Penalty Breakdown: Bengals Flagged 122 Times In 2011

by Josh Kirkendall on Jan 3, 2012 11:37 AM EST in Penalties

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 09: Officials pick up flags after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by the Denver Broncos during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 9, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Cincinnati Bengals have made the playoffs during three of the previous seven seasons, dating back to their 11-5 AFC North title. And what's ironic is that during Cincinnati's playoff seasons, they've registered an increase of penalties. For example the Bengals are averaging 7.9 penalties per game during playoff seasons and only 6.2 penalties during non-playoff years.

The Bengals were flagged 122 times in 2011 (23 declined), an increase of 22 flags from the team's four-win season last year. Of those penalties this year, 47.5% came from offensive holdings and false starts combined. Andrew Whitworth and A.J. Green led the team with nine penalties respectively and Andre Smith led the team with six false starts. Nate Livings and Whitworth tied for the team lead of four offensive holding penalties, an increase over last year.

And much like their increase of penalties during playoff seasons, the Bengals rate of penalties actually increases during wins this year. During Cincinnati's nine wins, the Bengals are averaging 6.6 penalties -- only 5.7 penalties/game during losses.

But what has to frustrate the offensive coaching staff is the number of false starts. The Bengals committed 27 false starts this year, negating 135 yards and stalling 10 offensive possessions. It's the most false starts by the Cincinnati Bengals since 2007.

2011	27
2010	22
2009	24
2008	15
2007	28

Only two playoff teams, the Green Bay (28) and the San Francisco 49ers (30), committed more false starts this year.

A breakdown of penalties by players (who committed more than one penalty):

Bengals Players	Penalties
Andrew Whitworth	9
A.J. Green	9
Andre Smith	8
Nate Livings	7
Jerome Simpson	7
Jermaine Gresham	5
Bobbie Williams	5
Kyle Cook	5
Mike McGlynn	4
Nate Clements	4
Rey Maualuga	4
Reggie Nelson	3
Adam Jones	3
Michael Johnson	3
Jeromy Miles	3
Andre Caldwell	3
Donald Lee	3
Domata Peko	3
Chris Crocker	2
Morgan Trent	2
Thomas Howard	2
Geno Atkins	2
Colin Cochart	2
Gibril Wilson	2
Frostee Rucker	2
Jonathan Fanene	2

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Zebras trying to keep us down man..

Give pizza chants.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Jan 3, 2012 11:41 AM EST reply actions

agreed

They did a great job of that this past weekend. Not a Zebra blammer most times, but man they were making up penalties to call on us against Baltimore.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990

by Yarin on Jan 3, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

They didn't realize...

…that the Jets were already eliminated.

I think this is something the NY Rangers coach might see eye-to-eye on.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/henrik-lundqvist-stops-danny-briere-penalty-shot-ny-rangers-winter-classic-flyers-3-2-article-1.1000023

The amount of liquor I drank last night would've killed a small-to-medium sized Asian family.

by balooko31 on Jan 3, 2012 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

Not to mention...

Now, I had no audio to the game (was watching from a local bar…) but this is the first time I can EVER recall seeing…

1. A coach (in this case Harbaugh) challenging the first down call and spot after a the Bengals gain a first on 3rd and 1.

2. After further review the refs award the review to the Bengals favor, saying the call stands.

3. The refs then for some reason decide to re-spot the ball and call for a measurement.

4. The refs then nullify the first down call, AND the review they just awarded to the Bengals…calling 4 and 1 instead.

HuH?

Not to mention, there was NO review on the missed FG from Nugent (which honestly looked good, and you could see half of the players on the field believed it as well…) and the horrible spot given on the downed punt that ended up being a touchback but SHOULD have been placed on the one yard line. That one though, has to go on Marvin for not challenging it. The non-call on AJ on the first hail mary attempt was pretty egregious as well.

Granted…Cincy does not give up two 50+ yard runs, and it’s a different game altogether, but I swear, at times the zebras were just handing it to the opposing team. This one was worse than all of the non-calls we got against Houston.

by TrivialPsychic on Jan 3, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Spot on

I was laughing at how silly each one of those were during the game. Bengals get a first down but don’t? Yes or No Ref, Yes or No.

