B. Clifton Burke Will No Longer Write for Bleacher Report

You can find my work at CincyJungle.com every Tuesday and Friday.  Thanks for reading.

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Cincinnati Bengals Week 11 Preview: West Coast Warm-Up Against Raiders

It seems too easy to pile on Al Davis and the Oakland Raider Asylum; that bit has done before, so we’ll just skip it altogether.

 

Instead, the focus this week for the Bengals is preparing for the best thing the Raiders have going for them: their location.

 

Every week it seems Cincinnati is issued a new challenge to disprove the Same-Old-Bengals Theory. For Week 11, the challenge is to show they can travel to the West Coast and win.

 

In a sense, flying to Oakland is the practice run for the San Diego game later this season. Instead of arriving on Friday like they normally do when heading west, Marvin Lewis has decided to fly out on Saturday to cut down on jet lag and squeeze in an extra day of practice. How effective that decision becomes will likely determine the team’s itinerary for the Chargers game.

 

The game itself shouldn’t be much of an issue for the Bengals. While maintaining a few good defenders, Oakland remains laughably dismal on offense, recently exemplified by the benching of former first overall pick JaMarcus Russell for the journeyman and third-string-caliber Bruce Gradkowski.

 

Bengal fans will recall Gradkowski from when he played for Tampa Bay and beat Cincinnati in a nauseating game in 2006. That game could be the best of Bruce’s career; nowadays he seems one step away from videotaping himself throwing footballs in a cornfield, like Uncle Rico.

 

Yet the Raiders can run the ball some, and in close games, that attribute makes them scary, but I don’t expect the game to be close. The Bengals stop the run better than they do anything else, which forces obvious throwing downs.

 

Oakland would like to limit Gradkowski’s throws to the bare minimum. They know on third-and-long situations Mike Zimmer will bring the heat with the blitz, so I would expect them to try short throws to their talented tight end Zach Miller and screens to the solid running back trio of Michael Bush, Justin Fargas, and especially Darren McFadden.

 

The Raider rookie receivers are lightning-fast—Al Davis is unabashedly addicted to speed—but they drop lots of passes and are generally unimpressive. Our corners, perhaps the best tandem in the league, might need a little safety help on deep routes but can take care of these youngsters on underneath routes and around the sidelines on their own.

 

It makes no sense to think the Raiders can do anything against a run-stopping, pass-rushing defense with excellent corners like Cincinnati’s.

 

Still, I don’t see a Bengals blowout this week as should be the case against such miserable opposition.

 

Oakland has good corners too. Nnamdi Asomugha is a top-five corner, and Chris Johnson has shown a lot of skill as well.

 

The Bengals would prefer not to throw much anyway. A light workload for Carson Palmer this week (and the two weeks after that) can only be beneficial for the quarterback’s long-term sustainability this season; I’d rather have him firing touchdowns for three weeks in January, as opposed to three weeks in November.

 

That means, without Cedric Benson, the other running backs will get a chance to carry the rock, including maybe the newest Bengal acquisition, Larry Johnson.

 

The move to pick up LJ makes sense despite all of the obvious character concerns.

 

First of all, if you come to play for Marvin Lewis, you’re there to work. This locker room will not tolerate any person not trying hard enough to win a Super Bowl. Johnson may be a big name, but he has little relevance to this team, and therefore he must prove his worth by the effort he demonstrates in practice.

 

Johnson has looked lethargic the last few years, and he’s beginning to remind me of an aged Jamal Lewis on the field. However, he is a runner who can “carry the load” should Benson find himself further injured at any point this year.

 

Bernard Scott has exciting potential, and his patient running style will serve him well in this league. Brian Leonard has proven himself as a talented third-down back and extra-effort guy. Yet neither is at his best if he has to carry the ball more than 15 times. Johnson can lift some of that burden by simply owning a fresh pair of legs, which are also vital to winning playoff games in the snow.

 

Seeing LJ in stripes, railing against the Raiders like he’s done so often before with Kansas City, would be an exciting development to an otherwise dull and lopsided affair in Oakland. Crazier things have happened and Any Given Sunday and yadda yadda yadda, but c’mon, it’s the Raiders.

 

Bengals 20, Raiders 6

 

 

 

MK—The real Al Davis must be tied up inside a yacht somewhere near Costa Rica. The loony before us is an impostor hell-bent on ruining an otherwise really cool franchise. Too bad, Al. Too bad.

 

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Cincinnati Bengals Week 10 Preview: Tell Me Why Not.

The way to approach this weekend’s epic struggle in Pittsburgh is to ask yourself: “Why won’t the Bengals win?”

 

If your response consisted of: a) because they’re the Bengals, b) because it’s the Steelers, or c) because it’s a big game on the road, please leave now. Cincinnati has spent this season dispelling exactly that kind of hogwash, and it doesn’t lend itself to very interesting conversation anyway.

