Benching Dalton: A Cincinnati Bengals Love-Tragedy

   On the day of the trade deadline, which also happened to be his birthday, the Cincinnati Bengals announced that they were benching their 2011 2nd-round draft selection quarterback Andy Dalton after nine seasons and starting rookie Ryan Finley, a 4th-round selection from this past years draft out of North Carolina State.

It was announced that the decision was made by first-year head coach Zac Taylor, who was known to be a supporter of Dalton when he arrived in Cincinnati. Dalton, clearly disappointed with the decision, made it known that he was displeased to the media on Wednesday after practice about coach Taylor's decision and the way that the Bengals organization handled the situation. He [Dalton] said that he was informed only three hours prior to the deadline which didn't allow much time for his agent to seek a trade.

With all that is going on around the Bengals organization (or lack of activity that is), it is kind of hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel with all the smoke in the way. However, if we look at this at the surface level it's a way for both parties to get to where they really need to be at this point. I see this possibly being the best for the Bengals organization, fans and even Andy Dalton.

Bengals

• Get to see what life is like after Dalton
• Fresh start for the organization who still seem to be living in the shadows of Marvin Lewis
• Rejuvenating the fan base, turning a new leaf 

Fans 

• They've been highly critical of Dalton for the past few seasons - They get someone new 
• This is closer to the closing of the Marvin Lewis chapter - Andy is an extension of Marvin
• Change isn't always good but it's something new, exciting and the fan base needs this right now

Dalton 

• Doesn't have to worry about getting injured as he gets closer to his contract season
• Won't have to worry about playing behind that offensive line, which hasn't looked very good this season
• Possibly has an opportunity to go play for another team and could see what else is out there for him. Or could gain more appreciation from the Cincinnati fan base which has been extremely critical of his play over the past few seasons. 

Through the first 8 games Dalton has 2,252 passing yards, 9 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions on 60% of his passes completed. Also, he has accounted for all 3 of the Bengals rushing scores.

Though sounding fretful in his first public interview since the announcement came, Dalton did acknowledge that he is here to support Finley and hopes to see the team succeed going forward and he will support the team in anyway he can. While I didn't see the logic in an 0-8 team making the decision to bench their best option at quarterback while the team is already without their best offensive weapon for the first half of the season in AJ Green and head coach Zac Taylor still is looking for his first win. I do believe that this could be the turning of the page from the Marvin Lewis era that the Cincinnati Bengals have really not addressed since only making the change at head coach but keeping the roster mostly the same.

Ryan Finley will make his first start in the national football league coming off of the bye week, November 10, as the Bengals host the division leading Baltimore Ravens with the possibility of AJ Green returning for that game.

While this seems like the world is collapsing in on Dalton, the Bengals and it's fans. This honestly could be new life unfolding for all three. The Bengals need to be forward-thinking with all decisions at this point. If they are thinking 2020 this could be a stepping stone towards the Bengals knowing they'll draft a quarterback in the upcoming draft, possibly trading Dalton in the offseason and maybe being aggressive next season like many have wished they would for the past few years. While I am not positive of this, it surely feels like optimism is needed and this is one way to see light at the end of the tunnel. 

The Lesson 1999 Should Have Taught Bengals Fans For 2020

Akili Smith, Quarterback - 1999 draft selection (No.3 overall)

The "New Dey" hasn't really lived up to it's hype, so far, in 2019 for the Cincinnati Bengals after an 0-7 start to the season for first-year head coach Zac Taylor. Right now the conversation in Cincinnati is less about actual football in 2019 but more so about the NFL Draft in 2020, where it looks the Bengals will have a top 5 draft pick.

In 1999, with the 4th overall draft pick, the Bengals drafted quarterback Akili Smith from the University of Oregon. In 2000, Smith's first full season as the starter, the Bengals went 4-12. 2001 they were 6-10 and 2002 they regressed to 2-14. Now, Smith wasn't all to blame but he wasn't going to be the key to the rebuilding process.  That was proven to be right as the Bengals drafted Heisman-winning quarterback, Carson Palmer in 2003.

