Cribbs Sheet for Sunday

by Vman in Germany on Sep 29, 2009 12:49 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

It was a good Bengals win last week, but now it's time to get ready for a trip to the Dog Pound in Cleveland. While it is evident there is not much bark or bite in the pound this year a few items should not be overlooked. The Bengals must put their foot on the neck of the Browns from the opening kickoff and leave it there the whole game. A talented kick & punt return man, a hungry QB with something to prove, and a desperate coach can always be dangerous.

The first order Sunday should be keeping Joshua Cribbs in check. The Bengals special teams can reduce the Browns scoring threat by 25-50% by not kicking or punting the ball to him. Fans have seen the Bengals get burned on special teams in the past and we don't want that achilles heal to return. Cribbs had a 67 yard punt return for a TD in the season opener against the Vikings but has been quiet the last few games. The Bengals will need to keep him silent this week as well. The Bengals rookie punter Kevin Huber will be tested this week with his ability to use his foot to neutralize Cribbs on punt returns.

The second potential threat for the Bengals is Derek Anderson at QB. If Eric Mangini names Anderson the starter for this week's game the Bengals defense could get an unexpected test. A week of getting 1st string reps coupled with having something to prove. What better motivation than to show the world, especially Browns fans, why he should be the starter in Cleveland. With Jamal Lewis coming back from an injury that kept him out last week the only hope the Browns have hinges on what they can do in the air. If Mangini is looking for a spark this week, it is evident that Anderson is his best hope at providing one. Quinn will only benefit by being benched and the Browns don't have anything to lose.

The Browns have their finger on the panic button already. Mangini's term in Cleveland could prove to be the shortest in Browns history if he can't get a grip on this team. Poor performances, embarrassing defeats, and an unruly locker room could leave Mangini begging Bill Belichick for a job by Christmas. After a big victory last week Bengal fans will get the opportunity to see if this team can stay focused. My bets are on Marvin Lewis finding a way to keep this team motivated en-route to a convincing victory on Sunday.

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history still gives me that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that we’re in for a letdown, but it was there last week as well. no matter what happens here, though, i still get the feeling we win in baltimore.

you're all posers. i hated bratkowski before it was cool.

by Raging Clue on Sep 29, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Bone crushing pain should be delivered to the Browns on Sunday

We should control both sides of the ball, with generous offensive posessions to rest the defense as much as possible. A strong offensive presance should be established early with multiple TDs from the ground and air.

If not, then we could be in for a big letdown and really hurt our chances to be in the playoffs, and also we need to get in and out and then ready for the Ravens. A win against each of our divisional rivals allows us a lot of breathing room later down the road. I can easily see the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals trading wins this season, so winning both Cleveland games is a must do.

by UpStateMike on Sep 29, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

i will bet my life savings that we win this game.

there’s no possible way derek anderson OR brady quinn picks apart our defense in any way and we’ll be in for at least 17 pts of offense.

by GrooveLeg on Sep 29, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

I've said this every year for the last 4-5 years...

We should beat the Browns and we should do it convincingly. There’s no team I hate losing more to (except the Steelers obviously) than the Browns. Reason? My dad is a Browns fan and I get to watch the game with him. If the Browns come out and put points on the board first I’ll be hearing “look out! I told you they were dangerous!” blah blah blah. Very annoying.

I really think this year is different though. This is the best Bengals team I’ve seen since ‘05 (and it’s probably better than that team.) Why? A more mature, experienced Palmer and defense. Derek Anderson has a great arm but he’s not very smart with decisions, especially under pressure. We need Odom and the rest of the DL putting some serious pressure on him and force him to make mistakes. Then we need to convert those turnovers to points on offense.

