Cincy Jungle - Preseason Week 3: Bengals beat Bears 21-10Who Deyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48495/cincyjungle_fave.png2015-09-01T13:31:02-04:00http://www.cincyjungle.com/rss/stream/89777722015-09-01T13:31:02-04:002015-09-01T13:31:02-04:0013 things learned from the Bengals vs Bears game
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<p>The Bengals "Dress Rehearsal" went very well...and much better than the Bears'. </p> <p>Maybe the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> just need to play all games at home. Like they did in Week 1 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a>, the Bengals looked crisp in their preseason "dress rehearsal" on Saturday night and look to enter the season without any significant injuries for the first time in a while. Here is what we learned from the least fake of the fake football games:</p>
<p><b>There is not a quarterback controversy, but AJ McCarron played very well...and that is a good thing.</b></p>
<p>McCarron showed that he can be the backup and if called on this year, might be able to keep the ship floating. He also put some good film out there which may allow the Bengals to trade him for a nice draft pick in a year or so. But, as I said last week, no matter how good McCarron looks in the preseason, he isn't unseating Dalton and the only way he is going to play in 2015 is if Dalton gets hurt - or a blowout. "How can you be so sure" says the Dalton hater, well, here is how: 99 touchdowns, 40 wins, 4 playoff appearances and 2,111 NFL passes to 0 NFL regular-season passes...plus <span>Marvin Lewis</span> does not entertain quarterback controversies.</p>
<p><b>The Bengals starters made it through the preseason with no significant injuries and look ready.</b></p>
<p>We say it every year, the most important thing when it comes to the preseason is health. Well, the Bengals have it. The most significant injury the Bengals suffered was the MCL sprain of <span>Michael Johnson</span> and it sounds as though he won't miss any regular season games. Knock on wood, but when is the last time you can remember a Bengals team entering the season this healthy?</p>
<p><b>The defensive line spent a lot of time in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a>' backfield. </b></p>
<p>The defensive line as a whole looked very good on Saturday night, but there were a number of linemen - <span>Geno Atkins</span>, <span>Wallace Gilberry</span>, <span>Marcus Hardison</span> - who seemed to spend most of the game behind the big guys in Bears jerseys. Atkins was disrupting plays all night and <span>Carlos Dunlap</span> and Gilberry were benefitting from it left and right. Hardison continued to show why the Bengals were excited about him and he should see some playing time on Sundays.</p>
<p><b><span>Chris Carter</span> and <span>DeShawn Williams</span> have earned roster spots on this team and it is going to be very difficult to cut either.</b></p>
<p>Neither Carter nor Williams are locks to make the roster - in fact, they are both long shots - but they have both played well enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The Bengals are concerned about Carter's ability to play the linebacker position and they are deep along the defensive line, but how can a team that sucked all 2014 at getting to the quarterback cut a guy that has been their most consistent player in getting to the quarterback? Carter had another sack on Saturday and had another taken away due to a flag, but he is looking like a guy that could be used as a pass rushing specialist. They should have enough flexibility on this roster to make room for a guy like Carter.</p>
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<p>Williams has continued to impress as well, however, unlike the linebacker position Carter is competing at, the defensive line is deep and though Williams deserves a shot, he may get caught up in a numbers game. The problem for the Bengals is Williams has played so well and garnered so much attention, if they don't put him on their 53-man roster, he may not make it through waivers to the practice squad - or may not last long once he is there. In my opinion, the final defensive line roster spot will come down to Williams or Pat Sims? Veteran or promising rookie?</p>
<p><b>The starting offensive line eased a lot of minds with their performance against Chicago.</b></p>
<p>After the performance Monday night in Tampa, there was a lot of talk and concern over the offensive line - and rightfully so. Well, <span>Andre Smith</span> was back and for the first time in nearly a year, we saw the starting five play together and they played well. The running game was established early and the quarterbacks had time to throw and that's all you can ask for from your line. If healthy, this is a top 10, maybe even a top five unit depending on how <span>Russell Bodine</span> plays.</p>
<p><b><span>Andy Dalton</span> played was sharp in his last action.</b></p>
<p>Five days after a shaky performance in Tampa, Dalton and the first string offense came out with an impressive 16 play, 77 yard touchdown drive capped off by a one yard quarterback sneak by Dalton. In the drive, Dalton was 6/6 including 2/2 on converting third downs and had a nice 25-yard completion down the middle to <span>Rex Burkhead</span>. Though Dalton's night was cut short by a minor neck injury, he looked crisp in his only series and looks ready for the real games.</p>
<p><b>Seeing Marvin Jones healthy and making plays is a welcomed sight. </b></p>
