Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis is already on the hot seat witht the teams loss to Cleveland this past Sunday. After watching his defense give up 51 point against Cleveland, and embarrass themselves for the third time in three seasons Coach Lewis is stressing again that there are a few minor adjustments that should allow for everything to be ok.  If fixing Defenses is so easy in the NFL, can you imagine what Bill Belichick should be able to do this week after he makes a few changes to his defense.  No one will score on the Patriots for the rest of the season.  

Despite having an underperforming team last year, another 8 and 8 season, getting beaten by potentially one of the worst teams in the NFL, and having them roll up 51 points on his defense, the Bengals Coach has decided that now is the time to let all the media and fans know he always has been and still is the smartest guy in the room when it comes to football in Cincinnati.  Or better yet and more importantly let the fans and the media know they don’t understand the game like he does.

Well a few of us may not have a total grasp on the NFL and yes we have never coached, but we do know the following:

• When a team puts 51 points on the board against your defense in the NFL that it should be considered a very bad day for your team! 
 

• We do know that when a Quarterback who has played just a few more games in the NFL than most of the people reading this article, throws five touchdowns passes against your defense that you probably are doing some things wrong.

• We do know that when a team racks up 451 yards in returns in a two weeks against your special teams and as a result your teams only strategy is to begin squib kicking the ball like the 12 year old Stallions little league team does every Saturday morning in the local pony football league that your special teams may be in need of some improvement.  It may also be time to explain to your players what it means to take a lane and stay in it.

• We do know that the Head Coach does take the fall when things go bad.  You know like having another team score 51 point s against your Defense and under perform against a bad team again.

• Most importantly we do know that when your team embarrasses itself in the NFL that the fans and the city feel the same embarrassment and most of them do not like this feeling, and that this is probably not the best time for the Coach to be smug an condescending to the fans, the city, and the media.

Now, with all this being said, this is a a long season.  I told you there would be ups and downs.  If the Bengals win the next two games, everyone will write this off as a “we looked past a bad team”.  If we lose the next two games, everyone may begin to realize that it might be the Bengals who are the “Bad Team”.

Either way, Marvin do us a favor.  Have at least enough hindsight and tact to know that when you get your barn doors blown off that you don’t respond by being smug and condescending.  It only makes things worse.  Oh, by the way, we have heard the few minor adjustments speech before from you Coach Lewis.  I believe we heard it last year multiple times and the team ended the season 8 and 8 and sitting home for the playoffs. 

Minor adjustments are the difference between great Coaches and unemployed Coaches.  The unemployed Coaches seem to be able to analyze and determine there are adjustments that need to be made.  The Great Coaches are the ones that can actually do something about them and get them fixed.  They are the ones that can modivate their players to “Do Their Job”!  I guess we will find out soon which of the two Coach Lewis plans on being this season. 

In the meantime please try to work on treating your fans, the media, and the city with the same level of respect you want to be treated with. 

One final thought, 8 and 8 season are officially no longer considered acceptable or a winner in Cincinnati, and if Mike Brown is listening I hope he realizes this as well.

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