Jump to content

Tampa Toughening Up


HoosierCat

Recommended Posts

I'm actually looking for a strong comeback from the Bengals this upcoming week. I think a good showing for Gradkowski coupled with knowing the Bengals got beat badly last week may lead to a little bit of an overlook from Tampa. I haven't seen the injury list or who's going to be playing, but we can't play any worse than we did last week and even half of an improvement should be enough for us to beat the Bucs.

WHODEY !!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't seen the injury list or who's going to be playing, but we can't play any worse than we did last week and even half of an improvement should be enough for us to beat the Bucs.

Maybe. I dunno. Injuries are going to play a big role. If we can get Jackson and Jeanty back, and if the break gave Levis gimpy ankle time to get better, and if Bluto's gotten any better...well, we should be better. Henry's definitely out, of course. That will hurt.

We also need a better game plan. We're just going to have to stack the line against the run, and hopefully get some pressure in the bargain, and let our secondary play a lot of man coverage. If they do the rush 4 soft zone bit like they did vs. the Pats the Caddy will drive right over us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is Chris Perry back for this game?

Rudi will be the key here. Duece McAllister ripped the Bucs for 8.2 yards per carry.

I believe Perry was put on the PUP list, so we probably won't see him until week 7 at the earliest.

Yeah, PUP goes by weeks (6) not games. Perry comes off after the Tampa game. Per marvin, he's doing well and is expected for the Panthers game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think we'll have to worry about the Bengals coming out of the gate over-confident like they did last week. They learned that lesson in humiliating fashion. They are also getting a little time to heal up, and we should have freshness, and some of our starters back.

Gradkowski is still a rookie QB... and despite a good game against N.O., they are only averaging 12 points/game, and less than 300 yards/game.

I don't want to put a ton of importance on an out-of-conference game this early in the season... but if we manage to lose that game and drop to 3-2, against a team that hasn't managed a single win... the confidence of this team will be shaken and I'll have serious doubts as to our chances of making the playoffs.

In other words... there's no way we lose this game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3-2 would blow but I wouldn't be too surprised if that's what happens. The Bucs are backed up against the winless wall after the 1st quarter of the season and are playing for their football lives. They might as well approach this game like it's their Super Bowl this year and they all should be sufficiently pi$$ed to play their guts out.

Gradkowski looked sharp on the underneath stuff and made a couple good deeper throws but if he gets thrown some zone jumps in the secondary andf DB corner blitzes, he'll quack. The Bengals main focus has to be to slow Cadillac. The likes of Anthony Davis, Dan Buenning, Sean Mahan, John Wade and Jeremy Trueblood should get handled by the Bengals D-Line. Davin Joseph saw action last week but he's probably not prepared to start yet. Regardless, the D-line has to keep bunched together or else Cadillac will find a crease and be at the second level before the LBs can blink. Stop Cadillac and force more hurried Gradkowski throws and the Bengals negate the Bucs offense.

The Bucs defense is a veteran group who will not take well to this start and should play ferociously Sunday. Their 4-man front isn't quite as powerful as what the Bengals faced last week vs. the Pats but there's more speed at LB and a better secondary. It's going to take a lot of Housh and Rudi to bring a W back to Cincy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Things you need to know...

The Bengals have won 8 straight games against the NFC, under Marvin they are 10-2 against NFC competition.

It is more difficult to gameplan for the Bengals, being an NFC team. You only see them once every 4 years.

The Bengals play better on the road. Taking the KC tank job out of the equation from last season, the Bengals have won... 6 straight away from PBS... overall with the KC game in, they have won 8 of 10 games on the road.

The stas line up for this game as a Bengals win, for some reason they just seem to bring it on the road.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm counting on the humiliation Dillon rubbed in their faces last week to carry them through.

After sitting on that feeling for two weeks - I can't imagine this team isn't pissed off and ready to dish it out on offense.

If they aren't, and they put out a another huge egg like they did last weekend (I'm ok with losing - but losing like that is pathetic when you're as good as they are) I will seriously question their heart and coaching staff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3-2 would blow but I wouldn't be too surprised if that's what happens. The Bucs are backed up against the winless wall after the 1st quarter of the season and are playing for their football lives. They might as well approach this game like it's their Super Bowl this year and they all should be sufficiently pi$$ed to play their guts out.

Gradkowski looked sharp on the underneath stuff and made a couple good deeper throws but if he gets thrown some zone jumps in the secondary andf DB corner blitzes, he'll quack. The Bengals main focus has to be to slow Cadillac. The likes of Anthony Davis, Dan Buenning, Sean Mahan, John Wade and Jeremy Trueblood should get handled by the Bengals D-Line. Davin Joseph saw action last week but he's probably not prepared to start yet. Regardless, the D-line has to keep bunched together or else Cadillac will find a crease and be at the second level before the LBs can blink. Stop Cadillac and force more hurried Gradkowski throws and the Bengals negate the Bucs offense.

The Bucs defense is a veteran group who will not take well to this start and should play ferociously Sunday. Their 4-man front isn't quite as powerful as what the Bengals faced last week vs. the Pats but there's more speed at LB and a better secondary. It's going to take a lot of Housh and Rudi to bring a W back to Cincy.

I have a feeling you're right. Unfortunately, I don't think the Bengals can afford to rack up their second L here. After Tampa, their next five opponents are collectively .771 right now -- and they include the Falcons and Chargers, two teams that I give the Bengals a snowballs chance in hell against. Vick and the Falcons will run around, over and through our p*ss-poor run D, and the thought of Jamal Williams vs. Bluto gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies.

Oddly enough, I have to put the Tampa game in ye olde "must win" category.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think we'll have to worry about the Bengals coming out of the gate over-confident like they did last week. They learned that lesson in humiliating fashion. They are also getting a little time to heal up, and we should have freshness, and some of our starters back.

Gradkowski is still a rookie QB... and despite a good game against N.O., they are only averaging 12 points/game, and less than 300 yards/game.

I don't want to put a ton of importance on an out-of-conference game this early in the season... but if we manage to lose that game and drop to 3-2, against a team that hasn't managed a single win... the confidence of this team will be shaken and I'll have serious doubts as to our chances of making the playoffs.

In other words... there's no way we lose this game.

I agree. There's no way the Bengals are going to come out and play as emotionally flat as they were against New England, and I think too many of us are quilty of downplaying the impact the spate of injuries has had on the Bengals. They should be healthier and hungrier against Tampa Bay.

In addition, they have the benefit of seeing a little film on Gradkowski and that should pay dividends. The fact that he did look good...(he throws a very nice ball)...should be enough to prevent the Bengals defense from taking him too lightly, and the film of the Bucs/Saint game should tip off the Bengals to most of the things the Bucs are capable of attempting with a rookie QB.

I'm not in the predicting business, but there's no way the Bucs offense can win in a shootout with the Bengals, and the easiest way to take Tampa Bay out of their running game is to get up by at least two scores. So I expect the Bengals passing game to come out firing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree. There's no way the Bengals are going to come out and play as emotionally flat as they were against New England, and I think too many of us are quilty of downplaying the impact the spate of injuries has had on the Bengals. They should be healthier and hungrier against Tampa Bay.

In addition, they have the benefit of seeing a little film on Gradkowski and that should pay dividends. The fact that he did look good...(he throws a very nice ball)...should be enough to prevent the Bengals defense from taking him too lightly, and the film of the Bucs/Saint game should tip off the Bengals to most of the things the Bucs are capable of attempting with a rookie QB.

I'm not in the predicting business, but there's no way the Bucs offense can win in a shootout with the Bengals, and the easiest way to take Tampa Bay out of their running game is to get up by at least two scores. So I expect the Bengals passing game to come out firing.

It's good to hear another fan out there that hasn't jumped ship because of one loss. You'd think we were 0-4 with the way some of these guys are talking.

Our injuries have killed us. If we get healthy, we will be ranked in the top 3 again. Not only do we have a snowball chance against SD and Atlanta... I'm betting we win them both.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...