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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > December > 20 > Entry
Bengals-Browns: Pugilistic Pigskin Preview
CHICKSTER’S PREDICTION:
BENGALS 17, BROWNS 13
BENGALS ARE SIZZLIN’
BROWNS ARE FIZZLIN’
THREE KEYS TO SUCCESS
• Defend the run — The Bengals cower at the mere mention of Browns TB Jamal Lewis, who has made a nice living chewing up yards and spitting out TDs against Cincinnati. Lewis gets fired up to play the Bengals because of his respect for Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis. The two were together during Baltimore’s Super Bowl glory days. The Bengals must gang tackle the big fellow because he’s a wrecking ball.
• Play takeaway — Browns QB Ken Dorsey (0 TDs, 4 INTs) is a popular man in both locker rooms because of his penchant for tossing the ball to opponents. The Bengals need an interior push from DTs Domata Peko and Pat Sims, plus some heat from edge-rushing DEs Jonathan Fanene and Antwan Odom. If that happens, CBs Leon Hall and David Jones won’t have to cover as long and can make quick breaks on the ball.
• Win on third down — The Bengals have to run well enough against a stout Browns DL to get in manageable third-down situations, and then they must convert first downs to keep the chains moving and get in position to score. The Bengals have shown absolutely no killer instinct the few times they’ve been able to get a lead. Better late than never.
THREE KEY PLAYER MATCHUPS
• Bengals C Eric Ghiaciuc vs. Browns NT Shaun Rogers — Ghiaciuc surfaced on Wednesday’s injury report as a DNP (did not practice) because of an illness. He’s probably having nightmares about Rogers, who knocked Ghiaciuc backward five yards on the first play from scrimmage earlier this season in Cincinnati. Rogers earned a Pro Bowl berth by being a dominant run-stuffer and his ability to penetrate with massive size and strength.
• Bengals CB Leon Hall vs. Browns WR Braylon Edwards — Hall shuts down receivers his own size. Now he has to go against a big, fast, physical receiver in Edwards, who has the ability to overpower him. Hall has to stick close to Edwards, track the ball in the air and get turned around in time to swat the ball away. Hall has the speed to run with Edwards, but the mismatch in size is Hall’s biggest challenge.
• Bengals WR Chad Ocho Cinco vs. Browns CB Brandon McDonald — McDonald is growing up quick and maturing very fast. His two INTs for 122 yards against the Eagles, including a 24-yard TD, belong on a highlight reel. Ocho Cinco is eager to break out, even at this late stage in the season. He has the speed, moves and acceleration to school the young corner, who can’t possibly repeat last week’s performance … or can he?
FOUR KEY AREAS
RUNNING GAME
TB Cedric Benson has shown what he can do when you give him a crease. He hits it hard and quick, accelerates to the perimeter and makes defenders miss. Running inside against the Browns’ 3-4 scheme, however, is virtually impossible because of the wide-body trio of DL Shaun Rogers, Corey Williams and Shaun “The Hamburglar” Smith. But running outside is a different story. That’s where the Browns are most vulnerable. The OL is not a dominant unit, so it’s going to take TE Reggie Kelly at the point of attack and the WRs on the perimeter to play a vital role in helping spring Benson, who has terrific cutback ability.
PASSING GAME
Everyone knows what WRs Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh can do. Ocho Cinco commands double teams and can stretch the field, while Houshmandzadeh — who leads the league with 31 third-down catches — is a chain-moving machine with his magic over the middle. One of the keys, as well as one of the biggest unknowns, is if the mercurial Chris Henry shows up. One week, he doesn’t finish his routes and shows alligator arms. Another week, like last week’s victory over the Redskins, he flashes brilliance with clutch catches in the intermediate range. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is in a comfort zone with his receivers and showing more confidence each week. If he gets the protection he needs, the passing game will do major damage against a suspect secondary.
