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StumbleuponBengals team faces five glaring problems
COMMENT: What do you think are the Ôbig problemsÕ for the Bengals?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
CINCINNATI — Here are five pressing issues facing the Bengals:
1. The health of "The Big Three" — Quarterback Carson Palmer (broken nose), wide receiver Chad Johnson (sprained left shoulder) and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (strained hamstring) are injured. The pressure's on to get the trio healthy for the Sept. 7 opener at Baltimore.
"I want as much time as I can get with the guys, and now I'm limited with their two situations," Palmer said. "We're going to do everything we can to get ready. Whatever it takes.
"If we don't have a full game plan in because we're not comfortable with some of the stuff that they'd normally run had they had a full offseason to work out and get ready, then we'll go with a smaller game plan and figure out what works best for us."
2. The offensive line — The "Jurassic Line," featuring right guard Bobbie Williams at center, is all but extinct. The commitment to start Eric Ghiaciuc at center means one of the following players — Williams, right tackle Willie Anderson or guard-tackle Stacy Andrews — won't be in the Opening Day starting lineup.
The Bengals yielded only 17 sacks in 2007. They've already given up 10 in the preseason. If the pass protection doesn't get fixed, Palmer will require a hospital bed and wheelchair.
3. Running back situation — Tailback Rudi Johnson is due to make his 2008 debut in the preseason finale at Indianapolis on Thursday. What will it prove? With Chris Perry and Kenny Watson sharing a majority of snaps, it may be too late for Rudi, whose $3.2 million base salary in 2008 could make him a salary cap casualty.
4. Where's the D-line push? — Seven sacks in three games isn't exactly enough to strike fear in the hearts of opponents.
The sprained left foot sustained by right defensive end Antwan Odom on the first day of training camp impeded the progress of the pass rush. Odom could be ready for the opener. If not, Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker must shore up the position.
5. The young secondary — Ten-year veteran strong safety Dexter Jackson is the only projected starter with a wealth of experience. His leadership must serve as a guide for cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall, plus free safety Marvin White.
Next game
Who: Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 28
TV: WKEF-TV (ABC, Ch. 22)
Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)
Important Dates
Today, Aug. 26 — Roster cutdown to maximum 75 players (Bengals are already at that limit).
Saturday, Aug. 30 — Roster cutdown to maximum 53 players by 4 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31 — Starting at noon, club can sign eight players to the practice squad.
Sunday, Sept. 7 — Regular season opens at Baltimore at 1 p.m.
Comments
By chris
September 2, 2008 1:44 AM | Link to this
So who is going to start at running back? Perry or watson? whos better for fantasy purposes?
By Fred
August 28, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
I’ve been a been a Bengal fan since Kenny Anderson days, win or lose, I love them.
By Know it all
August 27, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
They wont win this year and there is one big fat reason why……POOR DRAFT PICKS. Management has no damn idea what it takes to build a winning team. I wont even go into all the mistakes because we all know , but the lastest may be kenny irons, a 2nd rounder for god sakes cut in year 2, now owuldnt that pick look good on the O or D line???
By growler
August 27, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Power of pos thinking!!! Bengals are gonna take it all! Sure, A QB has to go long when he has no front line. Every Bengals’ QB has had to deal with that (when will we learn?). This years trick play: As Palmer is getting flattened he tosses it straight up, some one in orange and black grabs it…. straight run to the end zone!!!!!
Look for it every two plays.
By delane
August 27, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
im not real excited this year for the bengals, with everyone on the bengals trying to make the highlight real or mtv cribs, they cannot stay healthy.they are a 3qtr football team, everthing comes down to the 4th qrt and if they dont have the lead by the 4th its over, it seems they dont even try sometimes .ask any fan that has been to any home game in 2 yrs
By Wes
August 27, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
With all the injuries we have and the poor play of both the O & D lines, winning 7 games this year will be a major achievement. We need new lines on both sides of the ball. Utech was a good start at TE.
By Wes
August 27, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
With all the injuries we have and the poor play of bith the O & D lines, winning 7 games this year will be a major achievement. We need new lines on both sides of the ball. Utech was a good start at TE.
