Bengals tidbits

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Dispatch

NFL
Jackson aching to play Sunday
Bengals safety wants to show Bucs they made a mistake in letting him go ? twice

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


GARY W . GREEN ORLANDO SENTINEL The career highlight for Dexter Jackson, right, came on Jan. 26, 2003, when he was Super Bowl XXXVII MVP for the Buccaneers.


CINCINNATI ? The last two full seasons Dexter Jackson played for Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers had the NFL?s toprated defense. This year, Tampa Bay is 20 th.
In Cincinnati?s first two games against Kansas City and Cleveland, the Bengals defense played superbly. But Jackson suffered a sprained ankle against the Browns, and the Bengals defense has been a sieve the past two games.
Is all that coincidence? Jackson thinks not. The safety was diplomatic in discussing the Bengals? recent problems, but he was blunt in discussing what he believes was his underrated role in Tampa Bay?s defense.
He would like nothing more than to show his old team what they?re missing when the Bengals meet the Buccaneers Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Whether his gimpy right ankle will allow that to happen remains uncertain.
"I?m very hopeful," Jackson said. "I?m still running, working out. I?ve improved to the treadmill, picking up my pace. I think it will be very close."
Jackson is a Florida native who played at Florida State and was the Buccaneers? fourth-round draft pick in 1999. He became a starter in 2001 and was the Super Bowl MVP the next season when he intercepted two passes against the Oakland Raiders.
A month later, the Buccaneers let him go as a free agent.
"Yeah, it hurt me," Jackson said.
With marquee players such as Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp and Ronde Barber, Jackson was usually overlooked.
"The people who watch and understand football knew how big a part of that defense I was," he said.
Jackson signed with Arizona. In 2004 he suffered a back injury in training camp and the Cardinals eventually released him a few months later. He rejoined Tampa Bay and played there through last season, helping the Buccaneers become the league?s top-ranked defense in 2005.
The Buccaneers let Jackson depart again, and this time the Bengals signed him.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said salary-cap considerations played a major role in the team?s decision, a claim Jackson doesn?t necessarily buy.
"He?s a great player," Gruden said. "We obviously hated to lose him when he went to Arizona, and we hated to lose him to Cincinnati."
With Tampa Bay?s defense now struggling, Jackson views himself as a missing piece to that puzzle.
"They miss the leadership," he said. "It takes nothing away from Brooks or Ronde. They?re leaders, but (only) to a certain extent. You can?t be a leader just when you?re playing good. You have to lead when you?re playing bad, also. I was the person, if you weren?t playing good, to say, ?C?mon guys, let?s pick it up.? "
That?s the situation the Bengals are in. They have yielded 403 rushing yards the past two games against Pittsburgh and New England. Jackson?s replacement, Kevin Kaesviharn, missed a tackle when Patriots running back Laurence Maroney stiff-armed him on a 41-yard carry.
"It?s more just the veteran leadership and veteran savviness and the tackling," Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said of Jackson?s importance. "He sets the whole attitude. It?s like when Bill Romanowski came to us in Oakland. He brought a different level of physical play to the field.
"This guy does the same thing. You have the sense of calmness out there. It?s not that these other guys can?t tackle. It?s just that there?s a different attitude when this guy?s on the field."
Jackson said he might not know until Sunday whether he can play. This is not a game he wants to miss.
"They drafted me," he said of the Buccaneers. "That?s home. Just watching them lately, they?re struggling. You want to cheer for them, then you don?t. I?m excited to be going back."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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Dispatch

BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Lewis won?t tip his hand on offensive line changes

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




CINCINNATI ? Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was in no mood yesterday to discuss possible changes on the offensive line amid speculation that Eric Steinbach might be moved from left guard to center.
Lewis answered, "Uh, no," when asked if he cared to announce any line changes. Like most coaches, Lewis tries to avoid discussing possible personnel changes because it could help an opponent?s preparation.
With Rich Braham out because of a fractured leg, second-year player Eric Ghiaciuc has filled in. Quarterback Carson Palmer has been sacked 14 times in the past three games. Though it would be incorrect to focus most of the blame on Ghiaciuc, the line play has been a concern.
"I don?t think any of those sacks are going to be labeled upon one thing," Ghiaciuc said last week. "I?m not going to sit here and say I gave up every sack or somebody else gave up every sack. It?s a combined effort."
On Monday, Steinbach took some first-team reps at center, with rookie Andrew Whitworth taking over at left guard. Whitworth started at left guard against Cleveland in the season?s second game when Steinbach played left tackle in place of the injured Levi Jones.
Steinbach filled in at center on an emergency basis for one game last year when Braham and Larry Moore were lost to injuries. Steinbach did a solid job, even though it was his first game experience at that position.
Jeanty hopeful

