The Daily Banter: The Regular Season Routine Begins Today

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 7, 2010 10:05 AM EDT

The Bengals are kicking off this week, back into their regular season routine. On Monday, they conducted a practice with defensive tackle Geno Atkins, cornerback Brandon Ghee and running back Brian Leonard sitting out. Cincinnati will take Tuesday off, then it's off to practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with walkthroughs on Saturday and game day on Sunday. How very exciting, as we draw closer to the regular season, seeing all of our patience and hard work pay off. Well, the players and coaches probably worked harder than we did. But c'mon. We're fans. There is no reward for our hard work other than echoes inside bars that shout, WHO DEY!

+ Jordan Palmer's rise from an unlikely third-string quarterback into the Bengals immediate backup quarterback took some work, in large part thanks to quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese.

+ The Bengals will head into the regular season without true a fullback this year.

+ Daniel Coats has been rotating his practices with the tight end group one day, the fullback group the next.

+ Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens are getting their own television show on Verses called "The T.Ocho Show" that will talk the NFL -- and other things.

+ Chick Ludwig thinks that this roster is a better roster than a year ago.

+ After signing wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the league minimum, the Ravens traded Mark Clayton to the Rams.

+ San Francisco 49ers Tight End Vernon Davis called out wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who didn't play in the preseason.

+ Cleveland Browns running back Montario Hardesty tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season.

+ With Ben Roethlisberger suspended and Bryan Leftwich injured, the Steelers announced on Monday that Dennis Dixon will start Pittsburgh's season opener.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

"This roster is better than last years"

That’s the understatement of the century.

Our offense in paper went from a C- last year to an A- this season. I give them the minus because of the O line.

Our D has a healthy Roy Williams and a couple of great additions in Pacman and rookie sensation Atkins. I’d give them an A+ if not for our lack of a good coverage safety. I hope Nelson works out though.

by jimbasa on Sep 7, 2010 11:56 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Dan Coats part time TE/ part time FB

They tried this in 2008. I don’t think it’s neccesary to rehash what happened. It sucks that the Bengals roster is very good good in the vast majority of places but they have to settle for below avg. at L.Tackle and Fullback. Let’s hope Palmer doesn’t get crushed again.

by featherman on Sep 7, 2010 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

whitworth is hardly below average. i’m not sure they need a fullback that badly, especially if they play a lot of no huddle, in which case kelly would probably be in at fullback.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Sep 7, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

sorry meant right tackle-Whitworth is a stud

As far as fullback goes they went down this path in 2008. It wasn’t pretty. They had JJ last year doing some blocking for Benson.

by featherman on Sep 7, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

not having a fullback was the least of their worries in 2008. don’t forget, that line had the turnstile twosome of ghiaciuc and andrews; having a fullback would’ve made no difference in that black hole of suck.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Sep 7, 2010 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Turnstile twosome, haha

but more like a wide open double gate…

by WHYUS!! on Sep 7, 2010 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree that there were more problems than Coats at FB in 08

I just know that the Bengals were a fantastic smash mouth run the ball, control offense with JJ blocking for Benson last year. IMO it’s a mistake not to have a true fullback in your base offense if you plan on being a run first team. Now, if they are planning to open things up (and i don’t think they are because their pass protection seems tenuous right now) and run more no huddle then a true fullback isn’t a priority.

by featherman on Sep 7, 2010 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions