[Caveat Emperor]

It's amusing to look at the Bengals as a non-fan but living in Cincinnati and seeing the constant coverage and most of the games.

The problem with team is (and always really has been) an inability to identify and acquire players on the offensive line and defensive line. Since I've followed the franchise, they've had horrific interior men playing on both sides of the ball. They lack the ability to find and develop those kinds of players.

The reason, I'd wager, is their stubborn refusal to expand their scouting department. Good talent can come from anywhere, you just have to pay people to watch tape and attend games to go find it. The New England Patriots are starting a right guard, Nick Kaczur, that played at the University of Toledo (not known as a football powerhouse or a powerhouse conference) when I was there for law school. They had people scouting him, in person, at games I attended a year prior to the draft. The Buccaneers pulled a guy from the Arena league to play d-line for them, and got a 10-sack guy in Greg White. The Dallas Cowboys have a pro-bowl QB that didn't even play D1 ball. Good scouts found, identified, and convinced their teams to draft or sign each of these players.

The Bengals have the worst scouting department in professional football, and it shows itself on the positions that are the most difficult to draft and develop.