Whitworth And 2011 Bengals Looking To Shed Cincinnati Of "Doubt"

by Anthony Cosenza on Nov 12, 2011 10:00 AM EST

Over the past couple of seasons, Andrew Whitworth has taken it upon himself to be one of the team leaders for the Cincinnati Bengals. His stellar on-field performance no doubt makes him a "leader by example", but it's been other instances where Whitworth has shown just how big of a figure he is for this team. With the departures of big name veterans like Chad Ochocinco, Carson Palmer and Terrell Owens this past offseason, Whitworth seized the opportunity to become a good example and a true team captain.

For instance, he and Domata Peko organized players-only workouts during this summer's labor dispute. At these workouts, the vast majority of rookies and veterans attended and participated. Granted, these workouts probably weren't as strenuous or structured as Training Camp or Minicamps would be, but the effort didn't go unnoticed. Whitworth also signed a big contract extension this offseason, which was huge for two reasons: it locked up the team's best player for a couple more years and maybe more importantly, it showed that Whitworth wanted to continue to play in Cincinnati, despite the turmoil that seemingly always surrounds the team.

Now he's got a new mission for his Cincinnati Bengals.

When speaking with Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com recently, Whitworth explained that he and the 2011 squad are looking to remove the "doubt" that seems to take over this team, and has done so for the better part of the last twenty years.

"The biggest problem in Cincinnati is the doubt. There’s been that feeling where it’s another year where it starts out good, but it’s not going to end up good. You can sense that with everyone. I think when teams let that carry over into the locker room and what they do, it affects them. That’s the issue. That’s what we’re trying to change."

Preach it, Andrew. "Doubt" in Cincinnati is synonymous with "cynicism" and/or "expecting to lose". The worst part about this is that both players and fans are guilty of this doubt and cynicism when it comes to the team. We have all been accustomed to the disappointment that our beloved Bengals so often bring us. So much so that many of us can't fully appreciate what this 2011 squad has done this year because we are all waiting for the other shoe to drop while waiting for this team to hit a wall.

Well, guys like Whitworth, Chris Crocker or Andy Dalton are making sure that they dodge that wall and continue surprising everyone. The 2011 season has been the year of change and hope in Cincinnati and it's largely due to Whitworth leading the charge in changing the culture of this franchise. This weekend is as good as any to keep the momentum of change going.

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Comments

Anthony, I hate to ask it, but how do you think the last 8 games of the season are going to play out?

I think 3-5, 4-4, 5-3 are all distinct possibilities. It’s true that the Bengals schedule is much more difficult in the second than first half. It’s also fair to argue the Steelers are inflated by a poor strength of schedule as well. Baltimore, though, has beaten good teams and has a .510 SOV. They’ll need to continue to win games they’re supposed to win, and steal one or two. Tomorrow’s game is obviously pretty big – but I’m still not confident that this is an elite team. I really want to be, but I’m not there quite yet.

by jsl413 on Nov 12, 2011 10:30 AM EST reply actions

if we had J. Joe and if Shipley wasn't hurt

I could see us presently as borderline elite. For my part I’m still a little stunned that Dalton is so good for a rookie.

"At the very end, somebody took a dump right where I stood in the dugout every day." Dusty Baker

by featherman on Nov 12, 2011 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

Jonathan Joseph would have had an immense impact this year.

But the nickel and safety positions would still be bad/average. Adam Jones needs to get healthy quick.

Shipley would definitely help, too, with how bad Caldwell has been,

by jsl413 on Nov 12, 2011 10:37 AM EST up reply actions

Would JJoe be that big of an impact?

How much better can this defense really be? They’re #4 overall right now. They give up some big pass plays, but they’re still few and far between. There would probably be more INTs with Joseph here, but really that’s all. Plus, who knows if they’d have gone out and get guys like Thomas Howard if they had spent a boatload on Joseph. Though the CB coverage may have dropped a little bit with Joseph gone, the Bengals defense can actually cover a TE. I’ll take that. On top of all of that, the Texans probably won’t get a full 16 games out of him. We almost never did, as he was always nicked up.

I miss Joseph, but really not all that much. Credit Zimmer for being able to effectively deal with that loss. We’ll see just how valuable he is in this stretch of games though.

CincyJungle Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Nov 12, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

I'm not sure why this isn't obvious.

Jonathan Joseph has been one of the best three cornerbacks in the league this year, right up there with Revis and Asomugha (when he’s in man coverage). Blame Palmer, not Joseph, for the inflexibility in free agency last year. They had to stay far enough under the cap that an unexpected return wouldn’t have disastrous ramifications.

