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".
