Bengals tidbits

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Dispatch

NFL
Jackson aching to play Sunday
Bengals safety wants to show Bucs they made a mistake in letting him go ? twice

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

GARY W . GREEN ORLANDO SENTINEL The career highlight for Dexter Jackson, right, came on Jan. 26, 2003, when he was Super Bowl XXXVII MVP for the Buccaneers.

CINCINNATI ? The last two full seasons Dexter Jackson played for Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers had the NFL?s toprated defense. This year, Tampa Bay is 20 th.
In Cincinnati?s first two games against Kansas City and Cleveland, the Bengals defense played superbly. But Jackson suffered a sprained ankle against the Browns, and the Bengals defense has been a sieve the past two games.
Is all that coincidence? Jackson thinks not. The safety was diplomatic in discussing the Bengals? recent problems, but he was blunt in discussing what he believes was his underrated role in Tampa Bay?s defense.
He would like nothing more than to show his old team what they?re missing when the Bengals meet the Buccaneers Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Whether his gimpy right ankle will allow that to happen remains uncertain.
"I?m very hopeful," Jackson said. "I?m still running, working out. I?ve improved to the treadmill, picking up my pace. I think it will be very close."
Jackson is a Florida native who played at Florida State and was the Buccaneers? fourth-round draft pick in 1999. He became a starter in 2001 and was the Super Bowl MVP the next season when he intercepted two passes against the Oakland Raiders.
A month later, the Buccaneers let him go as a free agent.
"Yeah, it hurt me," Jackson said.
With marquee players such as Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp and Ronde Barber, Jackson was usually overlooked.
"The people who watch and understand football knew how big a part of that defense I was," he said.
Jackson signed with Arizona. In 2004 he suffered a back injury in training camp and the Cardinals eventually released him a few months later. He rejoined Tampa Bay and played there through last season, helping the Buccaneers become the league?s top-ranked defense in 2005.
The Buccaneers let Jackson depart again, and this time the Bengals signed him.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said salary-cap considerations played a major role in the team?s decision, a claim Jackson doesn?t necessarily buy.
"He?s a great player," Gruden said. "We obviously hated to lose him when he went to Arizona, and we hated to lose him to Cincinnati."
With Tampa Bay?s defense now struggling, Jackson views himself as a missing piece to that puzzle.
"They miss the leadership," he said. "It takes nothing away from Brooks or Ronde. They?re leaders, but (only) to a certain extent. You can?t be a leader just when you?re playing good. You have to lead when you?re playing bad, also. I was the person, if you weren?t playing good, to say, ?C?mon guys, let?s pick it up.? "
That?s the situation the Bengals are in. They have yielded 403 rushing yards the past two games against Pittsburgh and New England. Jackson?s replacement, Kevin Kaesviharn, missed a tackle when Patriots running back Laurence Maroney stiff-armed him on a 41-yard carry.
"It?s more just the veteran leadership and veteran savviness and the tackling," Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said of Jackson?s importance. "He sets the whole attitude. It?s like when Bill Romanowski came to us in Oakland. He brought a different level of physical play to the field.
"This guy does the same thing. You have the sense of calmness out there. It?s not that these other guys can?t tackle. It?s just that there?s a different attitude when this guy?s on the field."
Jackson said he might not know until Sunday whether he can play. This is not a game he wants to miss.
"They drafted me," he said of the Buccaneers. "That?s home. Just watching them lately, they?re struggling. You want to cheer for them, then you don?t. I?m excited to be going back."
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Dispatch

BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Lewis won?t tip his hand on offensive line changes

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




CINCINNATI ? Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was in no mood yesterday to discuss possible changes on the offensive line amid speculation that Eric Steinbach might be moved from left guard to center.
Lewis answered, "Uh, no," when asked if he cared to announce any line changes. Like most coaches, Lewis tries to avoid discussing possible personnel changes because it could help an opponent?s preparation.
With Rich Braham out because of a fractured leg, second-year player Eric Ghiaciuc has filled in. Quarterback Carson Palmer has been sacked 14 times in the past three games. Though it would be incorrect to focus most of the blame on Ghiaciuc, the line play has been a concern.
"I don?t think any of those sacks are going to be labeled upon one thing," Ghiaciuc said last week. "I?m not going to sit here and say I gave up every sack or somebody else gave up every sack. It?s a combined effort."
On Monday, Steinbach took some first-team reps at center, with rookie Andrew Whitworth taking over at left guard. Whitworth started at left guard against Cleveland in the season?s second game when Steinbach played left tackle in place of the injured Levi Jones.
Steinbach filled in at center on an emergency basis for one game last year when Braham and Larry Moore were lost to injuries. Steinbach did a solid job, even though it was his first game experience at that position.
Jeanty hopeful

