Tuesday morning links and notes -- are offensive problems related to the receivers

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 16, 2008 10:08 AM EDT in Analysis

With Ben Utecht unlikely playing this Sunday, Daniel Coats would likely back up Reggie Kelly giving Jeremi Johnson a start.

UPDATE: There's a reason why Jeremi isn't starting, as Iggy reminds this dead-brain blogger.

There's actually an optimistic Bengals fan somewhere not going after Mike Brown with torches during Access Hollywood?

Thornton has an idea as to what's wrong with the Bengals offense. "He didn't have his guys all offseason and most of training camp. I would think that would affect anyone. It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for him when his main guys aren't here." Hello Chad and T.J. Not that they were, as Chick Ludwig calls it "sandbagging" their injuries, but, you know.

I actually had the thought coming into work today that other receivers should be given more opportunities. If Chad and T.J. are still hurt, then it would make sense sitting them, or reducing the level of necessity for them to make plays. And if they're not hurt, then they're just not playing well enough to help us succeed.

Ludwig looks back at the Marvin Lewis draft (which we all know, hasn't been that great)

53 — total players selected in 6 seasons.

21 — drafted Bengals currently on the 53-man roster.

12 — drafted Bengals are currently starters.

5 — current Bengals starters are first-round draft picks (QB Carson Palmer, TB Chris Perry, CB Johnathan Joseph, CB Leon Hall and LB Keith Rivers).

Of the current roster, 39.6% were drafted by Marvin Lewis; 22.6% of the team's starters were drafted by Lewis. I believe he brings this up comparing Jerome Simpson with DeSean Jackson. Jackon has stepped up as the Eagles primary wide receiver with two of their starters down; Jackson caught six passes for 106 yards against the Rams, and six passes for 110 yards against the Cowboys.

My point is that Simpson hasn't been given the chance; not with two prominent and distraction-possible wide receivers in front of him.

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Comments

It certainly couldn’t hurt anything to give Jerome some snaps at three over Chatman or Holt. I liked his play in the pre-season and, unlike Chad or T.J., he and Carson may actually have some rhythm. Then again, by that point, Jason Tuck may have killed Palmer. I thought we cut Jeremi Johnson, or placed him on injured reserve, or in some way, shape, or form, he wasn’t available to us.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Sep 16, 2008 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

Crap. We did, with Jeremi.

I had to rush the post because those real-life work deals get in the way.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 16, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

well if you can't run

let’s do more 3 WR sets, get simpson in establish the PASS

by mskiles314 on Sep 16, 2008 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

The Patriots and Eagles have been using the high percentage passing game for years.
8 5, TJ, Caldwell Simpson, Henry. That is a lot of receiving talent.
Also, the O-line appears to be better pass blockers than run blockers (at least that was the case last year, we are bad at both so far)

Unfortunately, such an adjustment would take a competent offensive coordinator.

by R.F. Mehl on Sep 16, 2008 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

It would also take a sane coordinator/head coach.

I heard we picked up Abdul Hodge, Geoffrey Pope, and an O-Lineman of some sort- per C. Trent.
I remember Hodge from when he was running with another pretty good LB at Iowa several years back- was it Greenway? Anyway, he was cut by the Pack. Pope’s a defensive back that played a bit with the New York Football Giants in the post-season last year.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Sep 16, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

not only DeSean Jackson

but check Eddie Royal with Denver for rookie contributions.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Sep 17, 2008 7:57 AM EDT reply actions

Thornton is right on

The whole missing training camp thing is pretty big. I understand that players with big contracts don’t want to risk injury during the preseason, but there is more to it than that. Timing, working with the other players, developing rapport, mentoring, etc. Unfortunately, both Chad and TJ seem to have a prima donna attitude—they are above practicing and mentoring the younger players. So we end up with vets who use the first 2-3 weeks as “preseason” and younger guys who don’t develop as quickly as they should because of lack of veteran leadership. That’s my sense of it.

by goffchile on Sep 17, 2008 8:34 AM EDT reply actions