 

Of course there are legitimate concerns for the Bengals heading into their biggest game in three years.

 

The defense is beginning to show signs of wear and tear. Three starters (Antwan Odom, Roy Williams and now Keith Rivers) are out and plenty of others are sore and hurting. Pittsburgh once again seems comfortable with its running game now that Rashard Mendenhall has emerged as another one of those squat, tough runners possesing both wheels and power.

 

The Steelers’ run-blocking is in a commanding rhythm after consecutively bullying two tough defenses in Minnesota and Denver. A battered Bengals unit could have problems stopping a young, fresh tailback running behind a rugged and confident line like Pittsburgh’s.

 

Another area of concern for the Bengals defense is covering rookie receiver, Mike Wallace. This sleek cruise-missile in the slot position has become a serious deep threat, averaging over 17 yards a catch, and is the perfect complement to Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to scramble and improvise.

 

Wallace already had over 100 yards against the Bengals in Week Three, blazing past our own speedster, Johnathan Joseph, on one memorable long ball in the first half. The Steelers like to use Wallace on deep crossing routes that open up once Big Ben starts to rumble out of the pocket. Our own rookie, conerback Morgan Trent, will likely be tested on these kinds of plays and the Bengal safeties will have to lend extra support against deeper patterns.

 

If Pittsburgh can effectively run the ball, the Steelers’ offense will roll to a big day; if they’re forced to pass, Mike Zimmer can send extra pressure and force Roethlisberger into making wild decisions on the fly. The key to stopping any NFL offense is to force them into throwing downs and preying on the predictability of the pass. Cincinnati is ranked second at stopping the run, but this will be one of their stiffer challenges of the season.

 

On offense, losing Chris Henry is certainly unfortunate but not ruinous. There are two high-profile draft picks in Jerome Simpson and Chase Coffman just hanging out on the sidelines ready to catch passes. Practice-squad guy Maurice Purify has impressed those who watch him in practice everyday and may be another Marvin gem, but it would be nice to see the other kids get a chance, especially Coffman. I can see Simpson not being prepared for the NFL—he played at Coastal Carolina—but Coffman set records in the Big 12 with Missouri and shouldn’t be shell shocked by the pros.

 

Either way, the real reason that losing Henry won’t make much of a difference is because the Bengals are now a running team. Cedric Benson is our own Boxer the Draft-Horse, pulling the offensive sled behind him and racking up crucial yards along the way.

 

We’ve all witnessed the philosophical shift away from relying on Carson Palmer’s arm, and the game-plan will not change against the Steelers just because they’re tops at stopping the run. The new script says that Benson gets it 30 times a game until he drops, and Palmer wins on third down.

 

The theory ignores its inherent predictability and emphasizes the long-term effects it has on opponents. The Bengals perform better later in the game, echoing Marvin Lewis’ recent mantra of “make your last play better than your first play.” In the fourth quarter, the offense has consistently appear to be the physically tougher team, gashing opponents with chunks of rushing yardage and finishing with wins.

 

Both of these teams know what’s coming on Sunday; it’s unlikely that either will be caught off guard. No one is looking past this game because it’s the game. It’s going to be a bloodthirsty cage match; Mad Marvin and the Thunder Dome. Only the most bad-assed will survive such a familiar and intimate fight. It comes down to discipline, will-power and toughness. So ask yourself one more question before you go: Who has demonstrated more toughness this season than the Bengals?

 

 

Bengals 21, Steelers 13

 

 

 

Mojokong—No premonitions this week; just an educated guess.

 

 

 

 

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Cincinnati Bengals Week 9 Recap: Saw It Coming

This was a game of cognition. 

 

On October 27th, I wrote this:

 

I had a dream that night that the Bengals were beating the Ravens 17-0 at home.  For some vague reason, I was unable to sit and watch the game in the dream, but when I caught the glimpse of the score, I remember turning to someone there who also was impressed.  We nodded and smiled, and agreed that the nation will finally take notice of the Bengals now.  It remains to be seen if that’s what will happen against Baltimore, or if I was really only seeing the Bears game and simply had my facts wrong.  Stay tuned.

 

I don’t normally see the future in my dreams, but there’s no question that it happened in this case.  It seems, however, that I was not the only one who knew what was coming on that day.  

 

The Bengals coaching staff game-planned and executed their strategy to a tee, outmaneuvering the Ravens every step of the way.  Even Bob Bratkowski has play-called masterfully in the last two games, and once again, quickly gained what proved to be an insurmountable lead early in the first half.  The players are doing their part by keeping penalties and turnovers to a minimum (tuck the damn ball, Chad!), but it’s been the preparation and coaching that has made the difference so far this season. 