<p>How nice is it to see Jones back on the field? It didn't take long to see exactly what the Bengals were missing last year in his absence. Jones has better speed and hands than Mohamed Sanu and can make plays on the outside and over the middle. Though it was negated by a penalty, Jones had the catch of the game down the sideline on a 40+ yard pass by McCarron. The ball was underthrown and Jones did an excellent job of locating the ball and going up to get it at its highest point and took it from the defensive back. Jones also contributed a nice 31-yard touchdown catch later in the game on a nice route across the middle. Sanu filled in admirably in 2014, but this offense is much more explosive with Jones opposite <span>A.J. Green</span>.</p>
<p><b>Rex Burkhead could be the X-Factor of this offense.</b></p>
<p>The coaches have been raving about him all offseason and we are starting to see why. Burkhead is looking like a dangerous player in the passing game and could very well become this team's slot receiver. Burkhead tied for the team lead in receiving on Saturday night with two catches for 35 yards, including a nice leaping grab down the seam for 25 yards on the Bengals' first drive. With Jeremy Hill and <span>Giovani Bernard</span> taking most of the carries, Burkhead will see most of his contributions come via the passing game and he looks poised for a breakout season.</p>
<p><b>If Brandon Tate does not make this team, I will be surprised. </b></p>
<p>Tate hasn't received much support from me over the years - I am sure that eats at him at night - but at this point in the preseason, I have not seen anyone take the punt and kick return duties away from him. Bernard - much to my surprise - has done nothing returning punts and <span>Mario Alford</span> has done little in the kick return game. I have also noticed Tate quite a few times making nice plays on special teams as a gunner, and with <span>Dre Kirkpatrick</span> no longer at gunner, Tate's ability to be a solid gunner may result in him keeping his spot on this team.</p>
<p><b>Duke Tobin had some interesting comments.</b></p>
<p>During Saturday night's broadcast, Bengals Director of Player Personnel, Duke Tobin, joined the broadcast team in the booth and had a few interesting comments:</p>
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<li> <span>I am paraphrasing, but Tobin talked about how valuable Cedric Peerman is on special teams and how they need his contributions. </span><span>Translation? Cedric Peerman is making the team and James Wilder or </span><span>Terrell Watson</span><span> will be on the practice squad. I think Wilder will get picked up and Watson ends up on the practice squad.</span> </li>
<li> <span>Paraphrasing again, but when asked about the possibility of keeping 10 defensive lineman, Tobin acknowledged that 10 defensive lineman is a possibility because of the flexibility of the roster. </span><span>Translation? The flexibility of a guy like Burkhead to play receiver and be the third running back, or </span><span>Josh Shaw</span><span>/</span><span>Leon Hall</span><span> to be the fourth safety, may allow the team an extra roster spot for a defensive lineman like DeShawn Williams.</span> </li>
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<p><b>Final cuts are going to be very tough at a few positions.</b></p>
<p>There will be plenty of roster debate articles in the next week, so I am not going to get into the specifics in this article, but final cuts at the linebacker, defensive tackle, defensive end and wide receiver position are going to be very interesting and many teams will be keeping a close eye on who the Bengals cut at those positions.</p>
<p><b>We have seen the last of the Bengals starters.</b></p>
<p>The Bengals got through three preseason games without any significant injuries to starters and therefore you can bet we aren't going to see many, if any starters in Thursday's finale against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a>. The Thursday matchup will be strictly for the backups and deciding who gets those last few spots on the roster. Here are players I believe are fighting for those last few spots and players I would keep an eye on: <span>Chris Carter</span>, <span>Margus Hunt</span>, Shawn Williams, <span>Troy Hill</span> and <span>Jake Kumerow</span>.</p>
<p><b>The Bears are bad.</b></p>
<p>This isn't brought up in an effort to curb your enthusiasm regarding how the Bengals played, more so just an observation. Granted, the Bears were missing Alshon Jeffrey and Eddie Royal, but that was a bad team and a team that is going to struggle to get five or six wins.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/9/1/9231751/bengals-vs-bears-preseason-week-3-what-we-learnedScott Bantel2015-08-31T19:46:02-04:002015-08-31T19:46:02-04:00Marvin Jones sought out contact versus Bears
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<p>Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones is still getting his feet under him after missing all of 2014 with foot and ankle injuries. He recently expressed his desire for physical play when returning to the lineup this preseason.</p> <p>Like and believe it or not, the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Bengals</a> believe the ails of the passing game will be remedied with the return of wide receiver <span>Marvin Jones</span> and tight end Tyler Eifert. The team cemented this belief by not drafting a wide receiver until the seventh round this year's draft and by <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9231835/bengals-roster-cuts-2015-denarius-moore-released-nico-johnson-among" target="_blank">recently-releasing free agent</a> acquisition <span>Denarius Moore</span>.</p>
<p>In the first few weeks of training camp, Jones fell into <span>Marvin Lewis</span>' doghouse a bit, after suffering a hamstring tweak and missing some time. He's recently made his way back and his impact has been felt on the field the past two games. His big splash came Saturday against the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a>, where Jones had one deep pass negated by a penalty and another tough catch and run for a 31-yard score.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a TD!! A 31 yard throw to Jones, who navigates (and then powers) into the endzone. <a href="https://t.co/hJRYvu77RZ">https://t.co/hJRYvu77RZ</a></p>