I expect to see a lot of Benson on Sunday but wouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals come out airing it out to get a quick start. The coaching staff should realize that Caldwell over the middle is money and take advantage of our recieving corp. If we lose this game we won’t hear the end of it (ESPN will have a field day) so let’s hope we can win this. This is as close to a gimme as we’re going to have all year.

by WhoDeyDerek on Sep 29, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

yea your right

usually the Bengals do win in Cleveland. It’s when they visit here that worries me. History tells us this. Although this does have the makings of a trap game. D Anderson is going to air it out too. He does have a lot to prove and Edwards always wanted Anderson to be the QB. ESPN has been praising us thus far, so it would be disastrous should there be an upset. I don’t believe this is going to happen and we will prevail and kick their ass!!!!!!!!

by WHYUS!! on Sep 29, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Pound the Rock...give the D a rest

We should have 2 different 100 yard rushers in this game. Benson should be able to ring up 110 yards mid way thru the 3rd quarter. Bernard Scott takes over and rolls to another benjamin in 1 and half quarters.

Let me provide some tangible evidence:

I’m floored that the Browns brought in all that beef last offseason to shore up the Run Defense, yet thus far they’re giving up 184 yards rushing per contest. I wonder what’s going on with their LB’s.

I’ll give them a pass on Adrian Peterson, but look at this week by week breakdown of the Browns defense against the Run (keep in mind, these games were against the pass happy trio of Favre, Orton and Flacco, who combined for 685 yards thru the air):

Week 1 vs Minnesota
Adrian Peterson 180 yards (64-yard TD and two 1-yard TD’s )
Percy Harvin 22 yards
Chester Taylor 17 yards

Week 2 vs Denver
Correll Buckhalter 76 yards (45-yard TD)
Knowshon Moreno 75 yards
Lamont Jordan 19 yards
Brandon Marshall 14 yards
Peyton Hillis (2-yard TD)

Week 3 vs Baltimore
Willis McGahee 67 yards (15-yard TD and 7-yard TD)
Ray Rice 48 yards (9-yard TD)
Mark Clayton 15 yards
LeRon McClain 7 yards

Brutal, 553 yards rushing and 8 rushing TD’s through games. Can we get some of that? CLE is currently ranked 30th against the run and 30th in total yards allowed. We could assume the pass defensive ranking of 16th is an abberation for the simple fact that there has been no need to throw it on them….they can’t stop the run.

I understand that his trap game written all over it, and they have their backs against the wall. But, according to their fans, they don’t even look like they’re trying. The Bengals should run early and run often. Control the game from the get-go and run out the clock. Don’t start chucking the ball around the yard, it isn’t necessary.

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Sep 29, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

(thru 3 games)
(this has trap game)

sorry, my grammar sucks

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Sep 29, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

This game is an opportunity for them to take a big step towards respectibility. They are suppose to win this game.If they don’t go in there ready to battle at the start,then they will be in for a long day.If they let the Browns hang around and keep it close,you could see a repeat of last Sunday but the Bengals on the short end of the stick. In other words,it’s time to mature and make a statement.Go into Cleveland and win and win convincingly.

by redberkey on Sep 29, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

I really want B. Quinn to start

We can rattle his cage. But we can’t rattle D. Anderson. He’s seen it all, pretty much. And he doesn’t take his opportunities for granted. He beat a heavily favored Bengals in 2007 on the way to taking the BROWNS to a 10-6 record, and then last year, after a 1-3 start, they beat the GIANTS on Monday Night Football. They are a threat, and like Cincy Jungle has pointed out - but no one else has pointed out - this game has TRAP all over it. We need the Boys in Stripes to execute flawlessly in order to go 3-1, 2-0 in the division, and 2-0 on the road.

by Yaccub Fleishcman on Sep 29, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

As a lifelong Browns' fan...

The Bengals should murder us on Sunday. If they don’t, they just aren’t focused.

We have no running game, no passing game, and no chance of either one developing whatsoever. Our players have pretty much quit on our coach (not that we have NFL talent at many positions anyway).

The Bengals are looking like 05 again, which is how they should look. They have talented players, and a gameplan…a strategy.

The Browns’
run up the middle – run up the middle – screen on 3rd and 11 – punt
gameplan isn’t working out. So now they’re going with Anderson, which basically replaces the screen play for 4 yds on 3rd & 11 with a forced pass downfield into triple coverage for a pick 6.

Enjoy yourselves, Bengal fans. Wish I was one of you.

Hey... Cleveland happens.

by zdub1983 on Sep 30, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions