The Bengals drop to 0-6 after 26-14 loss to the Jets

by Kirkendall on Oct 12, 2008 4:26 PM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 10 comments

Generally speaking, I thought the Bengals defense did their job. However, as is the story in every game this season, the Bengals offense forces the defense into an impossible task of doing their job fully for over 35 minutes in the game. The team's biggest detriment to the overall failure of this team is the offense; their inability to move the ball for such a time that gives the Bengals defense a breather, hurts the defense more opposing team's big plays.

Defensively, the Bengals allowed only 252 yards of total offense to the Jets. That's 80 yards less than the 338.6 average their allowing per game, which is ranked 19th in the NFL. That should improve, as will likely their sixth rank passing defense that averages 167.6 yards passing per game -- they only allowed 166 yards against the Jets.

The Jets only rushed for 86 yards -- by far the best defensive rush performance of the season. Here are the rushing defensive performances, ranked by best to worst, of the season.

86 yards against the Jets
117 yards against the Giants
134 yards against the Browns
177 yards against the Titans
198 yards against the Cowboys
229 yards against the Ravens

But in the end, all of the above matters little with a bad, bad, performance by the Bengals offensive line. Chris Perry, I believe, wouldn't be a starter running back on any other team, after he rushed for 14 yards on 11 carries. Perry's season to date: 96 carries, 253 yards (2.6 yards per rush). His performances by game, ranked from best to worst:

Against Giants: 20 rushes, 74 yards, TD (25-yard run)
Against Titans: 21 rushes, 64 yards, TD (13-yard run)
Against Ravens: 19 rushes, 42 yards
Against Cowboys: 13 rushes, 31 yards
Against Browns: 12 rushes, 28 yards
Against Jets: 11 rushes, 14 yards

All combined, with the horrible effort of professionalism on offense (and some measure, the special teams), the Bengals are 0-6. And if you've watched these games throughout the season, none of you should be surprised.

A quick note, the Rams and Texans earned their first wins of the season respectively, leaving the Bengals and Lions as the league's only winless teams.

Let's go through our good, bad and ugly (kinda ripped that off the Chickster).

The Good (cliff notes version: the defense)

I really liked Pat Sims. He has an aggressive motor, and fights the blockers well. Combined with Peko, these guys could do some good things in the future -- though not really talking about this year. Against the Jets, Sims and Peko combined for 13 tackles (Sims with five, Peko with eight).
Dhani Jones led the team with nine tackles.
Frostee Rucker and Antwan Odom recorded one sack each. Odom's sack forced a fumble that Ndukwe returned 15 yards for the touchdown.
Marvin White and Corey Lynch recorded an interception each.
Defensively, the Bengals were +2 in turnovers, scored a touchdown and the Bengals still lost by 12 points (which should reflect as "ugly" for the offense).

The Bad

The Bengals had seven of their 10 possessions end in punt -- four that went three-and-out.
Starting Field Position. The Jets started on the Bengals side of the field, five times. Alternatively, the Bengals best starting field position was their own 38-yard line.
The Bengals only had three drives that recorded 10 yards or more. Other than the 66-yard touchdown drive and the 44-yard drive at the end of the game, the Bengals third best offensive possession went 18 yards.
Missed tackles that led to first downs.

The Ugly (cliff notes version: the offense)

Chris Perry. Even though he was awful running the ball, Perry also missed receptions that could have converted a first down, and was manhandled on pass protection that led to a sack. Combined, Cedric Benson and Chris Perry combined for 15 rushes for 20 yards.
Bengals offensive line. On nearly every rushing play, the Jets had at least one defensive player in the backfield, forcing Perry to make his first (and only) cut about two yards short of the line of scrimmage.
The Bengals offense recorded 171 total yards, second-worst performance of the season. This is the second game of the season where the Bengals offense recorded less than 200 yards -- this is the only season during the Marvin Lewis era in which the Bengals offense recorded less than 200 yards more than once in a season.
The Bengals averaged 2.9 yards-per-play -- their worst average since recording 3.1 yards-per-play against the Ravens.

0 recs | Comment 10 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Couldn't watch

Listened to the start of the game on radio until the Jets scored to tie 7-7. I watched on tv as the offense just blew. I couldn’t take it anymore. This team’s problems boil down the offensive line. Can’t stay on the field? Oline. Too many 3 and outs? Oline. RB is averaging 2.8 per carry? Oline. James Brooks couldnt run in this offense. I dont see any light now for this team next year either.

by mskiles314 on Oct 12, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great Caesar's Ghost

Chris Perry couldn’t fight his way out of a greasy White Castle sack. He can’t make the one guy he needs to make miss miss on the one time he made it to the corner. He can’t catch a freaking cold and I watched him get physically lifted off his feet- either Pace or Ellis did it- and carried back into Fitzpatrick. He’s not only not making a positive contribution, he’s shooting what little chance of offense we have in the foot. Benson could miss every blocking assignment and still be not much worse than Perry. Utecht drops more than he catches- but that gospel singing is a real godsend for our offense. Screw the little Ivy Leaguer, at least Jordan Palmer is tall enough to clear the line of scrimmage on his throws. Fitz is Doug Flutie without the gumption or instinct. He escapes the pocket, rolls out, and, then, stops to pump fake with a linebacker closing in from behind? I thought Harvard implied smart. Even with Palmer, this offense is a fucking wasteland.

