Bengals Will Have Kinks Worked Out for MNF and Beyond
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This preseason is shaping up to be the worst in Marvin's brief tenure. From the injury riddled defense to players suffering from "camp legs" and fatigue, this does not look like a team two years removed from the playoffs. But looks can be deceiving.
On first glance it would appear that the Bengals are sliding back not going forward. 21 players on the PUP/Reserve list going into Saturday's game with the Saints made for a sloppy and sometimes stomach churning performance. However, if you step back and take a little closer look there is a lot to be positive about for this season.
Firstly, for a young player in the NFL, nothing is as important as getting reps. With 21 players out this gives your second, third and fourth strings, a little extra playing time that they wouldn't necessarily see otherwise. When you have players like Levi Jones and Willie Anderson out nursing injuries that may keep them out for an extended period of time, these backups are going to need every snap they can get. These are the two positions this team needs to keep strong, healthy and consistent. With no appreciable help at the QB position, this team absolutely cannot afford for Palmer to go down. While Willie remains highly optimistic about starting the opener on Sept. 10 and Levi is holding some guarded optimism, that cannot be solely relied on. Let's take this for what it is and give these younger guys a chance to step up and take that role if need be.
There also has to be something said for the fact that this IS the preseason. Injuries aside most of these younger guys, will never see a snap this season, although they still have to learn the system. What you are seeing right now is basically full speed practice. There are going to be wrinkles, and miscues. Isn't that why there is a preseason in the first place? I mean really, how many times this season do you expect Carson to take a drop and run into Rudi Johnson? Timing and rhythm will come with more practice.
On the defensive side of things, there is some room for concern. Besides being decimated by injuries, it looks like the guys trying to fill those spots just aren't getting it. Lewis and Bresnahan keep telling us that this is just a vanilla defense and that is why it has looked as bad as it has. I don't care what your defensive scheme is, if your line can't plug a hole, and your MLB can't make a tackle, you have problems.
For all the hype that Ahmad Brooks has gotten this preseason, I can see [[Ed Hartwell}} coming for this job in a hurry. Brooks is and exceptional physical specimen, but that alone cannot help him. He has to get in there and DO it. Hartwell, while no where near the player Brooks is physically, has the experience to make up for that. He has had enough time in this league at LB to be able to see adjustments, that only experience can give. While Saturday, Brooks was second in tackles only behind S Herana-Daze Jones he lacked the punch up the middle that allowed Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush to look like they were going for a Sunday stroll through the Bengals defense.
Some of the blame can be placed on the Defensive line, although they seemed a little tighter and more focused that we have seen recently. Justin Smith looked great, but someone please explain to be how Reggie Bush takes a dump pass and runs for ten yards, before anyone gets to him, and the guy that finally brings him down is a lineman(Smith) 5-6 yards off of the ball. Where are the safeties? Domato Peko looked really good. He seemed to be getting a great push at the line and spent most of his time on the Saints side of the line of scrimmage. They did look a little better at run defense than a week ago, yet there are still gaps that need to be filled on this line. Still, I don't see reason to panic just yet. Everyone uses the Indianapolis Colts as the gold standard, not only because they are the defending Super Bowl Champs, but also because they are so similar to the Bengals.
Indianapolis has not had a winning preseason in who knows how long. This is the same team that ALL of the analysts said could never be a Super Bowl contender. Why? No defense. Amazing and dominant offense, but little or no defense. At least not until December. Cincinnati is almost identical to this. High powered offense, no defense. Yeah, well Carson Palmer is no Peyton Manning. No but he looks like he is going to make a great run at it. The Colts have been good for a long time, but they were hardly on the radar until mid-way through Manning's career. Then they obtained the stigma of "But they can't win the big game." How may time do sports writers and analysts have to look like fools, before they quit making half cocked predictions and over analyzing everything. The answer is never, that's what they get paid for. Even so, that does not mean that just because some guy on ESPN or on the radio says they think the Bengals are in trouble, doesn't mean they are.
Last year after coming off a great 11-5 playoff season, the Bengals were a favorite in the division. They get off to a slow start, the talks of mediocrity and the 90's start creeping in. Then they go on a run, looking at 8-5 going down the stretch, and a chance again to win the division. Oh yeah, here we go, playoff time baby; Who Dey! Low and behold, they blow the last three games of the season, and miss the playoffs. In a span of 17 weeks this team went from Super Bowl bound, to deep in the crapper, back to contenders, then to buried. This goes to my point. If a team can have that big of a swing throughout the same season, and know one really knowing what's going on. How can anyone POSSIBLY say that this team has no chance after seeing two, preseason games that amount to nothing more than game speed practice.
Your Cincinnati Bengals will be fine. Will they be the dominant force in the AFC? I doubt it, but they will contend and they are going to prove that they can hang in the toughest division in the AFC, maybe the NFL.
Predictions:
Ahmad out - Hartwell in by week 3
Willie Anderson, Starts Sept. 10 Levi does not.
Leon Hall - Rookie of the year contender.
Bengals 11-5, out in the second Rd. of the Playoffs