Linebacker Rashad Jeanty said his injured left foot is healing, though it?s too early to tell whether he can play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
He?s listed as questionable and did not practice in team drills yesterday.
"It?s getting better, but it?s still 50-50," he said.
Jeanty was injured three weeks ago against Pittsburgh.
"It wasn?t one play," he said. "It happened throughout the game."
Jeanty is a Miami native and said he?ll have a lot of supporters making the four-hour trip.
Still grateful

Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden will be on opposite sidelines, but for four seasons they were together with the Oakland Raiders.
Gruden hired Bresnahan as defensive backs coach in 1998 and made him defensive coordinator two years later.
"He gave me a great opportunity," Bresnahan said. "I owe him a lot."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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Cincy

A Tiger reunion for Rudi
Bucs' Cadillac followed Johnson to SEC power

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The Auburn pedigree for running backs will be on display Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Rudi Johnson, who played at Auburn in 1999 and 2000, will be running for the Bengals. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who starred for the Tigers from 2001-04, will be the Buccaneers' featured back.
Johnson, who transferred to Auburn after a record-breaking junior college career, picked up the tradition from Stephen Davis. Ronnie Brown (Dolphins) and Williams came after Johnson in the Auburn backfield.
"It's tradition. You see the guy ahead of you have success (at Auburn) and have success in the NFL," Johnson said.
He was Southeastern Conference Player of the Year with 1,567 rushing yards in 2000.
The next season, Williams started a career that would see him run for 3,831 yards and 45 touchdowns, breaking a program record held by Bo Jackson. (Brown shared the backfield with Williams and ran for 2,707 yards and caught 58 passes for another 668.)
Brown rushed for 907 yards as a rookie. Williams ran for 1,178 yards and was NFL Offensive of the Year.
"He gets the ball and he runs hard - straight down hill, a lot like me, as far as punishing the defense and giving out as many hits as you get," Johnson said of Williams. "I think that's why Auburn running backs do well in the pros. Ronnie runs hard, too."
Williams, who has 218 yards on the ground in four games for the winless Buccaneers, ran for 111 yards last week at New Orleans. Tampa Bay is 6-1 in his 100-yard games.
Johnson, meanwhile, has the two best single-season rushing totals in Bengals history and is on pace for a third consecutive 1,400-yard year.
The next Auburn back headed for the pros is Kenny Irons, Johnson said. He has 514 yards and three touchdowns for Auburn.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Bengals at BuccaneersKickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday

TV: CBS

Announcers: Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon

Radio: WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530), WOFX-FM (92.5)

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Cincy

Stats down, but Chad's not
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Chad Johnson didn't know his longest reception this season was just 18 yards.
That's unusual for the Bengals wide receiver. By this time last season, Johnson had touchdown catches covering 70 and 40 yards.
But opposing defenses are paying extra attention to the three-time Pro Bowl player. And Tampa Bay is likely to do more of the same Sunday.
Because he no longer sees one-on-one coverage, Johnson lists entire teams on his "Who can cover 85?" chart.
"It's going to pick up," Johnson said of his production, limited to 18 receptions for 201 yards and one touchdown in four games. "We had a fast start last year based off (what opposing defenses played). They were very vanilla. This year it's just the opposite."
The Bengals' offense, regardless of who catches the ball, wants to throw it deep.
"We want to make sure we push the ball vertically. And we've been unable to do that," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "... When we have pushed the ball vertically, we've been generally successful, and we have to make sure we don't get away from that."
Chris Henry (43 yards), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (33), Tab Perry (30) and Kelley Washington (22) all have receptions this season covering more ground than Johnson's longest.
Lewis credits quarterback Carson Palmer for not forcing the ball to Johnson.
Said Palmer: "If people are going to keep taking Chad away, we're going to keep looking for other options, as well as keep looking for options to get Chad the ball."
Johnson's not complaining.
"I just think I'm not allowed to say anything or I'll get that wonderful label of being selfish," he said, "so I just sit in my little cubbyhole and play on Sundays."
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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Dispatch