Linebacker Rashad Jeanty said his injured left foot is healing, though it?s too early to tell whether he can play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
He?s listed as questionable and did not practice in team drills yesterday.
"It?s getting better, but it?s still 50-50," he said.
Jeanty was injured three weeks ago against Pittsburgh.
"It wasn?t one play," he said. "It happened throughout the game."
Jeanty is a Miami native and said he?ll have a lot of supporters making the four-hour trip.
Still grateful

Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden will be on opposite sidelines, but for four seasons they were together with the Oakland Raiders.
Gruden hired Bresnahan as defensive backs coach in 1998 and made him defensive coordinator two years later.
"He gave me a great opportunity," Bresnahan said. "I owe him a lot."
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Cincy

A Tiger reunion for Rudi
Bucs' Cadillac followed Johnson to SEC power

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The Auburn pedigree for running backs will be on display Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Rudi Johnson, who played at Auburn in 1999 and 2000, will be running for the Bengals. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who starred for the Tigers from 2001-04, will be the Buccaneers' featured back.
Johnson, who transferred to Auburn after a record-breaking junior college career, picked up the tradition from Stephen Davis. Ronnie Brown (Dolphins) and Williams came after Johnson in the Auburn backfield.
"It's tradition. You see the guy ahead of you have success (at Auburn) and have success in the NFL," Johnson said.
He was Southeastern Conference Player of the Year with 1,567 rushing yards in 2000.
The next season, Williams started a career that would see him run for 3,831 yards and 45 touchdowns, breaking a program record held by Bo Jackson. (Brown shared the backfield with Williams and ran for 2,707 yards and caught 58 passes for another 668.)
Brown rushed for 907 yards as a rookie. Williams ran for 1,178 yards and was NFL Offensive of the Year.
"He gets the ball and he runs hard - straight down hill, a lot like me, as far as punishing the defense and giving out as many hits as you get," Johnson said of Williams. "I think that's why Auburn running backs do well in the pros. Ronnie runs hard, too."
Williams, who has 218 yards on the ground in four games for the winless Buccaneers, ran for 111 yards last week at New Orleans. Tampa Bay is 6-1 in his 100-yard games.
Johnson, meanwhile, has the two best single-season rushing totals in Bengals history and is on pace for a third consecutive 1,400-yard year.
The next Auburn back headed for the pros is Kenny Irons, Johnson said. He has 514 yards and three touchdowns for Auburn.
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Bengals at BuccaneersKickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday

TV: CBS

Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon

Radio: WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530), WOFX-FM (92.5)

 

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Cincy

Stats down, but Chad's not
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Chad Johnson didn't know his longest reception this season was just 18 yards.
That's unusual for the Bengals wide receiver. By this time last season, Johnson had touchdown catches covering 70 and 40 yards.
But opposing defenses are paying extra attention to the three-time Pro Bowl player. And Tampa Bay is likely to do more of the same Sunday.
Because he no longer sees one-on-one coverage, Johnson lists entire teams on his "Who can cover 85?" chart.
"It's going to pick up," Johnson said of his production, limited to 18 receptions for 201 yards and one touchdown in four games. "We had a fast start last year based off (what opposing defenses played). They were very vanilla. This year it's just the opposite."
The Bengals' offense, regardless of who catches the ball, wants to throw it deep.
"We want to make sure we push the ball vertically. And we've been unable to do that," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "... When we have pushed the ball vertically, we've been generally successful, and we have to make sure we don't get away from that."
Chris Henry (43 yards), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (33), Tab Perry (30) and Kelley Washington (22) all have receptions this season covering more ground than Johnson's longest.
Lewis credits quarterback Carson Palmer for not forcing the ball to Johnson.
Said Palmer: "If people are going to keep taking Chad away, we're going to keep looking for other options, as well as keep looking for options to get Chad the ball."
Johnson's not complaining.
"I just think I'm not allowed to say anything or I'll get that wonderful label of being selfish," he said, "so I just sit in my little cubbyhole and play on Sundays."
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Dispatch