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) <a href="https://twitter.com/Josh_Kirkendall/status/637784949463089152">August 30, 2015</a>
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<p>Sometimes when a player has an injury, they get a little gun-shy when first returning to the playing field. That's not the case for Jones. On the touchdown catch, Jones pinballed his way into the end zone while taking a hit from a Bears defensive back. In <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/18669/bengals-marvin-jones-contact-hits-touchdown-wanted">speaking with the local media</a>, it sounded like he couldn't have been happier about it.</p>
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<p><span>"For me to get that feel and to be in those types of situations where I'm getting hit and somebody's falling on me and stuff like that, I can't get enough of that," Jones said. "You can't replicate that. I want as much of that as possible."</span></p>
<p><span>"I love that that happened," Jones said, smiling. "If you think about it, that was really my first super hard contact. That's what I wanted. To get hit a couple times and to fall in. Stuff like that, it's taking me back. 'Ah, this is me.' It was just a happy moment."</span></p>
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<p>The injuries to Jones, Eifert, <span>A.J. Green</span> and other passing targets dropped the productivity of quarterback <span>Andy Dalton</span> in 2014. After breaking the Bengals' single-season records for passing yards (4,293) and touchdowns (33) in 2013, Dalton saw a career-low in touchdowns (19) as well as his second-highest interception total last season.</p>
<p>The shoring up of the running game and the return of weapons like Jones should provide more stability for Dalton and the rest of the offense this year. The 2015 season might be the first where the Bengals can adequately sell the play-action, opening up big-play opportunities for the speedy Jones.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9234875/marvin-jones-sought-out-contact-saturday-night-versus-bearsAnthony Cosenza2015-08-31T18:31:41-04:002015-08-31T18:31:41-04:00Bears vs. Bengals: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
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<p>We take a look at the best and worst from the Bengals' 21-10 win over the Bears in the third week of the preseason.</p> <p>It was a nice rebound for a team who had a terrible showing (once again) on the national stage on a short week. As the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> returned home for their "dress rehearsal" in Week 3 of the preseason, they quelled a lot of worries that popped up from their deplorable performance on Monday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>. We take a look at the best and worst from the Bengals (and others) on Saturday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>.</p>
<h3>The Good:</h3>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bengals' Quarterback Play: </i><span>Andy Dalton</span> was literally perfect in his lone, clock-eating drive of the night, going six-for-six and 52 yards. Dalton also added 16 yards on the ground and accounted for 68 of 73 total yards on the 16-play drive. Not to be outdone, <span>AJ McCarron</span> was perfect at the halftime gun and finished the night, going 12-for-17 for 149 yards and a touchdown. While it's nice to see a capable backup performance, we must add the disclaimer: the starting quarterback job is Dalton's in 2015--there is no controversy.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span>Rex Burkhead</span>, The Able Slot Receiver: </i>The Bengals need trustworthy guys at wideout beyond their "big three" of <span>A.J. Green</span>, <span>Marvin Jones</span> and Mohamed Sanu. With <span>Denarius Moore</span> now gone, might the Bengals give their trust in a guy who has played running back his whole life? Burkhead made plays as a wide receiver once again on Saturday night, including a 25-yard back shoulder grab to extend to monster 16-play first offensive series.</p>
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<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Nice Rebounds For A.J. Green And Tyler Eifert: </i>Monday night was a rough showing for two of the biggest (figuratively and literally) passing weapons for the Bengals' offense. Eifert took a shot to the elbow, (the one he injured last year) dropped a pass in the process and came up grimacing, and also saw another pass intended for him sail over his head for an interception. He came back Saturday night with two catches for 30 yards, including a 25-yarder to set up a subsequent <span>Jeremy Hill</span> touchdown. After seeing a perfect pass bounce off of his hands for a pick-six against Tampa Bay, Green had two nice catches, including a one-hander.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span>Ryan Hewitt</span>: </i>This guy plows people. Though the Bengals struggled to punch it in on their first series, Hewitt played well throughout the game and even contributed as a pass-catcher. This undrafted diamond in the rough is a valuable member of the Bengals' offense.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Marvin Jones: </i>Dude was torching defensive backs on Saturday night. He began to flash the return of his big-play ability against the Buccaneers when he got a pass interference called against his defensive back after beating him deep, but it really re-surfaced this weekend. He had a 40-plus yarder wiped out by a penalty, but still snagged a 31-yard touchdown, complete with high-effort for the last few yards.