After the first week of the NFL it was interesting to see how many teams were playing Cover 2 D.  Obviously the Broncos did it and we did not do a good job of reacting (surprise!).  The Bills tried it and got beat twice on the same play.  This begs the question on how to proceed for Cincy.

There has been some great posts about our style of play, are we pass first, are we smash mouth?  Are we so desperate to beat the Ravens/Steelers that we try and emulate them with inferior personnel and players more suited to a more expansive type of game?

Bringing in Leonard Pope for a look is a good idea but I would be surprised if we signed him, I think we have had enough of potential lacking end product players.

However, until we get a threat, either from an underneath player which is what Housh excelled at or from a TE, I think we will end up seeing a lot more Cover 2 and deep pass restrictive Ds.  That and blitzes until we can prove we can beat it.

Clearly Caldwell is being groomed for the TJ role but our running game is not scaring the opposition, the OL will be tested until it proves itself, we are being limited deep which leaves the dinky dunk passes that we love so much and maybe some medium passes if the WRs get separation.

In some respects I feel that in an attempt to get more balanced, we have ended up becoming more predictable.  If that is possible with our OC.