BENGALS
Chad Johnson calmly waiting for breakout day

Friday, October 13, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




CINCINNATI ? He is trying to be patient, even if it?s not his nature.
Through four games, Bengals receiver Chad Johnson has been turned into a glorified possession receiver by defenses intent on preventing him from getting open deep. His longest reception is only 18 yards, same as the longest by slow-footed tight end Reggie Kelly.
In years past, Johnson said, "I?d have been ranting and raving, throwing my helmet, cussing at Carson (Palmer). I?d have probably beaten Carson up by now on the sidelines."
He was joking, but the memory of his halftime meltdown last year in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh remains fresh. Johnson has made it a point this year to control his temper.
So Johnson is at least trying to be diplomatic. He takes some pride in knowing that the more defenses gear their scheme toward containing him, the more opportunities are given to his teammates.
"I?m coping with it very well," he said. "I can?t complain. We?re 3-1."
But he was taken aback when told how short his longest reception was.
"You?ve got to be (kidding) me," he said. "Who do I talk to about that? "
Palmer and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis are aware of the problem.
"Well, we want to make sure we push the ball vertically, and we?ve been unable to do that," Lewis said. "When we have pushed the ball vertically, we?ve been generally successful, and we have to make sure we don?t get away from that too much."
Through four games, Johnson has 18 catches for 201 yards. At this point in 2005, Johnson had 26 catches for 374 yards, including touchdown receptions of 70 and 40 yards.
"We had a fast start last year based off what I would say are some of the teams we played," Johnson said. "They were very vanilla. This year, it?s just the opposite. Things will pick up as the season goes on. But the main thing is we?re winning."
He said teams are unwilling to risk covering him with a single cornerback. He said he has faced man-to-man coverage on only two snaps all season, both in the opener in Kansas City against blitzes that forced Palmer to throw quickly.
On his "Who Can Cover 85? " chart, he no longer lists opposing cornerbacks, just teams.
"He?s been frustrated like everybody has," Palmer said. "When your number?s not called, you get frustrated. But he?s had a very level head about himself and realizes what?s going on. He?s been a team player about it. That?s all you can ask.
"When you?re called on to block, you block for the running game. And when you?re called on to run a certain pattern against a certain coverage, you run your pattern. If you don?t get the ball, somebody else does."
The opponent Sunday doesn?t figure to allow the long-ball dam to break. Perhaps more than any team, Tampa Bay has made popular the Cover-2 defense in which both safeties play deep to reduce the risk of long passes.
But Johnson sees an opening.
"What I?ve seen so far really isn?t the Tampa 2 defense anymore," he said. "What I see on film, I see it on long down and distance downs and third downs. That?s about it. Other than that, it?s been Cover 3, Cover 4."
Then again, teams have changed their tendencies all season in hopes of keeping Johnson in check.
"Watching film hasn?t been a help at all the past four weeks because what I see on film is not what I see on Sundays," he said.
So maybe this Sunday, Bengals fans can see something they haven?t seen all season ? Johnson open deep.
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Cincy

Wright has appendectomy
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Bengals second-string quarterback Anthony Wright will miss the game Sunday at Tampa Bay after undergoing an emergency appendectomy this morning, coach Marvin Lewis said this afternoon after practice.
Doug Johnson will be the No. 2 quarterback. Lewis would not say who will be his third quarterback -- or if he will even have one -- saying, "I finally get my chance."
The Bengals do have wide receiver Reggie McNeal, who was a college quarterback at Texas A&M, on the roster. McNeal has not been active for a game this season.
McNeal played in 42 games, with 34 starts at A&M, and he had 44 career touchdown passes against 23 interceptions. He also ran 411 times for 1,889 yards and 15 touchdowns.
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Cincy

Safety's dance finally has a name
The 40 Bounce
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Madieu Williams spent his lunch hour Thursday reading sheets of suggestions from Enquirer readers on what he should name his celebratory dance.
The third-year Bengals safety was decisive. The winner is "The 40 Bounce," from an anonymous fan.
Williams wears the No. 40 jersey.
The winning response was one of 192 entries received from readers and Williams' fans after the Enquirer solicited ideas - with Williams' endorsement - in a story Sept. 15.
"What I like about it is, a lot of the other names had a bird in them or a bird name," he said. "And I don't want it to be anything like an animal.
"I want it to be something original. And '40 Bounce' felt original. Maybe we can get some music with it, every time I dance."
Some readers had suggested a song, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" and The Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird."
Dozens of the ideas for the dance name had to do with bird: The Crane, Madbird, Free Bird, Condor, Phoenix or Vulture. One reader suggested that Williams name his dance "The Vulcher," in honor of former Bengals safety David Fulcher.
"What's this fascination with birds?" Williams asked while thumbing through the ideas.
Other entries made reference to Williams' first name: "'Dieu Drift," "Yabba Dabba Madieu" and "Da Swoop." Still others referred to his background.
One reader wanted Williams, born in Africa, to name the dance after his native country, "The Sierra Leone Shake." Several entries, possibly from fans Williams won in college, suggested "The Turtle Dove" or "The Terp."
"I think, absolutely, I am surprised," Williams said of the number of ideas submitted. "I think it's fun to get fans involved in something like this, especially with the success we've had so far this season. It's fun for everybody."
A couple of others didn't like the idea of naming the dance in the first place. There were a few along the lines of "Act Like You've Been There Before" "Shut Up And Play" and "Get Your Happy A-- Back in the Huddle."
"Like people think you go out there and want to get hurt," Williams said.
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Dispatch

BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Palmer?s backup will miss game following surgery

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Bengals backup quarterback Anthony Wright will miss the game Sunday after having an emergency appendectomy early yesterday.
Third-stringer Doug Johnson will be Carson Palmer?s backup against Tampa Bay. Johnson likely will remain the principal backup next week against Carolina and possibly the following week against Atlanta.
If Palmer and Johnson are injured, the most likely replacement would be rookie receiver Reggie McNeal, who played quarterback at Texas A&M.
Wright?s appendectomy wasn?t the only bad news on the Bengals? injury front. Safety Dexter Jackson (ankle) and linebacker Rashad Jeanty (foot) were unable to practice and were downgraded from questionable to doubtful.
In addition, reserve linebacker A.J. Nicholson (hamstring/questionable) was added to the injury report.
Line change set ?