THE BLITZ
The Browns will definitely try and confuse Fitzpatrick with numerous looks in the 3-4 scheme in an attempt to keep him off-balance and guessing. They’ll pressure him with a variety of blitzes and try to bait him into throwing into coverage. Fitzpatrick’s first start of the season came in a 20-12 loss to Cleveland on Sept. 28, so he has a good idea of what the Browns will do — contain him to the pocket and pressure him. Of course they’ll throw some wrinkles at him with a safety or corner blitz. The offensive line and TE Reggie Kelly better be ready. Look for mass protection with a six-man front that will allow Fitzpatrick to buy time and get the ball downfield.
IN THE RED ZONE
It took until the 15th week for a pass to be thrown in Chris Henry’s direction on a fade pattern in the end zone. The result? A touchdown that gave the Bengals a 14-0 lead en route to a 20-13 victory over the Redskins. Can the Bengals do it again? They should certainly try. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Henry has the kind of hands and leaping ability that many receivers don’t possess. Of course, the Bengals will attempt to run at the heart of the Browns defense with Cedric Benson motoring behind DT Domata Peko, who’s been lining up at fullback in a robust scheme the team calls the “Bigs” formation. If Benson is denied access to the end zone, the passing game offers three options: Houshmandzadeh over the middle near the goal line; Ocho Cinco on a drag route in the back of the end zone; and Henry on the fade pattern with an alley-oop-style pass.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By psychostats
December 20, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Wow, Chick, it was a pleasure to peruse this particularly powerful “pugnacious pugilistic and not-so-pusillanimous pigskin preview”. You pulled no punches in presenting the pretty poison with painstakingly parsimonious prose. Pity I have to quit posting and clean my monitor, as proofing aloud has proven to be perceptibly… precipitating.By Colonel Klingler
December 20, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
Pisz off Psychostats Puszy!By psychostats
December 20, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
CK, your petulant parry pastes a pall over the proceedings.By photoman
December 20, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Psycho…and CL, interesting commentary. I had to spend some time with Merriam-Webster to see where you are coming from, and to get me an understanding for this written word. I’m sure I’ll be able to post my appreciation in my own words at a later time.By psychostats
December 20, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
“… and to get me an understanding of this written word.” … Sounds like what a lawyer might say before he lays the wood down. Hey, this is all in good fun, Photoman. Anyway, come on in, the water’s fine. To paraphrase the Chickster — “Make love, not war. Strawberry Fields forever. And give P’s a chance.”By photoman
December 20, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
Yep! I appreciate the fun too. Helps me to make it through this dismal Bengals season. I value the opportunity to participate in this Blog of the Chickster. Keep up the ejoy! (I have no wood to lay down).By Chick Ludwig
December 20, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
It’s the Chickster signing in at 6:55 p.m. upon safe arrival in the NE Cleveland suburb of Willoughby … Smooth drive up from I-675 to I-70 East to I-71 North to I-271 North (toward Erie, Pa.) to 90 East to 91 (Som Center) and, yes, it feels like I’m home again. There is no precipitation, and I’m praying for NO SNOW on Sunday. I had my fill of snow when I worked for the Lake County News Herald from Feb. ‘77 to June ‘79 … I remember many brutal snow storms when my yellow VW bug and later my red Chevette (wish it were a Corvair or Corvette) got blown off the road on I-271. Cleveland sure looked good in my rear-view mirror back then. I learned an appreciation for the city, its suburbs and its fine peeps … folks are passionate about their football up this way. I honest think St. Iggy (Ignatius) could give the Browns a run for their money. Oh, yeah, and I love John Carroll U., home of Mike Moran’s Fighting Blue Streaks. As for my Plethora of Ps, I’m glad Psychostats checked in often. At this stage of the NFL season, everyone’s a little psycho right now. Cheers, ChickBy Engel
December 20, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
Long time since I was a stringer for a skinny sports editor at the Western Star. That would be pre-Willoughby, I believe. Hate to break it to you Chick but both old editor Joe from Lebanon and I say it is Cleveland by 14. Matt