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Some Young Defensive Studs Re-Appear: </i>Really only <span>Geno Atkins</span> played well up front against the Bucs, but he among others showed up big on Saturday night. Dunlap joined No. 97 as forces up front, with others like <span>George Iloka</span>, <span>Wallace Gilberry</span>, <span>P.J. Dawson</span> and <span>Chris Carter</span> all making plays. It was a solid group effort after they were mostly manhandled earlier in the week.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bengals Showing Up For "Dress Rehearsal": </i>Though much of preseason is taken with a grain of salt, the third game is the one where fans and coaches want to see the best performance by the team. While they took it to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> in the opener, it could be argued the beating of the Bears was more impressive. Some mistakes still need to be sured up, but the play was far more crisp on a short week. Message received, Coach Lewis.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Statistical Disparity: </i>The Bengals led the Bears in almost every notable positive stat category. They had 11 more first downs, 139 more yards and outgunned them by almost a yard per play. Cincinnati was dynamite in the red zone with a 100% touchdown rate and were far improved on third downs with a 57% conversion rate. The biggest stat? Their hogging of the football for 13:44 more than Chicago.</p>
<h3>The Bad:</h3>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Jeff Triplette And Co.: </i>The veteran referee had a busy night to the tune of 21 total penalties (12 against the Bears, nine on the Bengals). Some were questionable and many seemed to take an eternity to sort out. There were a couple of views on Hill's third-and-goal run that appeared to show him crossing the end zone, but Triplette disagreed. Hey, it's the preseason for the refs too, right?</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span>Giovani Bernard</span>: </i>Is it time to worry about the third-year back, yet? He has had next to nothing this preseason, production-wise, even though they are giving him looks in three different capacities (running back, receiver, kick/punt returner). Against the Bears, Bernard had three carries for six yards, two catches for nine yards and fair caught one punt. We know what No. 25 brings, but this preseason has been uninspiring while the team has attempted to get creative with him.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Other Running Backs Not Named "Hill" Or "Watson": </i>While Hill and Watson each had a productive night, combining for 20 carries, 86 yards and a score. the other running backs, Bernard, James Wilder, Jr., and <span>Cedric Peerman</span> combined for 11 carries for 30 yards and a lost fumble. Take away what you'd like from those numbers.</p>
<h3>The Ugly:</h3>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">A Startling Lack Of Forced Turnovers: </i>Unfortunately, this is been a trend for the Bengals all preseason. Even though their defense was physical and forced nine punts, they just aren't getting those big momentum-swinging plays. The pass rush is better from 2014, but needs more and the defensive backs need to start getting their hands on the football.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;"><span>Jake Fisher</span>: </i>The rookie had one of those "welcome to the league" nights this weekend. <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9230159/preseason-week-3-bengals-vs-bears-pro-football-focus-grades-and">Fisher landed a -9.0 overall Pro Football Focus score</a>, allowing sacks and committing three penalties. Yikes.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Kick Return Game: </i>For Bengals fans wanting to see <span>Brandon Tate</span> replaced on kick return duties, there is good and bad news. The good new for you haters: Tate hasn't done much of anything to hang on to his job. The bad? Nobody else really has either. <span>Mario Alford</span> has had a couple of nice punt returns and popped a 15-yarder on Saturday, but he still looks a little lost on kickoffs. The team had four punt returns for 27 yards and two kickoff returns for 29 yards.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9228829/bears-vs-bengals-preseason-week-3-the-good-the-bad-and-the-uglyAnthony Cosenza2015-08-31T15:45:01-04:002015-08-31T15:45:01-04:00Cincinnati Bengals Preseason Week 3: Rookie Report
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<figcaption>P.J. Dawson continues to thrive. | Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>An efficient win against Chicago seems to have the Bengals ready to start the season and some rookies seem primed to make an impact early and often. </p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font><span>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a>' roster is starting to thin out and realities are inching closer for players itching to earn a paycheck in stripes this winter. In the third week of the preseason we’re seeing what happens to players with extended looks. Rookies are starting to disappear as </span><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9231835/bengals-roster-cuts-2015-denarius-moore-released-nico-johnson-among" target="_blank">Chris Jasperse, Desmond Lawrence, and John Peters were shown the door</a><span> today but they won’t be the only ones. Take a look below and see who made an impact in the Bengals' crisp 23-10 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> on Saturday night. </span></p>
