Actually use free agency

A stunning concept, yes.

This doesn’t mean bring on another feel-good story like Preston Brown, who was a local guy but clearly not a fit for today’s game. He ended up cut in the middle of last season. It doesn’t mean throw questionable extensions at guys like Bobby Hart.

It means go after a veteran linebacker who can actually boost the unit, like a Corey Littleton. It means pay up for a starting-caliber offensive lineman, perhaps moreso than they did with John Miller.

This isn’t saying break the bank. But the traditional strategy in Cincinnati has been to draft and retain while ignoring free agency. When the drafting is poor and the retention is spotty though, actually spending in free agency to complement the struggling process is a must.

Anything else contributes heavily to a two-win season.