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Glamour's Women of the Year
UD vs. Northern Kentucky
Magic visits with area students
bengals analysis
Plenty of areas need fixing as team regroups from ugly loss
Offense was a disappointment, but breakdowns occurred everywhere
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Five areas the Cincinnati Bengals need to get fixed now, before it's too late:
1. Offensive tempo
The unit stinks because the timing, rhythm and tempo are out of whack, and it's quarterback Carson Palmer's responsibility to fix it. He needs to get the offense in and out of the huddle quicker so he has enough time at the line of scrimmage to recognize the defensive scheme, identify where the pressure is coming from, and make the proper adjustments.
The inability to convert third downs (2-of-13 for 15 percent) and sustain drives puts way too much pressure on a young defense. That's what happened in the Bengals' 17-10 loss at Baltimore. For a veteran unit, it borders on inexcusable. If the problem doesn't get fixed quickly, against the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants, Cincinnati's season will be over in a hurry.
2. Defensive discipline
The defense lacks toughness and discipline. Once again, we see one or two guys trying to do too much and it gets the entire unit into trouble. The slightest hesitation or departure from a gap in a formation adjustment allows the opponent to exploit the mistake and win with an explosive play. The Bengals are still trying to unearth Mark Clayton and Joe Flacco. They can find 'em in the end zone.
3. Use of weapons
The Bengals signed tight end Ben Utecht to a three-year, $9 million contract in the offseason. They picked wide receiver Jerome Simpson in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. They're good players. It'd be nice if the Bengals used 'em.
4. Leaders must lead
OK, captains Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bobbie Williams, Dexter Jackson and Dhani Jones, it's up to you guys. You're the leaders. So lead. It's your job to pick your teammates up, grab 'em by the front of their "NOW" T-shirts and show 'em the way.
5. Punt coverage
Kyle Larson unleashed some nice punts — seven for a 45.1-yard average, including two inside-the-20 jobs. But there was a problem. The coverage was slow getting down the field, and the Ravens' Yamon Figurs got loose on four returns for 56 yards, a 14.0 average.
Contact this reporter at (937)
225-2253 or cludwig@Dayton
DailyNews.com
Next game
Who: Tennessee Titans (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
When: 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14, Paul Brown Stadium
TV: WHIO-TV (CBS, Ch. 7) | Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)