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<h4 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>OFFENSE</span></b></h4>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Jake Fisher</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>We finally saw the highly touted Oregon product on the field for the Bengals as he made his professional debut Saturday night, although </span><a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/30/9228917/jake-fisher-struggled-mightily-vs-bears-in-nfl-debut" target="_blank">most wished we didn't see it</a><span>. It’s all but scientifically proven that missing two weeks in the preseason will hamper most veterans let alone rookies and Fisher was definitely hampered. In fact he looked to just be in the way most of the night negating two first downs for being out of position on the line and never really put himself in control to do anything when he wasn't offsides. It was a poor showing even by first game standards. Pedigree and clout will save him only for so long. Let’s hope for a stronger game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a> this Thursday. <span> </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Terrell Watson</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span>Terrell Watson</span> ranked second on the night for Bengal rushers hurdling for 41 yards on 9 carries. That’s the good news for Watson. The bad news is that time is running out for the undrafted rookie who is low on the depth chart. That’s not a statement about his performance, he’s merely a victim of circumstance. He <span> </span>is making waves in an already crowded ocean of running talent. Hill and Bernard aside, both Peerman and Burkhead have carved their names into the 53 man roster. Even then, Watson is most likely underneath James Wilder Jr. who already has two touchdowns in three preseason games this year and both men seem destined to be left behind. While the practice squad may be his future, something tells me we haven’t heard the last of this Azusa Pacific product. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Jake Kumerow</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>The Chicago area native saw limited action against the Bears. He managed one catch for 10 yards on the only ball thrown to him. On Monday against Tampa Bay, Kumerow was the standout in a forgettable game for Cincinnati grabbing three catches for 42 yards. Once again, this talented former division III player will most likely start the season watching games from the stands because he is simply outranked by his WR comrades. Although, my guess is he’ll get quite a bit of time this Thursday against the Colts in the final preseason tiff. </span></p>
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<h4 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>DEFENSE</span></b></h4>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>P.J. Dawson</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>Dawson keeps on coming. Three more tackles including one for a loss equals another great game for the former Horned Frog. Dawson has had nothing but momentum since the Bengals opened camp. Impressing in early workouts he has transitioned that into a solid preseason and is now threatening established veterans for playing time. With Burfict to start the season sidelined this is just what Cincinnati needed. If you haven’t read it already, take a look at <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/29/9223683/p-j-dawson-top-olb-pff-time-snaps"><u><font color="#0000ff">this in-depth analysis on Dawson's</font></u></a> game against Tampa Bay. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Derron Smith</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>Speaking of establishing regular season playing time, let’s talk about <span>Derron Smith</span>. While Dawson might have been the biggest steal of the draft for the Bengals, Smith isn’t far behind. He had three tackles against the Bears and much like Dawson, his stock continues to rise. He’s making the coaching staff’s job harder every day and it’s hard to look the other way when he’s on the field.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Marcus Hardison</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>Hardison had two tackles and a deflected pass against the Bears and it was another solid night in the books for the rookie. The versatile tackle will (hopefully) be living in the shadow of a fully rehabbed and monstrous <span>Geno Atkins</span> but the 135<sup>th</sup> pick has the ability to make an impression this season. He’s still behind on the depth chart but as everyone knows, fortunes turn quickly and Hardison isn't a bad option to have in your back pocket. </span></p>
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<h4 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>SPECIAL TEAMS</span></b></h4>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Mario Alford</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>Alford is proving that this will be his spot when the season starts. Despite nabbing a catch for 9-yards on offense, his best looks were returning kicks and punts. His only kick return of the night yielded an 18-yard finish and his only punt return got him 15-yards of progress. His position on the 53 man roster is all but locked. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span>Tom Obarski</span></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>The "Nuge" is back and Obarski seems destined to turn into a pumpkin. Despite leading the team in scoring this preseason he will be peeled off the active roster come opening day. </span></p>
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https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9233261/preseason-week-3-bears-vs-bengals-rookie-reportArt Bidwell2015-08-31T14:30:02-04:002015-08-31T14:30:02-04:00Whitworth on Bengals: "This is who we want to be"