That kick looked REALLY Close to me. It should have been reviewed for sure.

The PUNT at the 1 yard was definitely a great job by ST, but the refs decided because the PLAYER slid across the line after the ball, and the players knees, were down, that it was a touchback. That killed us too. They moved the ball pretty easy and the big run at the end for a TD killed us.

Thanks for nothing, REFS

Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

by UpStateMike on Jan 3, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed...

Remember back to the first meeting this year and Gresham’s TD being reversed because “the ball seemed to have moved an inch”, not that he took two steps after catching the ball, and thus making the Calvin Johnson rule invalid….

by Unbeliever on Jan 3, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

Remember....

A few years back? Cleveland played Baltimore in Baltimore. The game was close, and Cleveland’s Phil Dawson (I think it was him) kicked a field goal to tie the game and send it to OT. The ruling on the field, SHORT. The field goal was called NO GOOD. Cleveland refused to leave the field of play and eventually, the refs reviewed the field goal. Upon further review, they ruled that the ball had ACTUALLY crossed by bar and then bounced back onto the field of play. Thus the field goal was REVERSED and called good. The Ravens where in their locker room, all relaxed and all, they were forced to come back to the field of play and play the OT. The Browns went on to win the game. That was the FIRST and ONLY time I have seen a field goal be reviewed and reversed. They should have reviewed Nugent’s field goal. The refs have made a similar mistake already with the Ravens, who is to say they did not make another one on Sunday?

by Unbeliever on Jan 3, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

If I'm not mistaken

They showed a fast replay of that fg at the beginning or end of halftime from the bottom of the goal post and it was good. I was at a bar also and couldn’t hear thae audio but it was during a bunch of highlights. I can’t believe how bad it got. The Raven fans were even saying it was getting bad.

by Bigcatdaddy on Jan 3, 2012 2:45 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Sad a WR leads the team

but that’s the only knock on Green this year. He’s been amazing.

by indesignkat on Jan 3, 2012 11:42 AM EST reply actions

I was thinking same thing

Simpson isnt far behind,but he looked up to OCHO

I’m not sure,but ive asked this question before,OCHO holds NFL record for false starts by a WR

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 3, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

Andy Dalton did not commit more than one penalty?

Including intentional grounding, delay of games, false starts, etc? That doesn’t sound right, but if it is, that is amazing (not just by a rookie, but by anyone).

The amount of liquor I drank last night would've killed a small-to-medium sized Asian family.

by balooko31 on Jan 3, 2012 11:44 AM EST reply actions

Not to mention all delay of games are on the QB

Absolutely amazing.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Jan 3, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Hmm.

That must mean we didn’t have a single delay of game penalty all year because he had an intentional grounding called in the first Ravens game!

by steveinct on Jan 3, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

I don't remember any

I do know that Dalton took a number of time-outs to avoid delay of games where Palmer expected the sideline to do so.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Jan 3, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

this is amazing isnt it

how many delay of games did palmer have a game….2-3….

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 3, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

Seemed like Palmer had a delay of game

every drive….

by Unbeliever on Jan 3, 2012 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

That audible to the run up the gut every damn time

Carson looks the defense over like he is Peyton Manning
But every audible is run up the gut,right or left

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 3, 2012 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

he did didnt he

his audible was a run every F______ time….

"In a battle between patience and power, patience always wins"

by ticalcaldwell on Jan 3, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

yes, PER Game. 2-3 sounds about right.

Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

by UpStateMike on Jan 3, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting

I would have guessed that the penalties had been cut this year. They seemed to play very clean football during the middle of the season.

CincyJungle Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Jan 3, 2012 12:36 PM EST reply actions

seems there were a couple of exceptionally high games in there.

On the iPad, so looking it up is too much of a chore

Fricking Katy Perry just knocked on your door, took out them tittays and a bottle of wine. She got you drunk. She got you high. She rocked your jock and you have it on videotape... and some of you turkeys are complaining about it being skunk weed.

The whole season matters. They didn’t back in.

by supergrover on Jan 3, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions