Bengals Chris Pressley Opens the Door on Cedric Benson's Touchdown Run

by Jason Garrison on Sep 13, 2011 2:54 PM EDT

The Bengals were up three points and had the ball with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter and it was third down and three yards for the first. The Bengals were on the 39-yard line so getting stopped would have put them in a situation where they could kick a long field goal, but still not be up by enough points to secure a win if the Browns scored a touchdown, try to pin the Browns back deep with an accurate punt or go for it on fourth down.

They didn't need to make that tough decision though.

The Bengals were lined up in a power running formation, with Jermaine Gresham and Colin Cochart on the right side of the line next to Andre Smith. Cedric Benson was in the backfield behind fullback Chris Pressley and A.J. Green was wide left.

The Browns put everybody they had on the line, including cornerback Joe Haded, who lined up just outside of Roland. The other linebackers were lined up over center and left guard Nate Livings and the safeties were just a few yards outside of them.

When the ball was snapped, the entire right side of the offensive line pushed the defensive line back off the line. Andre Smith burst beyond the line and hit middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, keeping him out of the play and the rest of the defense had taken themselves out of the play either by being on the wrong side of the field, by being blocked out of the play or by picking the wrong holes to blitz through or plug up.

That left one defender that could make a play. Cornerback Joe Haden.

As Bruce Gradkowski handed Benson the ball, near the line of scrimmage, Chris Pressley, the Bengals fullback, hit Haden and pushed him towards the sideline, taking him out of the play. If he had missed that block or not seen him, Haden could have stopped Benson before he was able to get beyond the first-down marker. That would have forced the Bengals into making a decision that could have given the Browns the ball back with enough time to possibly march down the field and win, or at least tie the game.

The offensive line blocked beautifully on the play and Benson ran hard. However, if it wasn't for Pressley, there could be a chance that the game would have ended very differently.

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Great to see him doing well......

was rooting for him after watching Hard Knocks a few years ago. Glad to see him in stripes now………

by The Van Buren Boys on Sep 13, 2011 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

He's a BEAST

Pressley is realy doing it for Ced. He has the old school FB mental. I think he is going to have a pro bowl year (but being a Bengal he wont make it). He’s just beasting everyone in his way. Hope Ced is treating him to diner after the games. Love the young players the Bengals have.

by i am will on Sep 13, 2011 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

Our X Factor This Year

by Touhue Cha on Sep 13, 2011 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

He's a bada$$

Also I like the post b/c it explains how important Ced’s TD was and it wasn’t really a “garbage time” TD

by biggie22 on Sep 13, 2011 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

thank you for giving the man credit

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Sep 13, 2011 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely not Scott Fujita

Definitely was Joe Haden

by BeWarned on Sep 13, 2011 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Pressley did not block Fujita on that play

Cochart took out Fujita. Pressley had the block on Joe Haden. Though, to be fair, Haden pretty much jumped out of the way to avoid his medicine.

by CMT on Sep 13, 2011 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

And that play is the perfect example why Cochart is on the team over Coffman...

Cochart essentially pancaked Fujita

by CMT on Sep 13, 2011 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

After rewatching, Roland was not even in the game...both TEs were lined up outside of Smith...

I just re-watched to make sure I remembered Cochart correctly and it was Gresham next to Smith and Cochart outside of Gresham. Gresham and Cochart both took out their guys so effectively that there was no one for Livings to even block when he pulled….so he just took a shot at Gresham’s guy, who was already being removed from the play by Gresham.

Man, that play was awesome reviewing it again. Smith was mobile enough to get the the 2nd level and both TEs dominated their assignment to just collapse the entire right side of the defense….then to top it off Haden bailed instead of trying to take on Pressley. That’s power football there. Good stuff

by CMT on Sep 13, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Can't entirely blame Haden for baling.

Pressley has nearly 70lbs on him. Pressley put himself in the right position to stop Haden being able to even attempt to stop the play, but as for contact and blocking, there wasn’t that much going on there.
The Browns defence pretty much crashed to the left-side of the offence, and our guys did a great job of stopping them coming back. Poor choice by the D, great blocking by the O, and you go 39 yards untouched for the TD.

by Aether on Sep 14, 2011 6:24 AM EDT up reply actions