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<p>The Bengals rebounded in a big way Saturday night thanks to a dominant performance in the trenches. </p> <p>Just five days after being thoroughly embarrassed by the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buccaneers</a> in primetime, the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a> bounced back in a big way with their performance on Saturday.</p>
<p>It came in a the form of a 21-10 beatdown of the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a> that was really never close. Cincinnati's starters jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead and didn't slow down once <span>Andy Dalton</span> left the game. Both on the ground and through the air, the Bengals gouged the Bears' defense while suffocating their offense en route to taking a 21-3 lead going into halftime.</p>
<p>This, after trailing the Bucs 23-3 at the half just five days earlier. Monday's performance was about as ugly as the Bengals have ever looked under <span>Marvin Lewis</span>, and how different they looked less than a week later spoke to how good this team really is, <a href="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Bengals-eye-opener-after-crisp-close-out-of-Bears/77d5b3b8-de72-4ec9-81e7-de32a53fe85a" target="_blank">as Andrew Whitworth told Bengals.com</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"This is the team we think we are. That we can be," Whitworth. "Lulls happen. You have to overcome them and great teams bounce back. That’s what you have to have and that’s what we did tonight. </span>This is who we want to be. Play good defense, be able to run it and throw it and do what we want. We feel good about that."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>A big way Cincinnati bounced back Saturday was on the ground. On Monday, the Bengals rushed for just 42-yards on 15 carries and allowed the Bucs to run for 145 yards on 37 carries. Against the Bears, Cincinnati dominated the trenches while running for 145-yards on 39 carries while allowing just 67-yards on 18 carries.</p>
<p>That was the formula for Cincinnati's 10-5-1 season a year ago: Running the ball and stopping the run. In games in which the Bengals had one running back rush for 100-yards or more in 2014, they went 4-1-1. In games in which the Bengals' running backs combined to rush for more than 100 yards, they went 9-1-1 with the one loss being a narrow one in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Simply put, the ground is where the Bengals are going to live and die this year as they look to finally break through in the playoffs and make a deep postseason run.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9232591/andrew-whitworth-on-bengals-vs-bears-this-is-who-we-want-to-beJason Marcum2015-08-31T11:00:06-04:002015-08-31T11:00:06-04:00Bengals preseason Week 3 PFF grades and analysis
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<p>The Bengals defeated the Chicago Bears 21-10 in their preseason Week 3 "dress rehearsal" game. Pro Football Focus released their grades for the Bengals performance, and we analyzed them.</p> <p>After a bad performance against the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buccaneers</a> in Week 2 of the preseason, the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a> came out strong in the third week of the preseason to deal the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a> a convincing loss. Although the final score was 21-10, the score was 21-3 after the first and second teams went off the field, resulting in quite a few important names leaving a great impression on the Pro Football Focus graders.</p>
<p>The Bengals' offense had a great showing against the Bears, resulting in quite a few players receiving positive overall grades. Some of the best were <span>AJ McCarron</span> (+2.1), <span>Clint Boling</span> (+1.9), <span>Andy Dalton</span> (+1.8), Eric Winston (+1.7), <span>Giovani Bernard</span> (+1.3), <span>Terrell Watson</span> (+1.2) and <span>Marvin Jones</span> (+1.0).</p>
<p>The defense received some good grades as well, some of their best including <span>Vincent Rey</span> (+2.1), <span>Marcus Hardison</span> (+1.3), <span>Geno Atkins</span> (+0.9), <span>Chris Carter</span>(+0.8), <span>George Iloka</span> (+0.8), <span>Reggie Nelson</span> (+0.8), <span>DeShawn Williams</span> (+0.8), and <span>Paul Dawson</span> (+0.7).</p>
<p>Here are the further breakdowns and some analysis:</p>
<h3><b>PASSING</b></h3>
<p><b></b></p>
<ul>
<li>Quarterbacks Andy Dalton (+1.8) and AJ McCarron (+2.1) received some of the best grades on the team, after combining for 188 yards, one touchdown, and a 78 percent completion rating. McCarron received a particularly good score in the passing game (+3.1) but his poor performance on the ground (-1.1) hampered his overall score.</li>
<li>
<p>Both quarterbacks improved from poor grades last week (-0.7 for Dalton and -1.2 for McCarron).</p>
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<li>
<p>McCarron's improvement is encouraging, but he still struggled to avoid the pass rush. McCarron was responsible for his own sack last week, and was a contributing factor in at least one QB hurry situation this week.</p>
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<p>Bengals receivers were generally graded on the low end, with the exception of Marvin Jones (+1.0). Jones caught both of his targets for a total of 35-yards and a touchdown. One of Jones' two targets was a 31-yard reception.</p>
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</ul>
<h3><b>RUSHING</b></h3>
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<ul>
<li>Giovani Bernard was the team's highest rated running back (+1.3) despite contributing very little to the ground game (three rushes for six yards). <span>Terrell Watson</span> also had a high overall grade (+1.2) but was much more effective in the ground game (nine carries for 41-yards).</li>