 

Cincinnati employs four undrafted rookie offensive linemen—Kyle Cook, Nate Livings, Evan Mathis and Dennis Roland—yet all four have contributed nicely so far this season.  Offensive line coach Paul Alexander should be showered with superlatives and accolades for assembling a group of nobodies that have pass-protected and run-blocked as well as any team in the league. 

 

These hungry, hungry hippos have quietly chomped down on defenses known for their aggression and fierceness. They aren’t afraid of the Bears, or Ravens, or even those loathsome Steelers; bring it on you scum!  The Bengals enjoy cycling linemen in and out without losing rhythm or confidence, and manage to achieve all of this without first-round pick Andre Smith.  Marvin Lewis and Alexander may find it pointless to try out the gooey young titan any time soon, since the backups don’t appear to be a problem at this point.

 

Another staff-member worth heralding is secondary coach, Kevin Coyle.  His two gems, former first-round corners Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph, completely negated any serious contributions from the Ravens’ receivers for the second time this season.  Even though a statistical analysis may say otherwise, the tandem has elevated their play to a level where coordinator Mike Zimmer can focus on stopping the run first and not worry about who’s in coverage. 

 

Rookie corner Morgan Trent is also a testament to Coyle’s teaching ability, as Trent exhibits excellent technique and fundamentals as the nickel corner.  Zimmer, Coyle, Jay Hayes, and Jeff Fitzgerald, have all put their own stamp on this impressive defense, and it shows with the play-recognition and cohesion among each unit. 

 

Marvin has talked about how this year’s roster is made up of “his guys”.  He has trusted his team to ignore outside distractions and focus on the matter at hand, and that’s winning the division.  This group appears goal-driven and steadfast in their commitment to the team’s success.  A lot of that has to do with heart, but most of it stems from good coaching. 

 

If the preparation and game-planning continue to be so thorough that it appears the Bengals know what’s coming, the league will either investigate the team for shenanigans or approve a new Paul Brown Psychic Hotline in the boiler room of the stadium. 

 

Mojokong—a real fortune-cookie

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Cincinnati Bengals Week 9 Preview: Too Many Aces

In the backroom of a shady saloon just on the edge of town, the Ravens await. They sit there hunkered over a card-table with a half-bottle of cheap rum and an old, shaggy dog named Cleveland, curled up and sleeping at their feet.

 

They’ve been there since daybreak and they say they ain’t leavin’ til the Bengals give ’em another chance. On Sunday they’ll get their wish, but once again, might live to regret it.

 

Baltimore is still bitter about what happened last time. Cincinnati caught them by surprise and it took a month for the Ravens to recover.

 

They rediscovered their hot hand last week on the way to pounding Denver 30-9, and now they’re ready for revenge.

 

Cincinnati is ready too. After completing their best win in years, the Bengals enjoyed a relaxing few days away from football and recuperated their damaged bodies.

 

Now they ride back into town, healthier and more prepared than they’ve been all season, eager to keep the Ravens in their place: behind them in the standings.

 

The game plan is becoming redundant against these kinds of teams; spread out the wide-receivers, exploit the middle of the field against zone coverages, run hand-offs outside of the tackles to Cedric Benson, throw early to set up the run late. All of these efforts are designed to soften the hard edges of the Ravens defensive front seven.

 

They’re still a tough team to run on (fourth in the league), but the Bengals smashed them to bits with the run in their first meeting.

 

If Cincinnati can protect Carson Palmer and the passing-game gets moving early on, Benson and the offensive line will find life easier in the second half and wind down the clock while sustaining long drives.

 

Let’s face it; after last week, the Bengals offense appears that it cannot be defended in any one particular way.

 

Palmer is back to playing at an elite level, Benson has demonstrated a blend of speed and power that now has him ranked among the league’s best runners, and the team is suddenly faced with a glut of quality offensive linemen; opponents can’t repel firepower of that magnitude!

 

The Ravens freaked out Bronco quarterback Kyle Orton early in the game last week by sending heavy pressure on blitzes which caused the scruffy signal-caller to scramble around and lose his composure.

 

Still fueled by their hostility toward Palmer and the Bengals, I would expect Baltimore to cut loose and come after our golden boy with hatchets and spears all day on blitz-packages.

 

The theory makes sense; Palmer will eat any defense alive if he’s allowed time in the pocket to hang back and find open guys, and after their recent success with the blitz, there’s no reason to think Ray Lewis and his band of lunatics won’t go nuts at the mere sight of No. 9.

 

He’s a marked man pursued by nasty renegades, bent on finishing the job and escaping with a win.

 

Therefore, something as basic as the screen-pass could lead the Ravens right into Cincinnati’s trap. Like an experienced matador, Palmer could invite the all-out blitz, wait for its raging eyes to come into sight, and at the last second side-step the violent encounter and dump off the screen to Benson with both an open field and a wall of blockers to work with. Voila!

 

If the Ravens pick up on the screen, yet continue to send additional blitzers, quick-outs to the Bengal receivers would force Baltimore’s corners to make open-field tackles, something they’ve struggled doing throughout the season.

 

Once Palmer and the Bengals find success in the short-passing game in the face of the blitz, the Ravens will be forced to back off from sending all that pressure, and Cedric Benson will have room to operate on the ground.

 

At this point in time, it’s up to the Bengals to stop themselves on offense because opposing defenses aren’t rising to the challenge.

 

If they can come close to matching the success they had against the Bears, the Ravens will have little chance of slowing Cincinnati down and winning the game.

 

On defense, nothing has changed since the last meeting between these two; stop Ray Rice first and Todd Heap second. Leave their receivers alone in one-on-one coverage, our corners can handle it.

 

Keep the defensive line stretched out and contain Rice between the hash-marks. Play a shallow zone to keep Heap from finding space alone in the flats, and when the Bengals do blitz, send linebackers and safeties up the middle to flush Joe Flacco out of the pocket and make plays with his legs.

 

Cincinnati did a decent job containing Rice on the ground in Week 5, but missed a tackle to allow the big play on a screen pass; that can’t happen again this week.

 

The newest version of the NFL running back: squat and meaty, compact and hard to tackle.has plagued the Bengals defense more than the league’s traditional backs.

 

Two smallish, quicker runners, Rice and Houston’s Steve Slaton, have had the biggest impact in games against Cincinnati so far. That’s why stopping Rice, and not worrying about Willis McGahee or the trio of mediocre receivers, remains the defense’s top priority.

 

There is little reason to worry about the Bengals this week. Sure the Ravens are always a formidable group of roughnecks that seem consistently hellbent on pulverizing anything in sight.

 

Sure, they take pleasure in making Sundays a brutal affair where only the gruffest survive and often times bully their way into wins and playoffs. Sure they’re dressed like a bruise, but the team they so eagerly await at that rickety card table in the dingy hole-in-the-wall on the outskirts of town will not be out-muscled.

 

They won’t be intimidated or shaken from their game-plan. They will take their seat opposite from these goons, stare them in the eye, and beat them for their pile once again.

 

Bengals 17, Ravens 0

 

Mojokong—I’m your huckleberry.

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The NFL’s High-Water Mark: Rome Is Falling

It appears the NFL has finally out-priced itself.

The first-place Bengals, fresh off of a near-perfect game against the Bears, are still 4,500 tickets away from selling out this Sunday against the Ravens. The logically impulsive thing to do is stand up, point at Mike Brown, and call him a vicious opportunist who preys on the American addiction of entertainment and distraction.

At these words, Brown would likely lean back in his chair, wipe his mouth with a white linen napkin, and agree that he is indeed one hell of a capitalist.  Though as tempting as it is to carry on detailing the swinish attributes of our favorite team’s owner, it is actually another greedy hog—a Texan-sized boar rolling around in his mud puddles of cash and wealth—who is more to blame for our potential blackout this Sunday than Big Daddy Brown.

Sure, the recession has a lot to do with it.  But it is Jerry Jones and his Dallas palace of decadence and excess that has raised the average cost of attending a football game like no other money-wallowing slug before him. It’s caused most of the other owners to jack up their own rates, trying to keep pace with the league’s average ticket price that swelled from last year thanks to the new, exorbitant cost of a Cowboys game.

While scores of Americans stoop and settle for new lows in order to find work, Jones moved ahead with a new venue for entertainment that smacks of the Roman Coliseum. Not in style or architecture, however, but in effect and general silliness. Perhaps Jones is the modern Caligula, leading a blind charge into a millennium of scarce natural resource and less common sense.

I agree it’s a brazen move. Unveiling a structure the size of the Death Star during the worst economic climate in the last 80 years takes balls. Jerry Jones will probably tell you that he can spend $1.2 billion on his football team because he always makes the most of what he has to work with.

I suppose that’s true; no one can blame him for living out the dream that I and many others fantasized about in the backseat on the way to school. The frosted side in me thinks having your own football stadium would be so awesome! But the shredded wheat side thinks $40 parking is morally unconscionable.

Jones is simply a triumph of this American market-driven society because he, and the other Stone Cutters like him, continue to push ahead and exceed the limits of what can be done with more money. It’s estimated that a family of four spends over $750 on a game at Cowboy Stadium—yet the season is sold out. He’s providing exactly the kind of entertainment that we as a country are so desperately addicted to, yet we may be reaching a tipping point back to sanity.

This weekend marks the third time in five chances this year where it will take some outside financial boosting from a player or local corporation to sell enough Bengal tickets in order to see the damn thing on television. After beating the Steelers in Week Three, many figured that would open up the bandwagon again; fans would gobble up tickets to the remaining games, and all would be well in the universe.

Not so. I thought that after last week’s drubbing of Chicago, fans would want to see that kind of football poetry unfold before them in person, but that’s still not the case.

Compared to the league average, the cost of a game in Cincinnati is very reasonable and is actually less expensive than last year. Is the recession the reason the games aren’t selling out this season? Based on other cities of comparable market size, like Green Bay and Indianapolis both selling out their games so far, I think it runs deeper than that.

Maybe 2008 taught Cincinnati a lesson; autumn Sundays exist even without football—or at least watchable football. Once the losses piled up and the putrid stench of the corpse that was last season became too much to endure, many people turned away from the television and found something else to do. As a result, the city as a whole no longer seems to jones for the sport anymore. The $70 price-tag for an average ticket has become too steep to shell out for these people, and why not? Football can’t matter that much, can it?

Any economic turbulence the NFL may feel is somewhat self-imposed by the demand for pricey stadiums and the endless player payrolls, but we as fans allowed this rampant gouging to reach these ridiculous proportions, as well. Society shoveled gobs of money into the mouth of the sports entertainment monster for the past 20 or so years—never blinking as we handed over more and more spending cash to friendly people behind glass ticket-windows. The League enjoyed a golden era of team parity that super-charged the sport’s popularity and league-wide sellouts became a weekly certainty; the nation was hooked and thought of ignoring your team became simply implausible.

Then the stock market wavered and for one beat of a hummingbird’s wing, our way of life was jeopardized. Being the reactionary society we are, Americans reevaluated the costs of entertainment, and some of the more luxurious elements of our life were cut. Electronic appliance stores, investment firms, professional sporting leagues, and other meaningless nonsense all felt the wave of the national skimping.

The NFL scurried to push ahead, attempting the razor-fine balancing act of fan enthusiasm on one side and contractual commitments to owners and television companies on the other. Then Jerry Jones goes and builds the NFL’s own mini Las Vegas—equipped with cage dancers and penthouse suites—and jacks up the market, making it more difficult for everyone else involved.

As much as I enjoy watching my beloved Bengals on television every Sunday, it’s probably a good thing that people refuse to go broke by keeping a pricey league of entertainment afloat. Team owners and player-agents would likely say that the market drives the costs of the league and it’s the people’s demand that dictates the market, but it appears that the people in Cincinnati have said to hell with the NFL and it’s market by staying home to engage in other activities.

Perhaps priorities are beginning to shift around here; whether this takes hold or is just a passing trend that simply reflects a recession awaits to be seen.

Mojokong—if they aren’t televised, we should all go play football, instead.

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Cincinnati Bengals Week Seven Recap: Dreamin’ Big

We Bengal fans are doubters; it comes with the program.

Like veteran circus freaks, we’ve been kicked around for a long time and have trust issues with management. Bengal fans usually draw pity smiles from the football world, and any success often comes with a condescending pat on the head.

It’s a tough gig, but that’s exactly what makes moments like the one against the Bears on Sunday simply golden.

On Monday morning we had bruised sternums from all the chest-pounding the day before. By the third quarter, the crowd at Paul Brown Stadium was drunk with touchdowns and merriment; it was an orgy of high fives and fist bumps.

The score quickly ran out of control, and you could overhear cell phone calls to people at home watching it on TV, verifying that everything happening was real. Euphoric astonishment washed through the stands.

It was a good day to be a Bengal fan.

Since this is the bye week and we’re still coming down from our high, let’s get silly and toss perspective out altogether one last time. I’ve held back from using these words, but it’s time they are written: The Cincinnati Bengals are Super Bowl contenders.

Boom!

Before the tiny, embryonic seed of doubt gets any bigger and all those rational counterpoints spring to your lips, first consider the facts.

At 5-2, the Bengals are tied for the lead in what many talking heads are calling the best division in the NFL. They have defeated each divisional team and are heading into their bye week after slaughtering a decent Chicago team, 45-10.

They have the NFL’s leading rusher in Cedric Benson, and Carson Palmer is putting up numbers that project comparably to his best statistical seasons. Chad Ochocinco is also back to his customary Pro Bowl form, and the defense is agreed by many as its best unit in years. What’s not to like?

If you’re not a stats person, if you’re an intangibles sort, then there is this: The Bengals went to Lambeau Field and got their first win after losing at home in Week One to the Broncos on a last-second tip for a miracle touchdown.

When some doubted their emotional wherewithal, the Bengals followed the win in Green Bay with a fourth-quarter comeback against Pittsburgh at home, followed by two more consecutive thrilling comebacks on the road at Cleveland and again at Baltimore. They then lost a trap game to Houston, were once again doubted, got angry, and obliterated the Bears the next week. 

