Post-game thoughts and observations
The Bengals are 1-0 in the preseason, having dispatched the Washington Redskins 19-3 in the opener Sunday night.
Anthony Wright has poise. He's also honest. He said he was anxious to get on the field and work with the Bengals offense. The Redskins threw some elaborate defensive sets at the Bengals, and they adjusted. Wright looked more comfortable with each series that went by. He is the best quarterback on the roster to lead the offense if Carson Palmer can't play.
These guys are fast. The speed the Bengals drafted in the past few years is evident. This team is increasingly fast each year. Ethan Kilmer had one special teams tackle and an assist. Johnathan Joseph adds more speed and aggressiveness.
OK, I know it's the preseason. But I have a lot of respect for defensive lineman Bryan Robinson, who looks honestly at the team. When he says the fits and discipline against the run were good, I believe him. If the Bengals can stop the run, with the way they grab interceptions bunches (three vs. the Redskins), the defense will close the gap with the team's high-scoring offense.
Keep an eye on Domata Peko. He had six tackles and half a sack.
Congratulations to fellow Miamian John Busing, a rookie free agent safety who had five tackles and a pass-defensed for the Bengals. Like small Miami linebacker JoJuan Armour before him, Busing faces an uphill battle to adjust to playing safety. Busing can hit. The question is covering NFL receivers.
8 Comments:
I agree with all of your comments here. Wright did look very comfortable with the offense. There were only a few misfires. I was a little disappointed in not seeing much of the run game however Wright needs the reps with the receivers.
The defense looked fantastic! They CAN stop the run. And was very glad to see they are still ball hawking, picked up right where they left off.
The only downer that I had during the game was when the entire stadium booed and hissed at Jerome Bettis just before and during the NBC halftime show. Totally un-sportsman like. I felt very embarrassed to call myself a Bengals fan. We, as Bengals fans, need to show more respect to the elite players of the league. Although, The Bus had played on a huge rival team, he is one of the great running backs of the game and to be booed by us is just a shame. To boo an entire team is one thing, to boo an individual of past games is shameful.
“Jerome, Please accept our apologies.”
OnePABengalsFan
Whodey!
I kept wondering who the long haired #94 was last night, and finally found out it was Peko. He looks pretty stout. The run defense was smothering last night and that was without Sam Adams.
They are faster, but not everyone had a good game:
1. Offensive line as a whole did poorly. Gave up numerous sacks and was unable to establish the run at anytime in the game.
2. Tight ends were invisible.
3. Gave up up many third and longs.
4. To many underthrown passes.
5. Whitmore had a brutal game.
Curious actions by Coach Lewis:
1. Why was Henry still in the game late in the third quarter?
2. What was with the perpetual scowl?
3. Why was Ghiacuc at LG and Wilkerson at center, but not Also Wilkerson at G while someone else was at center?
4. Why was Landon Johnson also in the game in the 3rd quarter?
5. Where were Odell and Sam Adams?
Anthony Wright has poise? Boy are you in for a surprise!
PABengalsFan: Bettis, along with just about EVERY other Pittsburgh Steeler past and present, will forever be booed in Cincinnati. Get used to it. Don't be such a prude. This is a sport, not the ballet. Do you think former Raiders players are treated "sportman like" in Denver?
First in response to simpson... Ahmad Brooks looks terrrible. He was run over by a no-name RB and wiffed on a couple tackles. He is big and fast, but not a good NFL ballplayer.
And Harold, I agree with most of your assessment. To answer a couple of your questions... Henry was still in the game because he is just a third receiver and we had no one else for some of those 3+ receiver sets. Kinds the same deal with Landon, he is a bit down there on the depth chart. And for Odell and Sam Adams, we already knew they weren't going to play before the game began.
While preseason is almost completely meaningless, I do think Bryan Robinson is correct: Peko and Rucker did a great job at what NFL types call gap integrity, which has been lacking here for a number of years. The lack of gap integrity is what killed us last year in the Indianapolis game, particularly the drive where Edgerrin James racked up numerous yards and first downs.
All in all, a` decent beginning.
Chip Lapp
Kenwood
* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.
By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.
<< Home