The biggest question right now, for the Bengals, is how do they turn things around as an organization? Drafting a QB seems to always be the way most organizations believe that's solve that problem and that's the basis of rebuilding. For the Bengals, with this draft class, I don't think that's the solution.  I know people have been intrigued with the notion of the Bengals drafting a quarterback early in this years draft to replace the veteran Andy Dalton. Names like Justin Herbert; Oregon; Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama; Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma and Joe Burrow from LSU are all names that have been mentioned as quarterbacks that could possibly be drafted early in the 2020 draft. But if the Bengals remain patient and take the best player on their draft board and not best quarterback on their draft board I think they'll get it right. If it's one thing that I believe that the 1999 draft taught me and should have taught Bengals fans it's that drafting a quarterback is not the solution ... drafting the right PLAYER is.

The Bengals (0-7) are traveling to London, England to face the defending NFC champions in the Los Angeles Rams. Zac Taylor has a chance to get his first win against his old team. The Bengals-Rams kickoff on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

Will 2019 Really Be A "New Dey" or "Groundhog's Dey" For the Cincinnati Bengals?

August 10, 2019 will be start of a new regime for the Cincinnati Bengals. For the first time since 2002 the Cincinnati Bengals will be playing a football game without a head coach named Marvin Lewis. New head coach, Zac Taylor has been embraced by the city and the team so far. The players seemingly has bought into the new coach and his philosophy; there has been positive words during camp from star players such as wide receiver AJ Green and defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

But I often see myself asking the question: Did not drafting a quarterback and showing signs of the re-build mean that coach Taylor believes he can win with this team? A team in which Marvin Lewis built?

Now I ask: Do we give him a pass if they don't make the playoffs? What standard do we hold him to? Yes, he's a first year head coach but it seems that he seems that he can win with the team Marvin Lewis couldn't. In 2018 the Bengals got off to a 4-1 start and then injuries happened, the team lost momentum. Quarterback Andy Dalton missed majority of the season with a thumb injury, AJ Green injured his toe and struggled with that for more than half of the season which caused him to miss a few games, tried to return, but officially had to call it a season after week 13. Also to mention, the team was without pass-rusher Carl Lawson who was poised to have a big season. Now, with all that being said, with a roster being close to being fully healthy (AJ Green has an injured foot and could miss at least 3-4 regular season game after hurting his ankle on the first day of training camp in Dayton, OH) and wide receiver Tyler Boyd emerging in 2018 with his first 1,000-yard receiving season and will likely be the primary target for Dalton. Also, who may be the most important piece to this years team most important piece in running back Joe Mixon who just led the AFC in rushing and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, also, in his young career.

So, with a team that started 4-1 (healthy) just one season ago, can coach Taylor capitalize and make this team a contender? The AFC North is known to be one that is one of the toughest, year-in and year-out with this season, at least on paper, could be one of the toughest; the Cleveland Browns look to have a high powered offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. whom they acquired in a trade from the New York Giants, The Pittsburgh Steelers are without Antonio Brown now but they're still the Steelers and Wide Receiver Juju Smith-Schuster believes he can be the star receiver that the Steelers need after having an amazing 2018 season. Plus, the Baltimore Ravens are looking to make another playoff appearance led by second-year starter, quarterback, Lamar Jackson.

Coach Taylor is up against a strong test and not opting for the re-build and going for the "win now" approach is a bold one for any first-year, first-time head coach. The Cincinnati Bengals organization, since announcing the new coach, has been branding 2019 with the slogan "New Dey" ... But will it be really? The Bengals in the off-season, outside of the new coach, hasn't made a lot of noise. Now there's a possibility that coach Taylor could take this team, they stay healthy and win 10 or games. Or  there's the possibility that he take this team (healthy or not) and they win 4 or 5. With that being said that takes me back to my first question: How do we judge coach Taylor and the 2019 Bengals? I say that he and the "New Dey" will be judged on 2 things:

1. Can he lead this team to beat the Steeler at Paul Brown Stadium? The Bengals struggled under Marvin Lewis to beat the Steelers at home.
2. How will he handle things when they're not going well? Will he be a vocal coach? One thing that fans often showed frustration with former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis for his nonchalant attitude after a disappointing loss.

