Play Of The Game: Bernard Scott's Fourth Quarter Touchdown Run

by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 10, 2011 9:38 AM EDT in Game Recaps

The Cincinnati Bengals offense rested at Jacksonville's two-yard line as the two minute warning was set to expire. Losing by four points (20-16) after a depressing 74-yard touchdown reception by Jason Hill six minutes prior, the Bengals had two opportunities to punch the football into the end zone to take a three-point lead. A field goal did no good; the Bengals had to score a touchdown.

Andy Dalton lined up in shotgun with Jerome Simpson wide left, Andre Caldwell in the slot to the right and A.J. Green flanked out wide right. Bernard Scott flanked Dalton's right with Brian Leonard on his left.

Dalton kicked his leg, looked to his right, shouting instructions. Perhaps an A.J. Green fade to the right, or a high pass to Simpson forcing the receiver to use his leaping ability to out-jump the corner. Maybe Andre Caldwell runs a pivot route like he did on the previous play, faking an out-route and sliding in like we saw T.J. Houshmandzadeh run so many times. Hey. At least it wasn't going to be a shovel pass (am I right?).

Kyle Cook snaps the football and the offensive line shows pass block, while Brian Leonard shoots through the A-Gap to Cook's right. Linebacker Daryl Smith lined up wide right to show a pass rush, effectively taking himself out of the play even before the snap. Nate Livings allows the pass block to continue, pushing Jeremy Mincey out as if making a natural pocket.

Cook's block on defensive tackle Terrance Knighton eventually led into Jacksonville's safety Dwight Lowery, who approached the line of scrimmage once he read the run, neutralizing any pursuit and opening the lane for Scott to score the game-winning touchdown.

It was a great play call from offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and fantastic read by Scott finding the opening lane. But the play doesn't work if not for the offensive line, specifically Kyle Cook and Nate Livings' block to open the gap between them.

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Another great play call by Jay Gruden at the 2 yd line...

together with the QB draw last week, very impressed with the playcalls there to get the TD.

by Luke on Oct 10, 2011 9:47 AM EDT reply actions

All in all it was a good game. Besides the busted coverage for a TD. The D played great once again even though they had a lot of missed tackling. I hope our O-line can figure out what they need to do to block better though! Absolutely no running room for CED-BEN. We need to get better in that category. We keep even mediocre teams in games with us. Once they start clicking on all angles…WATCH OUT!

by Bengalsredsvictim on Oct 10, 2011 9:47 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

agree

run blocking needs to get better, and especially tackling was pretty poor in this game. Lots of times we had them stopped behind the line and they broke tackle to make a gain, or stopped before first down and they convert it because of a missed tackle.

by Luke on Oct 10, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

RE:

They being Maurice Jones-Drew. Dude is a tree trunk, hard to bring down. But agreed. Improved tackling.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 10, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

MJD is just a beast to bring down

agreed the tackling was iffy sunday. give the credit to MJD.

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Oct 10, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

B. Scott

Play that dude more. I love it! What a great “W”!! Well earned for sure. Whats impressive is CED was held to 55 yards and we still won. Good stuff. Our D gave up some big plays like the one Cleveland gave up to us with the GREEN TD. All in all we played decent. Im a bit concerned about special teams. Ole TATE needs to run laps or something for the mistakes he made. Lets put B SCOTT / BABY HAWK / or another speedster back there. QUESTION: When PACMAN JONES comes back you think they will put him back there on returns? This team is on a roll and playing with excitement and they don’t quit. Lets take this W, go back to PBS and prepare for the 0-5 COLTS. TO be honest thats what kinda scares me, their looking for their first W! We need to play like them we are too. Anyway great win and Im liking this team and “new look”. WHODEY my friends.

by Mark Hezlep on Oct 10, 2011 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

Not to knock on Tate

but would love to see Hawkins on KO returns. The dude can fly and plays with reckless abandon. You can never have to many of those guys on the field.

by wilky on Oct 10, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

not sure what to make of tate yet

takes a great KR 16-25 games just to score once. giving up on tate this soon would be silly.

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Oct 10, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

ced keeps averaging 2 yards a carry

(give credit to the jags d-line)

if ced continues to run with a 2 yard average, other backs will see more playing time. same with other o-line personal rotations (ie: livings on the bench for a few series)

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Oct 10, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

A great play and major motivator for Scott

Scott doesn’t get many touches as we well know, but when the team relies on you to score the winning TD, that says a lot.

The Jags teed off on Benson, and that is why he wasn’t going to get many yards. Their D has a great practice history with a GREAT RB, MoJo. So for Gruden to use this to their advantage is excellent calling. Without Benson even in the huddle they figured it’s a pass, or at best a run/pass to Leonard.

Scott will be pumped for this next Sunday against the Colts. If they would stop trying to have Benson run around the edge the running game would be much better served. O line push guys. FB push LB out of way. Benson dives into the mix and gets as many yards as he can. Beyond that, Benson should not be used outside the tackles.

You can put your boots in the oven, but that don't make 'em biscuits.

by UpStateMike on Oct 10, 2011 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

Play of the game: Dalton INT

Not a terrible pass but got it’s ass kicked by the wind. (Need to watch a replay, actually, to see if I’m not just remembering that with red rifle colored glasses)

Intercepted, but Dalton didn’t just Palmerwhiff at the defender and actually tagged his sorry ass at the 4, stopping him at the two. Defense defensed the defense out of the Jags and held to a field goal.

"Suck for Luck"? Forget that
2010 was "Schemin’ for Green and Faultin’ for Dalton."

by supergrover on Oct 10, 2011 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

That tackle by dalton was terrible, yet so freakin awesome.

by ddbumpus on Oct 10, 2011 10:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

type of tackle you dont want your qb making

for risk of injury. glad dalton and the d stopped em. don’t want dalton making tackles like that often though

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Oct 10, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

He made a non-risky tackle, though...

Made the tackle without really risking his hands/arms/shoulders- a pretty smart move on his part.

by Luke on Oct 10, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe it's just me but...

I like the fact that they’re rotating B Scott and Ced, but it seems like they are doing it the wrong way. Instead of rotating series, wouldn’t it make more sense to rotate them situationally. Between the tackle type runs goes to Benson, 2nd and 8’s, maybe a draw or a sweep to Scott…RB’s aren’t like QB’s that need to get in a rhythm. They don’t seem to change the type of runs that are called when Scott is in there. He is not built for between the tackle runs.

by Ochocinco on Oct 10, 2011 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

RE:

If they did that though you have to wonder how much they’d be giving the play away. Scott comes in and it might force the opposing defense to defend the edges and vice versa.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 10, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like a good idea though.

I mean, the idea that you play to your players’ strengths. Run Scott to the outside, run Benson up the middle. Get them working that defence. The defence will start to load up to stop them…
…
… and THEN you hit them with a Scott rush up the middle!

Basically, do what works until they stop you. When they stop you, mix it up. This is pretty much the essence of the play-action pass and draw plays.

by Aether on Oct 10, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

That is why it would be nice to see some more 2 back sets..........

if you have Benson on one side and scott/leonard on the other………we could do either or Dalton could make that determination at the line. Right now when Benson is in we are running up the middle, when Scott comes in we’re trying a screen/delay and when Leonard is in some type of screen.

by The Van Buren Boys on Oct 10, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

"when Scott comes in we’re trying a screen/delay"

That’s not necessarily true. Maybe most of the time yes, but did you see how many times they tried to run him up the middle like Benson? That was a lesson in futility.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Oct 10, 2011 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions