Gruden Year 4

[Bishop Hammer]

I agree Smithian about the calming influence. My take for a while has been that Gruden has been okay. Not horrible and not great, but good enough. Some positives IMO:

1) Four years of relative stability. Well, three. Throw out that first year with Griffin. I've been screaming for years that a team can't build something when you're scrapping everything and starting over every two years.
2) Shows some adaptability and willingness to change. I'm sure there are some examples where this isn't the case, but Gruden looks like a guy who has learned over these four years and gotten at least a little better from that deer in the headlights guy of year one.
3) I like that he values performance over reputation. There are numerous examples on this team of high round draft picks, FAs, etc; who are gone because they didn't perform.
4) Most importantly, he seems to have figured out how to work with Bruce and Dan. I mean seriously, that fact alone that he's in year 4 and hasn't quit or been fired should tell everyone something. Maybe he's not the best coach in the NFL, but he might be the best coach in the NFL right now for THIS franchise.

Its going to be a tough year. I hope the team does at least well enough to keep things on track.

Number four is spot on. Coaching in Cincy under Marvin Lewis has showed Gruden, some idea, how to succeed under an owner who is holding back the team. As much as I hate to say it Was best case scenario may be The Bengals 2.0; makes the playoffs on a regular basis but doesn't advance that far into it?

[SkinsJock]

I'm looking forward to a time when we don't have to wonder how much better we could be without this idiot's meddling

must be frustrating for players and coaches to know that their limited time in the NFL can be badly affected by this ego maniac

[riggofan]

Number four is spot on. Coaching in Cincy under Marvin Lewis has showed Gruden, some idea, how to succeed under an owner who is holding back the team. As much as I hate to say it Was best case scenario may be The Bengals 2.0; makes the playoffs on a regular basis but doesn't advance that far into it?

Hadn't thought of that, but its a really good comparison and like you wrote, maybe something Gruden learned from while he was in Cincy. Is it true to say though that the Bengals' problem has been more about a cheap owner in a small market rather than the meddling, dysfunction we've had in DC?

Honestly for now I'd be happy to make the playoffs on a regular basis and be competitive like the Bengals have been for so many years now.

[hitmandm]

Gruden is a moron.

[SkinsJock]

Jay Gruden's not a bad coach, he's just not a really good HC - he may be the best HC we can get because of this idiot owner

btw - Got to really like the jobs being done by Callahan, Manusky and Tomsula - gotta give credit to Gruden for that