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Bresnahan doesn't get defensive
Thursday, September 20, 2007
> Do you think the Bengals defense will improve?
CINCINNATI — In the wake of last Sunday's still-numbing loss — finally — a coach who was not smug, condescending or retaliatory.
Instead he was forthcoming, funny, explanatory and, most of all, willing to shoulder the blame.
Extras
Marvin Lewis?
Are you kidding me?
No, the most stand-up guy around the Cincinnati Bengals practice session Wednesday was Chuck Bresnahan, the team's defensive coordinator, who has taken heat from the press, talk-show callers and internet chatterers since the Bengals' woeful defensive performance in Sunday's 51-45 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Bresnahan didn't try to duck the issue Wednesday — nor did he take Lewis' angle of chastising the messenger, something he did publicly Monday and in private Wednesday — but instead was candid and a bit courageous if you consider how his boss might react to such openness.
"I didn't have them ready to play," Bresnahan told a small knot of reporters standing just beyond the team's practice field.
"It's a frustrating deal, but put it on me. For some reason, we blew very simple adjustments that we did the entire offseason. There was nothing special in this game plan. To not execute, I take that personally, because I really believe the way you play is a direct reflection of the way you're coached."
Bresnahan explained why certain breakdowns happened and then told how they can be remedied for Sunday's game in Seattle.
Asked how he'd kept from banging his head against the wall these past few days, he managed a smile: "I keep the back of my head away from you so you don't see the stitches back there."
His approach was a refreshing contrast to the head coach's disdainful reaction Monday to a question — whether it was ill-timed or not — about his team's defensive woes during most of the five years he's been here:
"I tell the players all the time, don't try to explain it to you (the media) because you don't understand it."
Bresnahan, though, was willing to dissect an unfathomable assault by the Browns that included 554 offensive yards and more points than they'd scored in their past five games combined.
The Bengals defense lost its way when middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks left the game with a strained groin muscle in the first quarter. Then rookie cornerback Leon Hall was abused by Browns receiver Braylon Edwards, and safety Madieu Williams missed assignments. Even veteran safety Dexter Jackson — one of the most solid defenders — followed a third-quarter interception with a badly missed tackle on Jamal Lewis' fourth-quarter, 47-yard run.
Add in a nonexistent pass rush and a defensive front with gaping holes and you have the recipe for one of the biggest meltdowns in franchise history.
"It's never one person," Bresnahan warned. "It's going to be a conglomeration of mental mistakes, and you can't do that. We've made a commitment to staying as simple and basic as we can, and when you see a game like that, you'd better get yourself right. That's from the coaches on down ... Until we play with a level of consistency on defense, we're going to continue to be very, very average."
Now that's candid.
Comments
By Will
September 21, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
All we ever hear from the Bengal coaches is we have to do better, that we are inconsistent. At least Chuck B.has the guts to stand up and admit that there is a problem. I still say he needs to go, his defense has stunk the whole time he has been here. But in the end it is ultimately Marvin’s fault.Its time for Marvin the defensive genius to put up or shut up. His defense looked like it gave up on Sunday! And that is a direct reflection on him.
By hakko
September 20, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
tony…Marvin doesn’t have to kiss their butt, but he better show them some respect. If he doesn’t, he better start winning and getting this team consistently in the playoffs. That is the only way the media and fans will give his attitude toward them a pass. If he is not winning and treats them like crap, the fans/media will turn on him and he will be run out of town. The sad part is he is a very good coach and the person who replaces him will turn the whole thing into the “bungles” again.
By VegasBurk
September 20, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
this team will never be a serious Super Bowl Contender until it acquires an actual pass rush.
Whether its via the draft or free agency, it needs to find some real talent on the D-line.
Paying the same guys we had last year more money this year doesn’t mean they can rush the passer any better.
To be honest, we haven’t had a playoff calibre pass rush since the late 80’s.
SIGH…
By tony
September 20, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
i didnt know marvin had to kiss the butt of the media to “keep his job”? When did the media hire marvin lewis? i thought marvin lewis became a head coach because of the HARD WORK HE PUT INTO BECOMING A HEAD COACH. Dont get it twisted. marvin doesnt have to kiss the media’s butt or yours. marvin has plenty support in this city. This isnt the Reds. It’s actually o.k. in the game of football to be a great athlete. Stop complaining
By tony
September 20, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
i didnt know marvin had to kiss the butt of the media to “keep his job”? When did the media hire marvin lewis? i thought marvin lewis became a head coach because of the HARD WORK HE PUT INTO BECOMING A HEAD COACH. Dont get it twisted. marvin doesnt have to kiss the media’s butt or yours. marvin has plenty support in this city. This isnt the Reds. It’s acyually o.k. in the game of football to be a great athlete. Stop complaining
By hakko
September 20, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
….and tony plays the race card. Marvin’s race has nothing to do with it. He would have been asked that question if he were a purple dinosaur and would have caught the same crap for the answer he gave. Marvin has been a darling of the media since his arrival. That has kept much of the heat off of him for lackluster results. If he continues to bite the hand that feeds him, he will likely soon find himself under intense media pressure for the poor season the Bengals seem destined to have.
By Jeff
September 20, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
Dave Buerk, I think that is a little wishful thinking on your prediction of the score for the Seattle Game. If you can’t stop the Browns, what makes you think you will stop the Seahawks? You’ll be lucky to even win that game
By tony
September 20, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
why dont Tom and the rest of the media hacks that cover the Bengals realize that Marvin lewis isnot going to be the media’s boo-boo. Marvin Lewis isnt interested in playing the sellout role like david Fulcher. Marvin Lewis is a strong, educated and confident black man that white media members in this town arent use to. they would rather have Marvin act like Griffey Jr. and barry larkin. Soft, quiet black athletes who wont tell the media to go to hell when they deserve it. Stay strong Marvin
By tony
September 20, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
why dont Tom and the rest of the media hacks that cover the Bengals realize that Marvin lewis isnot going to be the media’s boo-boo. Marvin Lewis isnt interested in playing the sellout role like david Fulcher. Marvin Lewis is a strong, educated and confident black man that white media members in this town arent use to. they would rather have Marvin act like Griffey Jr. and barry larkin. Soft, quiet black athletes who wont tell the media to go to hell when they deserve it. Stay strong Marvin
By Stone
September 20, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this
Who, as a defensive coordinator, says their team is going to have a bland, average, and boring defensive scheme and expect to fool any above-average offensive team in the NFL? What great defensive teams just ran basic plays and no stunts or blitzes besides the obvious? Give me a break! If Chuck Bresnahan thinks a basic, bland defense with mediocre players is gonna win the NFL he NEEDS to be fired. If you don’t have the skill set you better be creative in your coverages and blitzes!
By JHawkins
September 20, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
It was a great game. Driving up to Cleveland was worth it. The drive to Cinninati will most likey to worth in December. Go Browns.
By butch
September 20, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this
It looked like an “NBA” playoff game.
By butch
September 20, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this
It looked like an NBA game to me. And about as amussing.
By butch
September 20, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
It looked like an NBA game to me. And about as amussing.
By Bengals 28 Seahawks 13
September 20, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
Marvin is a good coach. You gotta give the rookie some time to learn. What is it taking so long on Thurmans’s appeal(s)?? FREE ODELL, FREE ODELL!!
By Geb
September 20, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
NOT TILL THEY STOP WASTING THEIR 1ST ROUND DRAFT PICKS ON CORNERS WHO CANNOT COVER, TWEENERS WHO ARE TOO SLOW FOR LB AND TOO SMALL FOR DE AND RUNNING BACKS THAT ARE TOO SLOW FOR THE NFL AND BEFORE MARVIN PASSING UP 8 PICKS (TURNED OUT TO BE CHAMP BAILY, LAVELL ARRINGTON, ET AL) TO DRAFT A QB WHO HAD 1 GOOD GAME IN COLLEGE
By SirTerry
September 20, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
No matter who would have played Cleveland last week, the game would have had the same outcome. You never want to be the first to play a team after they just b***h-slapped their players to get their attention. After their pathetic play in the loss to Pittsburgh the week before, the owner made Charlie Frye the scape-goat, but it made the point that nobody’s job was safe. When you get a wake-up call like that, you’re going to pay a little bit more attention to what you’re supposed to do.
By Joe
September 20, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
I personally think it’s funny that Marvin could hurt the Media’s feelings. How dare he not think of all of the reporters who might go hungry this week due to not having anything to write about. He should probably worry more about an interview the day after the game rather than taking care of his football team. Also my new word of the year, condescending, now I feel like I can coach a football team.