If this secondary has Joseph and not Hall, I think they’re better. I like Clements, but he’s top 20 or top 30 at best. With Hall and Joseph, Zimmer has 2 guys he can often put on an island (although I think Hall typically is much better when he has help over the top). Obviously this is a good defense without Joseph, but he’s just far better than Nate Clements.

Again, I pointed out that the primary weakness is nickel corner and safeties preventing the big play – but big plays happen, and obviously this defense is good. Hoping the last two weeks were blips on the radar.

by jsl413 on Nov 12, 2011 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

RE:

Hard to say. If they win the games that they’re “supposed to win” (Rams, Browns, Cardinals), that’s three right there with 5 games Between Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston. If they go just 2-3 there that puts them at 5-3 and 11-5 overall. I could see that happen.

Truth is, we just don’t know how good they are yet. We know how good they can be, but they’ve only played two decent teams so far this season in Buffalo and Tennessee. This brutal stretch of games in the next 6 weeks or so will tell us a lot.

CincyJungle Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Nov 12, 2011 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

7-1 San Francisco should count as a "decent team"

They barely squeaked out a win over us. I think if Andy Dalton had had a little more experience we would have won that game… along with the game in Denver.

by Luke on Nov 12, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

True, but that was a loss

I should have clarified my statement by saying that they’ve only BEATEN two decent teams. The Bengals played awful against the 49ers and still came close there.

CincyJungle Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Nov 12, 2011 11:09 AM EST up reply actions

This sums up how I feel.

We don’t know who the Bengals or Steelers are quite yet. This game tells us a lot.

by jsl413 on Nov 12, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

I woke up this morning the first thought

in my head, was the Lombardi. In 45+ years that has never happened before. Man oh MAN, do I want one for our team.

by keithster on Nov 12, 2011 10:44 AM EST reply actions

J.Joe and Clements with Hall on the other side

would have been huge. I don’t think anyone is considering this an elite team yet…but I think it can be a very good team.

by Ochocinco on Nov 12, 2011 10:50 AM EST reply actions

youth

The best thing about this team is; they don’t know any better. All the “bungal” stereotypes don’t apply! This team know one thing, win! That’s a scary thing for opponents when a team is this young and talantec

by snake19 on Nov 12, 2011 10:54 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

to the haters...

.check the bengals won lost record against our division the last 33 games….22-11….that’s right…22-11…9-3 vs Balt…9-2 vs Cleve..4-6 vs Pitt…so quit bein haters..do some fact checking, learn something about the game, and realize that there is more to the game than reputation. Too much parity in the league for dumbass people to say stupid things like “wait til they play Baltimore or Pittsburgh”..all the teams in our division play good D, they have been in the top 5 all year…if you know the game, you know this ain’t by accident. New bengals off. coordinator tailors game plans that fit our personnel perfectly, young QB playing within the offense and with poise..young WR making plays, and a great Def coordinator that has his guys ready to play every week. Bengals are the youngest team in the NFL with only 3 players on the roster over the age of 30, and multiple early draft picks coming up. To sum up, get used to seeing us in the win column bitches!

by tbarber64 on Nov 12, 2011 10:57 AM EST reply actions

Actually I think Tampa Bay is the youngest team ,

but yeah Bengals are young too!

by Luke on Nov 12, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

This stat means nothing. Sorry!

The last 33 division games this team has played have been led by Carson Palmer and a shoddy defense. This team is just completely different than the team that’s had relative success in the division over the last 4 years. Also, why’d you pick 33? That’s not a very round number!

Regardless – past performance, especially in this case where the entire defense and offense is different, does not predict future performance.

by jsl413 on Nov 12, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

Same Doubt

Whit talks about pessimistic attitudes and half you guys go right to it
Yeah he,s talkin about the players but… Damn it. Joeseph is gone. He was offered a decent contract an bolted. See ya. I believe he was weak defending the run. An injury prone while doin it. That appears to be Nate Clements strength. This divison seems to require run support. Thats been a wash… No worse.
If Jones can get on the feild this secondary is fine.

The addition of Clements and what he brings is a big part of this surprise. The mortgage on JJ would have stifled the retooling yet to come. I would have loved to keep him. He opted out however. I dont think it was anything to do with M. Brown dropping the ball either.

The loss of Shipley was bad. We don,t know what the impact would have been Personally I believe he would have at least led in receptions. I think I,d much rather have Ship magically appear than JJoe.

Im with Whit on this one.. To hell with the lookin back an cryin about the past. Lets put a foot in someones axx Now!

by olbuzz on Nov 12, 2011 12:59 PM EST via mobile reply actions