Bengals tidbits

[Folanator]

Yes I know our O is going to be great. But I must say that I have been most impressed by Chuckie B's defence.

• They have been great against the run (even when big Sam A did not play)
• They penetrate the LOS and have gotten good push
• The pass rush has been good with only the down lineman
• They are deep on the line and in the secondary
• They have been tackling well
• The secondary has again been opportunistic with the pics

I see the only defensive issues as our linebacker play has been mediocre and the secondary has given up some longish passes. But considering the points above these deficiencies can be overcome.

All in all I think the D play has been a pleasure to watch. I think this is a team that could go all the way if the right chips fall. Maybe the Ravens or the Chargers, but I do not see another NFL team better.

[fourteenandoh]

agree 100% what's even better is that a few of the best members of the defense havent' been playing. pollack is hurt and thurman's suspended. Sam A is a MONSTER! I'm sure the front four were helped out a bit by GB's rookie guards though

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

8/30/06

BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Bengals say Palmer’s comeback no surprise
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>TONY TRIBBLE ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Carson Palmer looked as good as ever Monday, wiping away fears that he wouldn’t be close to the same player he was before the knee injury. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


To his teammates and coaches, Carson Palmer’s impressive debut Monday night was no surprise.
For months, they had seen how determined the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was to return from his knee injury. For weeks, they had seen how sharp he was in practice.
"We’ve had the luxury of watching him work this whole offseason, so we knew he was ready," left tackle Levi Jones said.
But to Bengals fans, the quarterback’s preseason debut less than eight months after reconstructive surgery was cause for celebration. Palmer threw three touchdown passes in the first half to lead the Bengals to a 48-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Paul Brown Stadium.
The crisp, accurate throws weren’t a big surprise. The big mystery was how well Palmer’s knee would hold up in his first brush with opposing linemen.
Coach Marvin Lewis seemed irked that the question was even broached.
"Why would there be apprehension?" Lewis said. "Much ado about nothing. There was going to be that time whether he played the first game or 10 years from now. At some point, you’re going to get touched on the football field.
"Unfortunately, a lot has been made of what he’s been through. … He has come back from the injury and now we can move on and quit writing about it. It’s over now, OK? "
Palmer, who led the NFL in completion percentage and touchdown passes in 2005, didn’t look at all rusty, but he said he was.
"I’m still a ways away," Palmer said. "My technique and some of the fundamentals aren’t quite there yet. But they’re coming. Slowly and surely, they’re coming. The more times I get certain drops and certain plays in practice and then get a chance to do it in a game gets me back to where I need to be."
He’s certainly close enough. Lewis said Palmer will start the season opener Sept. 10 at Kansas City.
Though his teammates expected Palmer to play well, the fact he looked to be in such command provides an emotional boost as they approach the season.
"It was very inspirational," Jones said. "To see a guy overcome that and come back and perform like he did, it lets the rest of us know we can overcome any adversity."
Pollack debut brief

Second-year linebacker David Pollack played sparingly in his preseason debut after missing time because of a pulled hamstring. He had ice on his left leg on the sideline.
"His hamstring is still sore," Lewis said. "He’s trying to play, maybe too much too soon. We just want to make sure he doesn’t overdo it. It was good for him to get a few snaps in."
Pollack was credited with a solo tackle and an assist, as was defensive tackle Sam Adams in his Bengals debut.
Bengals cut two

To reach the NFL-mandated roster limit of 75, the Bengals terminated the contract of linebacker Hannibal Navies and waived offensive lineman Steven Vieira. The final roster cut, to 53 players, is Saturday.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