<li>
<p><span>Jeremy Hill</span> received a decent overall score (+0.6), but was more effective as a runner (+0.7) than as a receiver (-0.1), totaling 11 carries for 46-yards and a touchdown.</p>
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<li>
<p><span>Ryan Hewitt</span> turned in a generally poor performance in PFF's view, against the Bears (-0.2), but he vastly outperformed his counterpart Mark Weisman (-1.1). Weisman struggled to put together any sort of effective blocking for the running game (graded -1.1 in run blocking), whereas Hewitt scored low but not particularly poorly (-0.1).</p>
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<h3><b>OFFENSIVE LINE</b></h3>
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<li>Clint Boling (+1.9) and Eric Winston (+1.7) both improved significantly from poor overall grades last week (Boling -1.1 Winston -0.7).</li>
<li>
<p>The offensive line generally kept Dalton away from pressure while he was on the field (no sacks, two QB hurries). McCarron, on the other hand, was under pressure virtually the entire time he was on the field (two sacks, nine QB hurries).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Of the starting offensive linemen, only <span>Andre Smith</span> received an overall score worse than -1.0 for his efforts on the field against the Bears (-1.2). However, many second and third team offensive linemen struggled, such as <span>Trey Hopkins</span> (-1.2),Tanner Hawkinson (-1.8), Matt O'Donnell (-2.3), <span>Dan France</span> (-2.5), and Jake Fisher (-9.0).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Rookie offensive tackle Jake Fisher's awful score (-9.0) was a result of being directly responsible for allowing McCarron to be hurried three times and sacked twice. It didn't help that he was also responsible for three penalties.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Russell Bodine's poor offseason showing continued against the Bears (-1.0), leading to speculation that his seat is getting hotter and hotter. Backup center <span>T.J. Johnson</span> also did not receive a good score (-0.3) but reserve center <span>Jake Smith</span> did (+0.3).</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><b>DEFENSE</b></h3>
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<ul>
<li>Most defensive players received fairly middle-of-the-pack grades against the Bears, other than Vincent Rey (+2.1), Marcus Hardison (+1.3) and <span>Marquis Flowers</span> (-1.3).</li>
<li>
<p>Geno Atkins did not put together the dominant performance that we have seen from him at other times this offseason, but he did receive a positive grade (+0.9), largely due to avoiding penalties and hurrying the opposing quarterback twice. He also assisted in the creation of others' plays.</p>
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<li>
<p>Marquis Flowers received the only particularly bad score on defense (-1.3) as a result of poor pass coverage and the inability to create or assist in any tackles or stops, missing the only real tackling opportunity that he had.</p>
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<li>
<p>The Bengals' pass rush was graded very well against the Bears (+5.6) largely due to Carlos Dunlap's ability to create havoc in the backfield. Dunlap received a pass rush grade of (+1.2). However, only Dunlap and LB <span>Chris Carter</span> were able to generate sacks.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Third round pick P.J.. Dawson continued to show why the Bengals drafted him by putting together three tackles and two stops on the field, receiving a positive overall grade of (+0.7).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Only strong safety George Iloka received a particularly good score in pass coverage (+1.3). Iloka did not record any deflected passes or interceptions, but was instrumental in not allowing the Bears' receivers to get open deep, resulting in a hard day for Bears' QB Jay Cutler.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>For the second week in a row, the only starting cornerback for the Bengals to receive a positive overall grade was Dre Kirkpatrick (+0.1). Backup corners <span>Troy Hill</span> (+0.1) and Chris Lewis-Harris (+0.1) also received positive grades, but all other cornerbacks on the roster received negative grades.</p>
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</ul>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9230159/preseason-week-3-bengals-vs-bears-pro-football-focus-grades-andKyle Phelps2015-08-31T10:00:06-04:002015-08-31T10:00:06-04:00Dalton Dispatch: Analyzing how Dalton did vs Bears
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<p>Andy Dalton is the most scrutinized player on the Bengals. In this weekly column, we keep track of his progress and setbacks so as to make for more informed discussions about his play.</p> <p>Each week, we analyze the performance of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> quarterback <span>Andy Dalton</span>. On Saturday, against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>, Dalton and the Bengals won 21-10. For highlights and analysis of that game, watch the following video:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CaAp_0rmL20" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h4>The Data:</h4>
<p>Andy Dalton was a perfect 6/6 for 52 yards, with 0 passing touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He added 16-yards on the ground including a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Dalton played only one series, <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/29/9226233/andy-dalton-has-neck-injury-return-questionable" target="_blank">leaving with a minor neck injury</a> on his touchdown run.</p>
<h4>Deconstructing Dalton:</h4>
<p>Dalton and backup <span>AJ McCarron</span> led a Bengals offense that was quick to take what the defense gave them. The two combined to complete 18/23 passes, good for 78 percent. Dalton found running back <span>Rex Burkhead</span> twice for a total of 35-yards and had three rushing attempts in his only series. In other words, he made things happen in a variety of ways. Had he not gotten injured, Dalton seemed primed to open up the passing game in future series against the Chicago defense, much the way McCarron was able to complete a couple of big plays to tight end <span>Tyler Eifert</span> and receiver <span>Marvin Jones</span>.</p>
<h4>On Deck:</h4>
<p>Next, Dalton and the Bengals head to Indianapolis to play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Colts</a>. As it is the last preseason game and Dalton aggravated his neck, don't expect to see him out there. If he does play, it will be in a very limited capacity, so as to give him rest before the regular season opener in Oakland September 13.</p>
<h4>Dalton's Direction:</h4>
<p>Slightly upward. This is because last week his direction was pointed slightly downward after a poor performance in a meaningless game. Against the Bears, Dalton looked as sharp as he did against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> in Week 1 of the preseason. Overall, he seems to have added new dimensions to his game after years of being criticized for not showing signs of progress following his Pro Bowl rookie year. Dalton is well-aware of the great weapons he has healthy this season and he has not forced the ball to Green in his three preseason performances. Thus, you can expect Dalton to spread the ball around and cut down his interception total in 2015.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9227403/preseason-week-3-bengals-vs-bears-the-dalton-dispatchDadio Makdook2015-08-31T09:00:07-04:002015-08-31T09:00:07-04:00Bengals vs. Bears: "Unsung Hero of the Week" award
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<p>We give the nod to a few Bengals players whose contributions may have been overlooked in the team's 21-10 win over the Bears on Saturday night. Cast your vote and sound off on your winner!</p> <p>While the MVP and Unsung Hero pieces are usually ones that honor individuals, sometimes an entire position group is worthy of a tip of the cap. This week's "Unsung Hero" definitely provides the latter, as it was a true team effort in the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bengals</a>' 21-10 win over the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a>.</p>
<p>Cast your vote and sound off on your winner for this week's "Unsung Hero of the Week" award!</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Offensive Line: </i>One guy who stood out in this group was <span>Russell Bodine</span> for his immense improvement after a poor showing against the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buccaneers</a>, but the entire group played well. The quarterbacks finished the half going 12-for-12 passing, which is a general statement of pass protection. The group ended up allowing two sacks on the night, but also paved the way for 145 net rushing yards. Penalties marred the night and kept them getting an MVP award, so the Unsung Hero designation seems fitting for them.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">HB/FB Ryan Hewitt: </i>Man Crush alert! This guy gets in there to knock heads, as evidenced by his standing up of Shea McClellin on Jeremy Hill's 26-yard run. As if the blocks weren't enough, Hewitt also added two catches for 11-yards. Hewitt seems to personify this award.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">RB Rex Burkhead: </i>His versatility will not only pay dividends for the Bengals' offense, but could help shape the overall roster. Burkhead had two catches on the great opening drive, including an awesome, back-shoulder 25-yard grab against a linebacker while lined up in the slot. A lot of folks are really looking to what Burkhead's contributions will be in 2015.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">WR <span>A.J. Green</span>: </i>After a bad night down south, Green bounced back nicely with two catches for 19 yards. His 15-yarder from <span>AJ McCarron</span> was a beauty, as he adjusted and made a one-armed catch that led to a touchdown drive.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">TE Tyler Eifert: </i>Like the return of <span>Marvin Jones</span>, many believe having Eifert back will cure most, if not all of the offense's issues. Eifert had two catches for 30 yards, including a 25-yard beauty that led to Jeremy Hill's touchdown run.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Secondary: </i><span>Adam Jones</span> had some nice plays, as did <span>Dre Kirkpatrick</span> and Josh Shaw. The group frustrated <span>Jay Cutler</span> into the third quarter, and allowed just 127 passing yards, 10 first downs and 10 points, as well as an 18 percent third-down conversion rate. It was a nice effort from a group who was abused by the big wideouts of Tampa Bay.</p>
<p><i style="font-weight: bold;">DE/LB Chris Carter: </i>Usually, the Bengals aren't very creative with the "'tweener" guys. <span>Dontay Moch</span> fizzled out and <span>James Harrison</span> was out of his element in Cincinnati. But Carter (not the guy who only catches touchdowns) has found a nice preseason niche. He has three sacks in three preseason games, along with multiple other pressures. One came on Saturday night against the Bears and he could be grinding his way onto the final roster.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2015/8/31/9228701/bengals-vs-bears-preseason-week-3-unsung-hero-of-the-week-awardAnthony Cosenza