By Rob
August 27, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
You hear all this talk about stopping the run. I think that you have to be able to consistently pressure the quarterback first. If you can’t, enough people are going to play spoiler killing you with the pass to mess your season up. If you have the horses up front to keep pressure on the quarterback without eating up too many resources, you can load up against the run and not be as vulnerable over the top. There are mediocre defenses that stop the run; great defenses beat your quarterback up.
By Sam
August 26, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Are we afraid to blame Carson for any of this? It’s my opinion he’s been trying to force the long ball too much the last two years instead of taking whats given to him. This year he has no excuse with the additions of Perry and Utecht. Don’t get me wrong I love Carson, but everyone needs to look in the mirror.
By Sam
August 26, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Rudi is gone, fact is they just don’t need a slow semi power back. He doesn’t have any moves and Perry does both quite well. The problem has been and will continue to be the offensive line. We just don’t run block very well. Watch the tape, we don’t finish blocks that could set Perry free. The receivers need to block better too! Now, the defense will get exposed without pressure. I just don’t see where it will be coming from. Lastly, What’s happened to Ahmad Brooks? Whatabout backup MLB?
By Snagapuss
August 26, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
BENGALS FANS GET READY!!!!! What’s going to happen is, they will trade Rudi for a receiver. What they’re keeping quiet is, that Chad Johnson will also go, for a receiver of the same caliber(maybe better).
By kosta
August 26, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this
Kevin are you rudi in disquise? beacuse youre alone with taht statement.
By Uncle Carl
August 26, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
You can certainly tell who the Clowns fans are on this site. You’ve had one good season in recent memory, and now believe that the Flush em Downs are actually a real NFL team. They’ll be in the crapper where they belong by mid season. I suggest you stick to the problems your sorry excuse for a team has.
By Fed Up
August 26, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
That’s it Bengal fans, blame all of your misfortune on 1 play three years ago. The Bengals haven’t had a winner since Marvin Lewis showed up. Yea, they won the North in 2005. But what happened to them down the stretch in the regular season? They lost three out of th last four games. Going from having a first week bye in the playoffs to playing in the Wild Card Game. In which, they were up by 10 points, TWICE, and couldn’t hold on to win. CRY BABYS
By maness
August 26, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
The Bengals, not Bungles, will return to the glory they had in the 80’s this year, if Palmer hadn’t got hurt in the second play of the game in the Playoffs 3 years ago, the bengals would have a Super Bowl ring right now, not the terrible towel throwin Steelers, boy i hate a thief! the bengals have fixed some issues on defense and now we’ll get the dynasty started. Wake up people, nobody thought Dallas would get out of the slump they were in years ago.
By maness
August 26, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
The Bengals, not Bungles, will return to the glory they had in the 80’s this year, if Palmer hadn’t got hurt in the second play of the game in the Playoffs 3 years ago, the bengals would have a Super Bowl ring right now, not the terrible towel throwin Steelers, boy i hate a thief! the bengals have fixed some issues on defense and now we’ll get the dynasty started. Wake up people, nobody thought Dallas would get out of the slump they were in years ago.
By Jason
August 26, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
They can’t win with Rudi d-Bag!
By Jeff
August 26, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
I think that the bengals have a very little chance this year if the team can’t stay healthy. the organization needs to do better in making selections with players.
By Scott
August 26, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Rudi is washed up, he was a bust last year and he is going to be a bust again this year. The hamstring has been an ongoing nagging issue for him for two years now. They need to try and trade him while he still has a little value left.
By JohnF
August 26, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
I said it last year, and I will say it this year- 7-9 for the Bungles. I really feel sorry for the Cincinnati fans (both the Reds and the Bungles), never getting anything near what they have paid for. 1 playoff game in the last 16 years is absolutely awful.
By Elliott
August 26, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
They cant win WITH Rudi either!But I dont see any teams giving up a good WR for a washed up running back with a large contract.I predict Rudi is here eating up more wasted roster space.This team is ladened with players eating up valuable roster space.The bungals are nothing but pack-rats when it comes to their roster and they wonder why they dont win.Examples:Antonio Chatman,Eric Henderson,John Thornton,and Frostee Rucker just to name a few.Three are always hurt,the other one is useless.
By Kevin
August 26, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
Cat’s can’t win without Rudi, He ain’t going nowhere!
By Kevin
August 26, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
They can’t win without Rudi! He ain’t going anywhere.