Coach Zac Taylor brings youth with him and maybe that means energy, passion and other qualities former coach Lewis did't often to display.

The Bengals open up their preseason Saturday, August 10th as they travel Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, I wouldn't too much stock into the first preseason game or any preseason game for that matter. But, there are things that I will watch for. How does this team play for him? Look for play-calling on third downs, in the red zone and how will they use the multiple running backs listed on their depth chart? These will all be things to key-in on.

In 2019 there will be a lot of questions answered about Zac Taylor but more about the Bengals organization. Because, it's been no secret, the biggest concern is how much control they let their head coach get, will team owner Mike Brown let Taylor have more control and let him do things his way? If he does, I think this is closer to the "New Dey" but if things get rough and we see a team that isn't being active near the trade deadline or a team that shows little fight if they get too far out of the playoff picture then I think we will be living in a "Groundhogs Dey".

I Need Bengals Fans To Make One Promise Before the 2019 Season

  There's a NEW DAY for WHO DEY nation! The Cincinnati Bengals have a new head coach in former quarterback coach of the Los Angeles Rams Zac Taylor.

Taylor,35, was announced as the 10th head coach in the organizations history on February 4, 2019.

 After 16 seasons with Marvin Lewis as their head coach, the Cincinnati Bengals and Lewis had decided to part ways after finishing the 2018 season with a 6-win, 10-loss season. Lewis' record through his 16-year tenure in Cincinnati ended with a 131-121-3 record, 0-7 in the playoffs.

*Note: Lewis failed to lead the team to the playoffs since the 2015-16  season*

It seems that Bengals fans finally got what they were asking for. Something new, something fresh, a change at head coach in Cincinnati. After 16 seasons of what a lot of fans have considered a mediocre coaching job by Lewis, mostly because of the lack of post season success in the time, the Bengals fans were granted their wish. However, with this change at head coach, the fans have to be willing to accept everything that comes with it. This means several things. Players may be traded, players may be cut, it could be an upgrade at the position, they could be in the same place as they were with the old regime, it could be a quick turnover. The only thing that is known for sure is that it's going to be different and that's what fans asked for. I ask this question: What if the change isn't good in year 1? What if there's digression in the team and the team finishes with a record of 5-11 or worse? How long do you give the new coach to show improve in the team? The frustration, apparently, in Cincinnati is the lack of postseason success. The Bengals haven't won a playoff game since 1990, long steak in the NFL currently (28 seasons).

The expectations with Taylor shouldn't be to win a Super Bowl coming into this job. They shouldn't be to win a playoff game in his first two season. The only expectations people should have going into this is that he does things different than Marvin Lewis. Bengals fans need to remember that he (Taylor) is a first-year head coach and that he may not have early success like we saw with Sean McVay, Doug Pederson or most recently Matt Nagy. All of the success and failure won't solely rely on Taylor and what changes he brings to the field from a coaching stand point. It will also be on Bengals owner Mike Brown who hasn't been known to open up his pocket book when it comes to free agency, nor has he been know to make very drastic moves before the trade deadline. So the fans in Cincinnati can't only hope that Taylor is the change that is needed for the Bengals, but that Mike Brown is willing to change as well and become more aggressive during free agency, before the trade deadline and even during the NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals are in new hands with former Rams' quarterback coach Zac Taylor and right now he's still the unknown from a head coaching stand point. However, we know he's NOT Marvin Lewis and that's all that Bengals fans had been wishing for.

The Bengals have hired former Oakland Raiders quarterback coach Brian Callahan as their new  offensive coordinator. As of now, they (Bengals) are still without a defensive coordinator.