How the Bengals can get back to the postseason
By Emile Pierce
The Cincinnati Bengals are making offseason moves that signal a desire to visit the postseason again. Making the playoffs may not be just a dream.
If you ask any Bengals fan what hurt the most about the past two seasons, they’ll tell you the same thing. It may come out in different ways, but the underlying theme is still the same. After coming so close to winning that January 9 Wild Card game two years ago (yeah, it’s been that long), the frustration is building. The 2015 Bengals had a chance to win it all and blew it with less than two minutes left in regulation. It continues to be a hard pill to swallow. But, the drought can be reversed.
Marvin Lewis has been re-signed to a two-year deal and seems to have a plan in mind. Yeah, that’s been the story for 15 years. Yet, there’s some truth to his predicament. When Mike Brown brought the defensive guru to Cincinnati, there were coaches on the Bengals staff that he inherited. Now, more moves are being made to get the staff he feels can produce playoff results immediately. And after the past two campaigns, patience is at a premium.
How can the Bengals make a quick fix to slide back into the postseason? It’s not as hard as many think. The team is stocked with talent and just needs a stern kick in the arse to “motivate” that playoff roll.
Discipline in a bag
Wouldn’t it be great? Lewis goes to the sporting goods store and buys a pound of discipline to sprinkle on the Bengals. But, that doesn’t exist. So, in the meantime, the merry band of suspects on hand has to do the job.
It’s not about getting nasty and throwing players under the bus. But, it is time to call out those players who aren’t performing. In other words, if there’s a lack of production, that player shouldn’t be starting. If the Bengals are going to make a run for the 2018 playoffs, there has to be an air of business first. Athletes will always gravitate to a player’s coach. But, that’s not always the best move. Honesty will always get the most respect.
There were moments during 2017 when that honesty and discipline could have come in handy. In fact, if Alex Redmond and Christian Westerman are considered earlier in the year…get the point? That was a case of forcing the issue with a few players who weren’t making the grade at their positions.
Now, there’s a two-year time crunch. Hopefully, the willingness to put up with sub-par play and selfish attitudes will be thrown out. It’s time to see who’s real and about that Atlanta trip.
Tweaking the defense
There’s no need to makeover the Bengals D. The components are there for a unit that can be dominating. Losing Paul Guenther to the Oakland Raiders is not the end of the world. DC Teryl Austin is more than capable of using the current players to make a statement.
"“There is good talent here. Like every year, I’m sure we’re going to try to add that talent, then it’s my job to make sure that talent performs on the field. I’m looking forward to working with the guys, getting them together, trying to get them to reach as individuals so that we can reach our potential as a team.”"
Yes, there’s excellent talent available for the defensive wizards to mold. Austin’s defense snatched 19 INTs and 13 fumbles to land at 3rd in the NFL. Compared to 30th for the Bengals, that would be a serious improvement.
Stopping the run will be a major fix for the offseason. Get that average under 100.0 yards per game and the Bengals have a top 10 unit.
Bring confidence to the offense
Bad O-line aside, the Bengals have the studs to make it work in 2018. Forget about the space-age quirks and gadgets Ken Zampese tossed at the players.
What’s the positive? When Bill Lazor tinkered with the Bengals’ playbook, he took the best schemes and made them work. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to set things up his way. Andy Dalton has a confidence issue that needs to be addressed. Although most of it comes from running for his life, he also needs to make better decisions.
Bringing Lazor into the equation should help Dalton’s psyche. Be ready for an uptempo offense in 2018. And, according to Lewis, be ready for an aggressive approach.
"“We have to be better on offense — no doubt about it. We have to get back to being a vertical-threat team, we have to start the football season being able to run the football. And that’s got to be more consistent. We have to do a great job of that. And that means we have to go into the offseason and look at those things. We have to be more physical every opportunity we get, so that we can control the football game that way.”"
The coaches know how to give fans goosebumps with words. But, this has to come to fruition…within two years.