The team has been through personal tragedy but has stayed focused and professional throughout. Palmer has improved every week and is playing on an elite level again. The Bengal offensive line is feasting on quality opposition. Cincinnati’s defense has risen to a multitude of challenges already this season, resulting in winning situations for the offense.

Still not satisfied?

Fine.

They’re already battle-tested in close games after first losing a heartbreaker and then mustering three second-half comeback wins. They have viable offensive weapons that have yet to be fully utilized, including the sixth overall pick, Andre Smith, and the limping defense will mend over the upcoming bye week.

They have two weeks to prepare for Baltimore and then Pittsburgh, and have the upper hand on each. They still play Cleveland, Detroit, and Kansas City at home and travel to Oakland. They’re playing their best football right now, and not even Bob Bratkowski can keep a Bengals fan from smiling. 

It’s okay to talk about the Super Bowl. Let go of your doubt and enjoy it; we don’t get these moments very often. Sure, there are lots of reasons why it might not happen, but it’s been a while since we’ve had that many paragraphs at midseason of why this could be the year.

Is there any chance the rest of the world feels the same? I doubt it.

MK—Thanks to Peko for the seats. 

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Cincinnati Bengals Week Six Recap: Duped!

These Texans are trickier than they look. 

 

Bengal players were warned by soothsayers everywhere that a letdown was coming this week. The idea being that they could not sustain the energy necessary to continue winning every week, and at some point, would relax.

 

So, to disprove the theory, the Bengals came out too fired up, and constantly overpursued on screen plays and play-action passes, thus giving up embarrassing yardage.

 

Instead of feeling bitter and angry, let’s give credit to Houston for out-scheming Mike Zimmer and his staff. On their first play, the Texans’ predicated on the high-energy Bengals and smoked them with a bubble-screen to Andre Johnson.

 

Later, they ran screens to Slaton on obvious passing downs, knowing the Bengals would bring additional pressure to flush Schaub out of the pocket. 

 

The success the Bengals had in stopping the run during the first half, made them too eager and allowed for play-action fakes to torch them in key situations later in the game.

 

Safeties continued to creep up on run support and were either enveloped by blockers on screens or faked out by play-actions. Gary Kubiak and his offensive coaches seemed prepared for the overzealous Bengals and it showed.

 

The Texans also worked over the Bengal linebackers with their passing game. While Keith Rivers takes excellent angles to the ball-carrier, playing in coverage doesn’t seem to be his strong suit.

 

Rey Maualuga still sometimes over pursues-which many of us don’t mind due to the potential outcome of his reckless style of play-but he is recognizing play-action fakes better each week.

 

He may never be a great coverage linebacker; he’s just not that kind of guy. Even Brandon Johnson, perhaps the team’s best linebacker against the pass, was also spotted out of position in coverage, allowing a key third-down conversion for the Texans.

 

Most alarming, however, is Dhani Jones and his inability to get in to position to make plays. All too often I see Dhani enter the picture of my television a fraction too late; bad things ensue. While other linebackers may sometimes struggle in coverage, Jones is a consistent liability against tight ends and running backs.

 

He is serviceable as a run-stopper, especially in the middle, but he struggles getting to the flats in time to make a difference on the play. I would look for teams to prey on ol’ Dhani until he proves he can cover someone on the outside. I don’t see him getting any faster so Zimmer will have to account for his deficiencies in space and scheme around the problem.

 

On offense, the Bengals continue their self-flagellation with holding calls, drops and fumbles. Not even Bob Bratkowski, everyone’s favorite person to blame for everything that goes wrong, is at fault this week.

 

By my count, he had one dumb sequence of play-calling on a second-half drive that started with a broken screen play and ended with a three-and-out. Otherwise, the players get the blame this week. 

 

However, the Bengals offensive brain-trust isn’t totally off the hook for a major problem in their game-plan. The stone-handed duo of tight ends, Dan Coates and J.P. Foschi, are constant setbacks to the passing game.

 

I realize that the team is in a bit of a bind due to Ben Utecht and Reggie Kelly ending their seasons early on, but the team has a tight end that sits on the sidelines who caught more passes at his position in college than any one else…ever! This seems like an easily fixed conundrum.

 

The knock on Chase Coffman is that he can’t block and isn’t very good in special teams.  Coates blocks well, and Foschi seems average in every category. Coffman can be one more capable receiver on passing downs when the tight end isn’t blocking anyway. 

 

Some may consider having a tight end in the game that doesn’t ever block too obvious to use, but I see him more as another slot receiver who might only block down-field on defensive backs and gives Carson Palmer another weapon to utilize.

 

There are different ways to use a player like Coffman, but first he needs to be activated to see what he brings to the team. I don’t want to see this guy end up buried on the practice squad with Jerome Simpson and the other forgotten toys.