Nothing has been announced, but it?s looking more likely that speculation about a reshuffled Bengals offensive line is true. Expect Eric Steinbach to move from left guard to center, replacing Eric Ghiaciuc, and rookie Andrew Whitworth to play left guard.
"It?s just something they asked me to be ready for," Steinbach said. "I started taking snaps during the bye week to just kind of get the rust off a little bit. I?ll be ready for it. It comes down to coach?s decision.
"I?m open to the challenge and I?ll wait to see what they say and go from there."
No easy pickings

Ordinarily, a defense would be salivating at the idea of facing a rookie quarterback who lasted until the sixth round of the draft.
But the Bengals were suitably impressed by the starting debut of Tampa Bay quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, a University of Toledo product.
Gradkowski completed 20 of 31 passes for two touchdowns with no interceptions last week in a 24-21 loss to New Orleans.
"He made some pretty good throws, some very accurate throws on the run," Bengals safety Madieu Williams said.
"We take the same approach regardless who?s under center. It doesn?t matter whether it?s a rookie or a veteran. Our focus and our game plan don?t change at all."
Gradkowski has certainly won over his coach with his work ethic and intangibles.
"He?s a guy that?s always around here," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "I can?t get away from this kid. Since we?ve drafted him, I?ve seen him stalking me in my neighborhood, he?s in my office, he?s around all of the time.
"He?s a guy that has a great passion for football. You would love him if you?d met him. He?s got a vibe about him that?s contagious and really earns your respect no matter who you are."
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Dispatch

Bengals, Bucs share fundamental worry
Both coaches lament poor job of tackling in recent losses

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Rookie running back Laurence Maroney led the Patriots to a 204-yard rushing effort against the Bengals two weeks ago.


The outcome of the Cincinnati Bengals? game today at Tampa Bay might ride, say, on whether they can adequately protect quarterback Carson Palmer.
Or perhaps on whether Buccaneers rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski can duplicate the surprising success he had in his debut last week. Or on any of the other X?s and O?s analysts will examine.
But the game could very well be decided on something so basic that it will be overlooked by almost everyone except the coaches who?ve been driven crazy by it ? the lack of consistent tackling.
It would seem that something as basic as tackling wouldn?t give NFL coaches reason to sweat. Their players, after all, have been doing it for so long that it should be second nature.
But poor tackling has been a major problem for Cincinnati and Tampa Bay.
When reporters tried to pick apart why the Bengals allowed 204 rushing yards in a 38-13 loss to New England two weeks ago, coach Marvin Lewis dismissed all the fancy explanations. It was simply bad tackling, he said.
Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden was seething this past week about the shoddy tackling his team had last week in the loss to New Orleans.
"We gave up two runs for 81 yards when we were in an eightman front," Gruden said. "You would consider some of the runs that hit us hard last week ?dead plays? against the style of defense we had called. We had free hitters ? guys that were unblocked ? missing tackles."
The Bengals and Bucs aren?t exceptions.
"I don?t think it?s a couple of teams," Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said. "I think it?s 50 percent of the league that doesn?t tackle well."
Several factors play into the reasons for the tackling problems. With 53-man rosters and a salary cap, teams can?t afford to risk the injuries that would be a consequence of having full tackling in practice. So for most teams, the only real tackling they do is in games.
"Back in the day, everything in (training) camp was physical," Bengals defensive tackle John Thornton said. "Now you?re doing stuff in shorts a lot more."
Today?s players also have grown up in a SportsCenter culture. The plays that are usually shown in highlights aren?t the textbook wrap-up tackles but the so-called kill shots ? high-impact collisions that dazzle fans but run the risk of missing the target.
Bresnahan said he has seen tackling fundamentals decline at lower levels, as well.
"It?s starting to dwindle in college," he said. "It?s sloppy. Guys don?t bring their feet. They lunge. There?s so much of the shoulder-tackling or choptackling. They?re trying to get down and take (runners?) legs out. They drop their head and don?t even see the guy."
Today?s bigger, stronger, faster athletes can make tacklers pay for sloppy technique. The Bengals have faced running backs Larry Johnson, Reuben Droughns, Willie Parker and the Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney combination. All are elite or close to it.
"You can?t be an arm-tackling team against the backs we?ve played," Bresnahan said. "There?s no way. Maroney is a big, strong man, and it?s not just us who looked silly against him."
The tackling debacle against New England, coming after Cincinnati allowed 170 rushing yards against Pittsburgh, left Bresnahan and the Bengals players with their pride wounded.
"It?s a shot in the old ego," he said.
For the Bengals, the bye last week came at a good time. They spent much of that time analyzing and working on the problem. Bresnahan said the Bengals skipped what he called their tackling circuit ? a threestation drill that encompasses different elements of tackling ? the week of the Patriots game because they wanted to give the offense more time against the defense.
"It showed," Bresnahan said.
This past week, they practiced the tackling circuit twice.
"It?s as close to simulated live as you can (get)," Bresnahan said. "It?s grabbing, protecting your legs, getting off the ball, making the tackle. Going through the bags, making a tackle. Hitting the sled, making the tackle. You have to simulate putting them in game situations. I want contact.
"It?s not just one step and relax. It?s five steps through the tackle so we?re grabbing and driving the player back."
The players got the message.
"We?ve just got to get better," safety Madieu Williams said. "It?s like any other skill that you do playing football: You have to work at it. Guys realize we didn?t tackle well in our last game, and it?s going to be a point of emphasis from here on out."
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Cincy

