Bengals Coordinator Mike Zimmer Shoulders Blame For Defensive Problems Against The Patriots

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 15, 2010 8:21 PM EDT in Analysis

As much as people were bashing the anemic play calling of Bob Bratkowski early against the Patriots on Sunday, it was the team's other coordinator that's taking the blame for how poorly his unit played.

Mike Zimmer, Bengals defensive coordinator, is shouldering the blame for the team's woes on defense, saying that "We had so much time to prepare playing against a good team, we had to take care of this guy, we had to do that, we had to do this, we had to take care and we forgot to play football so it was my fault.” Interesting phrase he uses, "paralysis by analysis", basically agreeing with fans that the offseason is entirely too long. And with all that time off, as Zimmer says, there was too much thinking by the defense that "we forgot to play football."

But don't think that this will be a constant thing. He's done taking the blame this year.

“I don’t know what we are right now but we’ll find out,” said Zimmer. “We’ll find out where we are. But this one won’t be on me this week. This one will be on the players. If they don’t play well, it’s on them. I took the last one but that’s the last one I’m taking.”

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, and I'll get beaten up for using terribly outdated catch phrases.

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I really think that we will see a different team

all together this Sunday. They will be the team we all thought they were. I just have that hunch…

by WHYUS!! on Sep 15, 2010 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

by BonnieBengal on Sep 15, 2010 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

That's the last one he's taking?

Never say never my friend. If you screw up again, you better be humble enough to take the blame.

80% of the time it’s the coaches fat, from the drafting, through the practice, to the planning, and finally to the execution on game day. Execution is still the coaches responsibility. You gotta be able to ignite passion on the players as well as know how to put them where they’re supposed to be put.

This is nonsense Zimmer is talking. Be a big boy and if we let another team put 38 points on us then I’ll be damned if its not your responsibility again. Be a man Zimmer.

by jimbasa on Sep 15, 2010 8:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

coaches fault damn cell phone

by jimbasa on Sep 15, 2010 8:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

80% of the time it's the coaches' fault? Really?

So all those missed tackles, that wasn’t on the players? Sorry, but I can’t agree with that.

Coaching is vital, but you have to have the guys who’ll make the tackle, as opposed to the ones that almost do.

by no kidding on Sep 15, 2010 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

nk, the coaches can only do so much to get their guys ready. Mike Zimmer took one for the team by saying it was his fault

but it was the players who played soft the entire game. It was the defensive lineman who could not get close to Brady. It was Carson who had “another pick 6”, it was the ST that allowed the back breaking KO for a TD that began the 3rd quarter and it will be the players that have to come out and bust Baltimore in the mouth and try to win this MUST WIN GAME AT HOME ON SUNDAY.

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Sep 16, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m sorry but 2 of those TD’s were out of Zimmer’s hands and hurt us! The pick 6 and return at the beginning of the 2nd half game were out of his control! 24pts against New England isnt to shabby. Field postion helped out NE too! Especially when Ced fumbled! They looked lost out there on a couple of plays and I’m sorry but unless Dhani is blitzing I don’t want him in coverage!

by Dwight Carter on Sep 16, 2010 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

What do you think he's doing?

Clearly he’s putting the next game on the players’ shoulders… to motivate them! I’m not sure what else you want the coaches to do? They can’t exactly run out on the field and swat passes or sack QBs themselves. Zimmer admitted that he didn’t have his team ready, and he accepted the blame. Now he is adjusting his coaching and issuing a challenge to his players. I don’t see any problem in what he said.

by SnapCount80 on Sep 16, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I Love Mike Zimmer!

by Bassthrob on Sep 15, 2010 8:58 PM EDT reply actions

The play calling I would bash Brat for the most

was the first call he made. I may be alone on this, but before the game I thought they would go deep immediately because, you know, WR upgrade + inexperienced DB’s and everything is gravy. They wanted to make a bold statement at the start of the year and show the Pat’s “we are gunning for you and you won’t be able to stop us”. Put them on there heels and make them nervous. But what if for some reason it’s incomplete? Guess who is confident now? Pound the ball down there F’in throats! That’s what our O-line does well. Eat some clock! Wear out the D! Then when they start cheating towards the line go for the jugular. The running game never got a fair chance to get going. Two 3rd and shorts’, two incomplete passes, two three and outs. Baltimore is also known for having a “suspect” secondary. Do we come out going deep again? Hell I suppose if they give us the right look, but the stats dictate that a 100 yard game from Benson gives good odds for a victory.

by frickja on Sep 15, 2010 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I didnt understand the opening deep pass either.

They should always run the damn ball down the opponents throats. It worked last year so lets keep with that formula.

by Diesel2405 on Sep 15, 2010 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

that deep pass almost worked

We’d have loved it if TO came down with it. It was worth it to test the rookie corner off the bat. I liked the call.

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by Pardon_My_French on Sep 15, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Just get the first down. Then get another one. Then get another one.

When they cheat up to stop the short stuff – throw it long. We need to learn to do to opponents what they do to us. Death by a thousand cuts.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 15, 2010 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Trade for A.J. Hawk. Period.

by jimbasa on Sep 15, 2010 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

What? Peerman for Hawk? Plus a draft pick? And take on his massive salary?

by Cry on Sep 15, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

What?

the last one you’re taking? Well if you don’t put the players out there in the right position/scheme to succeed it will continue to be on you Zim. If the Ravens come out in spread or 3wr and heap, and you have Rey and Dhani both in the game, sorry that’s on you because they can’t cover an elderly woman and you as the DC should know the strengths and weaknesses of your guys

by gpcu02 on Sep 15, 2010 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

by Dwight Carter on Sep 16, 2010 12:32 AM EDT reply actions

we're at a make or break point

zimmer doesn’t have the luxury of his defense can take the first month of the season off and get comfortable.

we start out 0-2 with the ravens having a 3 game lead over cincy (see the tie breaker and need to win in balt late in the season) and the bengals won’t make the playoffs.

zimmer has to have his D on the field sunday. and they have to dominate the ravens for 60 minutes. they can’t show up for 30 minutes again.

we lose sunday. it doesn’t matter when zimmer gets the defense worked out, the season is over.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 16, 2010 9:55 AM EDT reply actions