8/30/06

How's Palmer? Next question
Bengals' priority on other issues

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Marvin Lewis, in addition to being a control-freak football coach, must be a frustrated newspaper editor.
He often declares the resolution of a story and suggests reporters stop wasting keystrokes on certain topics.
The Bengals coach did so Monday night after his team whipped up on the feeble Green Bay Packers 48-17 to improve to 3-0 in the NFL preseason.
The pressing question of the offseason was whether quarterback Carson Palmer would be able to come back from a devastating knee injury suffered in January.
"And now we can move on and quit writing about it," Lewis said after Palmer burned bright in his return to the playing field, throwing for 140 yards and three touchdowns in the first half Monday. "It's over now."
Lewis went on to announce Palmer would start the Bengals' regular-season opener Sept. 10 at Kansas City.
Though Bengals fans might feel better about the team's chance of making a second consecutive postseason appearance, many questions need answering before playoff tickets go to the printer.
The Bengals made two minor roster moves Tuesday to get to the league requirement of 75 players. Some familiar names will go Saturday, when the Bengals must cut to 53 players.
Here are five major questions that must be answered before the regular season kicks off:
1. Who will fill out the roster at wide receiver?
No. 3 receiver Chris Henry, who threw the block that sprang T.J. Houshmandzadeh on his touchdown Monday night, is a singular talent on the roster. But he's a question mark.
After his DUI case in Clermont County is decided, Henry could face a four-game suspension for what could be a second violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
His potential loss would leave a hole nobody has emerged to fill. The candidates are Kelley Washington (eight preseason receptions), Tab Perry (three catches) and Antonio Chatman (one catch).
Washington, who has the most experience in the offense, is a riddle. The Bengals have tried to trade him but are reluctant to cut a third-round draft pick. He has eight career touchdowns but is not half the special teams player Perry is.
Chatman has been slowed by a pelvic bruise the past month and might not prove to be durable. And though rookie Bennie Brazell has dazzled with his Olympic-class speed, he pulled up lame Monday night with a sprained knee.
The good news for the Bengals is they seem to grow quality wide receivers on a tree outside the stadium.
2. Has the defense improved enough to get off the field on third down and stop relying so much on turnovers to get the ball back?
In 2005, the Bengals were second-worst in the league in third- down defensive efficiency at 42.6 percent for first downs allowed. Only Buffalo was worse.
In three preseason games, the Bengals have improved their third-down efficiency to 34.1 percent (15-of-44).
The addition of tackle Sam Adams appears to be having the desired effect; even though he has played just one game, Adams' quick first step and ability to occupy two blockers at a time is helping the other linemen and the linebackers.
After the Packers game, several Bengals defensive linemen said the position is deep and that they should be able to rotate seven players productively.
Safeties Dexter Jackson and Madieu Williams have come up strong to tackle against the run.
3. What about the run game, sluggish at best in the preseason?
Rudi Johnson has 30 yards in 18 preseason carries, but don't worry. The run game has as much to do with timing as strength.
The bigger concern should be the third-down back. Chris Perry, who had 51 receptions and caused opposing defensive coordinators sleepless nights last season, probably will be lost for the first six games of the season on the physically unable to perform list.
While rookie DeDe Dorsey has excited fans with 149 rushing yards and a 7.5-yard preseason average per run, there's more to being a third-down back than catching and running.
Kenny Watson dropped two passes against Green Bay, but he is an excellent blocker on third down, and protecting Palmer is a priority. Watson's tough and selfless, and he knows the offense.
4. Who will survive the intense competition at linebacker and defensive back?
Season-ending injuries to safety Anthony Mitchell and cornerback Rashad Bauman have helped sort through some of the clutter in the secondary.
The Bengals will keep rookie Ethan Kilmer, who's still struggling to learn to play safety, because he excels on kick coverage.
At cornerback, Greg Brooks has managed to avoid injury so far this preseason and probably will edge Patrick Body for the fifth cornerback job.
Rookie first-round pick Johnathan Joseph received the start Monday night in place of injured Deltha O'Neal and ahead of Keiwan Ratliff, perhaps indicating he has won the hotly contested nickelback job.
5. Will special teams truly be special and contribute big plays in 2006?
Shayne Graham has four touchbacks in the past two games and consistently is hitting his kickoffs deep and high. Kyle Larson has no touchbacks (which is good for a punter) and has dropped four kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Though the kickoff (17.8-yard average) and punt (8.0) return averages are not good enough, special teams coach Darrin Simmons has experimented with various combinations. With a fleet of speedy linebackers and safeties - including specialist Kilmer - the cover units are strong. If the return teams can improve, the Bengals could control field position in the kick game and get a game-changing big play now and then.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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Cincy

8/30/06

Navies, Vieira cut to reach 75-man limit
Bengals notebook

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Tuesday was easy.
The roster cuts will be considerably more difficult Saturday.
On Tuesday, the Bengals announced they had terminated the contract of linebacker Hannibal Navies and waived offensive lineman Steven Vieira to reach the 75-player NFL roster limit by 4 p.m.
Navies, a seven-year veteran, joined the Bengals as a free agent Aug. 30 last year and played in 15 games, contributing 13 tackles on special teams.
Vieira, a guard, started 41 consecutive games at UCLA but did not play as a rookie for the Bengals in 2005, spending much of the season on the physically unable to perform list because of a foot sprain.
The Bengals must trim their roster to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday, the afternoon after their final preseason game - at Indianapolis (8 p.m. Friday).
Expect the Bengals to sign a player or two released by other teams Saturday and make further roster moves Sunday.
IN PRAISE OF PALMER: Teammates continued to compliment quarterback Carson Palmer for his performance Monday night in a 48-17 victory against Green Bay at Paul Brown Stadium.
There was no word Tuesday - players were off, and the facility was closed to the media - on how much Palmer might play Friday at Indianapolis.
"It was exciting for everyone - not only for the team, but for the fans and the city," tailback Rudi Johnson said of Palmer's return. "For him to come out and do the things that he did shows how hard he worked during the offseason to get his knee back to where it is today."
Said wide receiver Chad Johnson: "I knew he would do his thing. I'm sure (Palmer) answered all the critics' questions and all the doubts people had in their minds."
Indications are that Palmer, coming back from reconstructive knee surgery in January, suffered no setbacks during the game.
POLLACK OK: Linebacker David Pollack, who suffered a pulled hamstring Aug. 4 in the team's intrasquad scrimmage, played just a few snaps Monday night against the Packers.
"His hamstring is still sore," coach Marvin Lewis said of Pollack. "So he's trying to play, maybe too much too soon.
"We just want to make sure he doesn't overdo it. It's good for him to get a few snaps in."
INJURIES: Wide receiver Bennie Brazell left the Packers game late in the fourth quarter with a sprained knee.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals pick rookie over Ratliff at cornerback
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CINCINNATI — Keiwan Ratliff shrugged as if he knew it was in the cards all along.Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said yesterday that first-round pick Johnathan Joseph had earned the nickel cornerback job ahead of Ratliff, a Whitehall High School graduate.
Ratliff entered training camp hoping to earn a starting job. With Tory James and Deltha O’Neal established as the starters, that was a long shot.
Despite a strong training camp — he has two interceptions in three exhibition games — Ratliff was unable to hold off Joseph for the third cornerback spot.
"I understood the whole way what was going on," Ratliff said. "I was just trying to come out and do whatever I can to help the team.
"It’s a coach’s decision, so I just went out and put my best effort on tape."
When the Bengals drafted Joseph in April with the 24 th overall pick, Lewis declined to specify a role for the rookie, saying that he would have to compete just like anyone else. That wasn’t what Lewis said yesterday.
"He’s been our starting nickel player since he walked in the room, since we drafted him," Lewis said. "I don’t think there is any great shakes there. He’s been our starting nickel, the inside corner on third downs, since we brought him here. He’s taken the snaps with the first group the whole time."
With Kevin Kaesviharn expected to be the fourth cornerback in dime pass coverages, Ratliff isn’t sure when he’ll get on the field. He struggled as the punt returner last year, and Cincinnati signed receiver Antonio Chatman for that role.
"Hopefully, at some point in the season I can contribute somewhere," Ratliff said.
Ratliff plays on other special teams and has played well enough to appear safe for a roster spot.
While acknowledging Ratliff "had done some good things," Lewis declined to specify what role the 2004 second-round pick would have.
"I don’t know whether Keiwan had a role," he said. "Everyone’s got to earn their role around here."
Palmer feels fine

The last hurdle quarterback Carson Palmer had to pass after his impressive preseason debut was the day-after test. Palmer has had some swelling in his surgically reconstructed left knee, but he reported no problems after playing Monday against Green Bay.
"The knee held up like we expected," he said. "It feels great today and it felt great yesterday."
Lewis said Palmer would play "some" Friday against Indianapolis in the preseason finale.
"I’d like to play a couple of series," Palmer said. "It’s not my call. It depends on how long (Lewis) wants the starters going in this game."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NFL BENGALS
Lineman from Olentangy makes case for employment
Friday, September 01, 2006
Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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CINCINNATI — Kyle Takavitz knows his situation. He just doesn’t dwell on it. It does him no good.
An offensive lineman from Olentangy High School, he understands he’s on the bubble to make the Bengals’ roster. He knows the final preseason game tonight in Indianapolis is his last chance to make his case before Cincinnati’s roster must be cut Saturday from 75 to 53 players.
These are anxiety-filled days for players in Takavitz’s predicament. On one hand is the promise of a healthy paycheck and a chance for glory. On the other is a blow to the ego and an uncertain future.
"All I can do is keep fighting," he said. "It’s fun that way. It never lets you rest. You can’t take a day off."
Takavitz is used to the uncertainty. The Bengals signed him last year as a free agent out of the University of Cincinnati a month before training camp. Waived before the season, he was signed to the practice squad in October, then waived and re-signed again.
He benefited from an offseason in the Bengals’ weight program and experience in NFL Europe this spring.
"Tak is smart and works his butt off," offensive line coach Paul Alexander said. "The Europe experience was good for him. "He’s really learned how to play within himself … not get out of whack. He was a little overaggressive in the past. The game has slowed down for him."
Takavitz played three series against the Green Bay starters in a preseason game Monday.
"I didn’t notice him, which is good," Alexander said.
Still, Takavitz is fighting the numbers game. He’s listed as the third-team right guard, and the Bengals probably will keep no more than 10 offensive linemen.
"There are three or four guys competing for a spot," Alexander said. "This game is really going to determine who gets it."
A year ago, Takavitz said he got caught up in trying to figure out where he stood. He’s trying to avoid doing that this time.
"It is (hard to do), but I just want to play hard and good things will happen," Takavitz said. "That’s how I’ve got to look at it. You can count the numbers 800 different ways, but the bottom line is it’s still (blocking) the tackle across from me (that matters)."
With the Bengals deeper than they have been in recent memory, Takavitz’s plight is hardly unique. A lot of improved players will be sweating it out after the game.
Asked how many roster spots were still up for grabs, coach Marvin Lewis replied, with a laugh, "Fifty. They’re all up in the air all the time."
At least those on the bubble know they’ve been given a fair chance. Until this year, rosters had to be cut to 65 players before the fourth preseason game.
"That’s why the rule was (changed), so that you could play this last preseason game and get a longer look at guys," Lewis said.
Bengals starters are expected to make their briefest appearance of the preseason and are not likely to play beyond the first quarter.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com