Bengals tidbits

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals notebook
Steelers unlikely to alter strategy

Saturday, October 27, 2007 3:47 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Bengals have become accustomed to opponents gearing their defense to limiting the damage done by receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Houshmandzadeh anticipates that changing Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Asked whether he expects Steelers defensive coordinator (and former Bengals coach) Dick LeBeau to have him and Johnson double-teamed, Houshmandzadeh shook his head.
"No, coach LeBeau has more pride than that," he said. "Knowing coach LeBeau, he's not that type of guy. He's going to stick to his guns, and he's got confidence in the defense he's calling. When you do that kind of stuff, you leave yourself vulnerable in other areas."

Continued.......

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals may be as close to do or die as team can get
Win puts Cincinnati in race; loss wipes out hope for future
Sunday, October 28, 2007 4:06 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

• Closing window
  
• Fourteen players on the Bengals roster will be at least 30 by the start of next season. (Players' ages listed will be as of September 2008.)
• DE Bryan Robinson, 34
• OT Willie Anderson, 33
• DT Michael Myers, 32
• LS Brad St. Louis, 32
• OG Bobbie Williams, 31
• DT John Thornton, 31
• CB Deltha O?€™Neal, 31
• TE Reggie Kelly, 31
• S Dexter Jackson, 31
• WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, 30
• K Shayne Graham, 30
• WR Chad Johnson, 30
• LB Dhani Jones, 30
• RB Kenny Watson, 30

They're all big games. Ask any NFL player and he will act as if that Sunday's game holds the key to the season, and perhaps Western civilization.
Usually, it's baloney. Almost every team loses at least a handful of games. They can't all be life or death.
Today's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers may be the exception for the Cincinnati Bengals. The outcome could shape not only the rest of the season but the team's future.

Continued...

[Bucky Katt]

The fact that Lewis has enough confidence in this defense to forego 4th and short in favor of punt/fg tells me all I need to know. This is not a Jim Tressel team. Punt and play defense is NOT going to work. The offense better be scoring touchdowns every single possession. Show a little desperation here, you sissies. At least pretend like you have some pride.

It's 2:55 PM and Leon Hall still sucks.


EDIT - Damn. Had it paused so I could bitch and they pick one off just to make me look stupid(er). Thanks, guys.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Big Ben too elusive for Bengals

Monday, October 29, 2007 3:30 AM
By Scott Priestle


The Columbus Dispatch
CINCINNATI -- Ben Roethlisberger took another step yesterday toward becoming an elite NFL quarterback. A two-step, between two defenders, around another, then a half-twist and a throw across his body to an open receiver.

Roethlisberger danced around the Cincinnati Bengals for most of four quarters, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 24-13 win that left a record Paul Brown Stadium crowd simmering.
No play summarized the day better than a third-and-6 from near midfield in the fourth quarter, as the Bengals clung to the last strands of hope. Roethlisberger stepped up in the pocket to avoid two defenders, slid to his left to avoid another, then flipped a pass to his right to receiver Santonio Holmes, who picked up 12 hope-killing yards. The Steelers kicked a field goal moments later to account for the final margin.

Continued.....

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals: Kicking themselves
Lewis' decision to settle for field goal deflates players
Monday, October 29, 2007 3:43 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Tom Uhlman Associated Press
T.J. Houshmandzadeh falls into the end zone for a touchdown reception against the Steelers' Deshea Townsend, left, and James Farrior.



CINCINNATI -- Marvin Lewis didn't need a Monday morning quarterback to tell him he had blown it.
The Cincinnati Bengals coach knew by late yesterday afternoon, if not sooner.
With its season in danger of unraveling, Cincinnati needed to make a statement against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, Lewis chose to kick. Literally.

Continued.....

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Bengals notebook: Offense effective, except in red zone

Monday, October 29, 2007 3:29 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Al BehrmanAssociated Press
Bengals running back Kenny Watson fumbles while being hit by Steelers safety Tyrone Carter.



CINCINNATI -- The Bengals did many things well offensively.
Kenny Watson ran effectively, gaining 88 yards on 19 carries. Carson Palmer didn't throw an interception and wasn't sacked. Cincinnati committed only two penalties, both false starts.
None of that mattered yesterday in a 24-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals moved the ball consistently, but they couldn't convert yards into enough points.
Four times the Bengals got inside the Pittsburgh 20-yard line. They managed only one touchdown and two field goals.

Continued....