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| Marvin
Lewis, Defensive
Mastermind? |
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I would like to preface this by telling
you I am a Bengals fan. I grew
up in the Nasty Nati, going to Riverfront Stadium almost every Sunday
as a youngster with my dad when the Bengals played. I am proud to say I
have never turned my back on this team and, assuming we do not trade or
release Carson Palmer in the next decade, I never will. However,
growing up in the ‘90s in a football town that would have made
Purgatory seem like an extended stay at Promises in Malibu, I have
always had my doubts…but with names like Coslet, Carter, Wilkinson,
Shula, Klingler and Shaken’ Blake during the dark ages dominating the
pigskin talk… what sane individual living in Cincinnati during the
1990s didn’t have their doubts about the Bengals?
After last
weekend’s debacle in Cleveland another doubt crept into the
back of my mind. It was safe to say before the start of the
season
that with the weapons on offense, that this Bengals team had a
legitimate shot to contend for the AFC North crown and possibly a Super
Bowl berth. Much to my chagrin, last weekend’s defensive effort against
Derek Anderson and the Browns made me almost as sick to my stomach as
when I hear Sean Kingston on the radio. It had me doubting whether or
not this team could even squeak out a playoff berth. And it poses the
question: What is Marvin Lewis doing or in reality, what is he not
doing about this defense?
Since being named head coach the Bengals under Marvin have had,
arguably, one of the top five worst defenses overall the past four
years in the NFL. They have finished 28th (2003), 22nd (‘04), 28th
(‘05) and 31st (‘06) in total defense and who knows what their 11-5
record would have really been in 2005 if the defensive unit did not
lead the league in interceptions. |
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You can make the argument for Lewis and the Bengals that they have
simply been a victim of bad luck personnel wise. Losing David Pollack
and Odell Thurman has crippled the line backing core to the point of
relying on names like Caleb Miller, Ahmad Brooks, Landon Johnson and
now their newest addition, Dhani Jones. You could say Justin Smith has
not really panned out as the pass rushing specialist he was made out to
be. You could go even further to say this young defensive core is still
mastering the team’s scheme. You could say any one of those have played
a part. I say all of those are a cop out.
Whether you are a diehard fan of the Bengals, follower of another NFL
team or just in general a football fan, you still cannot discount what
Lewis has done for this organization. His most valuable contributions
have not been in his week in and week out game planning nor his
managing, or so called coddling of Chad Johnson’s antics that would
seemingly decimate most NFL locker rooms. Lewis’ biggest accomplishment
in Cincinnati was his ability to change the landscape and atmosphere of
this organization. This was a team that was well versed in just one
thing…losing and when Marvin came along, that was all changed.
But as the Bengals trudge on in year five of the Lewis regime, you have
to ask yourself one question. Is the light at the end of the tunnel a
Super Bowl or a series of missed opportunities resulting in thwarted
post season chances and playoff flame outs? If this defense does not
get any better, the end of the tunnel result may lay with the latter.
The glowing spot on Lewis’s resume when he took over as head coach was
his six years as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator, the capper being
the so called architect of the 2000 Ravens’ Super Bowl team, comprised
of one of the most dominant defenses the NFL had ever seen. A year in
Washington as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 2002
was another resume plus for Lewis who had already garnered the
“defensive guru” title. But where is the defense in Cincinnati? Was
Lewis really the mind behind the Baltimore defense that terrorized
opposing quarterbacks for years on end?
Many people don’t know, seem to forget or choose not to acknowledge the
help Lewis had during his time with the Ravens. Two of the most well
respected evaluators of talent, Ozzie Newsome and Phil Savage, lay
quiet in their positions in the front office while Lewis received all
the hoopla. It was Savage and Newsome who put that bruising team
together…not Lewis. I don’t care who the defensive coordinator was all
those years in Baltimore, a handicapped orangutan, bulimic model or
city bus driver could have strapped on a headset and called the plays
for that unit and still would have had one of the top defenses in the
league.
As the Bengals prepare this week for a trip out west to take on the
Seahawks the main topic of concern will be this defense. The underlying
theme however has to surround Marvin. Will he ever be able to assemble
the caliber of defense to complement his high scoring offense? Is it
time for him to take the reigns from defensive coordinator Chuck
Bresnahan? If things continue on at this pace, perhaps it may be the
time to bring in a big name or up and coming defensive coordinator next
season to fix this team’s glaring hole.
Who knows…?
Cincinnati’s D could bounce back on Sunday against Seattle and prove
last week’s game was just a bad all around day everyone. The team could
use their performance in Cleveland as a rallying cry for the rest of
the year. The bottom line is this; teams do not make it to the promised
land without a little help from their D. The Colts are a prime example,
their defense finally stepped it up when they had to last year and
Peyton and company got it done. Until Lewis figures things out and this
team decides to take that next step, last Sunday’s meltdown could be a
sign for things to come.
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