 

Still, all in all, this isn’t the worst of losses.  Sure it’s a team the Bengals probably should have beat at home, but they were outsmarted on defense and lacked the necessary concentration on offense.

 

They weren’t blown out or physically smashed to bits, and what did go wrong can be corrected-except for Dhani Jones and his old legs; perhaps the bye week will help with that.

 

I’m still encouraged by the direction of this team. What happened against the Texans is a setback, not a letdown. Only a fool doesn’t expect a few setbacks along the way to a good season. Hold tight; I think it’s all going to work out in the end.

 

Mojokong-practice against the screen!

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Cincinnati Bengals Week 6 Preveiw: The Emotional Trap

Now that the Bengals are perched atop the AFC North standings and feeling good about themselves after an “emotional” win, one face springs to mind when looking ahead to the next game against the Texans; that bug-eyed, lobster-like freak, Admiral Ackbar, in Return of The Jedi .

 

It’s a trap!

 

For being such a tough-guy sport, it’s interesting how much conversation is centered around emotions in football. We as fans are picky about what emotions are acceptable.

 

It’s encouraged for players to demonstrate emotional hostility on the field—unless that hostility is between teammates—yet in the locker room, we want cool, placid interviews jammed pack with generic responses and sports cliché.

 

Anger and frustration is fine—it shows that they care, but spontaneous celebration is out—that shows that they’re greedy and self-promoting. It’s a deep-rooted hypocrisy that fits in nicely with all of the other nonsensical traditions of this country established by stuffy, rich dudes a long time ago. Pardon the digression.

 

I bring all of this up because the words “emotional letdown” keep cropping up all over the internet in regard to this week’s game.

 

It all makes sense; tsunamis in Samoa, the unexpected passing of Zimmer’s wife, and already enough nail-biting wins to leave Bengal fans now chewing on their fingers, have been enough concentrated gobs of emotion to leave any group strung out and half crazed. It’s only human to take a deep breath and relax at some point, but do that in the NFL and the opposition will strike at the jugular. It’s a brutal jungle out there; constant vigilance is the key to survival.

 

That being said, the Bengals match up well against Houston and leave little reason not to pull out another win.

 

The primary concern against the Texans is to contain their superhero-like receiver, Andre Johnson. The Bengals corners have dazzled onlookers thus far, but Johnson will serve as the ultimate test for the tandem. I would expect double teams on Johnson all day and the secondary to give him cushion to avoid the big play.

 

Houston will likely throw shorter passes to work him in early and draw the corners and safeties up to give less cushion. That’s when they might try to go deep to their other receivers left in one-on-one coverage. Jacoby Jones is a particularly dangerous deep threat and kick returner; Joseph and Hall had better be ready to run.

 

The next defensive priority should be to flush Matt Schaub out of the pocket as much as possible. Last week Arizona got no sacks on him, and allowed the Texans to get back in the game. When they were able to get him to move around, Schaub fell apart and rarely converted anything for yardage. Blitzes are in order against Houston, but Zimmer has to choose wisely when he calls them and account for their jittery running back, Steve Slaton.

 

Slaton likes to run in space and the Texans use him on the outside as often as they can manage. Like Ray Rice, Slaton works off of shotgun draw plays, pitches, screens and stretch hand-offs. It’s important for Cincinnati to keep him between the hashmarks in order to limit his firepower.

 

So, in order to manage all three priorities, the Bengals should blitz linebackers up the middle to flush Schaub out of the pocket, stretch the defensive line out wide to contain Slaton to the middle of the field, keep safety help on Andre Johnson’s side every play, and rely on one-on-one pass coverage on Johnson’s opposite side.

 

It’s a lot to manage simultaneously, but long athletic players like Michael Johnson and Brandon Johnson (unrelated) can excel in a scheme that emphasizes outside containment, while Rey Maualuga, and every now again, Roy Williams, can be unleashed on blitzes up the middle or on the weak-side.

 

Even if the defense does struggle, the offense should be able to pick up the slack this week. Houston ranks dead last in the league against the run, allowing over five yards a carry, and Cedric Benson has burst upon the scene, leading the NFL in rushing yards and carries after five games.

 

The Texans do have Mario Williams who has a natural inclination to sack quarterback’s and make offensive tackles look bad, but Cincinnati has faced some nasty pass-rushers already this season and has kept them from having much impact on the game.

 

Carson Palmer seems to improve every week and he could really cut it loose against a suspect Houston secondary. As long as his line continues to dominate the trenches—especially late in the game—Carson and his blue-collared crew should enjoy a nice day at the coal-mines.

 

If the offense is able to get a lead early, I would expect large doses of hand-offs and screen plays with the occasional deep ball if the defense falls asleep. This game, like the Cleveland game, should be a chance for Bernard Scott to get involved a little more, especially if the Bengals are playing with the lead.

