So earlier in the week Bengals' QB Carson Palmer tells the media that he thinks changes should be made to the coaching staff. He feels that a lot of changes need to be made. The fans have only been screaming that all season, not to mention for a few years now. Granted fans tend to overreact to anything and everything. But in this case, they and Palmer are right.
Normally I don't like players speaking out against their team or coaching staff. But in this case I think its great that Palmer came out and spoke his mind. While he's been a great QB ever since he took the reigns four years ago, Palmer has never truly exhibited a leadership quality that you'd expect from a starting QB, not to mention one of the best players in the game. This year was a frustrating one for the team as a whole as well as for Palmer. He may have set the single season franchise record for passing yards (4,131), but he also threw the most interceptions (20) in a season in his short career.
What was thought to be the year to get back to the playoffs, the Bengals didn't even finish at .500. While everyone points to the defense as the reason, the offense was out of sync most of the season as well. Making changes and making this team better has to start in the offseason. Palmer feels the same way. "We need to approach the offseason in a completely new way," he says. "We need to come back a rejuvenated team and a team on a mission."
There is no doubt changes need to be made to this team. It started today when the team let defensive coordinator, Chuck Bresnahan, and linebackers coach, Ricky Hunley, go. This will be the third time in five seasons under Marvin Lewis that the Bengals will be searching for a new defensive coordinator. The firing of Bresnahan wasn't a surprise, but letting Hunley go surprised me a little. While the defense was lackluster to say the least this season, the linebacker position was the one most decimated with injuries. At one point this season DE Robert Geathers had to fill in as linebacker due to injuries at the position. So it wasn't like Hunley had a strong core to work with.
Changes definitely need to be made even beyond letting Bresnahan and Hunley go. If you ask me I think offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski should be the next to get the boot. His offensive play-calling lacks imagination. He has one of the most potent offenses in the game at his disposal. The fact that they couldn't score more than 20 points in seven games this season says a lot when you have a great core of players on the offensive side of the ball. Granted its up to the players to execute the plays, but when the play calling is awful what can they do? Palmer can only audible so much before he comes off as disrespectful to his coach. And he's no Peyton Manning, at least not yet.
Great job speaking your mind Palmer. I just wish you had said more of what you were thinking. Even still, I'm glad to see you're speaking up and speaking out a little. You're supposed to be the leader of the team. After a season like this one, frustration is expected. Leaders emerge from these types of situations. Hopefully Palmer becomes just that. Now its time to make the changes and do something so the team isn't back in the same situation all over again next season.
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