Bengals tidbits

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Increased blitzing benefits Bengals
Strategy rattles McNair, helps produce six turnovers
Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:19 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


The Columbus Dispatch

TOM UHLMAN Associated Press
A hit from behind by Bengals linebacker Ahmad Brooks caused Ravens quarterback Steve McNair to fumble, one of Baltimore's six turnovers Monday.


CINCINNATI -- Bengals linebacker Ahmad Brooks called it "distruction," an unintentional blending of disruption and destruction.

"Sometimes, I pronounce words wrong," he said sheepishly yesterday.
True enough. In training camp, he referred to his position group as a "linebacker corpse."

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[GoBucks89]

Defense: Did a great job, pickups Myers and Marshall stepped up and Landon Johnson had a great game (IMO he looks to be the most-improved defense player from last year). Brooks played fast but his lack of experience showed up on a few plays.

I was shocked at how well the defense played. Bresnahan has finally figured out that you have to be unpredictable and disguise the blitzes in order to pressure and confuse the QB. They did it magnificently on Monday night. If they play like that every game, we'll be in great shape. Imagine this: the Bengals were more physical than the Ravens and sent them home bloody and bruised, not to mention 0-1. Who would have predicted that?

Special Teams: Almost laughable. Obviously for the TD they gave up, Graham's mistakes (granted he's hurt) and giving the Ravens great field position. Skylar Green did a decent job and at least didn't make any mistakes.

I'm still in disbelief that they sent Graham out there to kick a 53 yarder on the second drive when he hadn't kicked the whole pre-season. It's a stretch even if he's healthy. That was a real head-scratcher.

Neither team played great, and the Heap call was suspect, but it's still a W for the good guys.

Amen to that brother.

 

[studepaber]

I was shocked at how well the defense played. Bresnahan has finally figured out that you have to be unpredictable and disguise the blitzes in order to pressure and confuse the QB. They did it magnificently on Monday night. If they play like that every game, we'll be in great shape. Imagine this: the Bengals were more physical than the Ravens and sent them home bloody and bruised, not to mention 0-1. Who would have predicted that?

I'm still in disbelief that they sent Graham out there to kick a 53 yarder on the second drive when he hadn't kicked the whole pre-season. It's a stretch even if he's healthy. That was a real head-scratcher.

Amen to that brother.

It's amazing what happens when you find ways to blitz a QB and don't give him time to pick apart your secondary. I am definitely liking Bresnahan's aggressive philosophy so far this year.

I was in almost as much disbelief when the Bengals elected to punt the ball on the opponent's 35 instead of going for it. Oh course Larson punts it in the endzone (but I think Sams or whoever was returning the punt made a good play on the Bengal trying to down the ball).

Should be a W next week against the Browns, I just hope they don't send some of the Bengals off on a stretcher like last year (Pollack and wasn't Braham injured in that game too?)

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals notebook: He'll go to the Dawgs
Johnson plans jump into Pound if he scores Sunday
Friday, September 14, 2007 3:36 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

David KohlAssociated Press
Chad Johnson can discuss his Hall of Fame credentials if he leaps into the Dawg Pound in Cleveland Browns Stadium.



CINCINNATI -- Dawg Pounders, consider yourselves warned. Bengals receiver Chad Johnson is coming.

Johnson said he plans to do a Lambeau Leap into that end-zone section of Cleveland Browns Stadium if he scores Sunday.
"I'm jumping in the Dawg Pound," he vowed. "It'll be fun, man. I love the Dawg Pound. I talked to a gentleman -- I'm not sure what his name is -- but he's sat there every year since my rookie year. Before every game, I go up to him and talk to him, a heavyset guy who wears a mask. I told him I'm going to jump in there."

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Offense shares the blame
Costly turnovers prevent chances to take control
Monday, September 17, 2007 3:26 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


The Columbus Dispatch

Amy sancetta associated press
Cincinnati's Chad Johnson fends off Cleveland Browns defensive back Leigh Bodden on a 16-yard reception.



CLEVELAND -- When an offense scores 45 points, usually the players can look in the mirror and say, "Not our fault."
The Bengals offense did enough to win yesterday, but they're certainly not absolved of all responsibility for the Cleveland Browns' 51-45 victory.
Yes, Carson Palmer threw a team-record six touchdown passes and was spectacular for most of the game behind excellent protection from his offensive line.

Continued......

 

[cincibuck]

Ah, the Bungles are back! I just knew last week was a fluke.

 

[GoBucks89]

Ah, the Bungles are back! I just knew last week was a fluke.

Sad but true. These are the Bengals that I know and love. No pressure on the QB, leading to unlimited time to find receivers, leading to the usual hall-of-fame performance by a mediocre QB. And this week they added in a new element: getting pushed around in the running game (the Steelers always do that, but most other teams didn't last year). Well, Leslie Frazier was fired as DC after two years. This is Bresnahan's third year as DC. It's put up or shut up time. There is no excuse for allowing 50 points against anyone, let alone a team that would be scoring in the single digits (if anything) against anyone else.