 

That’s what coaches like about the X’s-and-O’s of the game; there is no emotion involved. It’s about strategy and preparation for these men and not about feelings or psychiatry. Of course, both aspects are inescapable for any coach—after all, these are still human beings—but on the NFL level, players are expected to do their jobs no matter how strenuous the circumstance.

 

That is why the Bengals will once again prove their professionalism by handling the Texans and fighting through the trap of an emotional letdown.

 

Bengals 30, Texans 23

 

Mojokong—may the force be with us.

 

 

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Cincinnati Bengals Week Five Recap: Swaying the Skeptics

On the opening Monday night game of the 2007 season, the Bengals beat the Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium, 27-20; that was the last time Cincinnati could agree that their team was a contender.

After that, they wandered out into the wilderness and remained lost for two whole seasons.

Yet after five games, something familiar, yet entirely different, has emerged from the fog.

 

This new form of Bengal is hardened and doesn’t like to talk much. They survived on berries, wild game, and meaningless late-season wins. Times were tough, and many thought a new low was inevitable for the hapless Bengals last season.

 

But after a particularly miserable drubbing by the Colts in Week 14, some weird, introspective, peyote-like moment happened in the locker room. The team stared at their horrors in the face; all of the egos, all of the losing and blaming bubbled to the surface of Marvin Lewis’ cauldron. It was a nightmare, but they lived.

 

And now they have arrived.

 

Two days ago in Baltimore, these Cincinnati Bengals walked away with their last divisional opponent vanquished face down in the dirt. All three times, the Bengals went down early, demonstrated their new warrior mind-frame, and outlasted their foes.

 

These guys are tough as railroad spikes, and their ability to pull off fourth-quarter comebacks on a regular basis obviously runs deeper than just preparation and coaching adjustments; it speaks to those ambiguous intangibles that coaches love, like heart and moral fiber.

 

The Ravens were tops at stopping the run, and Cedric Benson wore them out on his way to 120 yards. Baltimore’s offense was advertised as “rebuilt” and “explosive,” and with the exception of one long Ray Rice run caused by a missed tackle, the Bengals defense had no problems containing Joe Flacco and his purple toys.

 

Sure, Carson Palmer looked great (Ed Reed happens to everybody), Ocho was sharp (and I mean everybody), and Chris Henry finally got loose down the sideline on a deep ball, but the offense racked up over 400 yards because of their gritty linemen.

 

In the second half, the Ravens’ defensive line, anchored by the human aircraft carrier Haloti Ngata, was getting blown off of the line on running plays. Palmer was only sacked twice and had time to throw throughout most of the game.

 

Even with backups Evan Mathis and Dennis Roland seeing significant snaps, this line seamlessly transitioned big guys in and out without losing much rhythm. Offensive line coach Paul Alexander deserves tons of credit for an excellent start this season.

 

Another huge positive factor has been the play of cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. It was as if the Raven receivers decided to go to the racetrack or golf course instead of play football; were they there?

 

If these two can continue to shut down the opposition’s top receiver, I suspect that we will continue to see more sacks and pressure on the quarterback as a result. They can be left in single coverage, which allows for more safety and linebacker blitzing—a perfect equation for sacks. It’s only Week Five, but a Pro Bowl invitation for at least one of them may be in order.

 

The final major bright spot worth pointing out is our favorite golden boy, Carson Palmer. Those fans clamoring for the big-armed, sling-shooting Palmer of 2005 might feel somewhat underwhelmed by his play so far, but no matter what his stats look like, he has risen to the game’s ultimate challenge of playing from behind and orchestrating the win in every game this season.

 

I’ve shared my skepticism on Carson’s ability to improve on the things I felt he had faltered in, like pocket presence and clutch ability. I cautioned against the belief that just because No. 9 was back, things would automatically turn around. I am quite delighted that Mr. Palmer has proven me dead wrong on these points.

 

While we still can’t compare Carson to Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, there are very few other quarterbacks in the league that can manage five straight successful comebacks to start out the year.

 

The reshaping of the team identity from a dainty, calculated air attack into a steamrolling armored unit is still a work in progress. Despite exceeding most expectations, the team has yet operate at full speed. The new Bengals have shock-and-awed their way to first place, and they haven’t even gotten the hang of this thing yet.

 

At this point, the league is going to take the Bengals seriously. The divisional games will only get more bitter and brutal. Teams are going to brace themselves against the Bengals’ late-game punch, and it will be up to the players and coaches to further grow into their new roles.

 

While they’re not quite in the AFC North driver’s seat yet, Cincinnati has certainly moved up to the passenger seat and buckled in the safety belt.

 

 

Mojokong—Autumn Sundays are fun again.

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