to say that the tag, “defensive guru” isn’t apt. I read somewhere that the stats for his time with that vaunted Ravens D were about exactly the same as those for a similar amount of years after he left- which says to me it was more 52 than Marvin that gave that unit it’s fire. I’m sure the ten-thumbed hands of Mike Brown figure into this at least partially but, except for that fluke year with all the forced turnovers, I’d have to say the D has gotten even more inept. Of course, when the last first day DT pick here was Dan Wilkinson in, what, ‘94?- how you gonna stop anyone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m actually optimistic about this years D- a little less maybe now that they axed Odell. But I’ve given up on the defensive superlatives as applied to Marvin. I also hold Lewis responsible for letting the Chad thing get to this point and, then, for not cutting the deal when it did. “In Marvin We Trust?” I don’t trust anyone in that front office as long as it’s the Mikey and Katie show- what a bunch of maroons..

I feel ya bud.