On the other hand, given the offense’s flurry of three and outs, Kyle Larson apparently experimenting with a lead football, and the kick coverage team’s abysmal tackling, the defense today was stellar. We actually got pressure on Favre, sacked him a couple times, hit him a few more, and hurried him enough to take advantage of a couple errant throws. Marvin won a jumpball, Lynch was the beneficiary of a superb Joseph pass defended, Pat Sims made his presence felt in the middle- and I agree teaming with Peko real well, Orien Harris filled in for Thornton well enough for me to forget we were missing him. All the LBs made plays. If our offense was remotely competent, we might be alright.

Carson should sit until his elbow is actually well, not just well enough to get through a 40 rep practice week, 50 rep game pitch count. Jordan Palmer should get the shot as the starter. Sims, Shirley, Simpson, and Caldwell should all see significant playing time. Fire Bratkowski and let Zampese call the plays- hell, have a lottery and let a different fan call the plays each week. I guarantee it couldn’t be any worse than Brat.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Oct 12, 2008 5:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

waste

Just spent 115$ on a ticket to my first bengals game, needless to say i wasent pleased. the fans in new york are assholes, i rocked my boomer jersey and ill i here is boomer sucks. i guess they dont know he played for the jets also. agree fire brat, clean house. things will never change no matter who the hire or fire.

by casapennec on Oct 12, 2008 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s clear to us that the (non-existent) running game is the root of all, or a least most of the teams problems. The line deserves a lot of the blame, but after watching some other games this week, good running backs make defenders miss in the backfield. Maybe Watson can go in next week and at least get 3ypa.
For next year, are we one good center away from an acceptable line or do we need a complete overhaul? Is Stacy Andrews worth a big contract? I won’t mind seeing them drafting a real guard, spending Andrews’ money getting a good center, and sliding Whitworth over to RT.

by R.F. Mehl on Oct 12, 2008 6:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RE:

I don’t think Andrews should be signed long term; not if it’s comparable to the contract he’s getting now.

I also think that Levi Jones and Eric Ghiaciuc are done. Time to go.

Bobbie Williams is serviceable, but we could find something cheaper, yet as effective. However, note on Williams. The dude is as close as it gets to filling the void that Willie Anderson left in terms of lockerroom leadership.

Whitworth would be better served on the edges.

Just my two cents.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Oct 12, 2008 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I missed the game - thank God!

Wow – by all accounts this was a frustrating game to watch. It seems like the Bengals break down every week in at least one aspect of the game (O, D, or ST) and, despite yeoman-like work from the other parts the team, can never over come this. It is amazing that an offense that tore apart opposing defenses for the past few years does not have enough pride to perform at a professional level. This team lives and dies by Carson Palmer; this season is proof of that. I was driving back to DC from the Outer Banks and missed the game – now I know I didn’t miss anything worth watching..

"Ryan, Things in here don't react too well to bullets." - Marko Ramius

by TarZander on Oct 12, 2008 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I remember a year ago someone was saying that using all our picks on defense would eventually hurt our offense. Looks like they are right. It would be nice to see a stat of the amount of offensive players we have selected to the defense since 2003. Our offense sucks basically because of ghiachuc or however you spell it. He cannot read defenses and help manage the Oline and tell who needs to pick up who. He also is either on his back as much as Jenna Jamison or he just plain misses tackles. He is the WORST center in the NFL. The WORST.

by Diesel2405 on Oct 12, 2008 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Offense and Defense players drafted.

Based on this chart — which takes account in which the position the player was drafted as (aka, played as in college) rather than what the Bengals tried to convert them as.

Drafted based on offense or defense since 2003.

Offense – 25 players
Defense – 28 players

Broken down per season.

2008
Offense – 5
Defense – 5

2007
Offense – 3
Defense – 4

2006
Offense – 4
Defense – 5

2005
Offense – 4
Defense – 3

2004
Offense – 4
Defense – 7

2003
Offense – 5
Defense – 4

Careful. I just skimmed through it, so I could have missed things.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Oct 12, 2008 8:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

on top of the at best competent drafting, getting nothing out Pollack and Irons, and next to nothing out of Thurman is really killing us.

If Irons was played at a Felix Jones level and Pollack was getting 5-10 sacks, opposed to the 0 sacks Jeanty has given us, maybe we wouldn’t be so bad

by R.F. Mehl on Oct 12, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do not agree that the defense did their job. They took the deep ball away from Brett Favre, I will give them that. Twice when Favre tried to go deep he was picked off. But then Favre realized all he had to do was to throw to his receivers in the flat, and the Bengals DBs would charge full speed straight toward the receiver (trying to land a big hit instead of just making the damn tackle) and completely whiff, resulting in an automatic 6+ yards each time. Can someone on this defense make a tackle other than Rivers? Can we just teach our defenders that being disciplined means keeping the ball carrier in front of you, wrapping up, and making the tackle, not necessarily trying to land a jarring hit?

by benf24 on Oct 13, 2008 12:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs