The Bengals had the most injured starters in the NFL

by Josh Kirkendall on Jan 11, 2009 4:55 PM EST in Injury

Newest Bengals beat writer for the Enquirer, Joe Reedy, referenced a piece by Dallas News' Rick Gosselin who charted all the team's injuries, mostly starters that were placed on Injured Reserve. So what did Gosselin find out?

Bengals starters missed 84 games this season; 12 games more than the 72 missed by the Seattle Seahawk starters. The Bengals also had six starters go on IR (that number is clearly under-stated), which is tied for most with the Seahawks, Lions and Jaguars, while only five Bengals started all 16 games.

What the chart doesn't reference, is the games and players that are not starters that affects the team's performance. It's also clearly evident that the Bengals depth is poor compared to the other teams that perform at a high level without missing a beat, disregarding the "injury excuse". Injuries are apart of sports, and the ability to play around those injuries by having good backup players, accentuates the difference between a good team, and a bad team.

But we also slightly disagree with that assessment. Injuries are apart of football. But when you lose critical components for the team's success, not just a few, but several, then it's going to hurt teams, big time. The more critical components you lose, mixed with the unjustified reasoning behind cutting critical players (say a right tackle that will play, and start, in next week's AFC Championship game) something's wrong.

So the beat goes on; bad luck, overwhelming injury, and bad personnel choices, added together, making the Bengals who they are.

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So who ARE the only five Bengals who started all 16 games???

I had to look it up…

Leon Hall — CB — 75 tackles, 3 INT, 1 TD, 24 PD
Dhani Jones — LB — 116 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF
Domata Peko — DT — 67 tackles, 0.5 sacks.
Bobbie Williams — G
…and…
Eric Ghiaciuc.

In addition, we had two of our main special-teamers for all 16 games…

Kyle Larson — P — 39.5 yd avg. — 1st time in his 5 seasons he’s averaged under 40.
Brad St. Louis — LS — …an’ at’s all ah’ve gawt ta say a’bout thaaat…what can you say, really, about the long-snapper? I’m sure Mr. St. Louis would just as soon not have us say anything about him anyhow, right?

But…it’s worth noting that none of the following were included in The Five Ironmen:

— A franchise QB
— A starting WR
— A playmaking LB
— An expensive free-agent-signing pass-catching TE
— An expensive free-agent-signing pass-rushing DE
— A bruising featured-back RB (maybe next year, if Cedric re-ups…)
— …or even a kicker!

You’re right, man…this is what makes the Bengals who they are.

by TheWalrus1971 on Jan 11, 2009 10:53 PM EST reply actions

RE:

And that’s why I believe, no matter what the team, or even the sport, that if you lose critical components of any team like we did this year, we’re not going to do well. Added with the league’s toughest schedule, depth that’s just not there, all points to the same thing. NORMALCY! :)

Anyway, I understand the injury argument, but far fewer teams in league history have succeeded in our circumstances (not talking front office, of course, which just adds to the bad), than haven’t. Usually teams that have dealt with the injuries that we have, tend to reserve their NFL Draft party inside the top-ten.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Jan 12, 2009 9:36 AM EST reply actions