Cincy Jungle: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: World Soccer Digest for Soccer Fans!

Thursday Morning links and notes -- Bengals look to improve pass rush

There's two schools of thought about the Browns quarterback situation.

  • The Browns could be giving Anderson the start against the Bengals because god knows that quarterbacks can sit in the pocket, scan the field and complete passes. In Anderson's case, it could build his confidence.
  • The Browns giving Brady Quinn the start, would be, well, you know the story about young quarterbacks against the Bengals defense.

Derek Anderson has two starts against the Bengals that couldn't produce results further from each other.

Date Result* Att Comp Yards TDs INT Rating
9.16.07 L, 51-45 33 20 328 5 1 121.0
12.23.07 W, 19-14 48 29 251 2 4 53.4

* result from a Bengals perspective

The Bengals have one sack and no interceptions. So Marvin Lewis, during Wednesday's practice, emphasized the pass rush. However, the issue is the bookends. Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom were signed to deals worth $63.25 million combined. After Geathers was rewarded with a six-year worth $33.75 million for his 10.5 sack performance in 2006, Geathers has recorded 3.5 sacks in the past 19 games -- his last sack came on December 15, 2007 against the 49ers. However, last season's 3.5 sack performance is partly a result of the team's experiment putting him at linebacker because of the maddening injuries the team suffered.

The Bengals have 23 sacks since 2007. The worst in the AFC.

However, both Odom and Geathers need results this year; no, right now.

"One ain't enough," Odom said. "We've got to get more pressure. We're thinking way too much. We need to relax and just go play — play like we practice. I've got a good feeling about this week. We're going to get a few more sacks."

In all, Perry's expected to have his first 100-yard career game, Antonio Chatman expects to get a touchdown on punt return and the Bengals pass rush expects to get a few more sacks. Whether or not they actually do, I think it's encouraging to see the confidence that this team is building, even though their winless in three tries.

In the 19-14 win over the Browns, the Bengals scored all 19 points in the second quarter (two field goals, 5-yard pass to Houshmandzadeh and a one-yard TD run by Kenny Watson -- two-point conversion failed). The Bengals also held Jamal Lewis on fourth-and-one at the Cincinnati 19-yard line that led to a Shayne Graham 29-yard field goal. The two touchdowns scored by the Bengals were within 1:27 left in the first half, aided by two Derek Anderson interceptions.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh chimes in on his thoughts about Andrew Whitworth (the guy that shutdown Justin Tuck) in comparison to Eric Steinbach: "I don't see the dropoff. Yeah, Steiny was a big part of it. He was here when we started winning and he's one of the best guards in the league. He and Whit are two different players. Each one does things better than the other. Whit is good. The bottom line is that Whit can play. If he keeps it up like this and we win some games, he'll be over in Hawaii."

Ask Antonio Chatman who will score a touchdown on punt return; he or Joshua Cribbs: "I've been close every game. I'll probably break one this game."

Jamar Fletcher "might play on Sunday". Mike Zimmer says of Fletcher: "He's a veteran guy who has played quite a bit. I looked at him a year ago (when Zimmer was Atlanta's defensive coordinator). He shows some quickness and acceleration. He might be able to help us."

Fletcher says, "I have been looking for the right situation. At this point, I just wanted to get somewhere and prove I can be a part of team and help them win. The situation, I saw they were needing help (and that) they are young and down in numbers. I feel I can come in and help right away. ... I don't see why I would be coming here to wait around."

Even though the Browns are starting Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn will be ready.

Geoffrey Pope cleared waivers and is now on the Practice Squad.

Jamar Fletcher was signed to a one-year deal worth $730,000.

The Bengals were 2-9 when Chris Henry wasn't in the lineup. His talent has never been a problem; though his effort has sometimes been questioned. The biggest problem with Henry is reliability.

Chad Johnson has only 88 yards receiving and no touchdowns.

0 recs  |  Comment 1 comment |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Pass Rush

Last year, in one of the articles Pro Football Outsiders put on espn.com, they said that the Bengals biltz 6 or more people more often than any other team. We also had the fewest sacks with 22 last year.
We only have 1 sack this season and we biltzed like crazy against the Giants. On Toomer’s catch that sealed the game, we sent the house, and Hall, presumably anticipating the biltz was going to get to Manning, bit on Toomer’s slant route and got burned on his double move.
Being able to stop the run is important, but if we can’t get an pressure on the quarterback, even when send as many or more people than they have blocking, the defense is going to be bad.
I don’t know if we need more athletic players to replace Dhani Jones, and Jeanty, better DTs that stop QBs from stepping up to avoid the edge rushers, or just better schemes(Probably, all of the above) but something has to change.(which it probably won’t)

by R.F. Mehl on Sep 25, 2008 5:01 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Cincinnati Bengals.
Start posting about the Bengals »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Sixteenth ranked offense
Small
Something is different...
Small
Bengals in general
Infighting_small
Week 11 Preview: West Coast Warm Up
Infighting_small
Unabashed self-promotion in the name of humor
Small
Bengals Player Pick 'em Wk 11 vs Raiders
Cool_story_susan_small
Methinks they doth protest much too much
Small
The Raiders are the Really Hot Chick from Species
L_86ee73c18708491fbead6a796c68068f_small
DO YOU BELIEVE??? Who Dey
Jailbot_small
Bengals workout Joey Galloway on Tuesday

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Stampede Blue
Late games open thread
Acme Packing Company
Brief Recap: Green Bay Packers Defeat 49ers, 30-24
Baltimore Beatdown
Ravens Lose Another Win-able Game

Managers

Atari_small Kirkendall

Editors

Twitter_profile_pic_small A Pragmatic Bengals Fan

Authors

Small Vman in Germany

Oso-bengalslogo-animation_small Jay McDonnell

Raymualaga_small IFChris

Huber090426_440_small jsl413

Infighting_small Mojokong