BENGALS
Chad Johnson calmly waiting for breakout day

Friday, October 13, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




CINCINNATI ? He is trying to be patient, even if it?s not his nature.
Through four games, Bengals receiver Chad Johnson has been turned into a glorified possession receiver by defenses intent on preventing him from getting open deep. His longest reception is only 18 yards, same as the longest by slow-footed tight end Reggie Kelly.
In years past, Johnson said, "I?d have been ranting and raving, throwing my helmet, cussing at Carson (Palmer). I?d have probably beaten Carson up by now on the sidelines."
He was joking, but the memory of his halftime meltdown last year in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh remains fresh. Johnson has made it a point this year to control his temper.
So Johnson is at least trying to be diplomatic. He takes some pride in knowing that the more defenses gear their scheme toward containing him, the more opportunities are given to his teammates.
"I?m coping with it very well," he said. "I can?t complain. We?re 3-1."
But he was taken aback when told how short his longest reception was.
"You?ve got to be (kidding) me," he said. "Who do I talk to about that? "
Palmer and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis are aware of the problem.
"Well, we want to make sure we push the ball vertically, and we?ve been unable to do that," Lewis said. "When we have pushed the ball vertically, we?ve been generally successful, and we have to make sure we don?t get away from that too much."
Through four games, Johnson has 18 catches for 201 yards. At this point in 2005, Johnson had 26 catches for 374 yards, including touchdown receptions of 70 and 40 yards.
"We had a fast start last year based off what I would say are some of the teams we played," Johnson said. "They were very vanilla. This year, it?s just the opposite. Things will pick up as the season goes on. But the main thing is we?re winning."
He said teams are unwilling to risk covering him with a single cornerback. He said he has faced man-to-man coverage on only two snaps all season, both in the opener in Kansas City against blitzes that forced Palmer to throw quickly.
On his "Who Can Cover 85? " chart, he no longer lists opposing cornerbacks, just teams.
"He?s been frustrated like everybody has," Palmer said. "When your number?s not called, you get frustrated. But he?s had a very level head about himself and realizes what?s going on. He?s been a team player about it. That?s all you can ask.
"When you?re called on to block, you block for the running game. And when you?re called on to run a certain pattern against a certain coverage, you run your pattern. If you don?t get the ball, somebody else does."
The opponent Sunday doesn?t figure to allow the long-ball dam to break. Perhaps more than any team, Tampa Bay has made popular the Cover-2 defense in which both safeties play deep to reduce the risk of long passes.
But Johnson sees an opening.
"What I?ve seen so far really isn?t the Tampa 2 defense anymore," he said. "What I see on film, I see it on long down and distance downs and third downs. That?s about it. Other than that, it?s been Cover 3, Cover 4."
Then again, teams have changed their tendencies all season in hopes of keeping Johnson in check.
"Watching film hasn?t been a help at all the past four weeks because what I see on film is not what I see on Sundays," he said.
So maybe this Sunday, Bengals fans can see something they haven?t seen all season ? Johnson open deep.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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Cincy

Wright has appendectomy
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Bengals second-string quarterback Anthony Wright will miss the game Sunday at Tampa Bay after undergoing an emergency appendectomy this morning, coach Marvin Lewis said this afternoon after practice.
Doug Johnson will be the No. 2 quarterback. Lewis would not say who will be his third quarterback -- or if he will even have one -- saying, "I finally get my chance."
The Bengals do have wide receiver Reggie McNeal, who was a college quarterback at Texas A&M, on the roster. McNeal has not been active for a game this season.
McNeal played in 42 games, with 34 starts at A&M, and he had 44 career touchdown passes against 23 interceptions. He also ran 411 times for 1,889 yards and 15 touchdowns.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com