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The Cincinnati Bengals must make changes after an 0-2 start.
What those changes could entail remains a mystery, but we should expect, at the very least, to see some minor tinkering this this team going into Week 3. With over a week until the next game, now is the perfect time to make adjustments to personnel, whether it’s with players or even coaches.
The most obvious area to address is the offense, which has scored a grand total of three field goals in two games. While there’s still plenty of season left, this is easily the NFL’s worst offense through two games, and there isn’t much, if any reason to think it will get better at its current pace.
Perhaps a change of pace could shake things up, like, maybe a change on who’s actually calling the plays. Offensive coordinator Ken Zampese is clearly in over his head, so the Bengals should at least consider making a change there.
Well, Marvin Lewis isn’t exactly denying that changes could be made here. On Friday, Lewis would not speak on any potential changes coming with his staff, including Zampese:
I asked Lewis if he would talk about personnel or staff changes - he said he wouldn’t tell us if there were. #Bengals
— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) September 15, 2017
Asked to clarify a commitment to Zampese, Marvin Lewis: “We’re not going to discuss that in here.” #Bengals
— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) September 15, 2017
Marvin Lewis on potential staff changes: "We have to get better, but I'm never going to come in here an tell you anything we're gonna do."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) September 15, 2017
Lewis on Zampese: "Worked incredibly hard at this. Had a good command of the things we’ve done but we are not getting the results we need."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) September 15, 2017
That’s not exactly a vote of confidence for Zampese. Heck, that last comment sounds like something Lewis would say if he had just announced that Zampese was fired.
At the very least, Lewis is leaving the door open for changes to be made. Whether or not they come remains a mystery, but at this rate, they’ll have to come sooner rather than later.
Again, with a long week off before the Bengals face the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 24, this is the time to make changes. This is the time to take away the play-calling duties and give them to someone like quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor, who has experience as an offensive coordinator from his days with the Miami Dolphins, as well as college stints at Buffalo and Virginia.
Still, until the Bengals actually make changes, expecting them to come is a waste of breath. Lewis and Mike Brown have shown they’ll let things play out far longer than they should, so it may take a few more games before some serious staff changes are made.