 

[Big Papa]

I promise this will my only flame of the day, but since the Brownies don't win much and we certainly don't beat the Bengals much, I couldn't resist.

 

[Thump]

I promise this will my only flame of the day, but since the Brownies don't win much and we certainly don't beat the Bengals much, I couldn't resist.

Hey, turn abouts fair play. Flame away you flamer!

 

[GoBucks89]

I promise this will my only flame of the day, but since the Brownies don't win much and we certainly don't beat the Bengals much, I couldn't resist.

Well, we know how much Jamal Lewis loves Cleveland Stadium. Isn't that where he set the all-time single game rushing record?

 

[Big Papa]

Well, we know how much Jamal Lewis loves Cleveland Stadium. Isn't that where he set the all-time single game rushing record?

Yep, and I'm sure that weighed into the decision to sign him as well, not having to play against him this season.

 

[studepaber]

Okay, obviously the Bengals' problems are on the defensive side and special teams, you give Carson and Co. an AVERAGE defense and he will at least win you a few playoff games, heck maybe even a Super Bowl. Here's my analysis/rant for whatever it's worth:

1) The Bengals have always spent the most money on offense, they will never have an elite defensive team because that isn't where their priorities are. That's been true for as long as I've been a Bengal fan (through the Anderson and Esiason eras), so we just can't expect many shutout games from them.

2) Our only decent players on the D-Line are Geathers and Peko. I really don't know why we pay Bustin Smith so much money ($8 mill), he was getting owned by a rookie all day and never came close to Anderson. Is Cleveland's O-Line really that good that only once we came close to sacking Anderson and were able to create huge lanes for Lewis???

3) Our linebacking starters should've been Pollack, Thurman and Brooks this year, instead (not including Brooks) it consists of players (maybe with the exception of Landon Johnson) that would be backups at best for any other team. That's just bad luck on their side.

4) DB's - Don't have a problem with O'Neil or Williams, Jackson is supposed to be our run stuffer but was ineffective Sunday, Jospeh is playing injured so he has an excuse and Hall is a rookie (that's going to make rookie mistakes) that shouldn't have had that much playing time (except in nickel packages). If we can't pressure the opposing team's QB, though, it doesn't matter how good you are, someone will usually find a way to get open.

5) Since the D has the tendency to get ran over most of the time why not just play 8 in the box for most of the game. At least then you would be commited to stopping the run and maybe get at the QB a little more. Instead we have lousy covering LB's like Caleb Miller getting beat all day by a TE.

6) Everyone's calling out ol' Chucky Bresnahan after this game (as they probably should), he won't be going anywhere until the end of the season (offensive/defensive coaches almost never get fired in the middle of the season). But do you blame coaching for the ineptitude or the actual players (maybe given better talent his defensive schemes would possibly work???)

7) The squib kicks were embarrassing and basically said we have no confidence in stopping Cribbs. As in the Ravens' game, opponents constantly had great field position, with great punt/kickoff returns, do they teach tackling in special teams (Hall pay attention here)? Granted we are without ST studs from last year: Kilmer, Wilkens and KK.

8) On a good note I think the Bengals have found their #3 receiver until Henry comes back in Holt. Great catches and didn't drop the ball after getting pummlled on a few plays.

Haven't lost complete hope as some Bengals' fans have, and I think the game vs the Seahags next week should be good. Maybe the Bengals offense needs to plan around scoring 52 points per game, that should about do the job.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Lewis doesn't delve into team's defensive no-show

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 3:36 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

If Bengals fans expected detailed explanations yesterday for the defensive collapse that allowed the Browns to score 51 points Sunday, they were disappointed.
As is his tendency, coach Marvin Lewis was tight-lipped about his team's defensive flaws.
"We were the '85 Bears a week ago," Lewis said of rave reviews for the defensive performance in the opener against Baltimore. "I tell the players all the time, 'Don't try to explain it to (the media) because you don't understand it.' And as I've always said, you're never as good as you seem to be after a win and never as bad as you seem to be after a loss. So we just need to play football -- make our corrections and move forward."

Continued.....

 

[sandgk]

The Bengals were not the '85 Bears a week ago, that team made their own luck, intimidated and dominated opponents.
Last week the Bengals were the recipients of poor offensive play by the Ravens more than any other factor.
This week - phew.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bresnahan takes blame for debacle
Poor play due to poor coaching, defensive coordinator says
Thursday, September 20, 2007 3:39 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Mike CardewMcClatchy Tribune
Bengals safety Dexter Jackson, right, can't believe what he sees on the scoreboard during Cincinnati's 51-45 loss to the Cleveland Browns.


CINCINNATI -- Marvin Lewis has had his chances to explain, and has mostly taken a pass.
Players have had their shot at describing what went wrong.
Yesterday, the man at the center of the storm stepped up to the plate. Chuck Bresnahan didn't leave the bat on his shoulder.
The Bengals defensive coordinator accepted responsibility for his unit's collapse in a 51-45 loss Sunday to the Cleveland Browns. He vowed improvement Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Continued.....