Offense not purring yet
Injuries, inconsistency keeping high-powered attack in check

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

TAMPA, Fla. - The Bengals' offense, regarded as one of the most exciting and productive in the NFL for the past couple of years, has the pieces in place to join some of the NFL's best of the past generation.
But where the offense, led by quarterback Carson Palmer, exploded on the national scene in 2005, it has failed to find its consistent stride this season.
The group, after being held to one touchdown and 13 points two weeks ago in a 25-point loss to New England, is looking to get in gear today at Tampa Bay.
"The true test of the quality of an offense is how many games we've won," said Bob Bratkowski, the man in charge of the Bengals offense. "As long as this group is together, we're battling to win championships and Super Bowls."
The Bengals are off to a 3-1 start, putting them in a good, early position to repeat their playoff berth of 2005. But the offensive numbers are off this season from the same point last year.
At 4-0 in 2005, the Bengals had allowed only five sacks. This year, Carson Palmer has been sacked 15 times.
In 2005, Palmer had thrown nine touchdowns and just two interceptions after four games. This year, he's at six and four.
Chad Johnson is off 173 in receiving yards.
Still, the offense has scored 11 touchdowns and 98 points, just six off the 104 it had after four games in 2005.
Palmer is not satisfied with the production, though he was quick to point out, as well, that victories are all that ultimately matter.
"Looking back over the previous four games, we've, and Marvin (Lewis) said it, we've underachieved," Palmer said. "We still haven't played a great game.
"Looking at ourselves offensively, we haven't really exploded yet and played up to our potential, we think, as a unit."
There have been injuries to key players, though every NFL team faces that type of loss. The Bengals have been without starting center Rich Braham since Game 2. No. 2 wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh missed the first two games. Third-down back Chris Perry, who is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list this coming week, has not played because of an ankle injury.
No. 4 receiver Tab Perry has been out since Week 2 with a serious hip injury.
The run game has been inconsistent, and three-time Pro Bowl receiver Johnson has just 18 receptions and a long of 18 yards.
What the Bengals have built - eight of the 11 offensive starters are under long-term contracts signed since March 2005 - is a well-known commodity around the NFL.
"We don't sneak up on anybody any more," Bratkowski said. "People spend a lot of time studying us in the offseason. If forces us, as an offensive staff, to constantly add new things and change things."
The offensive staff has been in tact into its third year. That cohesiveness is vital to help create and sustain a productive offense.
Bratkowski is at the helm, like a kid at the controls of a high-powered Madden 2006 offensive unit.
"It's fun and challenging, and it's why we (coaches) all get into the business, to be in this type of situation," said Bratkowski, who oversaw a complete analysis of the offense over the bye week.
Last year, they came off the bye and unveiled their no-huddle offense, when Palmer calls the play at scrimmage after surveying what's across the line defensively. The goal is to keep defensive situation specialists off the field. The idea is the Bengals' base 11 can move the ball and score on the defense's base 11 players.
In their first game after the '05 bye, the Bengals engaged in one of the most entertaining games of the NFL season. They lost 45-37 to Indianapolis, but the Bengals and Colts scored 62 points in the first half - second most ever in an NFL game. It was the Bengals' coming out party. CBS had moved the game to a nationally broadcast 4:15 p.m. kickoff.
The Bengals have tweaked their offense in a couple of ways during the past two weeks, Palmer said, though he would not discuss specifics.
"We need to keep doing a better job of evolving as an offense," he said, "and do a better job of not being quite as predictable in certain situations."
Tampa Bay's Jon Gruden, an offensive-oriented head coach who will face the Bengals today, appreciates what he sees from Palmer & Co.
"They get a lot of publicity because of a great quarterback (Palmer), a great diverse scheme, a big powerful running back (Rudi Johnson), a premier playmaking wide receiver in Chad Johnson, and I think they've got some other wideouts that I think are damn good, too. They know how to protect.
"We've got to prepare for a lot of football and a lot of no-huddle and the tempo that they bring."
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Canton

Late Tampa TD seals win
Monday, October 16, 2006
[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer[/FONT]

Buccaneers wide receiver Michael Clayton (80) dives past Bengals cornerback Keiwan Ratliff to score what proved to be the game-winning touchdown Sunday as Tampa Bay beat Cincinnati, 14-13. ​

TAMPA, Fla. - There was no doubt in Michael Clayton's mind. When he lunged for the end zone, he had the football - and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first victory - firmly in his grasp.
"I knew I scored," said Clayton, whose 8-yard touchdown reception with 35 seconds remaining gave the previously winless Bucs a 14-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
"It was our time. This team has been through so much."
Clayton's TD was ruled an incomplete pass before the call was overturned by replay, which showed the receiver had control of the ball when he extended his arms.
The Bengals thought they had won when Clayton put the nose of the ball over the goal line on the fourth-down play only to have it knocked loose when he landed on the ground. Referee Mike Carey reversed the call, setting off a wild celebration on the home sideline.
"We know it's only one win and this is not the NFC championship," Bucs defensive tackle Anthony McFarland said. "But we've got to start somewhere, and we start with this."
The winning TD capped a rollercoaster performance for rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, making his second start in place of the injured Chris Simms. The sixth-round draft pick also threw a 2-yard TD pass to Alex Smith but spent much of the day looking like the inexperienced player he is.
Carson Palmer threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Shayne Graham kicked two field goals for Cincinnati.
The Bengals marched into Bucs territory in the closing seconds, but Graham's 62-yard field goal attempt as time expired was short and off the mark.
The Bucs avoided their first 0-5 start since 1996 and snapped Cincinnati's eight-game winning streak against NFC opponents.
Gradkowski completed 25-of-44 passes for 184 yards and one interception. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams rushed for 94 yards on 19 carries, including a 38-yard burst that set up Tampa Bay's first touchdown. The Bengals, who had one of the NFL's most prolific offenses a year ago, were held to one touchdown and 13 points for the second straight game.

 

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Dispatch

Bengals overruled
Roughing call, late replay reversal wind up being key factors in Cincinnati loss

Monday, October 16, 2006


By Bill Rabinowitz THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CHRIS O?MEARA DISPATCH T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84) celebrates with teammate Eric Steinbach after catching a 33-yard TD pass that enabled the Bengals to take a 7-0 lead in a game dominated by the defenses.

CHRIS O?MEARA ASSOCIATED PRESS Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh beats Ronde Barber of the Buccaneers for a second-quarter touchdown.

Buccaneers receiver Michael Clayton dives past Bengals cornerback Keiwan Ratliff to score what proved to be the winning touchdown.


TAMPA, Fla. ? The officials were reviewing the play, and the game?s outcome hung in the balance. The Bengals suspected they?d get bad news.
After the call that went against them six plays earlier, they had good reason to fear the worst.
Sure enough, a fourth-down pass to Tampa Bay receiver Michael Clayton was changed from incompletion to 8-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left for the decisive score in the Bengals? 14-13 loss yesterday in Raymond James Stadium.
"I didn?t think we were going to get any calls toward the end," Bengals defensive end Justin Smith said.
Not after the one that went against him. With three minutes left, Smith made what the Bengals (3-2) believed was a victory-clinching play. He grabbed Tampa Bay quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and took him down for a sack at the Bengals 40-yard line, with the ball coming loose and recovered by Cincinnati?s Robert Geathers.
The Bengals? celebration was cut short, however, when referee Mike Carey threw a flag for roughing the passer, explaining that Smith "stuffed the quarterback to the ground on his head."
Smith was incredulous.
"I couldn?t believe it, man," he said. "That was the ballgame. There was no whistle called. Nobody stopped the play. I didn?t pick him up and slam him.
"The dude ducked. That?s why I had to roll him over like that, because he almost slipped out. (Carey) must have season tickets down here or something, I don?t know."
Truth is, the Bengals failed to overcome three things ? the officials, a Buccaneers team scrapping for its first win, and themselves. The last culprit is the one that will cause some uneasy moments in front of the mirror this week.
This was a game Cincinnati lost more than Tampa Bay (1-4) won.
"We did some good things at times, but we had an opportunity to close out the game and we didn?t get it done," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Whether it be offense, defense or special teams, we didn?t get it done."
Cincinnati?s offense managed only one touchdown, which came on spectacular 33-yard catch by T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the second quarter. Carson Palmer finally connected on a long pass to Chad Johnson, but the Bengals did nothing after that 51-yarder and settled for a field goal that made it 13-7 with 10:34 left and kept Tampa Bay within touchdown range.
Palmer threw for 261 yards, but the running game again sputtered behind an injurywracked offensive line. Rudi Johnson had only 52 yards on 17 carries against the NFL?s 30 th-ranked run defense.
"We?re not protecting," Houshmandzadeh said. "We?re not running. (We?re) barely throwing."
He pointed to a series that began with 6? minutes left and the Bengals clinging to that six-point lead. The Buccaneers already had burned two timeouts. But three plays went zero yards and the Bengals had to punt from their 10.
"You get a couple of first downs and with that one timeout, the game was over," Houshmandzadeh said.
The Bucs took over at their 45, caught the break on the dubious Smith penalty, and moved to the Cincinnati 8, where they faced a fourthand-3. Gradkowski threw a slant to Clayton. Cornerback Keiwan Ratliff had good coverage, but Clayton caught the ball and lunged into the end zone. When the ball came loose as he hit the ground, and officials ruled the play an incompletion, initially ruling the receiver didn?t have both feet down before losing possession.
The call was reviewed, and officials determined Clayton did have possession and crossed the goal line before the ball popped free.
"That may have been true," Smith said of the replay reversal, which did appear to be the correct call. "But it never should have gotten to that."
On Cincinnati?s last-ditch drive, Palmer completed two passes to Houshmandzadeh to give Shayne Graham a chance to pull out a victory with a 62-yard field goal, but his kick wasn?t close.
The Bengals squandered a chance to move into first place in the AFC North. First-place Baltimore lost 23-21 to Carolina, the Bengals? opponent next week.
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Dispatch

NOTEBOOK
Bengals question officiating
Roughness penalties particularly perplexing

Monday, October 16, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

STEPHEN M . DOWELL ORLANDO SENTINEL Penalties proved to be a problem for the Bengals in their 14-13 loss to the Buccaneers, and Robert Geathers had a hand in several of them, including a face-mask call while tackling Buccaneers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski.


TAMPA , Fla. ? The roughing-the-passer penalty on Justin Smith had the Bengals steaming after the game, but that wasn?t the only call ? or non-call ? Cincinnati questioned yesterday after its 14-13 loss to Tampa Bay.
Robert Geathers was flagged for unnecessary roughness when he extended his arms to push Buccaneers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, helping Tampa Bay on its first touchdown drive.
Several times, Carson Palmer was upset that pass-interference penalties weren?t called on Buccaneers defenders. After one such non-call on a pass to tight end Reggie Kelly, Palmer ran to an official to protest, out of character for him.
"He gets tackled trying to run his route," Palmer said. "I don?t understand why some calls aren?t made. I?ll have to look at it on film. I don?t want to comment (more) until I see it on film."
For what it?s worth, referee Mike Carey provided an explanation to a pool reporter about Smith?s penalty.
"The ruling on the field was roughing the passer," Carey said. "Technically, it was unnecessary roughness because the pass didn?t get away. But in the tackle, the defender stopped forward progress, drove him backwards and then at the end gave him the extra effort and stuffed his head into the ground. We?re directed to protect the safety of the quarterback. Most people don?t understand it (unnecessary roughness), so we just called it roughing the passer."
That explanation is unlikely to placate the Bengals, especially considering Gradkowski did not make an effort to throw the ball away and ducked his head as he hit the turf.
"What can I say?" coach Marvin Lewis said. "I guess you?ve got to cuddle them to the ground."
Linebacker shuffle

A decimated Bengals linebacker corps forced Cincinnati to give rookie Ahmad Brooks his first start.
Brian Simmons, who practiced all week and was not on the injury report, was deactivated because of a sore neck. With Rashad Jeanty out because of a lingering foot injury and David Pollack (neck) and Odell Thurman (suspended) gone for the season, the Bengals had limited options.
Brooks had a solid debut. He had a teamhigh 11 tackles and didn?t make any glaring mistakes.
"I thought I did a decent job," Brooks said. "I didn?t make any big plays to win the game, but I think I did all right."
Simmons said his injury occurred earlier in the week. Asked if he believed he?d be able to play until he woke up yesterday, Simmons said, "Not necessarily. I was waiting today to see how it felt.
"I?m not going to say what I think it is. I?ll find out more in the morning."
No miracle ending

Bengals kicker Shayne Graham?s careerlong field goal is 53 yards, but he thought he had a chance to make the 62-yarder at the end of the game.
With the Bengals facing fourth down and no timeouts with six seconds left, Lewis opted to give Graham the chance.
"They gained enough yards to make it somewhat of a realistic field goal," Graham said. "I went on the field thinking I could make that one."
But his kick was short and wide right.
"I just didn?t hit it the way I needed to connect," he said.
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Dispatch

Bengals? inability to block for the run frustrates Lewis
Cincinnati manages just 52 yards rushing

Monday, October 16, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

STEVE NESIUS ASSOCIATED PRESS Tampa Bay defensive end Dewayne White had little trouble breaking through Cincinnati?s patchwork offense line and sacking Carson Palmer during the second quarter.


TAMPA, Fla. ? Of all the things that went wrong for the Bengals yesterday in their 14-13 loss to Tampa Bay, one was most disturbing to coach Marvin Lewis.
"Our inability to run the ball consistently," he said.
Tampa Bay?s defense is loaded with aging veterans. Entering the game, the Buccaneers had allowed opponents to run for 5 yards per carry and given up the third-most rushing yards in the league.
Considering that the Buccaneers reverted to their traditional defense (two safeties deep) most of the game, that should have opened up space for Rudi Johnson.
Instead, Johnson averaged only 3.1 yards while totaling 52. In the first half, he gained only 3 yards on seven carries.
"Very frustrating," he said. "That?s a big part of what we do ? running the football. Running the football and giving Carson (Palmer) time to throw the football down the field. Lately, we haven?t been able to do either."
Johnson hasn?t run for more than 65 yards in Cincinnati?s past three games. He shouldn?t bear the blame for his paltry numbers.
"We had some good runs up in there," Lewis said, "but consistently we?re not getting on folks and we?re not knocking them off the football."
The reason for that is not exactly a mystery. Injuries on the offensive line have forced shuffling. Center Rich Braham, out with a tibia fracture, is sorely missed for his ability to diagnose defenses.
After Eric Ghiaciuc struggled the past two weeks as Braham?s replacement, the Bengals moved left guard Eric Steinbach to center and inserted rookie Andrew Whitworth at guard to start the game yesterday.
In the second quarter, the Bengals had to improvise again when left tackle Levi Jones suffered a leg injury. Steinbach briefly moved to left tackle and Ghiaciuc back to center. Then Steinbach and Whitworth swapped spots.
"Last year, we had all five starters every game for the most part," Steinbach said. "This year, we?re shuffling guys around. I?m not making an excuse. From week to week, whatever five are in there have to make it work, and right now we?re not doing that."
The Bengals provided no details on Jones? injury. Braham is expected to miss several more weeks.
Right guard Bobbie Williams was vague when asked if he could pinpoint the problem.
"It?s a lot of things," he said. "Whatever it is, we have to find a way to get it fixed. We?ve got Carolina next week, and that?s what we?ve got to concentrate on."
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DDN

Bengals notes
Tailback Perry could be healthy enough to play


By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

Tuesday, October 17, 2006


CINCINNATI ? There's help on the way for the Bengals' anemic offense.
Cincinnati tailback Chris Perry, confined to the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list all season with left knee and ankle problems, "has a chance to be cleared for action on Wednesday," head coach Marvin Lewis said.
The club needs Perry's running ability to complement starter Rudi Johnson. Perry also is an accomplished receiver out of the backfield who will help jump-start the passing game.
With the club down to three healthy wide receivers ? Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Antonio Chatman ? Lewis said Perry "could be one of those" weapons quarterback Carson Palmer turns to.
Praise for fans
Bengals fans flocked to Tampa's Raymond James Stadium only to come away disappointed in the club's performance.
"I want to commend all the fans who traveled to Tampa," Lewis said. "It was amazing. We should have pulled out the 'W' for them, but we didn't. We need to ... put it behind us, and we will."
Smith fallout
Defensive end Justin Smith's roughing-the-passer penalty on Bucs quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was a hot topic of conversation on sports talk radio.
Smith's sack and forced fumble were nullified by the penalty on Tampa Bay's game-winning drive.
Referee Mike Carey said Smith "stuffed (Gradkowski's) head into the ground." But Lewis saw it differently.
"Justin's shoulder hits the ground first," Lewis said. "He strips the ball as he makes the play. It's an unfortunate call, but we had opportunities to stop them."
More rough stuff
What about defensive end Robert Geathers' roughing-the-passer penalty?
"Robert seems to be touching the quarterback as he's releasing the football," Lewis said. "I don't think you can change much of what you do, but we'll find out and see.
"We didn't recklessly throw anybody to the ground. That's what the rule is intended for. Right now, we've got guys (officials) making it a little too complicated for the defense."
Time to get physical
Lewis challenged the offensive line to play more physically in the run game. Rudi Johnson rushed 10 times for 49 yards in the second half after gaining 3 yards on seven carries in the first half.
"We did a little better in the second half, a little better," Lewis said. "I won't say much. Much would be blowing smoke up nobody's tail."
Quick hitter
Bengals opponents have converted 8-of-10 fourth-down opportunities with four resulting in touchdowns.
"Those pierce you," Lewis said.

C
ontact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or [email protected].